UTSA Roadrunners (6-0, 2-0) vs. Rice Owls (2-3, 1-0)
5 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 16
Alamodome | San Antonio, Texas
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Ticket 760 AM
Opening drive
• UTSA is 6-0 for the first time in school history and currently is riding a program record-tying six-game winning streak.
• The Roadrunners are bowl eligible for the second straight and fourth overall season.
• UTSA is one of 13 undefeated and bowl-eligible FBS teams as of Oct. 9.
• Head coach Jeff Traylor is 13-5 at the helm of the Roadrunners, the best 18-game start for a UTSA coach.
• UTSA has won nine of its last 10 contests dating back to last season.
• The Roadrunners are receiving votes in both the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches (30) and AP Top 25 (22) Polls.
• Saturday will mark the ninth meeting between UTSA and Rice, which will for one week match the Louisiana Tech series as the most played in school history.
• UTSA has won the last five meetings with the Owls and leads the all-time series, 5-3.
• The Roadrunners have won their last two Homecoming games and are 6-4 all time.
Setting the scene
Off to the best start in school history, UTSA will host Rice for Homecoming this Saturday, Oct. 16. Kickoff for the ninth meeting between the Roadrunners (6-0, 2-0 C-USA) and Owls (2-3, 1-0) is set for 5 p.m. at the Alamodome and the game will air on ESPN+ and Ticket 760 AM. One of 13 undefeated and bowl-eligible FBS teams, UTSA has won nine of its last 10 games and is riding a program record-tying six-game winning streak. The Roadrunners have been victorious in six straight contests at the Alamodome and are 6-4 all time in Homecoming games. For more information regarding UTSA's Homecoming Week, please visit utsa.edu/homecoming.
Tuning in
Saturday's game will air on ESPN+ and is available for streaming on Watch ESPN and the ESPN app. Lincoln Rose (play-by-play) and LaDarrin McLane (analyst) have the call. The contest will air live on Ticket 760 AM in the San Antonio area and on SiriusXM app channel 986. Andy Everett (play-by-play), Jay Riley (analyst) and Pat Evans (reporter) will call the action. The pregame show will begin at 3 p.m. and there will be a 45-minute postgame show. The radio broadcast also can be heard online at Ticket760.com and via the iHeartRadio and The Varsity Network apps.
Roadrunners receiving votes
For the third straight week, UTSA is receiving both in both major polls. The Roadrunners are receiving 30 votes in the latest USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll, the fifth consecutive week they have received a vote in that poll. UTSA received 22 votes in this week's Associated Press Top 25 Poll, marking the third week in a row the Roadrunners have been recognized in that poll. Last year, the Roadrunners received two votes in the AP Top 25 Poll for the week of Sept. 20, a program first. UTSA is the only Conference USA team receiving votes in either poll this week.
UTSA escapes WKU in Saturday night thriller
Frank Harris threw for a school-record six touchdowns and Clarence Hicks intercepted a pass at the 3-yard line in the final minute, as UTSA held on for a 52-46 win over WKU in Conference USA action last Saturday night at Houchens-Smith Stadium. Harris completed 28 of 38 passes for 347 yards on the night and also caught one TD pass, giving him seven total scores on the night. He found De'Corian Clark seven times for a career-best 160 yards and a program-record three touchdown receptions. UTSA built a 52-43 lead late in the contest but the Hilltoppers cut the deficit to six after Brayden Narveson drilled a 27-yard field goal with 4:22 left to play. WKU then got the ball back with 3:21 left and drove deep inside UTSA territory in the final minute. On third down and goal from the 15, Hicks dropped back into coverage and dove in front of Bailey Zappe's 60th pass attempt of the night, securing the game-sealing interception. Sincere McCormick logged his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season and school-record 14th of his career with 120 yards on 23 carries, while Joshua Cephus had eight catches for 83 yards and a TD and Zakhari Franklin hauled in eight passes for 50 yards to help UTSA pile up 564 yards of offense. Meanwhile, Rashad Wisdom led all players with 13 tackles, including 11 solo stops. Dadrian Taylor added eight tackles and Antonio Parks made six to lead the defense.
