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Dave Aranda

Dave Aranda has Baylor rolling, Cropper leads Fresno State

Baylor's Dave Aranda builds momentum in Waco

Dave Aranda claimed his first signature victory of his brief career as head coach at Baylor on Saturday. Living up to his reputation as one of the best defensive minds in the game, Aranda guided the Bears to an upset over Iowa State.

The undefeated Bears (4-0) knocked off one of the early favorites for the Big 12 title. Now Aranda has folks in Waco, Texas, excited about the future.

At Our Esquina, where we amplify Latino stories and voices in sports, we are tracking all Latinos in college football. Of the 112 Latinos coaches and players we are currently tracking, Aranda and Oregon coach Mario Cristobal have teams in the Top 25 in the Associated Press poll.

Cristobal’s Ducks (4-0) are No. 3 in the AP Poll, behind only No. 2 Georgia and defending national champion Alabama. Baylor entered the Top 25 for the first time this week at No. 21.

Jalen Cropper, Latino Offensive Player of the Week

For the second consecutive week, Fresno State wide receiver Jalen Cropper is our Offensive Player of the Week. 

In the Bulldogs’ conference opener, Cropper had four receiving touchdowns to help the Bulldogs overcome a slow start and two double-digit deficits to defeat UNLV 38-30.

Cropper scored the Bulldogs’ final four touchdowns before 35,093 on a smoke-filled Friday night in Fresno. He finished with 10 catches for 108 yards.

The 18th ranked Bulldogs (3-1) head to Hawaii this week.

Malcolm Rodriguez, Latino Defensive Player of the Week

Oklahoma State super senior linebacker Malcom Rodriguez recovered a fumble in the end zone with 3:15 remaining in the first quarter to give the Cowboys a 21-10 lead. 

Rodriguez had seven tackles, six of them solo, one tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries In route in a 31-20 victory over Kansas State.

The Cowboys stymied the Kansas State offense. Rodriguez and Co. held the Wildcats to only 260 yards of total offense, including a season-low 62 yards rushing. The Cowboys are 4-0 and ranked 19th.

Dave Aranda, Latino Coach of the Week

On the same weekend one of his childhood inspirations, Tom Flores, was honored at halftime of the Las Vegas Raiders’ game, Dave Aranda guided Baylor over Iowa State.

Aranda, who is in his second season as head coach of the Bears, is showing why Baylor drew praise when he was lured away from LSU after helping the Tigers win the national championship.

Don’t be surprised if Aranda has Baylor in the Big 12 title game later this year.

