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Latinos in College Football

Zach Calzada Highlights Week for Latinos in College Football

Eastern Michigan's José Ramirez starred on defense

Zach Calzada made this week’s choice easy. There are more than 100 Latinos in college football, and one of them quarterbacked his team over No. 1 Alabama this weekend.

Actually, two Latinos played crucial roles in Texas A&M’s 41-38 upset victory over Alabama on Saturday night at Kyle Field. Seth Small, the son of a Mexico City native, kicked the winning field goal as time expired. So Our Esquina is adding a special teams recognition to our weekly roundup of Latinos in college football.

At Our Esquina, where we amplify Latino voices in sports, arts and culture, we’re keeping track of all the Latinos playing college football. This is our weekly list of Latinos in college football. This is a look to see how they and their teams fared.  

We want to highlight their achievements and tell their stories during the season.

Here are our Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week.

Offensive Player of the Week, Zach Calzada 

Texas A&M junior quarterback Zach Calzada threw for three touchdowns, 285 yards and led the 18-point underdog Aggies to an upset win over No. 1 ranked Alabama. 

The previously unranked Aggies entered the home contest with confidence waning, having lost two straight games to Arkansas and Mississippi State.  The Aggies started the game hot and jumped out to a 14 point halftime lead. 

The Crimson Tide overcame that and another fourteen point deficit to eventually take a lead at 38-31 late with five minutes in the fourth quarter. 

The steely Calzada, a grandson of Cuban refugees, responded with four pass completions. The last one was a 25-yard touchdown to tie the game with three minutes remaining. A strong defensive effort forced the Crimson Tide to punt after just one set of downs and less than a minute off the clock. 

Calzada then led the Aggies on an eight play, 54-yard drive that ended with a 28-yard game-winning field goal by Seth Small. 

Latino Defensive Player of the Week José Ramirez

Eastern Michigan sophomore defensive end José Ramirez, a 6-foot-2, 251-pound from Lake Alfred, Fla., filled up the stat sheet against Miami of Ohio.

He had six tackles, one sack, a tackle for loss and five quarterback hurries. He also forced a fumble in the Eagles’ 13-12 homecoming win over Miami of Ohio. 

Latino Special Teams Player of the Week, Seth Small

Texas A&M kicker senior kicker Seth Small opened and capped the scoring for the Aggies in their victory over Alabama.

The son of a Mexico City native was peligroso, as he likes to say often in the morning on Game Day when his father Ricardo asks him how he feels.

Small was 2 for 2 on field goal attempts while also going perfect on his five PATs on a night his locker neighbor Zach Calzada starred.

Growing list of Latinos in College Football

Each week we hear of new Latinos College Football player. Last week we learned of Eastern Michigan’s Ramirez while watching him in person against Northern Illinois. 

This week, the new addition to our list is Jesus Echevarria, a defensive end at Washington State. Please let us know of other Latinos on college football rosters. 

Other noteworthy aspects of Latinos in College Football:

UTSA tight end sophomore Oscar Cardenas scored his first collegiate touchdown for the Roadrunners in a 52-46  win over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. The touchdown gave the undefeated Roadrunners a 24-21 lead just before halftime. The Roadrunners are tied with UTEP Miners atop the Conference USA West standings. UTSA’s athletic department is led by a Latina, Lisa Campos. 

Arizona State defensive line coach Robert Rodriguez was featured prominently during the Friday night ESPN broadcast of Sun Devils’ victory over Stanford. The Sun Devils also wore a Mayan- themed helmet during the game in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.

