Recapping early signing day for Latino Football All-Americans
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José de Jesus Ortiz, Founder & Editor in Chief
- December 21, 2023
Top QB Caleb Sanchez is still considering options
In Midland, Texas, gunslinger Marcos Davila paid a tearful tribute to his late grandfather before signing with Purdue. Out in Hollywood, you knew there would be a Mexican flag when stud defensive back Marquis Gallegos signed with USC on early signing day.
Most of Our Esquina’s 2023 High School Football All-Americans signed letters of intent on early signing day. A great majority of them ended up in Power Five conferences. At least one, St. John Bosco star Peyton Woodyard, is already practicing with a powerhouse preparing for the College Football Playoffs.
One of the most touching moments of early signing day happened in Midland, where Davila remembered his late grandfather Buddy. Davila set the Midland Legacy High career passing yards record in late September on the same night his grandfather died.
“I really tried to dedicate that season to him,” Davila said of his late grandfather while speaking at his signing ceremony at Legacy High. “I gave everything I could.”
From Midland Legacy to the Big Ten
Davila, a three-year starter at Legacy, signed with Purdue. He threw for more than 9,100 yards and 100 touchdowns during his stellar high school career, leading his school to three of their last six consecutive district titles.
Sierra Canyon High defensive back Marquis Gallegos carried a Mexican flag to all of his official visits during the recruiting process. From USC to Texas A&M and Michigan and Notre Dame, Gallegos made sure to take a picture with the Mexican flag on those trips.
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So naturally, perhaps, Marquis’ father Samuel paid tribute to his family’s Mexican roots during Marquis’ signing ceremony. Samuel Gallegos’ family settled in the San Fernando Valley after arriving from Guadalajara, Mexico.
Samuel Gallegos wore a black T-shirt with the interlocking SC in Mexico’s green, white and red with the famous eagle atop a cactus in the middle.
Early signing day a mere formality of Woodyard
Hard-hitting safety Peyton Woodyard didn’t wait for early signing day to join his new school. Woodyard graduated from St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) early and joined Alabama for bowl preparations.
The 6-foot-2, 188-pounder arrived in Tuscaloosa, Al., over the weekend. He is already practicing with the Crimson Tide.
Woodyard was a rare four-year starter at St. John Bosco, a perennial national power. His starting quarterback Caleb Sanchez is still mulling over his college choices after earning the Trinity League MVP Award.
Sanchez, who has Salvadoran and Filipino roots, recently received an offer from Columbia University. Multiple Ivy League schools are recruiting Sanchez, who led the Braves to the Trinity League title and CIF Southern Section championship game as a senior.
Sanchez carries a 4.0 GPA. He is not likely to pick his college destination during the early signing period.
Where they signed:
- Ayden Gutierrez WR, Damian La Verne, Calif., 5-foot-11, 180-pounds signed with Eastern Washington.
- Samir Camacho, OT, Cy Falls (Houston) High, 6-foot-3.5, 281 pounds, signed with TCU.
- Johann Cardenas, RB, St. Thomas (Texas), 6-foot, 215 pounds, signed with Vanderbilt.
- Ivan Carreon, WR, Odessa (Texas), 6-foot-6, 196 pounds, signed with Oklahoma.
- Alonzo Contreras, QB, Calabasas (Calabasas, Calif.), 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, signed with San Jose State.
- Daniel Cruz, OL, Richland High (Texas), 6-foot-3.5, 295 pounds, signed with Texas.
- Marcos Davila, QB, Midland (Texas) Legacy, 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, signed with Purdue.
- Isaiah Garcia, OT, Cyprus High in Magna, Utah, 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, signed with Utah.
- Peter Gonzalez, WR, Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) 6-foot-2.5, signed with Penn State.
- Jose Leon, WR, Columbus (Miami), 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, committed to Appalachian State.
- Juan Minaya, OT, Paramus Catholic (Paramus, N.J.), 6-foot-6, 335 pounds, committed to Miami.
- Charles Correa, LB, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 6-foot-2, 230, signed with UNLV.
- Marquis Gallegos, S, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, signed with USC.
- Maddox Gonzalez, OT, Standish-Sterling Central (Mich.) 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, signed with Eastern Michigan.
- Mateo Rodriguez, OT, Chandler (Arizona) High, 6-foot-5, 275 pounds, signed with New Mexico State.
- Manuel Serna, OT, Clayton Valley (Concord, Calif.), 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, signed with San Jose State.
- Nicholas Rodriguez, LB, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, signed with Missouri.
- Willie Rodriguez, TE, Covington Catholic (Alexandria, Kentucky), 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, signed with Kentucky.
- Peyton Woodyard, S, St. John Bosco, 6-foot-2, 188 pounds, committed to Alabama.
Unsigned Our Esquina All-Americans
- James Diaz, WR, Tucson High, 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, uncommitted.
- Richard Muñoz, ATH, Bishop Amat (La Puente, Calif.) 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, uncommitted.
- David Perez, IOL, Downey (Calif.), 6-foot-3, 275 pounds), uncommitted.
- Eduardo Saldaña, OL, Servite, 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, uncommitted.
- Caleb Sanchez, QB, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, uncommitted.
- Ruben Gamboa, S, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, uncommitted.
- Jordan Ochoa, Edge, Castle View (Castle Rock, Col.), 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, unsigned.
- Juan Rodriguez, OL, Salesian (Los Angeles), 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, uncommitted.
- Devin Sanchez, DB, Galena Park (Texas) North Shore, 6-foot-2, 179 pounds, Class of 2025 uncommitted. Sanchez has announced that he will declare his commitment on Jan. 6.
- Zeus Venegas, DL, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 6-foot-4, 255 pounds, uncommitted.
- Jonathan Dimas, K, Westfield High, Texas, 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, uncommitted.
José de Jesus Ortiz
Founder & Editor in Chief
Award-winning writer José de Jesus Ortiz, a former lead sports columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has covered Major League Baseball since 1997 in Los Angeles, St. Petersburg, New York and Houston. He was the first Latino to serve as president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
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