Matt Araiza, Matt Corral lead 2021 All-Latino American Team

San Diego State’s All-America punter Matt Araiza has been the most decorated Latino in college football this year. The 2021 Ray Guy Award winner stands out in a season that saw many Latinos excel on the gridiron.

Several Latino quarterbacks and wide receivers had breakout games. We saw kickers hit game-winning field goals. It was a pleasure to watch so many Latinos perform and shine. 

Our Esquina tracked all Latinos in college football this season, providing weekly updates on their stats. This is our first ever All-Latino American Football Team for the 2021 season. We are recognizing Players of the Year for all three phases of the game. 

Offensive Player of the Year, Matt Corral

Sure Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral was a Heisman Trophy nominee snub. But he’s Our Esquina’s Offensive Player of the Year award. 

Corral finished the 2021 season with 20 passing touchdowns and only four interceptions, a major improvement from the 14 interceptions he threw in 2020. He threw for 3,339 yards, two yards more than his 3,337 passing yards in 2020. 

Corral also rushed for 11 touchdowns.  He was Ole Miss’ third leading rusher with 597 yards. 

Defensive Player of the Year, Malcolm Rodriguez.

Oklahoma State linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, a sixth-year senior, was a sure tackler for the surprising Cowboys defense. Rodriguez finished the 2021 regular season campaign with 118 tackles, 68 of them solo efforts. He added three sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Special Teams Player of the Year, Matt Araiza.

San Diego State kicker and punter Matt Araiza has locked up a first-team spot on all the All-America teams this month. So you knew the Ray Guy Award winner would garner a spot on Our Esquina’s team.

The left-footed Araiza connected on 17 field goals, including three of 50 yards or longer. He was perfect on PAT’s to generate 91 points for the Aztecs.  It wasn’t just the points that Araiza scored. He also saved San Diego State with booming punts that gave the Aztecs consistently great field position.

Araiza averaged 51.4 yards per punt, good for first in the NCAA FBS, He had a whopping 36 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. 

Freshman of the Year, RJ Martinez. 

Northern Arizona University quarterback RJ Martinez had a freshman season to remember. In his first collegiate start, he led his Lumberjacks to an upset road victory over the Pac-12’s Arizona Wildcats, 21-19. 

Martinez, a true freshman quarterback from Austin, threw for 1,713 yards and 14 touchdowns with only two interceptions. He added five rushing touchdowns. 

OFFENSE	Player
QB	Matt Corral	Ole Miss
RB	Chris Rodriguez	Kentucky
RB	Isaih Pacheco	Rutgers
WR	Chris Olave	Ohio State
WR	Jesse Matthews	San Diego State
WR	Jalen Cropper	Fresno State
TE	Oscar Cardenas	UTSA
OL	Antonio Velasquez	Wyoming
OL	Julio Garcia	UNLV
OL	Cole Garcia	Rice
OL	Eddie Rivas	Texas State
OL	Jaime Navarro	San Jose State
DEFENSE
DL	Jose Ramirez	Eastern Michigan
DL	Elijah Garcia	Rice
DL	David Perales	Fresno State
DL	Marcus Valdez	Boston College
LB	Malcolm Rodriguez	Oklahoma State
LB	Ron Stone	Washington State
LB	Sori- Marin, Mariano	Minnesota
CB	Christian Gonzalez	Colorado
CB	Chris Steele	USC
S	Cameron Martinez	Ohio State
S	Gunner Maldonado	Arizona
SPECIAL TEAMS
K	Daniel Gutierrez	UNLV
P	Matt Araiza	San Diego State
RETURNER	Donny Navarro,	Illinois