Roadrunners off to record start
UTSA is off to a 6-0 start for the first time in program history, bettering the 2012 team that won its first five games. The Roadrunners have won nine of their last 10 contests dating back to last season and the current six-game winning streak is tied for the school record accomplished twice previously. UTSA won six straight games starting with the 2011 finale against Minot State and including the 5-0 start to the 2012 campaign. The Roadrunners matched that streak by winning their last five contests in 2013 and the 2014 season opener at Houston.
UTSA in Homecoming games
The Roadrunners are 6-4 all time in Homecoming games during their history. UTSA has won its last two such contests, routing UTEP 52-21 on Nov. 14, 2020, and holding off Rice 31-27 two years ago. The Roadrunners also beat the Owls 20-7 in the 2017 Homecoming game.
Scouting Rice
The Owls have won their last two games and are 2-3 overall after beating Southern Miss 24-19 in their Conference USA Opener on Oct. 2. Rice is averaging 18.4 points and 271.2 yards per game while surrendering 38.2 points and 387.0 yards per outing. Khalan Griffin leads the rushing attack with 185 yards on 43 carries and Jordan Myers has tallied 117 yards and five scores on the ground. Quarterback Jake Constantine is 35 of 46 for 416 yards and three touchdowns and Jake Bailey is the leading receiver with 21 catches for 232 yards and a TD. Antonio Montero paces the defense with 39 tackles and six tackles for loss. Head coach Mike Bloomgren is 9-26 in his fourth season at the helm.
Series history
Saturday will mark the ninth meeting between UTSA and Rice, which for one week will tie it with the Louisiana Tech series as the most played in program history. The Roadrunners have won the last five matchups against the Owls and lead the all-time series 5-3. Rice won the first three meetings in 2012-14 before UTSA started its current five-game winning streak in the series. Last year's contest was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols within the UTSA program.
Who's counting?
Now in their 11th season of play, the Roadrunners will play the 125th game in program history on Saturday when they face Rice for the annual Homecoming game. UTSA is 58-66 all time and 34-28 at the Alamodome. By comparison, Rice has been playing football since 1912 and owns an all-time record of 474-607-32.
Celebrating 10th anniversary
This fall, UTSA is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its inaugural 2011 season. The Roadrunners started their football program from scratch and, following a practice year 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. UTSA now has posted at least six wins in six of the 11 seasons in program history and it has reached the seven-win plateau three times, including in Jeff Traylor's debut campaign last fall. The 2012 team won a program-record eight games, while the Roadrunners notched seven victories in 2013 and again last year.
Traylor aims to build on first-year success
Second-year UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor made history in several ways in his first season at the helm in 2020, and his second campaign is off to a resounding start. The Roadrunners opened the season with the program's second triumph over a team from a Power Five conference in the 37-30 road win over Illinois and then posted a 54-0 rout of Lamar, the program's first shutout and largest margin of victory. He became the first coach in program history to post back-to-back 3-0 starts after the 27-13 victory over Middle Tennessee on Sept. 18. One week later, Traylor guided the Roadrunners to the largest comeback win in school history, as UTSA overcame a 21-0 deficit for a 31-28 road triumph over Memphis. UTSA matched the best start in program history by running their record to 5-0 following the 24-17 win against UNLV and now own the first 6-0 start to a season in school annals following the 52-46 road win over WKU last Saturday. Last fall, he became the first head coach in program annals to win his first three games and to notch seven victories in his debut season. Traylor boasts more than 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.
Overcoming deficits
UTSA's rally from a 21-point deficit in the 31-28 victory over Memphis on Sept. 25 marked the largest comeback win in school history. In 2011, the Roadrunners overcame a 14-0 deficit in a 17-14 overtime win over Georgia State, which stood as the program record until the come-from-behind victory against the Tigers. UTSA has rallied for a win from a 13-point deficit three times, most recently in a 27-26 triumph over Louisiana Tech last October at the Alamodome. Additionally, the Roadrunners trailed Louisiana by a 24-7 count in the third quarter of the 2020 First Responder Bowl before rallying to tie the score at 24-24 in an eventual 31-24 setback last December.
