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Matt Corral

College Football: Mario Cristobal, Matt Corral Highlight Latino Impact

Weekly Roundup of Latino contributors in College Football

Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral and Oregon coach Mario Cristobal arguably shone brightest among Latino contributors in college football this weekend.

The Cuban American Cristobal guided the Oregon Ducks to an upset over Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, despite another standout performance from last week’s Our Esquina Offensive Player of the Week, Ohio State wide receiver, Chris Olave

Cristobal, 50, is in his fourth season at the helm of the Ducks. The victory over Big Ten power Ohio State is his best win as head coach of the Pac-12 power, and that’s saying a lot. 

After the victory, the Ducks jumped from No. 12 in the AP Top 25 to No. 4.

Boise State’s Andy Avalos earned his first career victory as head coach, leading the Broncos over UTEP 54-13 last Friday.  

Latino Offensive Player of the Week, Matt Corral

Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral.

In a 54-17 victory over Austin Peay, Matt Corral threw five touchdowns and completed 21-of-33 attempts for 281 yards. Corral, 22, junior from Southern California. He very well could be playing his final college football season as he may declare for the 2022 NFL Draft. 

Corral was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation Bowl Subdivision National Offensive Player of the Week after his performance. 

Latino Defensive Player of the Week, Malcolm Rodriguez

Oklahoma State linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez. The fifth-year senior led the Cowboys with 13 total tackles, eight of them solo, in a 28-23 victory over Tulsa. 

In a Week 1 contest victory over Missouri State, Rodriguez had another stellar performance as he was in on fifteen tackles. 

Rodriguez, a former safety converted to linebacker before the 2019 campaign, has adapted well to the new position. He has led the Cowboys in tackles the last two seasons. He’s a team captain and a Second Team Academic All-Big 12 selection in 2020. 

Rodriguez is known as a “super senior” after electing to play an extra season following an NCAA eligibility ruling that gave players an extra season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other notable Latino contributors

Texas A&M sophomore quarterback Zach Calzada came off the bench in Denver to help the No. 5 Aggies avoid the upset. Considering that starting quarterback Haynes King suffered a lower leg injury, it won’t be surprising if Calzada and Matt Corral face each other this season.

At Our Esquina, where we amplify Latino stories and voices in sports, arts and culture, we’ll keep track of all the Latinos playing college football.

This is our second weekly list of Latinos in college football. We want to highlight their achievements and tell their stories during the season.  

Our list has grown since last week. If you know of somebody who is missing from this list, please let us know.  Email JuanLozano@ouresquina.com for any additions.

