UTSA Roadrunners (3-0, 1-0) at UAB Blazers (2-1, 0-0)
11:30 a.m. | Saturday, Oct. 3
Legion Field | Birmingham, Ala.
TV: Stadium
Radio: Ticket 760 AM
Opening drive
• UTSA is seeking its first 4-0 start since 2012 and the second in its 10-year history.
• The Roadrunners have started conference play with a 2-0 record once previously, in 2018.
• Jeff Traylor is the first coach in UTSA history to begin his career with three straight wins.
• UTSA and UAB will meet for the fifth time.
• The Blazers own a 3-1 edge in the all-time series, including a win in the only previous meeting in Birmingham.
• Sophomore RB Sincere McCormick leads C-USA and ranks second in the FBS in rushing yards (377).
• True freshman LB Jamal Ligon broke UTSA's single-game tackles record with 19 versus Middle Tennessee, the most tackles in a game by an FBS player this season.
• Senior PK Hunter Duplessis has made 16 consecutive field goals, the longest active streak in FBS.
• Saturday's game will air on Stadium, marking the 88th straight UTSA game to be broadcast.
Setting the scene
Off to a 3-0 start for the third time in program history and the first since 2017, UTSA will hit the road to face UAB (2-1, 0-0) on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Birmingham, Ala. Kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m. at historic Legion Field and the game will be televised on Stadium. The Roadrunners are coming off a thrilling 37-35 home victory over Middle Tennessee in their Conference USA opener last Friday night and will meet the Blazers for the fifth time. UAB has won four of the five previous meetings, including the only other matchup in Birmingham.
Tuning in
Saturday's game will be televised on Stadium, a linear feed distributed across both digital and broadcast platforms. The broadcast is slated to air on Fox Sports Southwest in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma markets. Please check local listings for availability in your area. Chris Vosters (play-by-play) and Max Starks (analyst) have the call. The contest will air live on Ticket 760 AM in the San Antonio area. Andy Everett (play-by-play), Jay Riley (analyst) and Pat Evans (reporter) will call all the action. The pregame show will begin at 9:30 a.m. and there will be a 45-minute postgame show. The radio broadcast also can be heard online at goUTSA.com and Ticket760.com and via the free iHeartRadio app or TuneIn.
Traylor era off to successful start
The Jeff Traylor era is off to a successful start, as UTSA has won its first three games for the third time in program history and the first since 2017. The Roadrunners pulled out a thrilling 51-48 double-overtime victory over Texas State in Traylor's debut on Sept. 12 and then defeated his alma mater, Stephen F. Austin, 24-10, in the home opener the following Saturday. He became the first UTSA coach to win his first three games with the 37-35 victory over Middle Tennessee last Friday night. Traylor boasts 30 years of coaching experience, including a highly successful 15-year career as head coach at Gilmer High School, where he led his hometown Buckeyes to three state championships and two state runner-up finishes and posted a 175-26 (.871) record. Named the third head coach in UTSA history on Dec. 10, 2019, Traylor previously was the associate head coach and running backs coach at Arkansas (2018-19) and SMU (2017) after two seasons at Texas serving as associate head coach for the offense and receivers coach in 2016 and special teams coordinator and tight ends coach in 2015.
TV birds
All 12 of UTSA's scheduled regular season games this fall have been selected for broadcast. The Roadrunners, who have seen their last 87 outings appear over the airwaves, will make it 96 straight televised/streamed appearances by the end of the regular season. In fact, the last UTSA game that was not broadcast was the 2012 season finale against Texas State.
Taking schedule changes in stride
The 2020 college football season has been anything but normal and, like many other teams, UTSA has felt the effects of schedule changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Roadrunners originally were scheduled to open the campaign on Sept. 5 against defending national champion LSU in Baton Rouge, but SEC-wide schedule changes eliminated that game from the fall lineup. UTSA also was due to host Grambling on Sept. 19, but the Southwestern Athletic Conference postponed its football season to the spring, forcing the Roadrunners to replace that nonconference clash with Stephen F. Austin. UTSA also lost a Conference USA home game when Old Dominion opted out of the 2020 football season. The Roadrunners filled that open Oct. 17 home date with Army West Point and also added a road date with BYU set for Oct. 10 to get back to 12 regular season games. On Sept. 19, Memphis announced it would be unable to travel to San Antonio for a Sept. 25 matchup, but UTSA was able to quickly replace the Tigers with Middle Tennessee for a C-USA contest that resulted in a 37-35 triumph for the Roadrunners.
