Offensive Lineman Richard Estrella tore ankle ligaments and required surgery over winter break his sophomore season as a Viking. He had started every game since arriving as a 6'4" 315-pounder out of Churchill High School in Eugene.
     
That injury messed him up mentally, he recalls.
   
"My injury really affected my attitude. It was very tough going through it all and having to ride out the injury through the season. After I had surgery and went into winter break, I felt depressed because I wasn't able to do what I love... football or hobbies outside. It was very tough on me mentally to see everyone working on the field while I wasn't able to do a thing," Estrella says.
    
In terms of his overall college experience, though, there was a silver lining. Although he is listed as being Academic All-Big Sky Conference his first year, he felt he hadn't put enough emphasis on the academic side of his Portland State experience.
   
"I had surgery during winter break and after that I made sure to focus on school. It got me away from football and not being able to do what I could before. I knew I couldn't fall behind in school because I had messed around enough during my early years here… so since then, my grades have been much better and I have been more attentive to them," he says. He graduates this spring in Criminal Justice and will take psychology courses as a graduate student during his final year as a Viking.
     
Like a lot of incoming freshmen, Estrella had his eye on the NFL when he arrived. Unlike a lot of players, that's still a goal as he enters his final year. But, knowing the odds of playing in the pros, Estrella has always had a healthy attitude toward the academic side of his endeavors
      
He was twice first team all-league and 2^nd team all-state graduating from Churchill. He had a lot of interest from college coaches… two scholarship offers and a handful of preferred walk-ons.
     
He chose PSU after visits with Head Coach Bruce Barnum and Offensive Line Coach Matt Leunen. He'd get to play football while getting an education. It didn't hurt that childhood idols - a cousin, Nick Ah Sam - and Kyle Smith had been Vikings. And, the full ride was crucial.
   
"I don't think I could have gone to college if I wasn't on scholarship. I would rather have gone into the workforce rather than put debt on myself or my family. I see how expensive it is for school to pay for me, and I'm just blessed to be on scholarship," Estrella says.     
 
The injury notwithstanding, he's enjoyed his time as a Viking.
    
He's enjoyed his teammates and credits his coaches for helping him turn his attitude around following the injury. And so far, a couple of events stick out as highlights… a trip to Hawaii and a game at Montana State.
    
"Hawaii was during Covid, but it still was such a memorable trip because of how beautiful it was being on the island and how much we bonded in such a great place. It was a strange game with no fans at the time but it was enjoyable because of the things we got to do outside football."
    
Montana State was just the opposite. It was the crowd at the game that made it memorable.
    
"It was definitely a big challenge as a football player to play a great team and have to deal with a fan base that shakes the stadium."
      
Estrella's time as a Viking has been a success on and off the field, says Coach Leunen.
    
"Big Rich has been a big part of this football team for years. He's a guy who has helped our offense have so much success.  He's battled through his share of injuries--they're part of the game--as best he could. Tough dude," says Leunen.
 
Estrella has now played in 33 career games with 31 starts - the most of anyone on the 2024 team - and earned Academic All-Big Sky Conference three times.
    
After football, Estrella plans to use his Criminal Justice degree to help people. Initially, he declared as a business major but didn't "feel any connection." He's just finished an internship with the Multnomah County Circuit Court. 
    
"It showed me why I really chose Criminal Justice. It's because I want to help people. I want to be able to help people understand our legal system more if they need help and give them information that the court may not be able to. I've also thought about becoming a parole officer or working at a Legal Resource Center so that I can help people. I'm not a fan of everything that happens to the public in our legal system, so I want to try and make a change if that is the road I decide to go down."
       
Leunen says he won't be surprised if Estrella has an impact wherever he goes: "He doesn't say much. But when he does, everyone listens."