Saluki secondary gets a boost with return of cornerback Sebastian Vargas-Escobar

CARBONDALE, Ill. — The NCAA has granted a waiver for Southern Illinois cornerback Sebastian Vagas-Escobar to return for one more season of college football.

In two seasons at SIU (2024-25), Vargas-Escobar has played in 24 games and made four starts. His career totals include 33 tackles, an interception and six pass breakups. He also has 1.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery to his credit.

The Oviedo, Florida-native began his career at Laney College in 2022 and also spent one season at Florida (2023) as a walk-on. He has already earned his undergraduate degree from SIU and participated in Senior Day last fall.

“After a lot of prayer and consideration with my mom and my family, I just felt like it was the best decision to come back and finish out my master’s,” Vargas-Escobar said. “I kept in contact with Coach (Nick) Hill throughout the spring and he was very supportive of me coming back. I'm super-excited to get to work.”

Vargas-Escobar said he was bothered by a stress fracture in his foot during the 2025 season, but is now fully healthy and has been training with JK Elite in Florida.

“I was out for three months during last summer, and the first day of fall camp was my first actual practice on my foot,” he explained. “It was just a lingering injury last year, but I’ve been doing conditioning and lifting and I feel great.”

While in Florida, Vargas-Escobar started a sports-performance business and plans to continue training young athletes in Southern Illinois.

“I started a business called FlowAthletics as a way to give back to the youth, helping them with things like technique, speed and agility,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to pour out my knowledge young kids and let them experience the Division I mindset it takes to make it to the next level.”

Vargas-Escobar joins a secondary that features returning starter Gavin Shepard, plus veterans Cam Cason, Naz Hill and Denym Mitchell, along with Lindenwood transfer Joshua Newkirk and true freshman Randy Flint.