USC’s football team is off to a 4-0 winning start for its second season in the Big Ten conference. Last year, the team battled through the first season in a new division, with a focus on recruiting new talent and staff. Amongst the 19 recruits brought in to give the team a fighting chance in the Midwest, one stood out in particular.
Redshirt-Freshman safety Marquis Gallegos continues to block obstacles both on and off the field. Gallegos came to SC as a four-star recruit from Chatsworth, California after having an impressive high school career that resulted in 27 collegiate offers and numerous awards. His was named in nearly every honors football team in California during his junior season at Chaminade High School.
These included the 2022 CalHi Sports All-State First Team and the 2022 MaxPreps California All-State, as well as three MVP selections.
Gallegos committed to USC the summer before his senior year at Sierra Canyon High School.
His college tour gained special attention for a unique reason–his continuous display of the Mexican flag.
As he toured the country, La Bandera followed close behind, typically draped around or hung proudly in front of his shoulders. The move showcased more than just pride in his Mexican heritage, it served as a statement– Latinos in football are here and ready to stay.
His tour also served as a nod to the rising shift in football demographics as 70% of Latinos consider themselves football fans according to Marissa Solis, a senior vice president of global brand and consumer marketing at the NFL. “The power and influence that the Latino community represents is awesome for the league and for the sport,” Solis said on an NFL panel in 2024. More and more Latinos are tuning in to see games, U.S. Latino viewership grew by 11% in 2023.
Fan engagement is undoubtedly growing alongside the NFL’s strides to create more cultural connections, but on the field, only 20 NFL players self-identified as Latino during the 2023 season.
Gallegos and his family are trying to change that.
LA EDUCACION
After graduating from high school a semester early, Gallegos enrolled as a freshman at USC- a school that both he and his parents believe will provide him with the best education and opportunities for his future on either side of the ball. His enrollment for the spring semester allowed him to transition into college life and attend spring practices with his teammates.
Education is at the forefront of the Gallegos’ vision for their children. “You know, just being at USC, a high academic school, that’s more of the goal than then being a division one athlete. And we’re trying to show him that they [Marquis and his brother Issac] are both in college. That’s the important part,” said Kenny Gallegos, Marquis’ mother. “Football does open the doors for the opportunities to go to different schools and have different experiences, but the goal is a part of the education.”
Before committing to SC, Marquis and his family toured schools across the country in order for him to envision his future in uniform and the classroom. After narrowing down the list to his top three: Michigan, USC and Notre Dame, the family evaluated where he would thrive best.
USC stood out for various reasons.
As a SoCal native, the idea of playing in his hometown was enticing and exciting. USC offered Marquis opportunities to show out for his communities on the field and in the classroom. The Latine alumni network at USC has also been a vital piece in helping his transition to college, from advice and mentorship to support in the stands of the Coliseum during games.
Ultimately, the decision was clear for the Southern California native. Marquis chose to stay home and play for the school he had fostered a strong connection with after meeting with head coach Lincoln Riley numerous times and forming bonds with the staff and alumni. The decision also introduced him to USC’s defensive coaching team led by then-newly hired Defensive Coordinator, D’Anton Lynn.
During high school, Marquis played under two different coaches at two different schools. Before Sierra Canyon, Gallegos spent three years at Chaminade High School helping the Eagles as a starting safety. His adaptability was a perfect fit for a school undergoing a football department rebuild.
“He’s gonna continue to develop and grow…The coaching staff at USC got a great product with him, but they’re gonna develop and make him even better and I’m just really looking forward to seeing you know how high his ceiling can be because I think he’s got unbelievable potential,” said Jon Ellinhouse, Marquis’ football head coach during his senior year at Sierra Canyon.
ON THE FIELD
Last April, Trojan fans got a preview of what the safety could provide the team during USC’s annual spring game where he, alongside the rest of the defense, competed against the offensive players. There, he showed flashes of potential including a textbook clean solo tackle, holding Xavier Jordan to a gain of only nine yards–his first of what can be expected to be many.
The tackle was a result of Gallegos’ ability to scan the field, identify a gap in coverage, and quickly rectify it. He provided group assistance to two other tackles holding the offense to less than a total of 15 yards gained while he was on the field.