Largest Deficits Overcome In Win
Deficit Final Opponent Date
21 (0-21) 31-28 at Memphis 9/25/21
14 (0-14) 17-14 (OT) vs. Georgia State 10/29/11
13 (6-19) 27-26 vs. Louisiana Tech 10/24/20
13 (10-23) 24-23 at Old Dominion 11/9/19
13 (0-13) 21-13 at New Mexico 8/31/13
10 (0-10) 34-24 vs. Rice 11/21/15
10 (0-10) 16-13 vs. FIU 10/11/14
Historic win to open 2021
UTSA's 37-30 road win over Illinois in the season opener marked the program's second victory against a team from a Power Five conference and the first against a Big Ten Conference school. The Roadrunners' first win versus a Power Five program was a 17-10 triumph over Baylor on Sept. 9, 2017, in Waco. UTSA also improved to 9-2 overall in season openers with that victory.
Records fall in home opener
Several program records fell in the 54-0 victory over Lamar in the home opener on Sept. 11. It marked the first shutout in school history, as the previous standard for fewest points allowed was three done three times, the last against Rice in 2018. UTSA also registered the largest margin of victory, nipping the previous mark of 53 set in the 56-3 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State in 2012. The Roadrunners limited Lamar to just 122 yards of offense, eclipsing the previous program record for fewest yards allowed of 149 established against Southern in 2017. UTSA's point total is the third-most scored in a game.
UTSA collects C-USA weekly awards
Five Roadrunners have earned a combined six Conference USA weekly awards this season. Frank Harris was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week on Monday for his record-setting performance in the 52-46 win at WKU. Also a member of this week's Davey O'Brien Great 8 list and a Manning Award Star of the Week, he completed 28 of 38 passes for 349 yards and a school-record six touchdowns while also rushing for 51 yards for a program-best 400 yards of total offense and catching a 23-yard TD pass. On Sept. 27, Hunter Duplessis picked up his second C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week honor of the year after drilling the game-winning 42-yard field goal as time expired while Clarence Hicks grabbed a share of the defensive award after registering six tackles, three tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and a forced fumble in the 31-28 comeback win over Memphis. Trumane Bell II was named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 20 after posting four tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, a pair of quarterback hurries and a forced fumble to help the Roadrunners hold Middle Tennessee to 199 yards of offense, including only eight on the ground. Sheldon Jones was honored as C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 13 after returning a punt 76 yards for a touchdown in the 54-0 victory over Lamar, while Duplessis received special teams recognition the previous week after going 3 for 3 on field goals and 4 of 4 on extra points in the season-opening victory over Illinois.
UTSA's C-USA Player of the Week Honorees
Offense
10/11 Frank Harris
Defense
9/20 Trumane Bell II
9/27 Clarence Hicks
Special Teams
9/6 Hunter Duplessis
9/13 Sheldon Jones
9/27 Hunter Duplessis
Cephus honored by Paul Hornung Award
UTSA wide receiver Joshua Cephus was one of three players named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll this week and is now part of the online fan voting, which will count as one of the 18 votes toward the award winner later this year. The Houston native touched the ball three different ways and accounted for scores two different ways as the Roadrunners ran their record to 6-0 with a 52-46 win over WKU. He completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to quarterback Frank Harris in the first quarter, then caught a 3-yard TD pass from Harris late in the third quarter. He also had one rush for five yards and finished the game with eight receptions for 83 yards. The Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission to pay tribute to football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung.
Duplessis named Campbell Trophy semifinalist
UTSA senior Hunter Duplessis has been named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy for the second straight year. Celebrating its 32nd year, the Campbell Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
UTSA pair garners preseason All-America accolades
Sincere McCormick and Lucas Dean both earned spots on preseason All-America squads. McCormick was named a preseason second-team All-America running back by Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Sporting News, USA TODAY and Walter Camp, while Dean is a preseason second-team choice at punter by Sporting News.
Nine Roadrunners land on watch lists
The preseason honors have piled up for UTSA, as an unprecedented nine Roadrunners have landed on watch lists for national awards. Leading the way is All-America running back Sincere McCormick, who appears on four different watch lists, while Hunter Duplessis, Frank Harris and Rashad Wisdom each have made a pair of lists.
