Iowa receiver Tony Diaz capitalizes on mom’s sacrifices

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Jessica Diaz pulled herself out of bed to go to work regardless of the conditions. She knew that aside from the help from her older brother Eric Diaz, she rarely had any help raising Iowa receiver Tony Diaz and his two siblings. 

She often started work early in the morning and ended late in the evening after picking up an extra shift. The single mother knew there was no stopping.

“It was a lot of working day and night, trying to get overtime, making bills, trying to make sure I’m present,” Jessica Diaz said. “Just trying to make sure everybody has clothes on their backs and shoes on their feet.”

After the birth of Jessica Diaz’s youngest child Tony, she and her kids moved in with Eric in Austin, Texas. Jessica worked as an operations manager at a department store doing back office work.

“We all played almost every sport, so she had to buy all the gear for that and drive us to tournaments and games and everything,” said Tony Diaz, who is set to make his Iowa debut Saturday. “She just gave so much to us, and hopefully I make it to the (National Football) League, and give that back to her.”

Uncle Eric Diaz played crucial role

Once Eric taught Tony how to catch a football and he joined a team at 5 years old, it became a punishment for him to sit still. His first team was the SAO Scorpions in Austin.

Although Jessica worked a lot, she made it a priority to be present at her children’s activities.

She doesn’t remember missing any of her kids’ games, and she doesn’t want to start now that he is set to play for the Hawkeyes. She plans to be at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday for Iowa’s opener against Northern Illinois.

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“There are really no words to describe her,” Eric says of Jessica. “I couldn’t have asked for a better parent for those kids.”

By the time Tony was old enough for elementary school, Jessica had saved enough money to buy her own place around an hour south in San Marcos. However, that didn’t mean the job got any easier. 

She still worked relentlessly to support her family while balancing being present as a mom. 

Tony Diaz inherited his mother’s work ethic and fighting spirit. The 5-foot-10, 184-pound junior also has his mother’s perseverance.

From lightly recruited to Big Ten

Tony thrived on the football field at San Marcos High. He was a First Team All-District pick at wide receiver and a Second Team All-District defensive back. Tony Diaz also competed on the varsity basketball, baseball and track programs his senior year at San Marcos High. 

Despite making 95 catches for 2,216 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns at San Marcos High, he drew interest only from West Point after graduating in 2024. 

Instead, he enrolled at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, which was barely starting a football program in the Football Championship Subdivision. UTRGV played weekly intersquads during Diaz’s first season.

“Tony’s story really is interesting because their program started two years ago,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz told reporters in March. “Here’s a guy that didn’t play. He practiced every day but didn’t play.

“I don’t know if we’ve ever had a player that could say that. It’s rare when a program opens but doesn’t play.”

Tony Diaz used that time to get stronger, bigger, faster. 

Then as a redshirt freshman last season, he racked up 68 receptions for 875 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Diaz led the Vaqueros to the winningest inaugural season for any first year program, finishing their season 9-3.

Jumping from Southland Conference

Diaz was named an AP Freshman of the Year Honorable Mention. He was also named the Southland Conference Freshman of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection.

“Nothing was given to that kid, I promise you that,” Eric Diaz says of Tony. “He’s earned every little bit of anything he’s ever got in his life, and I’ll put that on everything that I love.” 

Two years after no major college program showed interest, Diaz was one of most sought after wide receivers in the transfer portal. He eventually chose Iowa a day before he was set to visit perennial power Alabama.

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Many hoped to see him at the annual open spring scrimmage but due to minor injuries the week prior, Diaz did not make an appearance. While fans were left waiting for their first glimpse of the new recruit, coaches already knew what they had.

“Last year he really caught the ball,” Ferentz said. “I’m a dumb line coach, but the receiver’s first job is to catch the ball, and he likes to catch balls. No matter where they’re at, he’ll find a way to catch it. He runs well and he has a great attitude.”

This Saturday, Jessica Diaz won’t be picking up an extra shift or looking for overtime. She’ll be in attendance along with nearly 70,000 others to watch Tony Diaz catch the ball for the first time in the black and gold.