2020 marks 10th season of UTSA football
UTSA is celebrating its 10th season of football in 2020. The Roadrunners started their football program from scratch and, following a practice season in 2010, played their first season as an FCS Independent in 2011 before joining the Western Athletic Conference for the 2012 campaign. UTSA moved into its current league home — Conference USA — in 2013 and became a full-fledged FBS member starting with the 2014 season. The Roadrunners set NCAA modern startup program records in 2011 by drawing 56,743 fans to their inaugural game against Northeastern State and by averaging 35,521 fans for their six home contests that season. UTSA made its first postseason appearance at the 2016 New Mexico Bowl in its sixth season of play and registered its first win against a team from a Power 5 conference the following season with a 17-10 victory over Baylor.
Game 110
Now in their 10th season of play, the Roadrunners will play their 110th game in program history and 55th road contest on Saturday. The Roadrunners are 48-61 all-time and 20-34 away from the Alamodome, including a 51-48 double-overtime win over Texas State in the 2020 season opener in San Marcos. Last season, UTSA played game No. 100 against UAB on Oct. 12 in San Antonio.
Scouting UAB
The Blazers improved to 2-1 on the year with a 42-10 road win at South Alabama last Thursday night. UAB, the defending Conference USA West Division champion, opened the campaign with a 45-35 triumph over Central Arkansas before dropping a 31-14 decision at Miami on Sept. 10. Running back Spencer Brown paces the offense with 306 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, while Austin Watkins Jr. (17-287-2) and Myron Mitchell (15-241-1) provide a potent 1-2 punch at receiver. Bryson Lucero, who started in the South Alabama game, has completed 29 of 49 passes for 457 yards and three TDs. Noah Wilder leads the defense with 21 tackles and a pair of sacks, while Kristopher Moll owns 19 stops. Head coach Bill Clark is 36-20 in his fifth season at the helm. UAB is riding a 19-game winning streak at Legion Field.
Series history
UTSA and UAB have met four times on the gridiron with the Blazers owning a 3-1 edge in the all-time series. The Roadrunners scored a 52-31 victory in the first meeting on Oct. 26, 2013, in San Antonio, but UAB has won the last three matchups, including a 52-3 decision on Nov. 3, 2018, in the only previous contest held in Birmingham.
Last meeting
Lowell Narcisse ran for 89 yards and a touchdown, but UAB used a balanced offense and a stingy defense to hold off UTSA, 33-14 on Oct. 12, 2019, at the Alamodome. The Blazers accumulated 492 yards of offense — 294 through the air and 198 on the ground behind quarterback Tyler Johnston, who completed 17 of 26 passes for all 294 yards and a touchdown. Austin Watkins caught six passes for 167 yards and a TD and Lucious Stanley ran for 92 yards and a score to pace UAB's offense, which held the ball for 36 minutes and six seconds. UAB held a 16-7 lead at halftime, but UTSA made things interesting by forcing a pair of turnovers. The Roadrunners took advantage of a fumble to cut the deficit to two points in the third quarter. Antonio Parks knocked the ball loose from Johnston and Kevin Nelson recovered the ball at midfield. Narcisse had a 25-yard scramble to help set up a Hunter Duplessis field goal try. The kick was good but UAB was called for a leverage penalty, giving the Roadrunners first down at the 9-yard line. Three plays later, Narcisse found the end zone and Duplessis' PAT made it 16-14 at the 8:57 mark of the third. The Blazers answered the touchdown with one of their own on a 25-yard pass from Johnston to Myron Mitchell to cap a six-play, 73-yard drive.