Watch List - Player
Chuck Bednarik Award - Rashad Wisdom
Biletnikoff Award - Zakhari Franklin
Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award - Frank Harris
Doak Walker Award - Sincere McCormick
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award - Sincere McCormick
Jim Thorpe Award - Rashad Wisdom
John Mackey Award - Leroy Watson
Lou Groza Award - Hunter Duplessis
Manning Award - Frank Harris
Maxwell Award - Sincere McCormick
Outland Trophy - Spencer Burford
Polynesian Player of the Year Award - Ahofitu Maka
Ray Guy Award - Lucas Dean
Walter Camp Player of the Year Award - Sincere McCormick
Wuerffel Trophy - Hunter Duplessis
Roadrunners picked second in C-USA West
UTSA has been picked to finish second in Conference USA's West Division in a vote by media members who cover the league. The Roadrunners received nine first-place votes and have been projected second behind defending conference champion UAB, which collected 15 first-place votes. Louisiana Tech is predicted to finish third in the West Division, followed by Southern Miss, Rice, North Texas and UTEP.
2021 Conference USA Predicted Order of Finish
WEST DIVISION
1. UAB (15)
2. UTSA (9)
3. Louisiana Tech
4. Southern Miss
5. Rice
6. North Texas
7. UTEP
EAST DIVISION
1. Marshall (17)
2. Florida Atlantic (6)
3. WKU (1)
4. Charlotte
5. Middle Tennessee
6. FIU
7. Old Dominion
(first place votes in parentheses)
UTSA duo collects C-USA preseason honors
UTSA punter Lucas Dean has been named Conference USA Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year and running back Sincere McCormick has been chosen as C-USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in a vote by the league's head coaches. Both players won their respective conference superlative awards following their sophomore seasons in 2020, marking the first time UTSA picked up two such honors in the same year, while McCormick also was named C-USA Freshman of the Year in 2019.
Burford, Woolen pegged for pair of pre-draft lists
UTSA offensive lineman Spencer Burford and cornerback Tariq Woolen have been named to the 2021-22 NFL Players Association Collegiate Bowl Big Board, as well as the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List. Burford, a San Antonio Wagner High School product, earned second-team all-conference honors last season after appearing in 11 games and drawing 10 starts at right or left tackle. He allowed just three hits on the quarterback and four sacks in 388 pass-blocking snaps in 2020, according to Pro Football Focus. Woolen, a Fort Worth native, appeared in 11 contests and made seven starts at cornerback last fall in his first full season on the defensive side of the ball. He registered 35 tackles, including 20 solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, and also posted four pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and one interception
Offense doing damage via air and ground
Under the direction of second-year offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr., the Roadrunners have featured an offensive attack that can do damage on the ground and through the air. UTSA opened the 2021 season by piling up 497 yards of offense with 280 passing and 217 rushing in the 37-30 road win over Illinois. In the 54-0 rout of Lamar, a trio of quarterbacks combined to attempt 32 passes, completing 26 for 321 yards, while the Roadrunners rushed 29 times for 106 yards. In the 27-13 victory over Middle Tennessee, UTSA piled up 277 passing yards on 26-of-45 passing while running 44 times for 175 yards before posting 205 rushing yards and 194 passing yards in the 31-28 comeback win at Memphis. The Roadrunners threw for 278 yards and ran for 104 in the 24-17 victory over UNLV and then unleashed their top offensive yardage total of the season with 564, including a season-high 372 passing yards, in the 52-46 win at WKU. On the season, UTSA is averaging 287.0 passing yards and 166.5 rushing yards per outing to rank third in Conference USA in total offense (453.5 ypg). A season ago, UTSA gained a program-record 2,585 yards on the ground — an average of 215.4 per game — and tallied 2,399 yards through the air (199.9 ypg) en route to a 7-5 record and an appearance in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. The offense surpassed the school record for total offense in each of the last two home games in 2020, registering 600 total yards — a season-best 312 passing and 288 rushing — in the 52-21 win over UTEP on Nov. 14, only to eclipse that with 624 yards, including a program-best 443 on the ground, in the 49-17 victory over North Texas two weeks later.
