The month of April is big for the National Football League, as the annual player selection process takes place. Over hundreds of athletes are looked at and scouted, but only 257 players are selected across the 32 teams in the league.

It does not matter what level you play in; any team can select a player to improve their team for the following season. And one Ashland Eagle is declaring for the draft, to try and make his dream a reality.

Senior safety, Izzy Vazquez, declared for the 2026 NFL Draft back on Jan 25, 2026, via his Instagram. Vazquez did not originally start with the sport of football; however, he was on a different journey compared to others to get to where he is today.

“Baseball was always my main sport growing up, and I played a little basketball on the side,” Vazquez said. “[On the court], I was always aggressive and physical, and one my teammate’s dads, who coached a football team, noticed that.”

That teammate’s dad told Vazquez’s mom he should give football a try. And the game has stuck with him ever since he was 11 years old.

However, Vazquez did not start his college career at Ashland. He was first enrolled at Portland State University, then transferred to Ashland before the 2025 season.

He entered the transfer portal, but with eligibility issues he was unaware of, and losing scholarship opportunities, Vazquez turned from the FBS level to Division II with help from his former high school coach.

“I stayed in communication with Donzale Ashley,” Vazquez explained. “Once I realized [Division II] was the best path forward… I knew Ashland was where I was meant to be.”

Ashley spent the last three years on the coaching staff at Ashland, but before that he attended AU as a student and a football player from 2013-2016. Before he returned to coach at his alma mater, Ashley attended the Washington Redskins rookie minicamp in 2016.

“From Portland State to finishing his career at Ashland,” commented Ashley. “He just needed the opportunity to showcase [his talent] again.”

Whether it is on or off the field, Vazquez’s work ethic and attitude can be felt whenever he is around football.

“[He] is a cerebral player, that combined with his film study, lets him play ‘in front of the curve’ on gameday,” Ashland University Head Football Coach Doug Geiser said describing what kind of player Vazquez is. “He seemingly knows what the offense is going to run before they run it.”

Through his development of becoming the best player he could be, Vazquez was quick to thank one person to get where he is, that being his mother. He described her as “believing in him before anyone else did.”

“[She] pushed me with a level of confidence that made me believe I was great even before I fully saw it myself,” Vazquez said. “Her energy and faith in me led the foundation for everything.”

But every career has some low points as well with the high ones. Vazquez talked about his mental and emotional struggles with the transfer portal. He was receiving phone calls from schools that showed interest, only to pull scholarships back.

Vazquez talked about his decision to enter the portal “backfired’ on him and “felt like being broken up with over and over again.” All he wanted was “a fair opportunity.”

“That low point made what came next even more meaningful, being given the opportunity to play at Ashland,” Vazquez said. “I found myself surrounded by coaches and teammates who genuinely cared about me not just as a player but as a person.”

Even though being selected to the NFL is not always a guarantee, Ashland University football coaches gave their input on why any team should use one of their picks on Izzy.

“Teams are always looking for players who can make plays, especially at the safety position,” Geiser said. “Izzy is definitely that.”

“For a versatile safety who can play in the box, rotate to the post, and lead the secondary, Izzy is your guy,” said Ashley. “He may come from a smaller school, but he plays the game at a high level and has the mindset of a Division I player.”

Vazquez is trying to pave the way for more athletes from the Division II level to prove themselves at the NFL level. His advice though, is “to treat everything with the same intensity and commitment you give to your sport.”

He wants every athlete to know that they can get better even when practice is not happening. “You should be pushing yourself to improve by 2% each day,” Vazquez stated. “Over time, that consistent effort makes all the difference.”

Vazquez finished the 2025 season with 64 total tackles, with 29 of those being solo tackles and three of them being tackles for loss.

He also recorded three interceptions and three pass break ups. And also, being named to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference second team.

He will have to wait for the three-day NFL draft process starting on April 23 in Pittsburgh, PA, to see if his dream will become a reality. But no matter what happens, Vazquez made a small town in Ohio proud, and knows he just needs one opportunity to make an impact.