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Malcolm Rodriguez

Malcolm Rodriguez key to Oklahoma State’s Bedlam victory

Matt Corral adds to Heisman resume

Malcolm Rodriguez and the Oklahoma State Cowboys are primed for the Big 12 title game. He was one of the Latino standouts of the last weekend of the FBS regular season football. 

Rodriguez will be one of several Latinos – whether coaches or players – participating in conference championship games.

On Friday Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal’s Ducks will seek revenge on the University of Utah in a rematch of the Nov, 20 meeting the Utes won 38-7. A day later, Utah State defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda and the Aggies face San Diego Statefor the Mountain West Championship

Wide receiver Jesse Matthews and punter/kicker Matt Araiza have made significant contributions to the Aztecs’ 11-win season. 

Baylor coach Dave Aranda will try to beat Malcolm Rodriguez and Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship game.

Latino Offensive Player of the Week, Matt Corral

Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral completed 26 of 34 passing attempts for 234 yards with one touchdown in the Rebels’ 31-21 Egg Bowl victory over Mississippi State. Corral added another score on the ground, finishing with 45 yards on 12 carries. 

Latino Defensive Player of the Week, Malcolm Rodriguez

In his final Bedlam game, Oklahoma State senior linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez saved his best for last. Rodriguez was dominant in a 37-33 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners. He finished with 11 tackles, including two sacks and a pass defended. 

Other memorable Latino defensive performers were defensive lineman Elijah Garcia of Rice University and David Perales of Fresno State University. 

Garcia completed his Rice football career in winning fashion. In front of the home crowd, Garcia’s seven tackles helped the Owls defeat the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, 35-31. 

In a 40-9 win over San Jose State University, Perales was disruptive against the Spartans’ offense. In addition to four tackles and 1.5 sacks, Perales forced a fumble and notched a quarterback hurry and a pass defended. 

Latino Special Teams Player of the Week, Donny Navarro

Illinois punt returner Donny Navarro shone against Northwestern. Leading by seven with 6:43 left in the first quarter of the in-state rivalry game, the senior Navarro returned a punt 15 yards to the Illini 49- yard line.

Two plays later, a 39-yard touchdown pass gave the Illini an insurmountable two-score lead in an eventual 47-10 llini destruction of the visiting Northwestern Wildcats. 

The Illini ended the Wildcats’ seven-game stranglehold on the Land of Lincoln Trophy, awarded to the winner of the rivalry game. 

Navarro combined for 66 yards on three punt returns.  

At Our Esquina, where we amplify Latino voices and stories, we have tracked weekly contributions for every Latino player and coach in college football. If we missed one, please email JuanLozano@ouresquina so we can add that person to our tracker.