Sincere success
After enjoying one of the most heralded seasons in program history in 2020, UTSA running back Sincere McCormick is continuing that success in his third year. The Converse Judson High School product started 2021 off on the right foot by piling up 117 yards on 31 carries in the 37-30 road win over Illinois on Sept. 4. He followed that outing with a two-touchdown performance in the 54-0 rout of Lamar, moving him atop the program's career rushing TD chart. He posted 105 yards on 23 carries in the 27-13 triumph over Middle Tennessee before breaking his own school record with 41 carries for 184 yards and three TDs in the 31-28 comeback win at Memphis, earning him Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week accolades. He rushed for 89 yards and a TD in the win over UNLV before logging his fourth 100-yard game of the season and school-record 14th of his career with 120 on 23 carries in the 52-46 win at WKU. He now has 661 yards (9th/FBS) and six scores (30th/FBS) on 154 rushes this fall, and only six of his attempts have resulted in negative yardage. A preseason All-American by five national publications (Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Sporting News, USA TODAY and Walter Camp), he has been pegged as the C-USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and the Best Running Back in the state of Texas by Dave Campbell's Texas Football. He also appears on preseason watch lists for the Doak Walker, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose, Maxwell and Walter Camp Player of the Year Awards. The honors are nothing new for McCormick, as he earned a long list of accolades in 2020 including being named a second-team All-American by both the Football Writers Association of America and Phil Steele. He was one of five finalists for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award after rushing for 1,467 yards and 11 touchdowns on 249 carries, all UTSA records. McCormick was tabbed Dave Campbell's Texas Football Texas College Player of the Year and an All-Texas College First Team selection, as well as the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-conference performer. He led the league and ranked second nationally behind Iowa State's Breece Hall in rushing yards while posting a conference-best seven 100-yard rushing games. The 2019 C-USA Freshman of the Year and FWAA Freshman All-American registered the top two and five of the top 10 rushing games in the league last fall.
Rewriting the record book
With just 29 games as a Roadrunner to his name, Sincere McCormick has rewritten the program's record book. UTSA's career rushing leader with 3,111 yards, he currently leads all active FBS players in career rushes per game (20.0) and ranks second in rushing yards per game (107.3) and fifth in rushing yards. He also owns the best averages for rushing yards per attempt (5.4) and game (107.3) in program annals. His 14 career 100-yard rushing games and 121.4 all-purpose yards per outing also stand at the top of the program's career chart. McCormick eclipsed David Glasco's UTSA standard of 20 career rushing TDs with two scores in the 54-0 rout of Lamar on Sept. 11, and he now has 25. He raced past Jarveon Williams' previous career rushing attempts mark of 474 earlier this season and now has 580 carries. He also is the program's all-time leader in points scored by a non-kicker with 156. Last fall, he smashed the school's single-season standards with 1,467 rushing yards, 11 rushing TDs and 249 carries. The 2020 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year also set single-season marks with seven 100-yard rushing games and 133.4 rushing yards per contest, and he shattered his own all-purpose mark with 1,598 yards.
Sincere McCormick's UTSA Records
Game
251 rushing yards (vs. North Texas, 11/28/20)
3 rushing TDs (vs. Louisiana Tech, 10/24/20; vs. Memphis, 9/25/21)
42 rushes (vs. Memphis, 9/25/21)
Season
1,467 rushing yards (2020)
11 rushing touchdowns (2020)
249 rushes (2020)
133.4 rushing yards/game (2020)
7 100-yard rushing games (2020)
1,598 all-purpose yards (2020)
145.3 all-purpose yards/game (2020)
Career
3,111 rushing yards
25 rushing touchdowns
26 total touchdowns
156 points (non-kicker)
580 rushes
5.4 yards/rush
107.3 rushing yards/game
14 100-yard rushing games
3,521 all-purpose yards
121.4 all-purpose yards/game
QB room loaded with experience
UTSA is in rare company when it comes to the experience found in the quarterback room. The Roadrunners were one of only 15 teams with three or more QBs who had an FBS start entering the season. Frank Harris has started 20 games under center during his UTSA career and owns a 14-6 record, while Josh Adkins made 20 starts at New Mexico State before transferring to UTSA prior to a 2020 campaign that saw him make one start for the Roadrunners. Lowell Narcisse has earned the starting nod in eight contests over the last three seasons as a Roadrunner.