LAST NAME, FIRST NAME TEAM POSITION STATS TEAM RESULT
Aguilar, Luis NAU K BYE
Alonso, Mandy Virginia  DL 3 tackles, 2 solo, 1 TFL, 1 QB Hurry W, 34-33Louisville
Araiza, Matt  San Diego St. P/K FG- 1/1PAT- 4/4 W, 31-7New Mexico
Aranda, Dave  Baylor  Head Coach  W, 45-20West Virginia
Arias, Daniel  Colorado  WR  BYE
Arroyo, Elijah Miami (FL) TE BYE
Arroyo, Marcus UNLV Head Coach  BYE
Avalos, Andy Boise State Head Coach W, 26-17BYU
Aybar, Wilfredo Stanford LB NO STATS L, 28-10Arizona State
Banda, Ephraim  Utah State Def. Coord/Safeties BYE
Barr-Mira, Nicholas UCLA K FG- 2/2PAT- 4/4 W, 34-16Arizona
Borregales, Andrés Miami (FL) K BYE
Calzada, Zach Texas A&M QB 21-31, 285 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT
2 rushes, 12 yds. 
W, 41-38Alabama 
Camarena, Evan  Portland State CB 3 tackles L, 42-35Idaho
Canales, Mike “Chico” Maryland  Analyst  L, 66-17Ohio State 
Cardenas, Oscar UTSA TE 2 rec., 19 yds., 1 TD W, 52-46Western Kentucky
Cavazos, Lejond Ohio State  CB 1 tackle  W, 66-17Maryland 
Coley, James Texas A&M TE Coach W, 41-38Alabama
Corral, Matt Ole Miss  QB 14/21, 287 yds., 2 TD
15 rushes, 94 yds., 2 TD
W, 52-51Arkansas 
Corrales, Beau  North Carolina WR NO STATS L, 35-25Florida State
Cristobal, Mario  Oregon  Head Coach BYE
Cropper, Jalen  Fresno St.  WR BYE
Cruz, Gunner  Arizona   QB 4/7, 48 yds, 1 rush, -7 yds. L, 34-16UCLA
Davila, Peter Albany  DB Coach  L, 31-24William & Mary
Diaz, Manny Miami (FL) Head Coach  BYE
Echevarria, Jesus  Washington St.  DL 2 tackles W, 31-24Oregon State
Escobar, Alex  NM State RB 1 rush, 0 yds.2 rec., 20 yds.  L, 55-28Nevada
Escobar, Ivan  NM State DL NO STATS L, 55-28Nevada
Fernandez, Aaron  Southern Utah RGC/OL L, 41-20Sacramento State 
Figueroa, Nick  USC DL 4 tackles, 2 solo W, 42-26Utah
Flores, Joah New Mexico  WR NO STATS L, 31-7San Diego State
Flores, Justin  Maine  WR coach  L, 33-23Elon
Fuente, Justin  Virginia Tech  Head Coach  L, 32-29Notre Dame
Flores, Reynaldo UTEP RB 1 rush, 8 yds. 
4 rec., 48 yds.
W, 26-13Southern Miss
Garcia, Elijah  Rice  DL BYE
Garcia, Jake  Miami (FL) QB BYE
Garcia, Julio UNLV OL BYE
Garcia, Xavier  Temple  Def. GA W, 52-3Cincinnati
Garcia- Castaneda, Isaiah  NM State WR 5 rec., 76 yds. L, 55-28Nevada
Gonzalez, Billy  Florida WR/ Passing Game Coord.  L, 42-0Vanderbilt
Gonzales, Christian  Colorado CB BYE
Gonzales, Danny  New Mexico  Head Coach W, 31-7San Diego State
Gonzales, Paul TCU Safeties Coach  L, 52-31Texas Tech
Gutierrez, Daniel  UNLV K BYE
Hernandez, Dan Eastern Illinois  OL Coach BYE
Hernandez, Zach  Cal Poly  DB NO STATS L, 45-7Montana State
Infante, Gabe  Temple RB Coach L, 52-3Cincinnati
Jackson, Jim  Rice  TE Coach  BYE
Longoria, Esai Montana Tech OL Total Offense- 253 yds.  L, 28-23College of Idaho
Loya, Logan  UCLA WR NO STATS W, 34-16Arizona 
Lozano, Alex Portland State LB 3 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack L, 42-35Idaho
Madrigal, Anthony  San Jose St. LB NO STATS L, 32-14Colorado State 
Magana, Jorge  Montana Tech LB NO STATS L, 27-23College of Idaho
Maldonado, Dino NM State QB NO STATS L, 55-28Nevada
Maldonado, Gunner  Arizona  Safety 5 tackles, 1 INT W, 34-16UCLA
Martinez, Adrian  Nebraska  QB 18-28, 291 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT
8 rushes, 38 yds., 1 TD
L, 32-29Michigan
Martinez, Cameron  Ohio State  SAF 1 tackle W, 66-17Maryland 
Martinez, RJ NAU QB BYE
Martinez, Marc Tarleton St.  LB coach BYE
Martinez, Willie  Tennessee CB coach  W, 45-20South Carolina
Mateos, Eric  Baylor  OL W, 45-20West Virginia
Matthews, Jesse San Diego State  WR 1 rec., 6 yds.  W, 31-7New Mexico
Mejia, Christian  Washington St.  DL NO STATS W, 31-24Oregon State
Melo, Lucas  Davenport University  Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line W, 18-13Northern Michigan
Mendez, Julian  Ottawa University  Offensive Coordinator  W, 37-14University of St. Mary
Mirabal, Alex Oregon  OL Coach  BYE
Montano, Abraham  Fresno State K BYE
Montero, Antonio Rice LB BYE
Morales, Kamari  North Carolina  TE 1 rec., 21 yds, 1 TD L, 35-25Florida State
Navarro, Jaime  San Jose St.  OL Total Offense- 267 yds.  L, 32-14Colorado State
Navarro, Juan  NCCU  DL Coach L, 27-16Tennessee Tech
Navarro, Donny  Illinois  WR 1 rec., 16 yds. L, 24-0Wisconsin
Nunez, Jay Eastern Michigan Sp. TeamsAssoc. HC W, 13-12Miami (OH)
Olave, Chris  Ohio State WR 7 rec., 120 yds, 2 TD W, 66-17Maryland 
Ornelas, Jesse Central Oklahoma  RB Coach W, 49-9Northeastern State 
Ortega, Josh  UTEP DE 2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QB Hurry W, 26-13Southern Miss
Ortega- Jones, Julian  Texas St.  WR  NO STATS W, 33-31South Alabama
Ortiz, Angel Ottawa Univ. (AZ) WR Coach W, 48-6Texas College
Pacheco, Isaih Rutgers RB 11 rushes, 47 yds.

