Edinburg, TX (KRGV) — A Monte Alto football player became the first from the community to commit to play at the next level.

Christian Ayala grew up playing under the Friday night lights in Monte Alto, a close community not traditionally known for producing college football prospects. Division 1 dreams can seem out of reach there.

"It was a long journey; I never really thought I'd be able to play at the next level coming from a small school that's not known for football. Just a lot of hard work," Christian Ayala said.

Ayala took the only offer he had coming out of high school from Texas Lutheran College, a D3 program. After one year, he decided he wanted to come back home.

"At the end of the day, it just came down to I missed home, and my niece was born, so I really wanted to see her grow up a bit. It really wasn't cool not seeing her for her first few months," Ayala said.

Stepping away from the game did not last long. The passion he discovered as a second grader pushed him to walk into the UTRGV facility and ask for a shot.

"I walked in, and I said, 'Hey, are there any walk-on spots or anything I can do?' And at first they said, 'No, we're full. But it's a good thing that you came and stopped by because if anything opens up, we can call you,’” Ayala recalled. “And then two days later… Coach Jeff Bowen called me, and we talked, and then he called me in for a meeting, and he told me, 'All right, I'll let you know if there are any spots.' And he called me later, and said they can bring me on.”

UTRGV Co-Offensive Coordinator Jeff Bowen praised Ayala's work ethic.

"He’s a great guy, a hard worker. He tries to get better every day, but he’s a really great kid with a great attitude," Bowen said. “It was being at the right place at the right time for him as well as us being able to have a spot for him, so it ended up working well in his favor and ours. He's been a good hand for us.”

After blazing a trail from Monte Alto to a Division I roster and earn a spot as a Division 1 walk-on, Ayala had a simple message for the next generation back home.

"Bet on yourself. If I would have never taken that bet and just walked in, I wouldn't be here. Just always bet on yourself. If no one has you, you have you. Always take that bet," Ayala said.

Christian Ayala is this week's Made in the 956: Vaqueros Edition.

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