LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Being a collegiate student-athlete comes with its challenges. Despite being on scholarship and having the luxury of not worrying about paying for school, they must manage their time wisely with classes on top of giving it their all in their respective sport.
Some are not even on scholarship and are walk-ons instead. They must take time out of their busy schedule to try out and make the team they wish to play for. Many of them do not even get playing time, making the situation more difficult. Keeping a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) is also a requirement for them, so the team’s overall GPA can be as high as possible.
Sophomore defensive tackle Matthew Saiz is a prime example. Saiz is a walk-on for the New Mexico State University football team. He tried out a week before the 2024 season kicked off and got his opportunity, but did not see action in any games. On the bright side, this counted as a redshirt year, so he still has four years of eligibility.
Interview with Matthew Saiz
Saiz dealt with a number of obstacles while being a part of the program but continued to push through.
“There is a lot that goes into being a walk-on athlete at your school,” Saiz said. “The challenges that I face during a regular school year are of course balancing school and football like a regular athlete but also trying to find money to pay for your school due to not being on scholarship.”
Despite the adversity Saiz faced, he remained positive and built great experiences in his collegiate career thus far.
“The benefits would be acquiring team gear, making new relationships, same workout plans, same study and everything most of the athletes do,” Saiz said.
“The life of a student-athlete can be challenging at times, but that’s part of it. I will say challenges do come up, but that’s what separates the elite from the weak.”
Making the transition from playing high school football to competing at the division one level is no easy task as there are several differences, but Saiz has shown he has what it takes.
“The difference is that it’s a lot more intense and way more focused on detail,” Saiz said. “Every technique and everything you learn has to be sharper. It’s more business than anything but by all means, there is still fun with it.”
The Aggies played their 2025 spring game at the World Famous Bulldog Bowl in Artesia, New Mexico, which is a stadium known for its rich football history. For Saiz, this was more than a scrimmage — it was a homecoming.
Saiz was part of Artesia High School’s 5A state championship team in both 2022 and 2023. He played at the varsity level from 2021-2023.
Saiz had an opportunity to play in this game, showing that hard work and determination can help make dreams come true. He also played in a variety of scrimmages during the Aggies’ spring practices. This progression led to him possibly having the chance to play special teams during the 2025 season.
“With me being able to move up the depths slowly and see that progress is going forward, it helps me in a way mentally,” Saiz said. “It gives you a little boost in a way and it allows you to just keep pushing even harder because you never know what’s going to come up and you want to be ready for it.”
Junior running back Isaiah Rudison has a similar story to Saiz. Rudison came to NMSU in August 2022 as a freshman looking to make an impact but did not get his opportunity until this past season. Despite it taking some time for him to showcase his talent in Las Cruces, he remained patient, and it paid off.
“The life of a student-athlete can be challenging at times, but that’s part of it,” Rudison said. “I will say challenges do come up, but that’s what separates the elite from the weak.”
As a redshirt sophomore, Rudison recorded the first 10 rushing yards of his career in a 33-30 double overtime victory over Louisiana Tech at Aggie Memorial Stadium on Oct. 15. He received his first catch for 10 yards in a 36-21 road win against Middle Tennessee on Nov. 23. In the final game of the season, he recorded a 16-yard catch in a 42-35 loss to the Aggies I-10 rival UTEP on Nov. 30. This catch had a deeper meaning since Rudison is an El Paso, Texas, native.
With this season being his first year to make something happen on the field, Rudison experienced multiple learning curves.
“This season was a learning experience for me,” Rudison said. “The coaches trusted me to do my job when I was called and I had to make it happen.”
In the spring game, Rudison scored the lone touchdown of the game. With starting running back Seth McGowan being held out of the game, Rudison was given the chance to make an impact. He totaled 20 rushing yards on three carries, including the touchdown.
Despite his phenomenal play in the game, Rudison is still working hard to get more playing time than the 2024 season.
“Even though I didn’t get as much playing time as I wanted, it was a great learning experience,” Rudison said. “I had brothers who showed me the ropes like Seth McGowan and Mike Washington. “They helped elevate my game and be more effective. They showed me the good and how to avoid the bad whether it’s on the field or off.”
Not only did McGowan not participate in the spring game, but he also entered the transfer portal for a second time this offseason, committing to Kentucky. This gives Rudison the opportunity to make a name for himself this upcoming season.
“I can’t wait to show the team and fans of Aggie nation all the work we put in from the last season to this next season to change the narrative on the program and get to the winning culture we are custom too,” Rudison said. “The experience has been great and exciting. Coming to work every day and seeing the potential makes you feel great about this upcoming season.”
Even though Rudison is coming up on his senior season, he still has two total years of eligibility since he redshirted his freshman year. Being a local guy and possibly having the chance to be a big part of the Aggie offense for a few more years is a good position for him to be in.
Despite the challenge of being a walk-on or the hard work it took to earn valuable playing time, both Saiz and Rudison persevered through it all and will do their best to make the most out of any opportunity given.
-
-
-
-
-
