Fernando Mayén

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Mayén and the second or maternal family name is Marín.
Fernando Mayén
No. 21
PositionRunning back
Personal information
Born (2003-11-08) 8 November 2003[1]
Mexico
Career information
CollegeITESM Puebla (2022–2025)
Awards and highlights
  • ONEFA MVP (2023)
  • ONEFA Rookie of the Year (2022)

Fernando Mayén Marín[2] (born 8 November 2003) is a Mexican gridiron football running back. He played college football for the Borregos Puebla and was named the ONEFA Most Valuable Player in 2023.

Early life

Mayén was born into an athletic family; his mother was a synchronized swimming coach while his father coached swimming.[3] As a result, he grew up practicing a wide variety of sports, such as swimming, taekwondo, and gymnastics, eventually discovering American football at the age of six after watching a cousin play.[3][4] Mayén started out in the Pumas CU youth setup in Mexico City before moving with his family to Querétaro, where he played for the Cimarrones and Gatos Querétaro, both in the FADEMAC.[3] He grew up idolizing Ezekiel Elliott.[4]

Before entering preparatoria, Mayén spent one year in California.[3] He attended Aliso Niguel High School in Aliso Viejo, where he played on the junior varsity football team and ran sprints on the track and field team.[5][6] Mayén then returned to Mexico when his father lost his job.[3] He later told ESPN Deportes that the experience taught him that he could compete at a high level.[3]

College career

Mayén attended the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Puebla campus, where he studied business and played college football for the Borregos Puebla.[3] He and his brother had initially planned to attend the flagship campus in Monterrey to play for the Borregos Salvajes Monterrey, but they changed their minds upon the hiring of head coach Eric Fisher at Puebla.[7] As a freshman in 2022, Mayén helped the team reach the ONEFA semifinals after rushing for 651 yards and eight touchdowns in the regular season,[3][8] and was named the ONEFA Rookie of the Year.[9] He was also selected to represent Team Mexico in the 47th Aztec Bowl against Air Raid Tour, an NCAA Division II and III all-star team coached by Hal Mumme.[10][11]

In 2023, Mayén rushed for 971 yards and 14 touchdowns in the regular season,[9] led the country in scoring,[12] and became the first player in program history to win the ONEFA Most Valuable Player award.[9] He helped the Borregos Puebla reach the ONEFA semifinals again in 2024, where he had one of his best games of the season in a defeat to the Auténticos Tigres UANL.[13] Mayén guided his team back to the semifinals in 2025, rushing for nearly 200 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the Borregos Salvajes Monterrey.[14] He once again earned an invite to the Aztec Bowl.[2]

Following his college career, Mayén was invited to an NFL Academy combine in Mexico City in early 2025.[15]

National team career

Mayén was called up to the Mexico senior national team ahead of a matchup against Canada at the Estadio Wilfrido Massieu on 13 December 2025.[16] It was a provisional Gridiron Nations Championship (GNC) exhibition as Mexico has not yet been confirmed as a GNC member for 2026.

Personal life

Mayén has amassed a significant following on social media, surpassing a million followers on TikTok by his freshman year of college.[3] Several of his videos went viral, including choreographed dances with teammates, after which he began landing sponsorship deals.[3] Mayén covered Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans in a collaboration with TV Azteca after receiving offers from multiple outlets.[17]

His older brother, Eduardo, played college football for the Borregos Puebla and the Linces UVM.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Fernando Mayen" (in Spanish). MexFBA Scorer. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  2. ^ a b Flores, Marian (22 November 2025). "Puebla toma protagonismo en la ONEFA". El Sol de Puebla (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2025 – via PressReader.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mancilla, Alfonso (18 November 2022). "Fernando Mayen: corredor sensación de ONEFA y estrella de Tik Tok". ESPN Deportes (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  4. ^ a b Estrada, Mildred (12 February 2023). "Conoce a Fernando Mayen, el joven mexicano que aspira a la NFL y es tendencia en TikTok". El Sol de México (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  5. ^ "Fernando Mayen". Hudl. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  6. ^ "Fernando Mayen". Athletic.net. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  7. ^ a b Badillo, David (10 April 2025). "Salida de Eduardo Mayén debilita backfield de Borregos Puebla". Grada.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  8. ^ "Estadísticas Liga Mayor ONEFA 2022". Receptor.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Cano, Gerardo (3 September 2024). "Fernando Mayen, MVP ONEFA 2023 y figura a seguir de Borregos Tec Puebla". Grada.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  10. ^ Aguilar, Leopoldo (9 December 2022). "Cinco jugadores de Borregos Puebla a Tazón Azteca". La Jornada de Oriente (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  11. ^ Arturo, Roberto (7 December 2022). "Tazon Azteca XLVII marks a return to Mexico vs the United States". American Football International. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  12. ^ Fernández, Domingo (2 March 2024). "Entregaron los Cascos de Oro". El Sol de Toluca (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  13. ^ Meza, Humberto (25 November 2024). "ONEFA: Clásico Regio, la final de "Los 14 grandes"". La Prensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  14. ^ "Borregos Puebla golpea a Borregos Monterrey pero cae apenas por un punto". Receptor.com.mx (in Spanish). 14 September 2025. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  15. ^ "Busca Fer Mayen un lugar en la NFL". Diario de Morelos (in Spanish). 5 February 2025. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  16. ^ Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Americano [@FMFAOFICIALMX] (3 November 2025). "La conformación de la Selección Nacional de Tackle Senior avanza con determinación, destacando la complejidad de la selección ante el vasto talento nacional. México es Uno. México vs. Canadá, 13 de diciembre de 2025, Estadio Wilfrido Massieu" (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 December 2025 – via Twitter.
  17. ^ Núñez, Valentina (21 February 2025). "Del emparrillado a la TV: atleta Tec Puebla cubre Super Bowl". Conecta (in Spanish). Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
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