by Pat Turner, goUTSA.com contributing writer
SAN ANTONIO — Triston Wade entered his final season at UTSA with plans to accomplish bigger goals.
After roaming the Roadrunners’ secondary the past three years, the last two of which saw him earn all-conference accolades, the senior from Tyler wanted to play with the same intensity.
However, the free safety wanted to provide more takeaways for his team.
To make sure that happened, Wade spent more time working on how to make that happen and become known as one of the best in his field.
To say he has accomplished what he set out to do would be an understatement.
Because of his team-leading three interceptions and two fumble recoveries to go along with a squad-best 67 tackles, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound preseason All-Conference USA selection has made that elite group by becoming one of 15 semifinalists for this year’s Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented annually the nation’s top defensive back.
“Being a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award is special,” Wade recently said. “That’s one of the goals I wrote down before this season. It is coming true and I have a chance, although I have to keep working hard. I’m happy with the turnovers this year, but I wish I had more yards on them. I’m still happy to be getting them, but I would trade a couple of them for some more wins. I’ve just been in the right spots at the right time and my teammates have been a big part of them.”
Although Wade is achieving his personal goals, his quest for the team goals have been a little harder to come by, but there still is plenty of time for the Roadrunners to finish his final year on a high note, beginning with tonight’s contest against Southern Miss.
Although the season has been a bit of a disappointment, it certainly has not stopped Wade from giving his all, which is what he does every time he takes the field.
“I’ve been staying positive,” he said. “We have to keep pushing forward no matter what. We’re trying to get back on the right path and go out with a bang, but we have to give it all we have in order for that to happen.”
Wade can leave knowing he left his mark on UTSA’s football program.
At the same time, the 2013 second-team All-Conference USA and 2012 first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection will carry special memories from a place that has become his second home.
Wade and UTSA have come a long way since their union.
While helping the Roadrunners launch their football program from the ground floor, the former All-East Texas prep star has earned major recognition at the next level.
However, he has had to do so while battling through adversity, including personal tragedy.
Through each obstacle, Wade became stronger, which why he is the program’s career leader in nearly every defensive category.
Looking back, it all started because former John Tyler High School teammate Darrien Starling, a member of UTSA’s first signing class, suggested he give it a look.
Wade is glad he took the advice.
After all, UTSA has blossomed quickly, compiling 21 wins through its first four seasons.
“It’s been very special here and to see how far this program has come,” Wade said. “When I got here, we were getting ready to play our first game and didn’t even have a practice field or a weight room. Now, we have amazing facilities and become so much better talent-wise.”
The first year was the most challenging.
Not only was Wade trying to adjust to living away from home for the first time and learning the ropes of college football, but he had to deal with the loss of his 4-year-old brother, Ashton, who died that summer.
Ashton’s death was devastating, but Wade knew the best thing to do was move forward.
“I had to overcome a lot of adversity when my brother passed,” he said. “I really can’t explain how hard that was for me. I kept pushing no matter how hard the situation became because I had to do it for him. I got through it and still play for him to this day.”
Ashton would be proud of his older brother.
After recording 39 tackles with two interceptions and starting the final five games of his freshman campaign, Wade took it a step farther as a sophomore.
In UTSA’s only season in the WAC, he made a lasting impression with 74 tackles and four interceptions en route to first-team all-league honors.
“The first year, I was just relying on my skills,” Wade said. “The second season, I learned a lot more about the game from the coaches. I listened and studied the game more. I started watching film all the time to see how I could get better.”
It carried over into a strong junior year.
Wade earned second-team all-conference laurels after totaling a team-leading 94 tackles and two interceptions. The two picks came in a 34-15 win at Tulsa, one that turned into an 89-yard touchdown return.
However, Wade was not overly thrilled with his results.
“It was a good season, but I was disappointed in my takeaways,” he said. “I felt like I didn’t do too well in that area. I had to improve on that because they make a big difference. I worked during the summer on ball drills, footwork and technique because I knew I had to be there to make plays.”
UTSA coach Larry Coker has known since day one that the Roadrunners had a special player in Wade.
He has all the skills to make a difference, the aggressiveness to make big hits and the special instinct to always be where the action is taking place.
“Triston is a tremendous football player,” Coker said. “He is one our leaders. In fact, he has been elected team captain the last two years. I have been blessed with some great safeties like Sean Taylor, Ed Reed and Brandon Meriweather and Triston is one of those guys. He knows what to do and has the sixth sense to make plays. He’s been a great player for us.”
High praise indeed from a National Championship coach, but it certainly has come through hard work and dedication.