SAN ANTONIO -- UTSA held its fifth session of fall camp on Wednesday morning at the UTSA Football Practice Fields.
The Roadrunners practiced as a full team in full pads for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. UTSA's first three practices were divided into a split-squad format with morning and evening sessions.
The first chance for fans to see the Roadrunners will be Aug. 17 for Runners at the Park, presented by Methodist Texsan Hospital, at Park West Athletics Complex, which will feature an open practice and an autograph session.
UTSA opens 2019 on Aug. 31, hosting UIW at 5 p.m. at the Alamodome. For tickets, call or text 210-458-UTSA (8872) or visit goUTSA.com/tickets.
Depth developing at wide receiver
As UTSA inches closer to the 2019 season opener, several position groups are taking shape, including the development of a deep, talented group of wide receivers.
UTSA must replace its top receiving threat from 2018, wide receiver Greg Campbell Jr., who led the team with 58 catches for 658 yards and two TDs, 38 more grabs then the next closest pass catcher in 2018.
"We're catching the ball well and we have some nice, young athletes at that position to complement some veteran guys," head coach Frank Wilson said. "We have some guys of length and speed, and that changes the complexity of our team because it allows us to stretch the field. At times we can have three or four guys that are 6-foot-2 and better at the same time that have the diversity to catch the quick game, the intermediate and go down the field, as well. We are a more diverse team that has more weapons at the receiver position, and they're catching the ball extremely well."
The Roadrunners return six of their top eight wide receivers in 2019.
Junior Kirk Johnson Jr. is the team's leading returning receiver, grabbing 20 balls for 137 yards as a sophomore. Senior Blaze Moorhead, who missed the last three games of the year due to injury, returns after totaling 19 catches for 210 yards and a TD.
Sophomores Sheldon "Sticks" Jones, Tykee Ogle-Kellogg and Tariq Woolen were worked into the rotation in 2018 and have taken strides entering their encore season.
Jones had 10 catches for 74 yards, with Woolen notching 15 grabs for 158 yards and a TD.
"(Sheldon Jones) is probably close to 5-foot-10 but his length is something we enjoy," Wilson said. "He has a high catching radius and can go up and get the ball, as well. He is not a guy that is big in stature, but he plays bigger than his size and that allows us to use him in a variety of ways as a guy that can be detrimental to a defense in the slot but also is a guy that can go out on the perimeter and stretch the field and do all of the things that you want out of a perimeter receiver."
A 6-foot-4, 210-pound native of Alcoa, Tenn., Ogle-Kellogg led the team with three receiving TDs in 2018, as part of his 14 grabs for 179 yards and a team-high 12.8 yards per catch.
"I'm going to do whatever I need to do to get on the field," Jones said. "If Coach (Jeff) Kastl needs me at slot, I'm going to go to the slot. If he needs me outside, doesn't matter. I'm just trying to win. We've got some talent in that wide receiver group. This group should be special."
- UTSA -
