Under the Friday night lights, Regent Preparatory School’s football program leans on players who embrace both the demands of the game and the standards of the classroom, and varsity standout Bryceton Huerta has made it clear he welcomes both. Huerta, a wide receiver and cornerback for the Rams, said the culture inside the Regent locker room is one of unity, not division. “I love how close everyone is. Usually, you see most locker rooms separated by cliques of older guys and younger guys, but that is something that Regent has never been. Inclusionary qualities like this are what it takes, I believe, to build a true team and family.”
Faith is central to Huerta’s approach to football, school and life. He said his biggest inspiration is Jesus and that everything he does, on and off the field, is for God’s glory alone.
“My biggest inspiration is Jesus. All things I do are first and foremost for His glory alone. He not only inspires me to play my hardest and practice hard every rep, but also to be a better person and competitor on and off the field.”
Huerta has played football for 11 years, but he only began playing his current positions last season, adding another layer of challenge to his journey. He lines up both at wide receiver and cornerback, with corner being the more demanding role in his view. He said the pressure at cornerback is unlike any other spot on the field because a defensive back has to process information quickly and react just as fast as the wideout, who already has his moves planned. Huerta likened stepping into that role to being thrown into a pool and being expected to swim.
His commitment has extended into the summer, where he has balanced individual goals with team responsibilities. Huerta attended college prospect camps at SMU, Oklahoma State and Tulsa while maintaining perfect attendance at Regent’s summer workouts. He said that showing up consistently for his teammates while pursuing his own aspirations is important to him, and he views that balance as part of what it takes to reach the next level.
Representing Regent carries special meaning for Huerta because of the school’s academic and spiritual rigor. He said the institution’s reputation is top tier, and he appreciates that the material students learn is tied to the belief that God’s hand is in everything. Having the chance to play for a school with those qualities, he said, makes him strive to be a better athlete and student.
Huerta also points to former teammate Hudson Phelps as a model of how to handle both competition and criticism.
“He was who I consider to be the captain of the defense. He played with heart and an intense competitive nature but was also gracious in defeat. During team film when a coach called him out on something he could’ve done better, he wouldn’t complain or blame shift, he would just take constructive criticism from the coaches and apply it to his game. This is the most important attribute a football player should have, accountability and action,” said Huerta.
On the field, Huerta said his strengths include his ability to read coverages before the snap and exploit defensive weaknesses once he understands the alignment. He also prides himself on his speed and elusiveness, noting that if he finds open space with the ball, he expects to finish the play in the end zone. Looking ahead, Huerta hopes to play Division I football and pursue a degree in petroleum engineering or finance, a path he approaches with the same intensity he brings to each practice and game.
