Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School Football Season Preview

2025 Fall Football Season Preview: Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School

Offseason Focus: Growth in Every Way

At Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School, the offseason has been all about growth — physically and mentally.

“Our offseason focus has been to get bigger, faster, and stronger,” says Head Coach Brandon Walker. “Our kids had a great offseason in the weight room, and we saw a tremendous amount of growth in our players.”

Team Bonding Through Fellowship and Competition

To build chemistry and sharpen skills, the team competed in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes 7-on-7 Passing League, facing off against local schools over multiple Saturdays. The competitive environment helped sharpen execution and encouraged meaningful camaraderie.

Key Returnees Bring Talent and Leadership

The team welcomes back two major contributors:

Jayden Morton – A dynamic two-way player who led the team in receptions and interceptions as a sophomore. After spending a season away, he’s back and ready to make a big impact.

Elijah Griffin – An impact defensive lineman who missed last season due to injury, Griffin returns healthy and hungry to contribute.

Players to Watch: A Talented Core Ready to Shine

Coach Walker highlighted a number of players who could break out this season:

Caleb Butler (QB, ’26)

Zion Vilma (WR/DB, ’27)

Izayah Harris (WR/DB, ’27)

Anthony Pauldo (OL, ’26)

Dominic Luchina (LB, ’26)

Jace Gurien (DL, ’26)

Aaron Shackleton (DB, ’27)

Vincent Lewis (WR/DB, ’26)

Joseph Vives (LB, ’26)

This group of underclassmen brings a blend of speed, physicality, and football IQ — all groomed to take the next step in 2025.

Nutrition Guidance: Fueling for Performance

The Jaguars take nutrition seriously. “Our head strength coach provides our players with tons of information on the importance of proper nutrition, hydration, and how those things impact performance,” said Walker. This education is already showing dividends in how players approach both training and recovery.

Biggest Challenge: Building Weekly Consistency

Coach Walker emphasized that the biggest challenge ahead will be maintaining consistency.

“We want to make sure that we prepare at a high level each week, and that the product we put out on the field on game nights is indicative of the preparation we have done during the week.”