BROWNSVILLE — After a season like Bryan Chavez had, it is no surprise that the fullback would be picked up by a college.
Chavez, The Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro Player of the Year and District 16-5A DI Offensive Player of the Year, rushed for 1,721 yards and 34 touchdowns, and he caught another for a total of 35 touchdowns.
Chavez joined former Brownsville Veterans coach Kelley Lee when he signed Wednesday to join NCAA Division II Eastern New Mexico University. The Greyhounds play in the Lone Star Conference.
“Very excited to be able to go out there,” Chavez said. “I am going to go there, work hard, see what I can provide to the team and for myself.”
Chavez rushed for 415 yards and nine touchdowns in the Class 5A area-round game against Victoria West, and also helped the Chargers to a tri-district championship.
The senior fullback based his decision on his familiarity with Lee and even turned down a couple of other offers, he said.
“I am already used to the triple-option,” Chavez said. “I already know what is coming and what I need to work on to be able to prove what I can do in that offense.”
Lee, the Greyhounds’ coach, spent eight years as a coordinator and head coach at Eastern New Mexico before spending two years as the head coach of Brownsville Veterans, where he went 17-7.
“I feel like I am going to adapt to it really quick,” Chavez said. “I have an advantage knowing the offense. I just have to compete, compete, compete and work hard.”
Eastern New Mexico University is located in Portales, New Mexico, 105 miles west of Lubbock, Texas.