Soto receives opportunity to play football, signs with TLU

Therrance Soto always told himself he needed one chance.

The senior safety put the work in on the gridiron, starting on San Marcos’ varsity squad for the past two years and leading the team with 112 total tackles this season. He was also named to the 26-6A All-District second team, voted as the Rattlers’ defensive most valuable player and nominated for the Academic All-State team with a 95 average.

But Soto still wasn’t getting the offers he wanted. At 5-foot-7, schools were concerned he would be undersized at the collegiate level.

The senior vowed he’d make the most of his opportunity, if one ever came his way. His chance finally came on Feb. 6, when he committed to Texas Lutheran University during National Signing Day.

“When I was a junior and I saw our seniors signing, in that moment I told myself that I wanted to be up there and next year I had to make myself,” Soto said. “TLU was my one, so I just took my opportunity.”

When Gilbert Rodriguez Jr. recognized Soto during the signing ceremony, the associate head coach choked up a bit. Soto’s meant a lot to San Marcos’ program.

“This guy will take on any challenge, anybody,” Rodriguez said. “It doesn’t matter how big, small, what your size is. It doesn’t matter what the challenge is. It doesn’t matter when adversity hits. (Soto) slaps it right in the face. He’s ready for anything.”

“Therrance is just an overachiever. He’s always been an overachiever,” head coach Mark Soto said. “Whether it’s in powerlifting, whether it’s in the classroom or whether it’s on the football field. And any college that got him is going to get a kid that’s going to be a program kid that sells out for their program and ride for the brand. He’s just a great kid.”

Therrance said he liked the campus, located in Seguin, and is excited to join the tight-knit community found there after graduating this spring. He won’t let his chance go to waste.

“It’s pretty special. I’m still kind of shook,” Soto said. “It’s kind of indescribable for me.”