Marlin head coach Ruben Torres III took a risk last spring, moving 635 miles across the Lone Star State.
After all, he had spent much of his life out in El Paso. He graduated from El Paso Irvin High School and received a degree from UTEP before spending 16 years coaching in the El Paso area where he earned his first two head coaching jobs at Ysleta (2012-2015) and El Dorado (2016-2017). Following those two stints, he spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at El Paso Franklin (2018-2020).
But when the Marlin job came open, Torres felt like it was the right place to take a leap of faith.
“I think we all hit crossroads in our lives,” Torres said. “I felt like I had achieved all I could in El Paso, and I really wanted to challenge myself and see if I was as good of a coach as I believed I was. And then I came to interview here, just the way I felt about the town and the people, it felt right in my heart.”
Marlin (pop. 5,462) is a small town in Central Texas located off Highway 6. About 30 miles southeast of Waco, the town has a rich athletic history. LaDainian Tomlinson grew up in Marlin until high school, and the White Sox, Cardinals, Reds, and New York Giants all held spring training in the town at different times between 1904 and 1918.
When Torres got to Marlin last season, he quickly restored athletic excellence to the football program. The Bulldogs went 11-4 and made a run to the 2A Division I state semifinals, where they fell short against Hawley 19-12. It was the team’s first 10-win season since 2006 and its furthest playoff run since it lost in the state title game back in 2003.
This team has been so damn fun to watch. Most of these guys who have made this team so special are all juniors, I know they’ll be hungrier next season with these coaches. Congrats on a heck of a season, @marlin_bulldogs https://t.co/zHjNt3Pluv
— Matt Lively (@mattblively) December 10, 2021
Torres remembers listening to an interview by star linebacker/receiver Derion Gullette that summed up the driving factor behind the turnaround by the Bulldogs.
“[Gullete] had said, ‘Well, we always knew we were athletic, but once we became disciplined, we knew we could play and we knew we were going to win some games,’” Torres said. “And the whole thing that we’ve preached is winning and being disciplined. And when you hear your players say it freely, as a coach, I knew we’re going to win some games.”
The deep playoff run for the Bulldogs brought Marlin alumni from all over Texas as well as from Louisiana, Colorado, and Oklahoma. Torres said the support was unlike anything he’d ever experienced.
“To see people coming back to Marlin, everyone was smiling all the time,” Torres said. “You could just feel this community every week get closer. When I think about it, it really brings me to tears a lot of times because that just doesn’t happen every day.”
To the city of Marlin I have no words to describe how you made our team and myself feel. It was amazing, I am so proud to call myself a Bulldog! I will remember and embrace this feeling forever..Go Bulldogs! @marlin_bulldogs @DrHenson2 @marlin_high pic.twitter.com/d9FW7TZeqR
— Ruben Torres lll (@RTorres_lll) December 10, 2021
With 16 starters back this season, Marlin will likely have a shot at another memorable run.
It all will start with Gullete, a 4-star linebacker with 28 Division I offers. He was a threat on both sides of the ball with 1,458 receiving yards and 125 total tackles a year ago.
“His ability to dial in, in a meeting, practice session, or a drill, I’ve never been around a player that’s like that,” Torres said. “All those offers he has, he earned them and he’s very well-deserving of them.”
I just want to say thank you to all the coaches that have been recruiting me! But after long talks with my family , this is where I am in my recruitment! Still 100 percent open ! pic.twitter.com/1WO46VEPxt
— Derion Gullette ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@DerionGullette) May 26, 2022
The Bulldogs also return starting quarterback Desmond Woodson (3,636 passing yards and 38 touchdowns) and leading receiver Trajon Butler (1,489 yards and 19 touchdowns) from an offense that averaged over 35 points per game last year.
Torres said the Bulldogs plan to use Butler in a variety of ways offensively this year, while he is also excited to see the growth of fellow receiver Keiayr Young, who started every game last year as a freshman.
Defensively, Zha’Mauryon Lofton is another player that has attracted the attention of Division I programs with three offers, according to 247 Sports.
Zha’Mauryon Lofton comes up with a 105-yard pick 6 for Marlin.
Marlin 14
Cayuga 7
1:10 2Q#txhsfb @WacoTribSports @BaylorBears247 pic.twitter.com/9nwTxz5T0x— Garrett Ross (@_GarrettRoss) October 16, 2021
Alongside Lofton in the secondary, Torres is looking for a breakout season from I’aire Kee after he was the Bulldogs’ most improved defensive player last season. Torres also said to keep an eye out for safety Mario Hopwood and corner Jeoffrey Mims on the back end of the Bulldog defense.
He also is expecting linebacker Jemere Hartsfield (108 total tackles) to have a big impact for the Bulldogs again this season, while fellow linebacker Tyraun Bell had a massive freshman season (205 total tackles), earning the district’s Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year honor.
District 8-2A Division 1 Co-Defensive Newcomer of The Year 🏆 goes to the Top Freshman LB in the nation 2025 @3_kingty ‼️ #1 in the Nation tackle leader in his class..
205 Tkls
19 TFL
2 Sacks
2 Hurries
1 INT TD
1 FR TD
2 FR
5 FCHudl:https://t.co/XQmhowD4pk pic.twitter.com/t7E40wM0ha
— Charles Hitchens (@CoachHitchens) January 6, 2022
The Bulldogs will need all their returning talent after the UIL dealt them a tough hand during district realignment. Five of the eight teams that will compete in District 8-2A Division I made the playoffs last year, including 2A state quarterfinalist Crawford and 3A drop down Riesel.
“I think it’s an extremely tough district,” Torres said. “There is zero weeks off on our schedule, so we’re going to be battle-tested every week for sure.”
Despite the success of last year, the talk in Bulldog country is not focused on state championships. Instead, Torres will keep preaching the same two words he’s instilled in the Bulldogs throughout his tenure: winning and discipline.
“We talk about winning and getting better and being more disciplined,” Torres said. “We expect the Marlin Bulldogs to be a much better version of themselves than they were last year, so we’re excited.”
2022 Marlin Bulldogs Schedule
(Bold designates District 8-2A Division I contest)
8/26 at Crockett
9/2 vs. Mart
9/9 at Groesbeck
9/23 at Bosqueville
9/30 vs. Moody
10/7 at Crawford
10/14 vs. Riesel
10/21 at Bruceville-Eddy
10/28 vs. Rosebud-Lott
11/4 at Valley Mills
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