Salpointe Catholic Class of 2029 offensive tackle Esteban Molina earned his first scholarship offer when Arizona offensive line coach Josh Oglesby extended it last summer after Molina participated in a camp at the Davis Sports Center that featured “big on big” linemen facing each other.
Molina, listed at 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, played extensively at the varsity level last year for the Lancers as a freshman.
“We went there (to Brent Brennan’s camp) as a team, and I remember going against like Basha and all those good schools,” Molina said. “This year, I really got to prove myself because I got what it feels like to be as a varsity athlete and going against those bigger kids – (who are) faster, stronger.
“I just did my thing, and God blessed me with the opportunity to be (potentially) play at the University of Arizona.”
An offensive lineman from Salpointe Catholic has worked for hometown team Arizona before when John Fina became an All-Pac-10 second-team selection in 1991 and an NFL draft first-round selection in 1992. Fina originally attended Arizona as a defensive lineman but switched to the offensive side and worked with Dick Tomey and assistants Ron McBride and Pat Hill.
Molina is being trained by former Arizona Olympic distance thrower Carla Garrett, who is the strength and conditioning coach at Salpointe. Garrett has trained the likes of Bijan Robinson, Lathan Ransom, Elijah Rushing (Oregon) and Keona Davis (Miami), and countless other elite athletes, at Salpointe.
“Coach Garrett, she gets everything to the point,” Molina said. “I used to be 290 pounds of fat … and then I went to Coach Garrett, and she’s done everything for me. Like she’s been there through hard times. Really what she did for me the most was make me stronger and more disciplined.
“She’s not easy. She’s not a little soft. She wants the best for us. She’s already the best. She’s an Olympic medalist. She came down to us. She was at the D1 level training those guys, and she chose us. Anytime I go with her and I lift, I give it my all because of the gratefulness I have for Coach Garrett.”
Molina said he progressed with his blocking skills as a freshman last year because of the seniors he went against in practice, including his brother Emilio Molina, who is now a freshman defensive end at Southwest College in San Diego.
Psychology, he said he learned from Salpointe’s veterans last year to “keep your head up,” and move on to the next play. The mental outlook has contributed to his ability to train with Garrett and strengthen his physicality.
“One bad play sometimes kids, they get down, they can’t do anything anymore,” Esteban said. “Since I was a freshman, I wasn’t the smartest, the biggest, the fastest. … and really, what (the seniors) did for me was like, ‘Keep your head up.’ Next play.
“It’s just a blessing that I got to play with my brother also on varsity before he left to college … My brother, he’s the one that really brought me up from my down times, and he made me the best because I went against him because he was at the end. … He just got everything he could and just went straight at me instead of like other kids that are usually scared. He gave it his all, and I remember being in the dirt, and the seniors were like, ‘Keep your head up. Next play. Come on, let’s go.’ It was just a blessing to be with those seniors. They taught me so many things.”
A year older, stronger, and more skilled, Esteban has more of a purpose heading into the 2026 season that starts Thursday with the showdown at Marana.
He mentioned that he has become more disciplined with his approach to everything. He rattled off this list: “Take care of my body. Eat the right stuff. Don’t have soda all the time. Eat good food fibers. Keep my body healthy. Do yoga. Don’t do dumb stuff. Just stay on the right track. Be disciplined. Anytime I get a chance to work out, do stretches to keep my body in shape.”
“I think that’s the best part about having this beautiful body, that I can have upon myself and my parents,” he added. “You get this blessing, take care of it. cherish it.”
The Lancers’ opener at Marana is one of many games that will capture the state’s attention, opportunities that will help put him more on display for additional college recruiters.
Some of the other marquee games are against Tucson High, Chandler, Gilbert Highland, Mesa, Scottsdale Saguaro, Gilbert Perry and Chandler Basha.
Esteban mentioned the Lancers are prepared for the challenge.
Last season, Salpointe overcame setbacks during the regular season because of its traditionally strong schedule and reached the 6A semifinals, where the Lancers took Queen Creek Casteel to the limit on the road before losing 37-28.
“I feel like we have our head up,” Esteban said. “We’re training really well together as a team at practice. Defense is doing great. Our offensive coordinator (which is head coach Pat Ryden) is doing great things with us, and I think that we could go a far way with our team right now because we’re a team.
“It’s not a me or a you, it’s a team, not individual. I think that’s what I love about our team – we’re family.”
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