Last time out
Josh Adkins came off the bench to throw for 233 yards, Zakhari Franklin had 119 receiving yards and Jamal Ligon broke UTSA's single-game tackles record with 19 as the Roadrunners outlasted Middle Tennessee, 37-35, in the Conference USA opener on Friday night at the Alamodome. UTSA held on for the two-point win in the final minutes to run its record to 3-0 on the season, making Jeff Traylor the first head coach in program history to start his career with three wins. The Blue Raiders had a chance to tie it but failed on a two-point conversion attempt with 1:04 left to play, sending the Roadrunners to their fifth win in nine all-time league lid-lifters.
Roadrunners up for national awards
Five Roadrunners have been named to or nominated for national award watch lists. Lucas Dean was added to the watch list for the Ray Guy Award for the nation's top punter, while Hunter Duplessis is UTSA's nominee for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. Sincere McCormick appears on the watch list for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, which is given to the top offensive player in college football with ties to the state of Texas. Solomon Wise is one of 114 players on the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service." Following a stellar season debut in the Texas State win, Frank Harris was added to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Midseason Watch List.
C-USA weekly awards roll in for Roadrunners
UTSA's 3-0 start to the season has helped lead to several accolades from the league office. Jamal Ligon was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week following his record-setting performance in the 37-35 victory over Middle Tennessee last Friday night. The true freshman linebacker broke the school's single-game tackles record with 19, the most in a game by any FBS player this season. On Sept. 21, Frank Harris collected the program's second straight C-USA Offensive Player of the Week award after accounting for 373 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Stephen F. Austin. Following the season-opening, double-overtime victory against Texas State on Sept. 12, Hunter Duplessis received the C-USA special teams weekly award after making all three field-goal attempts, including the game winner from 29 yards, while Sincere McCormick was tabbed C-USA Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for a program-record 197 yards and a TD on 29 carries. With four weekly C-USA awards through the first three weeks, UTSA already has matched the most earned in a single year (2014).
Roadrunners receive national poll votes for first time
UTSA made history on Sept. 20 after receiving votes in that week's Associated Press Top 25 Poll. Now in their 10th season of football and ninth as a member of an FBS conference, the Roadrunners received two votes, marking the first time UTSA has collected a vote for either of the weekly top 25 polls.
Balanced offense a key to fast start
One of the keys to UTSA's 3-0 start has been a balanced offensive attack. Under the direction of offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr., the Roadrunners are averaging 462.7 yards per game to rank third in Conference USA and 21st nationally. UTSA is rushing for 215.7 yards per game, which stands third in the league and 18th in the FBS, and passing for 247.0 yards per outing. UTSA tallied 499 yards of offense in the season opener versus Texas State and followed that with a 498-yard effort against Stephen F. Austin, marking the second-most yards gained in a two-game span in program history. The Roadrunners racked up 330 yards on the ground in the double-overtime win at Texas State, the third-best rushing output in school annals, and they passed for a season-high 303 yards in the 37-35 triumph over Middle Tennessee on Sept. 25.
Third-down success
The UTSA offense has found success converting on third down so far this season. The Roadrunners have reached the line to gain on 27 of 53 third-down plays through the first three contests, and that 51-percent rate ranks 19th nationally. Of the 27 third-down conversions, 15 have come via the passing game, including six receptions by sophomore WR Joshua Cephus. UTSA converted 13 of 19 third downs in the 24-10 win over Stephen F. Austin last Saturday after opening the season with a 7-for-17 effort in the double-overtime triumph over Texas State. UTSA was successful on eight of its 18 third-down plays in the 37-35 victory against Middle Tennessee in the last outing.
Converting in the red zone
UTSA is one of 23 FBS teams to have converted all red-zone opportunities this season. The Roadrunners have reached the opponent's 20-yard line 17 times through the first three contests and they have turned those chances into 10 touchdowns and seven field goals. In fact, UTSA's 17 red-zone scores rank second only to SMU's 18.
