QB Magazine Athlete Feature
Some football stories are passed down, and Fernando Aguilar III’s story started with his dad.
His father, Fernando Aguilar Jr., played the game first. When his son was old enough, he started coaching him, and football became a bond between them. Almost six years later, that bond is still growing. It also gave the younger Fernando a strong connection to the position he plays today.
“The pressure of having all eyes on you, good, bad, or indifferent,” the Class of 2031 quarterback from Pasadena, California said when asked what he loves about quarterback. “It’s up to you to lead your team.” Then he added the other part of the answer, with a laugh: “Plus, love throwing TDs.”
Many young players feel nervous about pressure. Fernando wants it. He enjoys being the one who has command of the team and the one responsible for leading it to a win. It helps that he looks ready for that role. At 13, the Dana Middle School quarterback already stood 6-foot-2 and 165 pounds when he filled out his questionnaire. He also carries a 3.7 GPA, which shows he takes school as seriously as football.
His idea of what makes a great quarterback comes down to three things: leadership, accuracy, and mental processing. Instead of choosing one favorite NFL quarterback, he has picked a skill to learn from three of them. From Josh Allen, it’s the big arm. From Tom Brady, it’s mental processing. From Patrick Mahomes, it’s improvisation. Together, they form a clear picture of the quarterback Fernando is working to become.
Last December, he brought that approach to the QB Magazine x Brady Performance camp in San Diego, spending two days learning and competing with other quarterbacks.
His goals are practical. Over the next six months, he wants to better understand coverages, including what each one does well and where it can be attacked. He also wants to gain weight to add strength to his tall frame. Over the next year, he wants to keep improving in every part of playing quarterback so he’s physically and mentally ready to play varsity football as a freshman.
The larger goals come from conversations at home. His dad is pushing him toward a Division I scholarship and, God willing, the NFL. Just as important, his dad has helped him understand how to get there. “Making me understand that it’s the consistency that will pay off eventually,” Fernando said.
Follow Fernando: @Sangre_fina626
All Eyes, Every Month
Fernando says what he loves most about quarterback is having all eyes on him. An upgraded QB Magazine membership gives more people a chance to watch his progress, and it keeps that attention steady from month to month. He’s still in middle school and nothing needs to happen quickly, but his consistent growth is worth showing as it happens.
It starts with feature articles. Practice Squad includes one article each year, and Starter includes two. Fernando’s story has plenty to tell: a dad who played and then coached him, a 6-foot-2 eighth grader who is still growing, a 3.7 student, and a quarterback studying three NFL stars to build his own game. An article gives each of those details room to come through. A second article later can follow him as he gets closer to his goal of playing varsity as a freshman.
A new custom graphic is designed for him every month. Right now, Fernando’s best moments are posted on his Instagram. A custom graphic can turn one of those highlights, like a touchdown, a strong game, or a new milestone in the weight room, into a clean, shareable piece built around him. Twelve graphics a year also make it easy for his family to see how much he changes over time.
Reposts help that content reach more people. Practice Squad includes two story reposts each month on X or Instagram. Starter includes four story reposts every week across both platforms, plus a monthly wall collab that appears on Fernando’s page and QB Magazine’s at the same time. That means his work reaches quarterbacks, coaches, and football families who follow the magazine, not just the people who already follow @Sangre_fina626.
Starter also offers benefits connected to the long-term goals he and his dad have set. Social media consulting can help shape his page so it reflects both sides of him: the athlete with a big frame and the student with a 3.7 GPA. The recruiting profile in both tiers includes academic stats, so his work in the classroom appears alongside his football accomplishments. Top 50 QB Mag Watchlist consideration gives him a chance to be featured among the quarterbacks QB Magazine is watching. Priority for the QB Mag College Bus + Camps TOUR lets him see college campuses early, which fits a family already talking about D1 football. Both tiers also include camp access, so he has more opportunities to return to events like the QB Magazine x Brady Performance camp he already attended.
The biggest benefit fits the lesson his dad has already taught him: consistency pays off. Each month adds a graphic, each week adds reposts, and each year adds another article. By the time Fernando reaches high school, his development will already be easy to follow.
Fernando Aguilar Jr. passed his love of football to his son and has coached him every step of the way. A membership helps the family keep a lasting record of that journey, from the first practices together to the goals they’re chasing now.
More info: quarterbackmagazine.com/memberships