SAN ANTONIO -- UTSA held its seventh session of preseason training camp on Friday morning at the UTSA Practice Fields.
The Roadrunners practiced as a full team in complete pads on Friday, which will lead into the first scrimmage of camp on Saturday morning.
"I want us to go out and execute our style of offense, defense and special teams," head coach Frank Wilson said about what a good scrimmage on Saturday will look like. "We'll put guys in certain situations to see how they play. The big thing is, just in our sport, we don't tackle a whole lot in practice. We thud, we hit, we rally to the ball, but not a lot to the ground. It will be a day of full contact tomorrow for everyone except the quarterbacks. (I'm looking for) our defensive players to tackle well, for our offensive guys to break tackles and for us to play at a very high speed. Running to the ball with energy and effort, fanatically on both sides."
The first chance for fans to see the Roadrunners will be Aug. 17 for Runners at the Park, presented by Methodist Texsan Hospital, at the Park West Athletics Complex, which will feature an open practice and an autograph session.
UTSA opens 2019 on Aug. 31, hosting Incarnate Word at 5 p.m. at the Alamodome. For tickets, call or text 210-458-UTSA (8872) or visit goUTSA.com/tickets.
Roadrunners boast experience, talent at cornerbacks position
UTSA heads into the 2019 season with a strong group of experience and talent at the cornerbacks position.
"Our depth in the secondary is still developing," Wilson said. "We have bodies. We have quantity. We have the numbers there. We're still shaping up both those positions. We have enough talent. We've got to get those guys up to speed – I have no doubt that they will be to speed come the 31st – but right now, we are still in the development stage."
The Roadrunners return several standouts from 2018 in the defensive backfield, including potential starting cornerbacks Cassius Grady and Clayton Johnson.
"This team has so much energy, so much camaraderie," Johnson said. "There's so much going for this team. In my last couple of years here, this is the most excited as a team, and as a position group and staff. Everybody has a lot of good things coming this way. We learned a lot from the first week and we'll just continue to build on that."
The senior corners were major weapons for the secondary in 2018. Grady, a native of Arlington, Texas, who spent time at Northern Illinois and Trinity Valley College before his arrival a year ago, tied the school record with four interceptions and ranked fifth on the team with 45 tackles.
"Every year, every day, (Grady) is a guy that gets better," Wilson said. "He's a guy that takes pride in what he is asked to do. He goes out and does it to the best of his ability. He is one of our leaders in our secondary. He is a mature young man as well."
Johnson, a native of Flower Mound, Texas, joined the Roadrunners as a transfer from Oklahoma State.
"Ball skill. Toughness. A guy that understands, from both sides – offensively and defensively – to not allow a receiver to take advantage of his technique or his posture," Wilson said about Johnson's skill sets. "A mature mind that understands the defensive back position."
As a junior, Johnson picked off a pair of passes and added 23 tackles and three pass breakups.
"I see myself as a leader," Johnson said. "I've been here three years and going into my senior year, especially in the cornerback room – myself and Cassius – anyone who has been here is taking on that leadership role. We're just getting better as a group, especially with these young guys coming up, as well."
Joining Grady and Johnson as veteran returnees at corner include Corey Mayfield Jr. and Teddrick McGhee. Mayfield Jr., had 10 tackles and a pass breakup in 10 games in 2018, while McGhee had 11 tackles and an interception in six outings.
A trio of newcomers figure to boost the depth at corner, including Oregon transfer Dexter Myers and freshmen Sean Berry and Ken Robinson.
"(Safety) Jahmal Sam and Ken Robinson have caught my eye," Grady said. "They are some freshmen that know the game. They had good coaching in high school and good trainers. They are standing out."
"I was pleased with our secondary (today)," Wilson said. "Cassius Grady, CJ (Clayton Johnson), those guys have done a really good job at the corner position. We have some young talent there as well.
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