LAST NAME, FIRST NAME TEAM POSITION STATS TEAM RESULT
Alcoser, Joe  Houston  DFO W, 45-17 UCONN
Alonso, Mandy Virginia  DL 2 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 0.5 TFL L, 29-24 Virginia 
Araiza, Matt  San Diego St. P/K FG-2/4PAT- 3/3Punting average- 47.5 2 of 6 punts inside the 20  W, 27-16 Boise State
Aranda, Dave  Baylor  Head Coach  W, 27-24 
Arias, Daniel  Colorado  WR  1 rec., 9 yds. L, 28-13 Utah
Arroyo, Elijah Miami (FL) TE NO STATS W, 47-10 Duke
Arroyo, Marcus UNLV Head Coach  L, 48-14 Air Force
Avalos, Andy Boise State Head Coach L, 27-16 San Diego St. 
Aybar, Wilfredo Stanford LB NO STATS L, 45-14 Notre Dame
Banda, Ephraim  Utah State Def. Coord/Safeties W, 35-10 UNM
Barr-Mira, Nicholas UCLA K FG- 2/2PAT- 4/4 W, 42-14 California 
Borregales, Andrés Miami (FL) K FG- 4/4PAT- 4/4 W, 47-10 Duke
Calzada, Zach Texas A&M QB 20-35, 242 yds., 3 TD L, 27-24 LSU
Canales, Mike “Chico” Maryland  Analyst  W, 40-16 Rutgers
Cardenas, Oscar UTSA TE NO STATS L, 45-23 North Texas
Cavazos, Lejond Ohio State  CB NO STATS Michigan
Chavez, Isaiah  New Mexico  QB NO STATS Utah State 
Coley, James Texas A&M TE Coach L, 27-24 LSU
Corral, Matt Ole Miss  QB 26-34, 234 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT12 rushes, 45 yds, 1 TD W, 31-21 Mississippi State
Corrales, Beau  North Carolina WR NO STATS W, 34-30 NC State
Cristobal, Mario  Oregon  Head Coach W, 38-29 Oregon State
Cropper, Jalen  Fresno St.  WR 7 rec., 76 yds, 1 TD2 rushes, 24 yds., 1 TD W, 40-9 SJSU
Cruz, Gunner  Arizona   QB NO STATS L, 38-15Arizona St. 
Diaz, Manny Miami (FL) Head Coach  W, 47-10 Duke
Echevarria, Jesus  Washington St.  DL NO STATS Washington
Escobar, Alex  NM State RB 5 rushes, 17 yds.  W, 44-27 UMASS
Escobar, Ivan  NM State DL NO STATS W, 44-27 UMASS
Figueroa, Nick  USC DL 2 tackles, 0.5 TFL L, 35-31 BYU
Flores, Joah New Mexico  WR NO STATS L, 35-10 Utah St. 
Flores, Reynaldo UTEP RB 1 rush, 2 yds.  L, 42-25 UAB
Garcia, Albert  Fresno St.  DPP W, 40-9 SJSU
Garcia, Cole  Rice  OL Total yards- 429 yards  W, 35-31 LA Tech
Garcia, Elijah  Rice  DL 7 tackles0.5 sacks1 TFL1 QB Hurry  W, 35-31 LA Tech
Garcia, Jake  Miami (FL) QB NO STATS W, 47-10 Duke
Garcia, Julio UNLV OL Total offense- 214 yds.  L, 48-14 Air Force
Garcia, Xavier  Temple  Def. GA L, 38-14 Navy
Garcia- Castaneda, Isaiah  NM State WR 4 rec., 67 yds.  W, 44-27 UMass
Gonzalez, Billy  Florida WR/ Passing Game Coord.  W, 24-21 Florida State
Gonzales, Christian  Colorado CB 6 tackles  L, 28-13 Utah
Gonzales, Danny  New Mexico  Head Coach L, 35-10 Utah State
Gonzales, Paul TCU Safeties Coach  W, 48-14 Iowa State
Gutierrez, Daniel  UNLV K FG- 0/0PAT- 2/2 W, 48-14 Air Force
Infante, Gabe  Temple RB Coach L, 38-14 Navy
Jackson, Jim  Rice  TE Coach  W, 35-31 LA Tech
Loya, Logan  UCLA WR NO STATS W, 42-14 California
Madrigal, Anthony  San Jose St. LB NO STATS L, 40-9 Fresno St.
Maldonado, Dino NM State QB NO STATS W, 44-27 UMass
Maldonado, Gunner  Arizona  Safety 4 tackles  L, 38-15 Arizona State
Martinez, Adrian  Nebraska  QB NO STATS L, 28-21 Iowa
Martinez, Cameron  Ohio State  SAF 1 tackle  W, 42-27 Michigan 
Martinez, Willie  Tennessee CB coach  W, 45-21 Vanderbilt 
Mateos, Eric  Baylor  OL W, 27-24 Texas Tech
Matthews, Jesse San Diego State  WR 9 rec., 133 yds., 1 TD W, 27-16 Boise State
Mejia, Christian  Washington St.  DL NO STATS W, 40-13 Washington
Mirabal, Alex Oregon  OL Coach  W, 38-29 Oregon State
Montano, Abraham  Fresno State K NO STATS W, 40-9 SJSU
Montero, Antonio Rice LB NO STATS W, 35-31 LA Tech
Morales, Kamari  North Carolina  TE 2 rec., 26 yds. NC State
Navarro, Jaime  San Jose St.  OL Total yards- 324 yards L, 40-9 Fresno St.
Navarro, Donny  Illinois  WR 3 punt returns, 66 yds.  W, 47-14 Northwestern
Nunez, Jay Eastern Michigan Sp. TeamsAssoc. HC L, 31-10 Central Michigan
Olave, Chris  Ohio State WR 7 rec., 88 yds. W, 42-27 Michigan
Ortega, Josh  UTEP DE NO STATS L, 42-25 UAB
Ortega- Jones, Julian  Texas St.  WR  NO STATS W, 24-22 Arkansas State
Pacheco, Isaih Rutgers RB 14 rushes, 80 yds. 2 rec., 4 yds.  L, 40-16 Maryland 
Padilla, Alex  Iowa QB 6-14, 76 yds. W, 28-21, Nebraska 
Perales, David  Fresno State DL 4 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 TFL, 1 pass defended, 1 QB hurry W, 40-9 SJSU
Ponce, Frank  Appalachian State  Offensive Coordinator  W, 27-3 Georgia State
Ramirez, José Eastern Michigan DE 3 tackles W, 31-10 Central Michigan
Regalado, Marco Washington State Director of On-Campus Recruiting W, 40-13 Washington
Restrepo, Xavier Miami (FL) WR 2 rec., 30 yds., 1 TD  W, 47-10 Duke
Rivas, Eddie  Texas State OL Total Offense- 301 yds.  W, 24-22 Arkansas State 
Rodriguez, Chris  Kentucky  RB 16 rushes, 121 yds., 1 TD W, 52-21 Louisville 
Rodriguez, Jacob Virginia  RB NO STATS L, 29-24, Virginia Tech
Rodriguez, Joel FIU OL coach  L, 37-17 Southern Miss
Rodriguez, Juan  Fresno State  TE 5  rec., 35 yds., 1 TD W, 40-9 SJSU
Rodriguez, Justin  UTSA RB NO STATS L, 45-23 North Texas
Rodriguez, Malcolm Oklahoma St. LB 11 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 TFL, 1 pass defended W, 37-33 Oklahoma 
Rodriguez, Oscar Akron Interim HCAssoc. HC/ ILB L, 49-14 Toledo
Rodriguez, Robert  Arizona St. DL coach W, 38-15 Arizona 
Santa Cruz, Victor  Hawaii  Defensive Ends coach W, 38-14 Wyoming 
Santana, Bryce  New Mexico DE NO STATS L, 35-10 Utah State
Santana, JuanCarlos  Tulsa  WR 4 rec., 45 yds. W, 34-31 Tulsa 
Segura, Justin  NM State DL NO STATS W, 44-27 UMass 
Silva, Cesar  Fresno State K NO STATS W, 40-9 SJSU
Small, Seth Texas A&M  K FG- 1/1PAT -3/3  L, 27-24 LSU
Sori-Marin, Mariano Minnesota  LB 7 tackles , 0.5 TFL W, 23-13 Wisconsin 
Steele, Chris  USC CB 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL L, 35-31 BYU
Stone, Jr., Ron  Washington State LB 3 tackles, 1 TFL  W, 40-13 Washington 
Umana, Orlando  Ole Miss OL Total offense- 388 yds.  W, 31-21 Mississippi State
Velazquez, Alonzo Wyoming  OL Total offense- 305 yds.  W, 38-14 Hawaii 

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