The safety also saw playing time during USC’s first home game of the last season against Utah State. In the fourth quarter Gallegos earned his first official collegiate assist with a group tackle, a sneak peek into what Gallegos can offer the team currently rebuilding for success.
This season, Gallegos’ development has shone.
During USC’s home-opener against Missouri State, he was brought in the third quarter to make defensive plays and maintain the Trojan’s lead. He was a part of three main tackles against Missouri’s offense.
After the game, Lynn named Gallegos as a defensive player that stood out in the second half. On second down, Gallegos recorded a tackle for loss of yards. Then on third down, he split two blockers and delivered a low hit on a screen pass. His skills on the field and progress in practice hasn’t gone unnoticed by staff and his teammates.
“He’s just getting better every single day, and you can tell,” fellow safety Chirstian Pierce told Sports Illustrated. “Just like on Saturday, he just attacks the ball, and he’s a physical player, so he’s been doing great.”
LA CULTURA
Besides his potential to become a star at USC, Gallegos stands out for another reason: his passion for his culture and history.
Growing up he was raised with both his Salvadoran and Mexican heritage. It’s something he’s highlighted throughout social media campaigns, Name Image and Likeness (NIL) deals and volunteering.
Upon joining the football team, Gallegos signed with Optimal Sports Management, a full-service NFL agency representing football players in their on and off-field business strategies and NIL deals, founded by Latine USC alum Christopher Gil.
Through Optimal Sports Management, Gallegos has his own merchandise line of t-shirts, highlighting his personal brand and Latinidad. The t-shirt designs feature the Salvadoran and Mexican flags on the sleeves, as well as Gallegos’ logo. He is continuing to build his brand and connection with fans.
“La Raza will rally around him and he’s got such a big fan base here. Everytime I go to campus, there’s kids lining up at the Coliseum, whether it’s after the game or on the sidelines waiting for him outside to autograph merchandise and the Mexican flag.” says his agent Gil.
In January, Gallegos showcased his roots and personal heroes in celebration of the premiere of Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World. In a collaboration between Disney and LatiNation, Gallegos hosted a social media campaign El Capitán: NFL Finest Crew. The campaign channeled the film’s themes of resilience and leadership by featuring standout Latino football players, showcasing the same qualities that define Captain America.
“Today, we celebrate our Latino heroes in football who embody what it means to be a team player. Football has always been a huge passion of mine, and I’m proud to play safety for my college team. One of my biggest inspirations is Fred Warner,” says Gallegos.
LA FAMILIA
The 20-year-old credits his family’s connection with the sport as one of the main reasons he fell in love with the game. To the Gallegoses, family is everything. His family is no stranger to making waves in sports. His father Samuel and his uncle Ricky Gamboa Sr. come from a long line of athletes and have made their own marks in California.
Mr. Gallegos explains how the family found football, starting with his own uncles’ journey. “The whole family [uncles] played semi-pro and pro soccer in Mexico and started a soccer league when they came from Mexico. Soccer wasn’t that big here [USA] so we all kind of gravitated towards American football. We played in high school and went into coaching,” he said. Gamboa Sr. runs a private coaching business which Marquis and his siblings use for outside training during high school and the summer.
Another one of Marquis’ inspirations is none other than his older brother Issac, who played at New Mexico State University. This brotherhood is a driving force in Marquis’ motivations to excel in both football and life. “He’s kind of pretty much worked harder in anything he does, just for that attention, just trying to get our attention. If it was in sports, school, or anything else, you know, he’s always been trying to live up to whatever his older brother [Issac] was doing,” says his father.
His family’s history with the sport strengthens his passion, and his parents support gives him a foundation to succeed beyond the stadium.
“We’re just talking numbers about the probabilities and the percentages of, you know, football players and athletes that play division one football…When you get down to Latinos, or Hispanics that do the same, we’re talking about a very, very, very small percentage. It’s ridiculous. So I want him to know that he’s kind of representing a very small percentage of people, but he should also enjoy himself,” says his father.
“These are these experiences, whether it’s a tough experience, it’s hard work. It’s fun, everything. It’s all part of the overall experience that I wish he will always look back and enjoy this part of his life.”