LAST NAME, FIRST NAME TEAM POSITION STATS TEAM RESULT
Alonso, Mandy Virginia  DL Tackles, 3- Total, 1- solo  W, 42-14Illinois
Araiza, Matt  SDSU P/K 7 punts, 53.1 avg., 3 inside 20
FG: 1-2
W, 38-14Arizona 
Aranda, Dave  Baylor  Head Coach  W, 66-7Texas Southern 
Arias, Daniel  Colorado  WR  3 rec., 37 yds. L, 7-10Texas A&M
Arroyo, Elijah Miami (FL) TE 1 rec., 11 yds.  W, 25-23, Appalachian State
Avalos, Alex Boise State Head Coach W, 54-13UTEP
Banda, Ephraim  Utah State Def. Coord/Safeties W, 48-25North Dakota 
Borregales, Andrés Miami (FL) K 3-4, FGsLong: 43 W, 25-23, Appalachian State 
Calzada, Zach Texas A&M QB 18/38-183 yds., 1 TD
7 rushes-28 yds.
W, 10-7 Colorado 
Camarena, Evan  Portland State CB 6 tackles, 3 solo1 Pass Defended L, 24-44Washington State
Canales, Mike “Chico” Maryland  Analyst  W, 62-10Howard 
Cardenas, Oscar UTSA TE 1 rec. 19 yds.  W, 54-0Lamar
Coley, James Texas A&M TE Coach W, 10-7 Colorado 
Corral, Matt Ole Miss  QB 21/33 281 yds., 5 TD’s
8 rushes, 35 yds.
W, 54-17Austin Peay
Corrales, Beau  North Carolina WR NO STATS W, 59-17Georgia State 
Cristobal, Mario  Oregon  Head Coach W, 35-28Ohio State
Cruz, Gunner  Arizona   QB 10-19, 70 yds.1 TD, 1 INT L, 38-14San Diego St. 
Davila, Peter Albany  DB Coach  L, 14-16Rhode Island 
Diaz, Manny Miami (FL) Head Coach  W, 25-23Appalachian State 
Escobar, Alex  New Mex. St.  RB NO STATS L, 25-34New Mexico 
Escobar, Ivan  New Mex. St. DL NO STATS L, 25-34New Mexico 
Figueroa, Nick  USC DL Tackles- 1 solo and 1 TFL L, 28-42Stanford
Flores,Reynaldo UTEP RB 5 rushes, 38 yds.1 rec., 9 yds L, 13-54Boise State
Flores, Justin  Maine  WR coach  L, 7-55James Madison 
Fuente, Justin  Virginia Tech  Head Coach  W, 35-14Middle Tennessee St. 
Garcia, Elijah  Rice  DL Tackles- 6- Total 3- Solo.5- TFL.5- Sack L, 7-44Houston
Garcia, Julio UNLV OL 155 yds.- Total offense L, 10-37Arizona State 
Garcia, Xavier  Temple  Def. GA W, 45-24Akron
Garcia- Castaneda, Isaiah  New Mexico St.  WR 3 rec., 98 yds, 1 TD L, 25-34New Mexico 
Gonzalez, Billy  Florida WR/ Passing Game Coord.  W, 42-20South Florida
Gonzales, Christian  Colorado CB Tackles- 6 solo, 2 TFL L, 7-10Texas A&M
Gonzales, Danny  New Mexico  Head Coach W, 34-25New Mexico State
Gonzales, Paul TCU Safeties Coach  W, 34-32California 
Gutierrez, Daniel  UNLV K 1/1- FG1/1- PAT L, 10-37Arizona State 
Hernandez, Dan Eastern Illinois  OL Coach L, 10-17Dayton
Hernandez, Zach  Cal Poly  DB 6 solo tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack  L, 10-63Fresno State
Infante, Gabe  Temple RB Coach W, 45-24Akron
Jackson, Jim  Rice  TE Coach  L, 7-44Houston
Lozano, Alex Portland State LB 4 tackles, 3 solo1 pass defended  L, 24-44Washington State
Madrigal, Anthony  SJSU LB NO STATS BYE
Magana, Jorge  Montana Tech LB NO STATS BYE
Maldonado, Dino NM State QB 14/35- 203 yds. 2 TD- 2 INT
6 rushes, 46 yds.
L, 25-34New Mexico 
Martinez, Adrian  Nebraska  QB 13/19- 242 yds, 2 passing TD’s 
9 rushes, 112 yds.
Martinez, Marc Tarleton St.  LB coach W, 54-7Fort Lewis 
Martinez, Willie  Tennessee CB coach  L, 34-41Pittsburgh
Mateos, Eric  Baylor  OL W, 66-7Texas Southern 
Mejia, Christian  Washington St.  DL 1 solo tackle W, 44-24 Portland State
Melo, Lucas  Davenport University  Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line W, 10-6Walsh University 
Mendez, Julian  Ottawa University  Offensive Coordinator  L, 14-38Avila University 
Mirabal, Alex Oregon  OL Coach  W, 35-28Ohio State 
Montano, Abraham  Fresno State K 1 tackle,0/0 – FG9/9- PAT W, 63-10Cal Poly
Montero, Antonio Rice LB Tackles- 10 total, 2 -solo, 2- TFL L, 7-44Houston 
Morales, Kamari  North Carolina  TE 4 rec., 42 yds. W, 59-17Georgia State
Navarro, Jaime  SJSU OL NO STATS BYE
Navarro, Juan  NCCU  DL Coach L, 10-44Marshall 
Navarro, Donny  Illinois  WR 2 rec.,11 yds.
2 KR, 22 yds.
L, 14-42Virginia
Nunez, Jay Eastern Michigan Sp. TeamsAssoc. HC L, 7-34Wisconsin
Olave, Chris  Ohio State WR 12 rec.,126 yds. L, 28-35Oregon 
Ornelas, Jesse Central Oklahoma  RB Coach L, 21-31Emporia State 
Ortega, Josh  UTEP DE Tackles- 1, solo L, 13-54Boise State
Ortega- Jones, Julian  Texas St.  WR  NO STATS.  W, 23-17FIU
Pacheco, Isaih Rutgers RB 18 rushes, 44 yds. W, 17-7 Syracuse 
Padilla, David Charleston Southern  Ass’t AD for Football BYE
Pagan, Justice  Portland State LB 4 tackles, 1-solo, 1-5 – TFL L, 24-44Washington State
Perales, David  Fresno State DL Tackles-1, solo W, 63-10Cal Poly
Ponce, Frank  Appalachian State  Offensive Coordinator  L, 23-25Miami (FL)
Ramirez, Manny  Texas Southern OL Coach  L, 7-66Baylor 
Regalado, Marco Washington State Director of On-Campus Recruiting W, 44-24Portland State 
Restrepo, Xavier Miami (FL) WR 1 rec. 18 yds.  W, 25-23Appalachian State
Reveles, Miguel La Verne Offensive Coordinator L, 25-59Chapman
Rivas- Sandoval, Cesar Southeastern University  Head Coach BYE
Rodriguez, Anthony  Portland State TE 1 solo tackle  L, 24-44Washington State
Rodriguez, Drew Towson St.  QB coach L, 14-26New Hampshire
Rodriguez, Joel FIU OL coach  W, 23-17FIU
Rodriguez, Juan  Fresno State  TE 2 catches, 27 yds.  W, 63-10Cal Poly
Rodriguez, Justin  UTSA RB 2 carries, 4 yds. 1 rec. , 9 yds.  W, 54-0 Lamar
Rodriguez, Malcolm Oklahoma St. LB 13 tackles, 8 solo, .5 TFL W, 28-23Tulsa
Rodriguez, Oscar Akron Assoc. HC/ ILB W, 45-24Temple
Rodriguez, Robert  Arizona St. DL coach W, 37-10UNLV
Rojas, Manny  Delaware  Def. Coordinator W, 27-10St. Francis
Rubio, Cruz  Cal Poly  LS 1 solo tackle  L, 10-63Fresno State
Santa Cruz, Victor  Hawaii  Defensive Ends coach L, 27-45Oregon St.
Santana, JuanCarlos  Tulsa  WR 4 rec.,61 yds. L, 23-28Oklahoma State
Segura, Justin  New Mexico St.  DL Tackles- 2- solo, .5 TFL L, 25-34New Mexico 
Soto, Anthony Lenoir-Rhyne  Offensive Coordinator/ /OL BYE
Steele, Chris  USC CB Tackles- 4 total3- solo L, 28-42Stanford
Velazquez, Alonzo Wyoming  OL 347 yds.- Total offense W, 50-43Northern Illinois
Ybarra, Austin Montana Tech LB BYE

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