San Francisco 49ers nominates Salinas High School senior for NFL Latino Youth Honors 2026.

Salinas High School senior, Denisse Heredia, has been nominated by the San Francisco 49ers as part of the 2026 National Football League (NFL) Latino Youth Honors, recognizing high school tackle and flag football athletes from around the country for their academic and athletic excellence.

For the fourth year and in partnership with Procter & Gamble and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, all 32 NFL teams selected one male and one female high school senior football player to represent their team. A total of 61 students were nominated.

Heredia plays for the school’s flag football and basketball teams. 

As part of this recognition, Heredia will be honored during the San Francisco 49ers Hispanic Heritage game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 27.

“Denisse’s dedication, leadership and hard work have made the entire cowboy family proud,” said the Salinas High School girls flag football team in an Instagram post.

A panel will convene to select eight finalists from the 61 nominees, each representing one of the NFL's eight divisions, according to the NFL Latino Youth Honors webpage.

The program will award grants that can be used toward college, including two national awards worth $25,000 each for one male and one female winner. The remaining six finalists will each receive $5,000 grants.

Those finalists will also earn an invitation to Los Angeles during Super Bowl LXI week, where the students will participate in mentorship opportunities, career development activities focused on the sports industry and attend the big game in February 2027.

During the week, a male and female national winner will be announced, with the recipients receiving an invitation to the Hispanic Heritage Foundation National Youth Awards.

Wilcox High School senior, Luis Velasco in Santa Clara, is the male nominee by the San Francisco 49ers.