As the Browns ran out of the tunnel at Huntington Bank Field against the Panthers on Sept. 27, two Ohio high school football players helped with the entrance.
Breylen Garza served as the game's Flag Captain, where he stood in the tunnel and handed a Browns flag to a player before their entrance. Meanwhile, Yaleiska Diaz stood in the Dawg Pound and was the Flag Receiver, where she retrieved the flag after the Browns ran out of the tunnel and waved it around to hype up the crowd.
Both Diaz and Garza are the Browns' nominees for the 2026 NFL Latino Youth Honors, which recognizes outstanding high school football players for both athletic and academic excellence. The two, along with their families, were invited to the Browns' home opener against the Panthers after being surprised with their nominations. They also received a tour of CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Each of the NFL's 32 teams choose one male and one female high school senior football player to represent them for the NFL Latino Youth Honors. A panel then selects eight finalists, one from each division. Both the male and female winners will receive an invitation to the Hispanic Heritage Foundation National Youth Awards.
"It means everything to be nominated," Garza said. "A big thing is you don't have to be the best athlete, or the smartest, or the richest. Just being a kind person can take you a long way. Helping the youth or helping people in general can give you many opportunities."
After a Saturday morning football practice, Garza decided to take a nap in the afternoon. When he woke up and checked his phone, he had a text from Fremont High School Assistant Athletic Director Jordan Mackey, which was unusual — Mackey rarely texted Garza. But as soon as he looked at the text closer, which revealed that he was being recognized by the Browns, he was blown away.
"When I read it, I was like, 'This is insane.' This is going to be a great and awesome opportunity," Garza said.
At Fremont, Garza is an all-conference quarterback and punter for the football team and plays on the baseball team. When he is not on the field playing sports, Garza works as a referee for youth basketball and flag football games, an activity that he enjoys and keeps him around sports. He also helps take care of his younger sister and stepsister while his mother works late shifts.
While growing up, Garza learned part of his work ethic from his grandfather Art, who worked at a diner in Fremont, Ohio for nearly 20 years. Art would pick up different jobs at the diner, going to any length to support his family. The lessons Art taught Garza helped shape him into the person he is today.
"He showed that even though challenges may arise, keep going," Garza said. "Overcome life challenges and always have a positive mindset. Always think forward and never look back."
Diaz found out about her nomination when her flag football coach at Campbell Memorial High School, John Ryan — who had signed her up to play during the team's inaugural year in the spring of 2026 — called her down to his class. At first, Diaz couldn't believe it. But when Ryan showed Diaz proof, she couldn't contain her excitement and quickly told all her friends about the nomination.
"This honor, being here means a lot to me," Diaz said. "Especially being able to come out here and represent my community. I come from Campbell, a very small population but there a lot of Latinos that also live there. So, I feel like I'm helping bring recognition to us in Campbell. Having a sense of hope that we can come out here and be able to do a big thing."
Diaz was voted team captain of the girl's flag football team and plays running back, wide receiver and defensive back. She tallied three interceptions, two rushing touchdowns, two receiving touchdowns and one passing touchdown last season. Diaz was also voted the captain of the track and basketball teams.
Off the field, Diaz finds ways to be involved in her community, whether through volunteering with local food pantries or serving as a Victory Assembly Church youth group leader. At school, she is a tutor and teaches English to students that are learning English as a second language.
"That's important to me because when I first came here, I didn't know English and I would struggle a lot," Diaz said. "My mom would help me learn English and I would cry every day trying to learn it. So, it means a lot that I'm able to help younger kids learn while knowing that they have somebody next to them that's willing to teach them and make it easier for them."
The two winning nominees of the 2026 NFL Latino Youth Honors will receive a $25,000 grant while the six other finalists receive grants of $5,000. Each of the eight nominees will also participate in different events in Inglewood, Calif., during Super Bowl LXI Week, where they will be provided guidance, mentorship and resources to help them with future careers in the sports industry.
For more information, visit https://www.nfl.com/causes/latino-youth-honors/.