Overcoming adversity
UTSA quarterback Frank Harris has overcome a series of challenging setbacks due to injury over the past half-decade to emerge as one of the top dual threats in the nation, as he has been named to preseason watch lists for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback and Manning Awards. The lefthander has battled back from two knee injuries, including one that knocked him out for the entire 2018 season, and a shoulder injury that ended his 2019 campaign after four games to appear in 21 contests with 20 starts (14-6 record). He opened this season by throwing for 280 yards and a touchdown on 20-of-32 passing, and he also ran for 33 yards and a TD to help UTSA score a 37-30 road victory over Illinois. He followed that by completing 13 of 15 passes for 118 yards in the 54-0 rout of Lamar. Harris threw for 264 yards and a pair of scores on 24-of-39 passing and he added 56 rushing yards in the 27-13 victory over Middle Tennessee before hitting on 18-of-28 passes for 186 yards and a TD in the comeback win at Memphis. He completed 80% (24-30) of his passes for 278 yards and two TDs in the 24-17 win over UNLV. Harris turned in arguably his top performance as a Roadrunner in the 52-46 win at WKU, completing 28 of 38 passes for a career-best 349 yards and school-record six touchdowns. He rushed for 51 yards, giving him the single-game total offense program mark of 400, while he also caught a 23-yard TD pass and forced a fumble on his only interception of the night. For the season, the Schertz Clemens High School product has completed 127 of 182 passes for 1,475 yards and 12 touchdowns, while he has thrown for 3,591 yards and 27 touchdowns on 352-of-523 passing as a Roadrunner. He currently owns UTSA's career record for completion percentage (.673), while he ranks third in passing yards, passing touchdowns and passing efficiency (137.8). An honorable mention all-conference selection a season ago, Harris played in 11 contests and drew 10 starts, setting the program's single-season standard by completing 63.6% (159-250) of his passes for 1,630 yards and 12 TDs while also rushing for 528 yards and nine scores on 95 carries.
Targeting this trio
Joshua Cephus, De'Corian Clark and Zakhari Franklin have teamed up to give UTSA a formidable receiving trio this season, combining for 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns on 103 receptions through the first half of the regular season. Cephus leads the team with 42 catches and 457 yards and he has been on the receiving end of three TD passes. Despite missing the UNLV game, Franklin stands second in receptions (37), yards (447) and touchdowns. Clark has exploded over the past two contests with 14 of his 24 receptions, 269 of his 396 yards and four of his five scores. Franklin, a Cedar Hill High School product, ranks second in Conference USA and 12th nationally with 7.4 receptions per game and is fifth and 22nd, respectively, with 89.4 receiving yards per outing. He became the program's all-time receiving yardage leader last Saturday, as he now has 1,632 yards, and he owns at least two catches in all 24 career contests. Cephus, a Houston native who tied the UTSA single-season record with 58 receptions in 2020, sits third in the league and 16th in the FBS in catches per contest (7.0). Clark, a graduate of Fort Worth O.D. Wyatt High School, has moved into third in C-USA and 21st in the nation in receiving TDs. All three were part of UTSA's 2019 signing class and have seen action in each of the past three seasons.
Experience up front
UTSA boasts one of the most experienced offensive lines in the country. Entering this season, nine different Roadrunners owned at least two starts, the second-best total in the country behind Minnesota's 10. Leading the way is the senior trio of Spencer Burford, Kevin Davis and Ahofitu Maka with a combined 100 starts during their UTSA careers. Burford, a San Antonio Wagner graduate and member of the Outland Trophy watch list, has made 35 starts at both guard and tackle. Maka, a Hawaiian who appears on the watch list for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year, has drawn 29 starts with all but one at center. Those two Roadrunners earned second-team All-Conference USA accolades last fall after helping UTSA set school records for rushing yards (2,585), rushing yards per game (215.4), yards per rush (5.21) and rushing touchdowns (24). Davis a native of Angleton, Texas, leads all UTSA offensive linemen with 36 career starts, including 14 at center.
