Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Former Hoopa Warrior Carlos Aguilar is back playing football at CR this year.

By Ray Hamill — After a three-year break, Hoopa’s Carlos Aguilar is back playing football this fall and could be ready for a breakout collegiate campaign at College of the Redwoods.

The 2020 Hoopa Warriors graduate hasn’t played since his senior year in high school, but after committing to the Corsairs this year he’s determined to take full advantage of the opportunity.

Aguilar, who will play receiver for the Corsairs, has been working out with the team during the offseason programs and turning some heads.

“He shows up every day and he’s been working hard,” head coach Jason White said. “He’s had some great workouts this summer.”

The former Warriors playmaker had originally planned on playing at CR last year as the Corsairs returned to the field of competition following a two-year hiatus.

But while things didn’t work out as planned in 2022, Aguilar is back this year more motivated than ever.

“It didn’t work out for me,” he said of last season. “I just had to go home and go to work and figure things out. But now I’m all in and ready to go.”

As for this year’s team, Aguilar is excited about the prospects and believes the Corsairs could be in for a big fall, with almost the entire squad returning from last year’s 7-4 team.

“The sophomores have been really helping everyone,” he said. “Everyone’s family here.”

Aguilar joins a talented group of CR receivers that includes 2022 All-Region selection Jaydan Burns, as well as Donte Hurt and Nathan Lopez, and it’s group that became one of the team’s strengths down the stretch of last season

It’s also a unit that has been bonding well this offseason under the guidance of receivers coach Maurice Purify.

“He’s been very helpful,” Aguilar said of Purify. “I’m very appreciative to have him as a coach. I feel that the wide receiver group as a whole, we’re all getting better every day. That’s a super competitive group.”

As for his own role on the team, Aguilar just wants to help out any way he can.

“I’m just willing to work and do my part and fit in,” he said. “And do the best I can.”

Aguilar follows in the footsteps of some recent former Hoopa Warriors, such as Blake Rossman, Weyk-seyr Hutchinson and Nas-Che-Wen Hunsucker, who also took their talents to CR and enjoyed plenty of success there.

And Aguilar hopes he can influence more Hoopa student-athletes to do the same.

“That’s what I’m trying to do. I want to get more Hoopa kids out here,” he said. “You’ve just got to keep believing in yourself and believing it will pay off in the end. That’s what motivates me.”

Aguilar also paid tribute to Hoopa High Athletic Director Benny Griggs, who encouraged him to take his talents to CR.

“He was kind of the one that really got me to take the next step and try to play college football,” Aguilar said of Griggs. “He made me believe in myself and made me believe I can do this.”

Aguilar, who is working toward an associate degree in Construction Technology, also played basketball at Hoopa, although he admits his first love has always been football.

“That’s why I wanted to come back,” he said.

Just how far he will take football remains to be seen, but he admits he would consider playing for a four-year program after his time at CR, although that’s a decision for down the road.

“If I had the opportunity I would highly consider it,” he said. “But I’m not really worried about that  right now, I’m kind of focusing on the moment.”