For Austin Alvarez, the road to college football has been anything but traditional. It’s a journey shaped by constant movement, personal challenges, self-reliance, and an unwavering belief in chasing something bigger—no matter how long it took to be seen.
Born in Las Vegas, Alvarez’s early years were marked by frequent relocations. His family moved from Texas to Beatty, back to Texas, then to Death Valley, before finally settling in Pahrump when he was just four years old. Life at home was far from easy, with his parents separating during those early years, leaving Alvarez, his sister, and his father to navigate a difficult stretch together.
“We were just staying in Pahrump, me and my sister and my dad,” Alvarez said. “My dad was chasing his music goals, and I didn’t even have any ambitions of sports or anything because we were struggling.”
That sense of uncertainty followed him into childhood, but at eight years old, something shifted. Sitting in the living room with his father, a simple question changed the direction of his life.
Sitting in the living room with his dad around the age of eight, Alvarez remembers watching football on television when the idea was first introduced.
“He was just like, ‘You want to play football, dude?’” Alvarez said.
That moment sparked the interest. The two bought a football and began tossing it around, running routes together in the yard. But before that interest could fully develop into organized play, life shifted again. Due to financial challenges, Alvarez and his siblings went to live with their mom, as his dad was unable to support the cost and commitment that came with raising children.
It was his mom who ultimately made football a reality.
“She put me into football when I was eight years old with the youth program out here,” Alvarez said.
From that point on, she became the steady presence in his life, raising him through his formative years in Pahrump and supporting his early football journey. What started as a spark with his dad turned into something much deeper once he stepped onto the field.
“It was like the greatest thing,” he said. “That’s when my life took a turn in the right direction.”
Football quickly became more than just an activity—it became structure, accountability, and purpose.
“I used to get in trouble in school a lot,” Alvarez said. “When I started playing football, that went away. It was like my saving grace. The sport saved me.”
He would continue living with his mom and growing within the game until later, when he spent a year in Texas with his dad—an experience that would eventually play a major role in his development and exposure to higher-level competition.
“I was actually going to quit football and just be a full-time basketball player,” Alvarez said. “But I walked in to get my physical, and the football coach asked me if I wanted to play. I was like, ‘Alright, it’s Texas, I’ll just play and see what happens.’”
What happened next was eye-opening.
“I go into the first week of summer conditioning, and everyone is huge,” he said with a laugh. “There was this one guy, like 6’3”, 280 pounds. I was the same height as everyone, but I was skinny. It took a lot of work just to keep up.”
That work paid off quickly. Within two weeks, Alvarez earned a varsity spot at wide receiver in a competitive 5A Texas program—a moment that shifted his mindset entirely.
“My dad was like, ‘We need to be serious about this. We need to take the next steps,’” he said.
That’s when recruiting entered the picture. Alvarez and his father began navigating the process, signing up for platforms like NCSA and trying to build exposure. In Texas, much of the recruiting pipeline runs through schools, but when Alvarez returned to Pahrump for his junior year, the process became far more difficult.
“Out here, especially in Pahrump, you have to do everything on your own,” he explained. “I went to camps, posted my film everywhere, messaged coaches. It was a lot of work, and I didn’t hear anything back.”
For months, then years, there was silence.
“I didn’t get any feedback from any coaches,” Alvarez said. “Nothing. Until I got the offer. It was last minute, and it was so surprising. I was so excited.”
That opportunity came from Mayville State University, located in North Dakota. Within just a three-day window of communication, Alvarez made his decision.
“That was my dream,” he said. “It was right there, and I had to take it.”
At Mayville State, Alvarez hopes to transition into a running back role and continue developing his game at the collegiate level. But his ambitions stretch far beyond football.
“I want to study how to launch my own business,” he said. “I want to help people who get stuck in situations that mess up their lives—help them learn how to choose the right people, see red flags, build the right circle.”
It’s a goal deeply rooted in his own experiences. Without a consistent support system growing up, Alvarez learned early how important it is to surround yourself with the right people—and how difficult that can be.
“These last two years have been pretty individual,” he said. “I make my own money. I do whatever I can—yard work, odd jobs, anything to pay for gas and food.”
Through it all, a small group of close friends became his foundation.
“My friends are my biggest supporters because they know everything—my background, my struggles,” he said. “I keep my circle small, like four good friends.”
Among them are Bishop Carter, Joshua Slusher, Jacob Stepp, and Rhett Swaner—each playing a role in helping Alvarez stay grounded and focused. Swaner, in particular, shares a unique bond with him, having gone through similar challenges including a move across the country.
“He’s been my closest friend,” Alvarez said. “He’s gone through everything with me, right next to me.”
While his journey has been largely self-driven, Alvarez is quick to credit one figure who has consistently guided him: Thomas Walker.
“He’s been coaching me since I was 11, and he’s been the only solid male role model in my life,” Alvarez said. “He’s what developed me into the man I am today. I wouldn’t be where I am without him.”
He also points to Coach Toby Henry, whose knowledge of the recruiting process helped Alvarez navigate the complexities of reaching the next level.
“Coach Henry taught me everything about how to talk to coaches, what to do, what information I needed,” he said. “I had to do it all on my own, and that’s who I learned from.”
Now, with his commitment secured, Alvarez is looking ahead—not just to football, but to the opportunities that come with it.
“In Pahrump, there’s not a lot of work opportunity,” he said. “I’m excited to see what’s out there, to go to a city, to find ways to be successful. I know there’s more out there.”
He’s also considering joining the National Guard while attending college, with hopes of building both financial stability and a long-term career path alongside his education and football.
Through it all, Alvarez carries a message for younger athletes who may be in the same position he once was—working hard without recognition, waiting for a breakthrough that feels like it may never come.
“The biggest thing is to see it through and stay motivated,” he said. “You might not see anything back for a long time. But if you really want it, you have to keep going. It’s either you do or you don’t.”
For Alvarez, that mindset turned years of uncertainty into a life-changing opportunity—one built not on guarantees, but on grit, belief, and the refusal to give up when no one was watching.