Latinos in College Football

LAST NAME, FIRST NAME TEAM POSITION STATS TEAM RESULT
Aguilar, Luis NAU K FG- 1/3PAT-1/1 L, 17-10Northern Colorado
Alonso, Mandy Virginia  DL Tackles, 4- Total, 1- solo, 0.5 TFL L, 37-17Wake Forest 
Araiza, Matt  San Diego St. P/K 3 punts, 65.7 avg.FG: 2-2PAT- 6/6 W, 48-21Towson   
Aranda, Dave  Baylor  Head Coach  W, 31-29Iowa State 
Arias, Daniel  Colorado  WR  NO STATS. L, 35-13Arizona State 
Arroyo, Elijah Miami (FL) TE 1 rec.,7 yds.  W, 69-0Central Connecticut
Arroyo, Marcus UNLV Head Coach  L, 38-30Fresno State
Avalos, Andy Boise State Head Coach W, 27-3Utah State
Aybar, Wilfredo Stanford LB NO STATS L, 35-24UCLA
Banda, Ephraim  Utah State Def. Coord/Safeties L, 27-3Boise State
Barr-Mira, Nicholas UCLA K FG-0/1PAT- 5/5 W, 35-24Stanford
Borregales, Andrés Miami (FL) K PAT: 7/7 W, 69-0Central Connecticut
Calzada, Zach Texas A&M QB 20-36, 151 YDS, 1 INT L, 20-10Arkansas
Camarena, Evan  Portland State CB 3 tackles L, 30-17Montana St. 
Canales, Mike “Chico” Maryland  Analyst  W, 37-16Kent State
Cardenas, Oscar UTSA TE NO STATS  W, 31-28Memphis
Cavazos, Lejond Ohio State  CB 2 tackles W, 59-7Akron
Coley, James Texas A&M TE Coach L, 20-10Arkansas
Corral, Matt Ole Miss  QB NO STATS BYE
Corrales, Beau  North Carolina WR NO STATS L, 45-22Georgia Tech
Cristobal, Mario  Oregon  Head Coach W, 41-19Arizona
Cropper, Jalen  Fresno St.  WR 10 rec., 108 yds. 4 TD W, 38-30UNLV
Cruz, Gunner  Arizona   QB NO STATS L, 41-19Oregon
Davila, Peter Albany  DB Coach  BYE
Diaz, Manny Miami (FL) Head Coach  W, 69-0Central Connecticut
Escobar, Alex  NM State RB NO STATS  L, 41-21Hawai’i
Escobar, Ivan  NM State DL 1 Tackle  L, 41-21Hawai’i
Fernandez, Aaron  Southern Utah RGC/OL L, 50-21Eastern Washington 
Figueroa, Nick  USC DL Tackles 2- Total, 1- Solo L, 45-27Oregon State
Flores, Reynaldo UTEP RB NO STATS W, 20-13New Mexico
Flores, Joah New Mexico  WR 1/1, 5 yds.  L, 20-13UTEP
Flores, Justin  Maine  WR coach  L, 41-14Northern Illinois 
Fuente, Justin  Virginia Tech  Head Coach  W, 21-10Richmond
Flores, Reynaldo UTEP RB NO STATS W, 20-13New Mexico
Garcia, Elijah  Rice  DL Tackles- 32- solo W, 48-34Texas Southern 
Garcia, Jake  Miami (FL) QB 11/14, 147 yds, 2 TD
1 rush, 45 yds. 
W, 69-0 Central Connecticut St. 
Garcia, Julio UNLV OL 433 yds.- Total offense L, 38-30Fresno State
Garcia, Xavier  Temple  Def. GA W, 41-7Wagner
Garcia- Castaneda, Isaiah  NM State WR 4 rec., 18 yds. L, 41-21Hawai’i
Gonzalez, Billy  Florida WR/ Passing Game Coord.  W, 38-14Tennessee
Gonzales, Christian  Colorado CB Tackles- 7- Total, 5- solo, 1- TFL L, 35-13Arizona State
Gonzales, Danny  New Mexico  Head Coach L, 20-13UTEP
Gonzales, Paul TCU Safeties Coach  L, 42-34SMU
Gutierrez, Daniel  UNLV K 3/3- FG L, 38-30Fresno State
Hernandez, Dan Eastern Illinois  OL Coach W, 28-14Tennessee Tech
Hernandez, Zach  Cal Poly  DB 1 pass breakup L, 39-7Montana
Infante, Gabe  Temple RB Coach W, 41-7Wagner 
Jackson, Jim  Rice  TE Coach  W, 48-34Texas Southern 
Loya, Logan  UCLA WR 1 rec., 4 yds.  W, 34-20Stanford
Lozano, Alex Portland State LB 7 tackles, 6- solo L, 30-17Montana State 
Madrigal, Anthony  San Jose St. LB NO STATS L, 23-3Western Michigan
Magana, Jorge  Montana Tech LB NO STATS L, 45-21Montana Western
Maldonado, Dino NM State QB NO STATS L, 41-21Hawai’i
Maldonado, Gunner  Arizona  Safety 6 tackles, 4 solo L, 41-19Oregon 
Martinez, Adrian  Nebraska  QB 24/34, 251 yds., 1 INT 
20 rushes, 65 yds., 2 TD’s
L, 23-20Michigan State
Martinez, Cameron  Ohio State  SAF Tackles- 
1- total 
W, 59-7Akron
Martinez, RJ NAU QB 21-37, 208 YDS
14 rushes, 29 yds.
L, 17-10Northern Colorado
Martinez, Marc Tarleton St.  LB coach W, 40-21New Mexico Highlands
Martinez, Willie  Tennessee CB coach  L, 38-14Florida
