By PETE BANDA
Special to the NEWS
Andres Villagran can still pinpoint the exact moment he knew he wanted to play football at the next level. The San Benito native was in the seventh grade and had just competed in a Regional showcase for offensive skill positions.
Despite a strong showing, Villagran was not invited to the final round of competition reserved for the cream of the crop of gunslingers. Sitting in a car with his dad, whom Villagran calls his best friend and first trainer, the quarterback made a proclamation that would change his life.
“It was a Thursday afternoon in the spring and I was a little dejected because I didn’t get invited back and I knew I had the talent to be there,” said Villagran. “I turned to my dad and told him I was ready to do whatever it took to play college football. He immediately made a chart to show me how much extra work I would have to put in and we got to work.”
Five years later, Villagran’s plan came to fruition as he signed his official Letter of Intent to play quarterback at Henderson State University in Arkansas. Despite outlining his plan from a young age, the journey for Villagran was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. A member of the San Benito Varsity team as a Freshman, the strong-armed youngster was thrown in the fire from the start.
While in a loaded quarterback room, Villagran saw most of his action as a scout team player. Despite the limited playing time, the future Henderson State Reddie continued to turn heads at regional camps. It was an unlikely event that gave Villagran the break he needed.
“My dad has been a businessman my whole life and he just happened to have a business opportunity up north before my senior year,” Villagran recalled. “I transferred schools and got some more playing time that really opened a lot of doors for me.”
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