L, 31-13Michigan State
Padilla, David Charleston Southern  Ass’t AD for Football L, 31-24Robert Morris 
Pagan, Justice  Portland State LB NO STATS L, 42-35Idaho
Perales, David  Fresno State DL BYE
Ponce, Frank  Appalachian State  Offensive Coordinator  BYE
Ramirez, José Eastern Michigan DE 6 tackles, 3 solo, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 5 QB Hurries, 1 forced fumble  W, 13-12Miami (OH)
Ramirez, Manny  Texas Southern OL Coach  W, 35-31Southern 
Regalado, Marco Washington State Director of On-Campus Recruiting W, 31-24Oregon State
Restrepo, Xavier Miami (FL) WR BYE
Reveles, Miguel La Verne Offensive Coordinator L, 51-7Redlands 
Rivas, Eddie  Texas State OL Total Offense- 400 yds.  W, 33-21South Alabama 
Rivas- Sandoval, Cesar Southeastern University  Head Coach L, 34-10Ave Maria 
Rodriguez, Anthony  Portland State TE 1 rec., 2 yds.  L, 42-35Idaho
Rodriguez, Chris  Kentucky  RB 16 CAR, 147 YDS, 1 TD
1 rec., 3 yds., 1 TD
W, 42-21LSU
Rodriguez, Drew Towson St.  QB coach W, 21-14Stony Brook
Rodriguez, Jacob Virginia  RB 1 rush, 1 yard2 rec., 13 yds.  W, 34-33Louisville
Rodriguez, Joel FIU OL coach  L, 45-33Charlotte
Rodriguez, Juan  Fresno State  TE BYE
Rodriguez, Justin  UTSA RB NO STATS W, 52-46Western Kentucky
Rodriguez, Malcolm Oklahoma St. LB BYE
Rodriguez, Oscar Akron Assoc. HC/ ILB W, 35-20Bowling Green
Rodriguez, Robert  Arizona St. DL coach W, 28-10Stanford 
Rojas, Manny  Delaware  Def. Coordinator L, 22-15Rhode Island
Rubio, Cruz  Cal Poly  LS NO STATS L, 45-7Montana State
Sanchez, Angel Montana Tech CB 1 tackles, 2 Pass Breakups L, 27-23College of Idaho
Santa Cruz, Victor  Hawaii  Defensive Ends coach BYE
Santana, Bryce  New Mexico DE NO STATS W, 31-7San Diego State
Santana, JuanCarlos  Tulsa  WR 1 rec., 11 yds.  W, 35-29Memphis 
Segura, Justin  NM State DL NO STATS L, 55-28Nevada
Silva, Cesar  Fresno State K BYE
Small, Seth Texas A&M  K FG- 2/2, PAT- 2/2 W, 41-38Alabama
Sori-Marin, Mariano Minnesota  LB BYE
Soto, Anthony Lenoir-Rhyne  Offensive Coordinator/ /OL W, 38-31Tusculum 
Steele, Chris  USC CB 1 tackle, 1 pass defended L, 42-26Utah
Umana, Orlando  Ole Miss OL 611 total yards W, 52-51Arkansas
Velazquez, Alonzo Wyoming  OL Total Offense- 257 yds. L, 24-14Air Force
Ybarra, Austin Montana Tech LB NO STATS L, 27-23College of Idaho

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