“Just Stay With It”: Jacob Garza’s Six Year Journey in Houston

After six years of donning the scarlet and white (and eventually Houston Blue), Houston long snapper Jacob Garza prepares to suit up in pads and helmet, lace up his cleats and run through the tunnel onto John O'Quinn Field at TDECU Stadium one last time as a Cougar.

"In my mind now, it's just like it's crazy", Garza said. "The time flew by quick."

Having played 40 games and counting, the Corpus Christi, Texas, native has been a mainstay in the Houston football program, closing in on the sixth and final season of his collegiate career.

Garza has earned several academic honors throughout his career including four Academic All-Conference awards and CSC Academic All-District honors before recently being named a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy. With north of 200 snaps on the punting unit and almost 100 snaps on field goals and extra point attempts, Garza has been a key figure on a Houston special teams unit that has not allowed a blocked punt in two of the last three seasons and gave up zero blocked kicks in 2024. Flying down the field, he even recovered a muffed punt on a play that began in his very hands last season against BYU and recorded a tackle in the Cougars most recent game at UCF.

Off the field, Garza still manages to stay on it without the pads and helmet, as he currently serves as an intern with the Houston Athletics Grounds Crew.

Always on the lookout for the nod on fourth down, Garza's story as a Cougar not only serves as a representation of his role on the gridiron, but also his personality, character and journey as a person off the field.

Arriving to the program as a walk-on out of Veterans Memorial High School, Garza endured plenty of ups and downs through his health, performance and family along the way. From balancing academics and athletics as well as supporting his family through several means of work over the years dating back to his childhood, Garza endured the difficult conversations that come with life's most pivotal moments. Six years later, when asked what advice he would give to himself as a freshman, he provided the very words he lived by that ultimately led him to where he is today.

"Just stay with it. I know during the six years at Houston I contemplated moving or something like that. But I had to tell myself just to stick with it because you don't know what's coming."

What came next was a deserved reward for his commitment and effort in pushing through every challenge he faced as a walk-on: Garza was put on scholarship and afforded the opportunity to pursue his master's degree.

His loyalty not only to himself and his family, but to the university that gave him a chance to prove himself on the football field, provided Garza an experience that helped shape him as a student-athlete and as an individual.

Through it all, his loyalty to Houston also gave him a front-row seat to witness the effects of time, the changes and growth of the very program that gave him a shot six years ago.

"The most rewarding part is seeing how this university has grown. Not even just the football program, but the whole university in general. I know they added a couple of new buildings and stuff like that, also making it more accessible to a lot of students that are on campus and everything. Especially now with the new Memorial Hermann Football Operation Center building, I think it's huge. I think Houston is on its way to becoming a powerhouse."

The visual differences across the main campus continue to progress with several projects having broken ground and others being introduced through the university's plans.

As for Garza, he welcomed a very similar change entering year six with the program, when he decided to take scissors to the long, wavy hair that set him apart throughout the previous five years with the Cougars.

"Yeah, I mean obviously the hair is crazy. Looking back at it, I may not really know what I was thinking, but I mean it's really my whole body in general."

Back in 2020, Garza endured challenges with his health following a rough battle with COVID-19, which knocked him out for the remainder of his freshman season and extended through his second year with the program. Following a lengthy and difficult regimen to regain the weight he lost, Garza feels he and his body have bounced back better than when he first arrived on Scott Street.

"I'm able to grow into my body like to what is acceptable for a collegiate athlete. Obviously, I could be better than where I am and stuff like that, but it's funny looking back at pictures."

Throughout this process, Garza always maintained an attitude of gratitude, often emphasizing his love and desire to stay in Houston. His joy derived not only from any success the team captured on the football field, but namely the experiences and people that joined him every step of the way.

"I'm most thankful for the people that I was able to meet and the relationships I was able to build. Not only through the players but the staff and the coaches here. I still talk to the coaches that have left and just being able to create those bonds and relationships that made me happy."

Often the most overlooked aspect of the game, the special teams unit was the place where Garza belonged. A room of guys who – much like their offensive and defensive counterparts – knew that when their numbers were called, they needed to deliver.

Ultimately, no number of practices and walkthroughs could train the connection and brotherhood Garza had with his special teams comrades. Past or present, Garza knew who his support system was.

"The special teams groups that I had", said Garza about which teammates had left the biggest mark on him. "I know coming in with an older group, like [former teammates] Dalton Witherspoon, Laine Wilkins, and Gavin Gately. I mean those guys are people I hung around with and still hang around with to this day. Gavin definitely got me to be a better snapper being able to compete with him for four years. In terms of biggest impact, it would probably be Gavin and [redshirt freshman long snapper] Weston Edwards for just allowing me to compete with them not only as a snapper but as a person as well."

As time flies and the world of college football changes more than ever before, Garza seemingly never wavered, staying put in H-Town despite all the movement surrounding him throughout the years. For those who came and went, Garza always ensured that he cherished the moments he had with everyone he worked closely with.

A lot can happen in a year, let alone six. For Garza, there were many moving parts along the way, yet his decision to remain in Houston and lock into the future exemplifies his determination to tackle every step head on. Much like his usual snapping routine: two hands on the ball, breathe and trust that he'll deliver a perfect spiral to his teammate's hands, Garza plans on utilizing the same confidence and trust in himself no matter what waits for him post-college football.

"I'm not one hundred percent sure what is to come, but I know Houston has prepared me for whatever that is and I'm excited for it."

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Football by providing NIL opportunities and by joining The Huddle which provides financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond its operating budget.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarFB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Football. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarfb.

–– UHCougars.com ––

Upcoming Events

Recent Results