Josh Stewart and Kerry Thomas Jr. were thrilled to be part of UTSA's historical 2016 football season.
Playing key roles in helping the Roadrunners to their first bowl appearance at the Gildan New Mexico Bowl created much of the receivers' excitement. What made the accomplishment extra special for the siblings from College Station was the opportunity to enjoy the experience together.
After all, Stewart and Thomas have been teammates since they began participating in sports. It's been a pleasant experience at every level, but being together on the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision stage is the highlight.
As they enter their senior season, Stewart and Thomas look to build more memories, starting with today's home opener against Houston.
"It's definitely special," Thomas Jr. said. "Not only it is special, it is a blessing. Growing up, we never played apart. Even though I was younger I always played above my age group. I wanted to play with my brother."
Stewart has always loved having Thomas Jr. near him. However, playing on the same college football team is the icing on the cake.
"Playing with your brother in high school and college is really nice," said Stewart, who is a year older than Thomas Jr. "Playing alongside him gave me an opportunity to make my mark. It's always been fun."
During their time together, Stewart and Thomas Jr. have made an interesting discovery. Playing the same position has its advantages.
Not only can they help one another on running routes and trying to get the upper hand on opposing defenders, their presence serves as motivation.
It worked well last season as they became two of quarterback Dalton Sturm's favorite targets.
Stewart caught 36 passes for a UTSA single-season record 682 yards and five touchdowns, while Thomas Jr. finished with 35 receptions for 555 yards and a single-season record eight TDs.
"We complement each other," Thomas Jr. said. "We're able to help one another on running routes and different techniques.
"We motivate each other, because we want to see the best from both of us. We push each other as hard as we can. One of things I am proud of seeing is my brother making plays on the opposite side of the field. When I make a play, he is excited for me."
No doubt the two are each other's biggest fan. They know each other's strengths inside and out, leading to detailed scouting reports.
"Josh is a tall guy," Thomas Jr. said. "That helps him get up and compete for the football. He has definitely increased his speed. He is a deep threat and does a tremendous job of running his route."
Stewart has the scoop on what makes Thomas Jr. (6-foot, 205 pounds) go.
"Kerry is very finesse with his routes," the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Stewart said. "His routes are really crisp. That's what I try to take from the game, too."
Although both have established themselves in football, they're still fairly new to the sport compared to their UTSA teammates. Josh and Kerry played during their younger years, but when they arrived at A&M Consolidated High School, basketball was their choice.
The brothers shined on the court, but Josh decided to give football a try going into his senior year. It turned out to be a wise choice.
"When I was younger, I always loved football," Stewart said. "I loved basketball, too, but going into my senior year a new coach came in and brought a spread offense. I thought I would give it a try. Kerry said if you play, I will play."
The two didn't waste any time making their presence felt with their playmaking skills. There were some adjustments to be made, but for the most, they believe their time on the court made for a smoother transition.
"One of the main things was God-given ability," Thomas Jr. said. "We also put our minds to it. Basketball helped. You can take a lot of key things for football.
"I think as a receiver when it comes to body position, basketball is a big thing. I learned how to have the right body position and translated it to football. We also know how to be mentally tough. We always played physical and carried it to the football field."
Things have continued to go smoothly during their time at UTSA. However, reaching that comfort level had its challenges.
Stewart signed with Midwestern State out of high school where he spent the first season as a redshirt. Thomas Jr. went to UTSA a year later and immediately made an impression with the coaching staff.
He saw action in 11 games and caught five passes for 81 yards, the highlight being a 45-yard touchdown reception against WKU.
"I felt I adjusted well," Thomas Jr. said. "One of the biggest adjustments is the game speed. It is so much faster and it's a lot quicker where you have to pick up on the plays and the game in general.
"I think one of the biggest things I could do (as a freshman) was come in here and do everything to show my ability."
After his redshirt year, Stewart decided to join his brother at UTSA as a walk-on.
He sat out the first season and was eager to get into the swing of things for the 2015 season. Unfortunately, it never happened as a knee injury in January ended his sophomore year before it began.
Stewart, however, kept the faith and focused on a comeback. Looking at the results, he accomplished what he set out to do.
"It was very hard being out, but I stayed focused," Stewart said. "I kept my faith in God. I knew one day it would all turn around. I knew this wasn't the way it was always going to be. I kept working.
"Coming back was a blessing, I still have a lot of improvement to do. I still don't think I am where I need to be, but I feel like if I continue to focus all my energy on the football field I can get there. I love catching passes, blocking and making plays."
Now, the brothers are looking for a grand finale. After playing in the program's first-ever bowl game last December, which ended in a 23-20 loss to New Mexico, they have high hopes of going to another bowl game, along with a few other goals like contending for the Conference USA title and winning the postseason bout.
No doubt that would make the perfect ending.
"Going to the bowl game last year was such a blessing," Stewart said. "That's what we had been working for. It showed us we could do it and it showed us what we have to do to keep taking steps forward to continue to grow each and every day."
Now, they're looking for more growth.
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