Mateos, Eric  Baylor  OL W, 31-29Iowa State
Matthews, Jesse San Diego St.  WR 2 rec., 13 yds.  W, 48-21Towson
Mejia, Christian  Washington St.  DL Tackles- 2- total L, 24-13Utah
Melo, Lucas  Davenport University  Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line L, 38-0Ferris State 
Mendez, Julian  Ottawa University  Offensive Coordinator  L, 78-28Bethel College 
Mirabal, Alex Oregon  OL Coach  W, 41-19Arizona 
Montano, Abraham  Fresno State K NO STATS W, 38-30UNLV
Montero, Antonio Rice LB Tackles- 6-total, 3-solo, 1.5- TFL1- PD W, 48-34Texas Southern
Morales, Kamari  North Carolina  TE 7 rec.,66 yds., 1 TD L, 45-22Georgia Tech
Navarro, Jaime  San Jose St.  OL Total offense-291 yards L, 23-3Western Michigan
Navarro, Juan  NCCU  DL Coach L, 37-14North Carolina A&T
Navarro, Donny  Illinois  WR 1 rec., 6 yds.2 PR, 7 yds. L, 13-9Purdue
Nunez, Jay Eastern Michigan Sp. TeamsAssoc. HC W, 59-21Texas State
Olave, Chris  Ohio State WR 2 rec.,12 yds. W, 59-7Akron 
Ornelas, Jesse Central Oklahoma  RB Coach L, 38-0NW Missouri State 
Ortega, Josh  UTEP DE BYE W, 20-13New Mexico
Ortega- Jones, Julian  Texas St.  WR  1 rec., 13 yds.  W, 59-21Eastern Michigan
Ortiz, Angel Ottawa Univ. (AZ) WR Coach W, 49-19Louisiana College
Pacheco, Isaih Rutgers RB 20 rushes, 107 yds.
2 rec.,14 yds.
L, 20-13Michigan
Padilla, David Charleston Southern  Ass’t AD for Football L, 31-28East Carolina 
Pagan, Justice  Portland State LB 3 tackles, 1 – TFL L, 30-17Montana State
Perales, David  Fresno State DL Tackles-3TFL- 1.5Sack- 0.55 W, 38-30UNLV
Ponce, Frank  Appalachian State  Offensive Coordinator  W, 31-30Marshall
Ramirez, Manny  Texas Southern OL Coach  L, 48-34Rice
Regalado, Marco Washington State Director of On-Campus Recruiting L, 35-24Utah
Restrepo, Xavier Miami (FL) WR 4 rec. 75 yds.  W, 69-0Central Connecticut
Reveles, Miguel La Verne Offensive Coordinator BYE
Rivas, Eddie  Texas State OL Total Offense  – 448 yards  L, 59-21Eastern Michigan
Rivas- Sandoval, Cesar Southeastern University  Head Coach L, 63-14University of the Cumberlands 
Rodriguez, Anthony  Portland State TE 1 rec., 12 yds.  L, 30-17Montana State
Rodriguez, Chris  Kentucky  RB 26 rushes, 144 yds.
2 rec., 5 yds.  
W, 16-10 South Carolina 
Rodriguez, Drew Towson St.  QB coach L, 48-21San Diego State
Rodriguez, Jacob Virginia  RB NO STATS L, 37-17Wake Forest 
Rodriguez, Joel FIU OL coach  L, 31-27Central Michigan
Rodriguez, Juan  Fresno State  TE NO STATS  W, 38-30UNLV
Rodriguez, Justin  UTSA RB NO STATS W, 31-28Memphis
Rodriguez, Malcolm Oklahoma St. LB 7 tackles, 6-solo, 1-TFL2- QB Hurries  W, 30-21Kansas State
Rodriguez, Oscar Akron Assoc. HC/ ILB L, 59-7Ohio State
Rodriguez, Robert  Arizona St. DL coach W, 35-13Colorado
Rojas, Manny  Delaware  Def. Coordinator BYE
Rubio, Cruz  Cal Poly  LS NO STATS  L, 39-7Montana 
Sanchez, Angel Montana Tech CB Total- 7Solo-3TFL- 1.5 L, 45-21Montana Western
Santa Cruz, Victor  Hawaii  Defensive Ends coach W, 41-21NM State
Santana, Bryce  New Mexico DE Total- 2 tackles, 1- solo L, 20-14UTEP
Santana, JuanCarlos  Tulsa  WR 7 rec.,78 yds. W, 41-34Arkansas State
Segura, Justin  NM State DL Tackles- 2- total L, 41-21Hawai’i
Silva, Cesar  Fresno State K FG-2/2PAT- 2/2 W, 38-30UNLV
Small, Seth Texas A&M  K FG- 1/1PAT- 1/1 L, 20-10Arkansas 
Sori-Marin, Mariano Minnesota  LB 8- Total5- Solo1- PD L, 14-10Bowling Green
Soto, Anthony Lenoir-Rhyne  Offensive Coordinator/ /OL W, 31-16Mars Hill
Steele, Chris  USC CB Tackles- 4- total, 1- solo L, 45-27Oregon State
Umana, Orlando  Ole Miss OL NO STATS  BYE
Velazquez, Alonzo Wyoming  OL Total offense- 352 yards W, 24-22UConn
Ybarra, Austin Montana Tech LB NO STATS L, 45-21Montana Western

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