QB room loaded with starting experience
UTSA's quarterbacks room entered the season as one of the most experienced groups of signal callers in the nation. Josh Adkins (20), Frank Harris (4), Lowell Narcisse (7) and Jordan Weeks (4) boasted a combined 35 starts at the FBS level prior to 2020, making UTSA one of just five teams with four QBs who own FBS starts. The others are Arkansas, Northwestern, Old Dominion and Tennessee. In fact, the Roadrunners are the only FBS squad with four quarterbacks who each had four starts at this level entering the fall.
Bouncing back
For the second straight season, UTSA quarterback Frank Harris has enjoyed a memorable debut after bouncing back from injury. The junior from Schertz Clemens High School ran for a school record-tying three touchdowns and threw for another to help lead the Roadrunners to a 51-48 double-overtime triumph over Texas State. Harris completed 23 of 31 passes for 169 yards and carried 11 times for 51 yards and three scores in a turnover-free afternoon to guide the offense to 499 yards, the most since the 2017 win against Texas State. A member of the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Midseason Watch List, Harris accounted for 373 yards and three TDs in the 24-10 win against Stephen F. Austin the following Saturday. He became the first UTSA signal caller to register two career 100-yard rushing games with 104 yards and two scores on 17 attempts and he completed 23 of 36 passes for a career-best 269 yards and a TD. Harris, who collected Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 21, certainly has displayed the toughness that warrants the No. 0 jersey he earned after a vote by his teammates. The lefthander has battled back from two knee injuries, including one that knocked him out for the 2018 season, and a shoulder injury that ended his 2019 campaign. Harris left the Middle Tennessee contest late in the first half with an injury after throwing for 70 yards and ripping off a 20-yard run. Despite missing one half of football, he still leads C-USA and ranks fourth in the FBS with five total touchdowns.
Adkins to the rescue
Josh Adkins came off the bench late in the opening half of the 37-35 victory over Middle Tennessee to replace injured starter Frank Harris, and the junior transfer impressed in his first action as a Roadrunner. A product of nearby Smithson Valley High School, Adkins completed 16 of 28 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown to help ensure the third 3-0 start in program history. His two longest passes of 48 and 34 yards went to Zakhari Franklin and he also connected with Brennon Dingle for 29 and 20 yards. Adkins found Joshua Cephus open in the end zone from seven yards late in the third quarter for his first TD pass in a UTSA uniform. After redshirting in 2017, Adkins started 20 games and played in 22 over the past two seasons for New Mexico State. He threw for 5,151 yards and 27 touchdowns on 497-of-830 passing during his time with the Aggies.
Sincere success
After enjoying one of the best debut campaigns in program history last fall, UTSA running back Sincere McCormick made the most of his sophomore season opener. The 2019 Conference USA Freshman of the Year eclipsed his own school record with 197 rushing yards and a touchdown on 29 carries — also a UTSA record — to help the Roadrunners outlast Texas State in double overtime. McCormick ripped off a pair of career-long 58-yard runs and helped UTSA tally 330 yards on the ground for the third-best total in program annals, earning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week accolades for his performance. The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list member followed that by nearly notching his fifth career 100-yard game with 98 in the 24-10 win over Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 19 before rushing for 82 yards and another score in the win against Middle Tennessee last Friday night. A Freshman All-American a season ago, McCormick ranks second in the nation in rushing yards with 377, only three yards behind SMU's Ulysses Bentley IV (380), and the Converse Judson product stands third in the conference and 13th among FBS players with 152.3 all-purpose yards per game. His three rushing TDs are the 11th-best total in the nation and he is averaging 5.63 yards per carry, good for fourth in C-USA.
Welcome back, Zakhari
UTSA wide receiver Zakhari Franklin picked up where he left off in his debut campaign in his first action of his sophomore season. After missing the first two games, the Cedar Hill High School product caught six passes for 119 yards and a touchdown to help lead the Roadrunners to a 37-35 win over Middle Tennessee on Sept. 25. He was on the receiving end of a 25-yard TD pass from Frank Harris in the first half and he nearly had his second score of the night on a 48-yard catch-and-run to the 1-yard line. It marked the second 100-yard receiving output of his young career behind a 134-yard effort on six receptions in the win at Old Dominion last November. Franklin had 491 yards and three TDs on 38 catches in 2019 and with 435 of those yards during the final five contests, he now has 554 receiving yards in his last six outings.
