Browns recognize Yaleiska Diaz and Breylen Garza as nominees for the 2026 NFL Latino Youth Honors

Ohio high school standouts Yaleiska Diaz and Breylen Garza were selected as the Browns’ representatives for an NFL program that spotlights athletic and academic achievement.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Cleveland Browns honored two Ohio high school student athletes as their nominees for the 2026 NFL Latino Youth Honors during the team’s home opener at Huntington Bank Field on Sept. 27 against the Carolina Panthers. Yaleiska Diaz and Breylen Garza were invited to participate in the pregame tunnel experience as part of the recognition.

Garza, a quarterback and punter for Fremont High School, served as the game’s Flag Captain. He stood in the tunnel and handed a Browns flag to a player as Cleveland entered the field. After the run-out, Diaz, who plays multiple positions for Campbell Memorial High School, returned the flag as the Flag Receiver in the Dawg Pound and waved it to help build excitement for the crowd.

Diaz was recognized for her athletic production and academic involvement. The Browns’ release says she was voted captain of the girls’ flag football team and also leads other programs at school, while she contributes off the field through community service, volunteering with local food pantries, and tutoring English learners. Her on-field resume listed in the team’s announcement includes last season’s total of three interceptions, two rushing touchdowns, two receiving touchdowns, and one passing touchdown.

Garza’s nomination also centered on his blend of sports and community involvement. According to the Browns, he plays on the baseball team, works as a referee for youth basketball and flag football, and helps care for younger family members while his mother works late shifts. The release notes his nomination journey began with an unexpected text after practice from a school athletic administrator.

The NFL Latino Youth Honors process, as described by the Browns, works by having each of the league’s 32 teams select one male and one female high school senior football player. A panel then names eight finalists, and both winners (one male and one female) will receive invitations to the Hispanic Heritage Foundation National Youth Awards.

Financial and development opportunities also follow the selection. The Browns said the two winning nominees receive $25,000 grants, with $5,000 grants going to the other six finalists, and all eight nominees participating in events in Inglewood, California, during Super Bowl LXI Week for mentorship and resources toward future sports-industry careers.

Why It Matters

The recognition underscores how the NFL Latino Youth Honors ties athletic performance to academic and community involvement at the high school level.
For Cleveland, the pregame spotlight places local student-athletes at a public, league-visible moment, aligning the Browns’ community efforts with a national program.
The finalists’ Super Bowl week events create a pathway for mentorship aimed at future careers in the sports industry, not just on-field achievement.
The program’s structure provides a clear pathway from team nominee to division-level finalist, culminating in national awards and major grants.

Sources

Key Facts

The Browns’ 2026 NFL Latino Youth Honors nominees are Yaleiska Diaz (female) and Breylen Garza (male), selected from Ohio high school programs.
Diaz was featured as the Flag Receiver during the Browns’ Sept. 27 home opener tunnel run, while Garza served as the Flag Captain.
The Browns’ release describes Diaz as a multi-position player at Campbell Memorial High School and highlights tutoring work for English learners and volunteering with local food pantries.
The Browns’ release describes Garza as a quarterback and punter at Fremont High School and highlights his involvement refereeing youth sports and caring for younger family members.
Each NFL team selects one male and one female high school senior football player to represent the team for the NFL Latino Youth Honors, followed by a panel selecting eight finalists.
According to the Browns, the program provides grants ($25,000 to winners, $5,000 to other finalists) and includes Super Bowl LXI Week events in Inglewood, California.