Sure-handed Cephus emerges at receiver
UTSA sophomore Joshua Cephus has emerged as one of the team's top receiving targets through the opening three games. The Spring, Texas, native made waves with his highlight-reel touchdown catch in overtime of the 51-48 win over Texas State on Sept. 12. With a defender draped all over him — defensive pass interference was called — the 6-3 wide receiver made a diving, one-handed grab in the end zone, a catch that earned the No. 1 spot on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays of the Day. Cephus finished with six receptions for 44 yards in the season opener and followed that with a career day in the 24-10 win over Stephen F. Austin, hauling in eight passes for 89 yards and his second TD of the season on a 4-yard pass in the final minutes of the first half. Cephus caught his third TD pass of the young season on a 7-yard throw from Josh Adkins late in the third quarter of the win against Middle Tennessee. He leads the Roadrunners in receptions (19) and receiving TDs (3) and stands second in receiving yards (163).
Familiar faces return on offensive line
UTSA welcomes back several familiar faces on the offensive line, including a trio of returning starters in Spencer Burford, Kevin Davis and Ahofitu Maka. Burford has 25 games and 24 starts under his belt and the junior from San Antonio Wagner High School earned honorable mention all-conference accolades last season after being named to the 2018 Conference USA All-Freshman Team. Following a redshirt year in 2017, Davis, who hails from Angleton, Texas, stepped into the starting center role in all 12 contests two seasons ago before making the move to guard as a sophomore when he started all 10 games in which he was available. Davis made his first appearance in 2020 with a start at right guard versus Middle Tennessee on Sept. 25. Maka had an immediate impact on the line in his first season with the Roadrunners. UTSA's first player from the state of Hawai'i, he has started the last 15 contests at center. The most experienced returning offensive lineman on the roster is Dominic Pastucci, who has 35 games under his belt. A versatile senior from Pflugerville Hendrickson High School who can play guard or tackle, he has earned 10 starts during his career and a reputation as one of the team's strongest performers in the weight room.
Creating havoc
The UTSA defense has a new look in 2020 with the arrival of defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix's 3-4 front. The new alignment has helped to create havoc for opposing backfields, as the Roadrunners lead Conference USA and rank fourth in the country with 11.0 tackles for loss per game. Additionally, UTSA's 3.67 sacks per contest are good for tops in the league and 16th nationally. In the season-opening win over Texas State, the Roadrunners recorded 14 tackles for loss, breaking the school record of 12 set in the 2019 season finale at Louisiana Tech. UTSA hit the double-digit mark once again with 10 in the 24-10 win against Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 19 before posting nine stops behind the line of scrimmage in the 37-35 victory against Middle Tennessee last Friday. The Roadrunners' 33 tackles for loss this season have cost opponents 122 combined yards, including 58 on 11 sacks.
Senior stalwart paces defensive front
In its short history, UTSA has made a name for itself by producing defensive linemen who have moved on to the professional ranks. Headlining that list is 2018 NFL first round draft pick Marcus Davenport, the 2017 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and a current member of the New Orleans Saints. Jaylon Haynes could be the next Roadrunner to join the likes of Davenport, Eric Banks, Ashaad Mabry, Jason Neill, Brian Price and Kevin Strong Jr. The senior from Wharton, Texas, enjoyed a breakout 2019 season that saw him lead all defensive linemen with 40 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries en route to honorable mention all-conference accolades. The 2017 C-USA All-Freshman Team selection has continued to be a force in the middle through the first three games this season as he leads the league with five tackles for loss and three sacks. Haynes has recorded 20.5 career TFL, good for a tie for fifth place on UTSA's all-time list.
Freshman linebacker turning heads
True freshman Jamal Ligon has turned heads in his short time as a Roadrunners. A two-time district utility player of the year after playing tight end, fullback and defensive line at Tyler Lee High School under Kurt Traylor, UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor's brother and current Roadrunners tight ends coach, he has appeared in all three games and earned a start at inside linebacker in each of the last two contests. After registering four stops in the season-opening win at Texas State and a pair of tackles in the triumph over Stephen F. Austin, Ligon exploded for a school-record 19 tackles in the 37-35 victory against Middle Tennessee last Friday night and he was named Athlon Sports' Defensive Freshman of the Week and Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. He turned in eight solo stops and 1.5 sacks as part of his record-setting tackles total to go along with a pair of quarterback hurries. His 19 tackles eclipsed the previous program standard of 16 set in 2011 by Cody Rogers and it marks the most tackles made by an FBS player in a game this season. On the season, Ligon has posted 25 total tackles, including 12 solo tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, as well as a pair of quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery.
Not your typical corner
Tariq Woolen did not take the traditional path to starting cornerback for the Roadrunners. The junior from Fort Worth began his UTSA career as a wide receiver and caught 24 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown over the past two seasons after taking a redshirt in 2017. Approached by coaches with a position change late in the 2019 campaign, he jumped at the opportunity to see more playing time in the secondary. He saw significant playing time at cornerback in the season finale against Louisiana Tech and recorded a pair of tackles. Listed at six feet, five inches, Woolen is taller than the typical corner, but his quickness, agility and toughness impressed the coaching staff during fall camp enough to earn the starting nod for the 2020 opener. He made the most of his first start at the position, posting five tackles — all solo — including a sack for a 10-yard loss to go along with one quarterback hurry in the double-overtime victory at Texas State. Woolen followed that outing with five tackles and a career-best four pass breakups in the 24-10 win against Stephen F. Austin. He recorded five more tackles and logged his first career interception, despite playing with a cast on one arm, in the 37-35 triumph over Middle Tennessee last Friday night. Woolen ranks second in Conference USA and 24th in the nation in passes defended (1.7/game).
Wisdom in the secondary
Despite being on the UTSA campus for less than two years, sophomore safety Rashad Wisdom has emerged as one of the team leaders. The Converse Judson High School product enrolled in January 2019 and immediately had an impact on the program on and off the field. He earned Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors after racking up 44 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and an interception that he returned 34 yards for a touchdown in his debut campaign. He provided quite the encore in his 2020 debut, recording a team-high 10 tackles, including 1.5 TFL, and returning an interception 81 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. He again led the defense in tackles with nine in the win against Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 19 before posting nine in the 37-35 triumph over Middle Tennessee last Friday night. Wisdom leads UTSA and is tied atop the league in total tackles with 28 this fall. Wisdom's family captured the hearts of the UTSA football program and the San Antonio community over the past year by sharing the story of Rashad's younger brother, Bryce, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 and passed away at the age of 17 in July of this year. UTSA is wearing a "Bryce Strong" helmet sticker this season in his honor.
Duplessis looking to keep streak alive
UTSA place-kicker Hunter Duplessis enters Saturday's matchup against UAB with a stretch of 16 consecutive field goals made, the longest active streak in FBS. He made all three of his attempts in the season opener, including the game-winning 29-yarder at the end of the second overtime, to help lift UTSA to a 51-48 triumph over Texas State on Sept. 12, and he earned Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week accolades for his performance. Duplessis drilled his only field-goal attempt and all three extra-point attempts in the win against Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 19 before making all seven kicks — three field goals and four PATs — in the win over Middle Tennessee last Friday night, and he now has made 38 straight extra points in his career. After missing his first two field-goal attempts as a junior, he reeled off nine straight to finish the year. Duplessis — UTSA's nominee for the William V. Campbell Trophy — has not missed a kick since Sept. 21, 2019.
Punter from Down Under
In its short history, UTSA has developed consistent success in the punting game with the likes of Kristian Stern and Yannis Routsas, a 2017 Ray Guy Award semifinalist. Sophomore punter Lucas Dean has emerged as the next in that punting lineage. A product of Prokick Australia and the first Roadrunner regardless of position from Down Under, Dean has used an Australian Rules Football background to help provide UTSA with a weapon in the kicking game since his arrival on campus in 2019. As a true freshman, he averaged 40.8 yards on 65 punts and booted 12 of 50-plus yards. He also pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 16 times and induced 28 fair catches. Through three games this season, Dean has registered a 46.9 average, good for second in Conference USA and ninth nationally. He has boomed six kicks of 50-or-more yards and of his 18 total punts, nine have been inside the 20 and five have resulted in fair catches. Dean turned in arguably his best performance as a Roadrunner in his last outing, as he averaged 49.2 yards on six punts — including matching his career high with a 57-yard bomb that was downed at the 9-yard line — in the 37-35 win against Middle Tennessee.
Brotherly duos
UTSA has two sets of brothers on the 2020 roster in junior offensive lineman Kevin Davis and freshman wide receiver Isaiah Davis, along with junior safety Dadrian Taylor and freshman safety Donyai Taylor. That makes the Roadrunners one of 27 FBS teams with at least two brotherly duos.
UTSA roster breakdown
UTSA's 116-man roster features 21 seniors, 27 juniors, 30 sophomores and 38 redshirt or true freshmen. The roster lists 87 players — 75% — who hail from the state of Texas, while the next-closest state is Louisiana with eight. There are five players from both California and Mississippi, while three call Florida home and a pair are from Georgia. UTSA has one player each from Hawai'i, Maryland, Michigan and Tennessee, while Lucas Dean is the first Roadrunner from Australia.
Representing the 210
UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor and his staff have placed an emphasis on recruiting the 210 area code, which covers the city of San Antonio and surrounding areas. The current roster already includes a lengthy list of 25 local players:
Name (High School)
Josh Adkins (Smithson Valley)
Jabari Aiken (Johnson)
Rudy Aleman Jr. (Warren)
Brenden Brady (Steele)
Spencer Burford (Wagner)
Oscar Cardenas (Brandeis)
JayVeon Cardwell (Steele)
Cade Collenback (O'Connor)
Hunter Duplessis (Cole)
KJ Elder (Warren)
Shaquan Flagg (Brennan)
Frank Harris (Clemens)
Jaden Jones (East Central)
Magnus Kirby (Sam Houston)
Brandon Matterson (Brandeis)
Sincere McCormick (Judson)
Matthew Ojeda (Int'l School of the Americas)
Jaren Randle (Johnson)
Justin Rodriguez (Johnson)
Daniel Santallana (East Central)
Jordan Smith (Brennan)
Xavier Spencer (Judson)
Wiliam Turner (Randolph)
Julon Williams (Judson)
Rashad Wisdom (Judson)
UTSA Triangle of Toughness
UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor has installed many new ideas since his hiring, including his Culture Pillars: Integrity, Passion, Mental & Physical Toughness, Selfless and Perfect Effort. As part of that new culture, the players voted after fall camp on who would earn single-digit jersey numbers, a reward for representing mental and physical toughness on and off the field. Nos. 0-9 were unveiled in a series of tweets and the numbers 2, 1 and 0 were chosen for the players voted to represent the 210 Brand, the UTSA Triangle of Toughness. Below are the single-digit jersey numbers as voted by their teammates:
0 – Frank Harris, Rashad Wisdom
1 — Jaylon Haynes
2 — Sheldon Jones
3 — Sincere McCormick
4 — Antonio Parks, Leroy Watson
5 — Brenden Brady
6 — Brennon Dingle
7 — Dadrian Taylor
8 — Solomon Wise
9 — Clarence Hicks
Trevor Harmanson also was voted into the single-digit group but elected to stay in No 15, while offensive linemen Spencer Burford, Ahofitu Maka and Dominic Pastucci also received the necessary votes but cannot change to a single-digit number due to their position.
Leadership Council elected
UTSA has elected a Leadership Council made up of representatives from each position group.
QB — Frank Harris
RB — Brenden Brady
WR — Sheldon Jones
TE — Leroy Watson
OL — Dominic Pastucci
DL — Jaylon Haynes
LB — DeQuarius Henry, Tyler Mahnke
DB — Rashad Wisdom
ST — Hunter Duplessis, Myles Benning
Up next
UTSA will travel to Provo, Utah, to face BYU on Saturday, Oct. 10. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at LaVell Edwards Stadium and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
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