Defensive prowess
Under the direction of co-defensive coordinators Jess Loepp and Rod Wright, UTSA's defense has emerged as one of the best in the conference, especially against the run. The Roadrunners are allowing a league-best 84.5 yards per contest to rank sixth in the nation. In the home opener on Sept. 11, the Roadrunners posted the first shutout in school history in a 54-0 rout of Lamar. UTSA allowed just 122 yards of offense, also a school record, and held the Cardinals to 89 rushing yards. For an encore, the Roadrunners limited Middle Tennessee to 199 yards, including just eight on the ground, which is tied for the third-fewest rushing yards allowed in a game in program annals. The Roadrunners surrendered 78 rushing yards in the comeback win at Memphis and yielded only 35 in the 24-17 victory over UNLV, capping a four-game stretch that saw them allow just 210 rushing yards combined.
Experience on the edge
UTSA boasts a ton of experience throughout its 2021 roster, especially at both outside linebacker positions. The defense made the switch to a 3-4 base alignment prior to the 2020 campaign and the dividends paid off, as the Roadrunners led the conference in sacks (25), tackles for loss (85), interceptions (11), takeaways (19) and turnover margin (+7) a season ago. Most of that production is back this fall. On one edge, a pair of super seniors are back at the "Will" spot in Charles Wiley and DeQuarius Henry. Wiley, a native of Stockbridge, Georgia, who transferred from Mississippi last year, earned honorable mention All-Conference USA accolades after posting 43 tackles, a team-high 10 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and four quarterback hurries. Henry, a Houston native, owns 19 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks in 45 career contests. On the other side at the "Sam" position, super senior Clarence Hicks and the Taylor brothers — senior Dadrian and sophomore Donyai — now boast a combined 26 stops behind the line of scrimmage and four interceptions during their careers.
A disruptive force
Outside linebacker Clarence Hicks has developed into a disruptive force on the edge for UTSA this season. The super senior has registered 16 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two pass breakups, a pair of quarterback hurries, one interception and a forced fumble through six games. A native of Pensacola, Fla., he opened the campaign with three stops, including a TFL, in the 37-30 road victory over Illinois. He notched four tackles, including a sack for a 5-yard loss in the win against Middle Tennessee before turning in arguably his top game as a Roadrunner in the comeback win at Memphis. Hicks led UTSA with six tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage and a pair of sacks. His strip sack in the fourth quarter led to a 12-yard fumble return by Lorenzo Dantzler that set up the game-tying score, and he was named Conference USA co-Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Tigers. Hicks was part of a key sack in the 24-17 win over UNLV, combining with DeQuarius Henry to drop the Rebels quarterback on fourth down in the final minute to seal the win. He made yet another key play in the final minute of a game, picking off WKU's Bailey Zappe inside the UTSA 5-yard line to secure a 52-46 victory. For his UTSA career, he has tallied 87 tackles, 20 TFL, 5.5 sacks, six pass breakups, three forced fumbles and a pair of INTs.
A wily veteran
UTSA outside linebacker Charles Wiley has emerged as one of the leaders on the defensive side of the ball. The super senior has registered 19 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, as well as three quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. He had three stops and returned a fumble 44 yards for a touchdown in UTSA's 54-0 rout of Lamar before registering five tackles, including 1.5 sacks for a total of 12 yards, and a pair of pressures in the 27-13 victory against Middle Tennessee. He had three tackles, including a half-tackle for loss, in the 24-17 win over UNLV and then tallied five stops and a PBU versus WKU in his last outing. A native of Stockbridge, Wiley has piled up 119 tackles, including 26.5 behind the line of scrimmage, during his collegiate career with 62 stops, 14.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks coming in his two seasons at UTSA.
Dantzler tops FBS in recoveries
UTSA super senior defensive lineman Lorenzo Dantzler is tied with Kerby Joseph of Illinois for the FBS lead with three fumble recoveries this season, all coming during a three-game stretch. The Starkville, Miss., native scooped up a fumble caused on a strip sack by Trumane Bell II and returned it three yards for a touchdown in the 27-13 victory over Middle Tennessee on Sept. 18. One week later in the 31-28 comeback win at Memphis, Dantzler picked up a fumble caused by Clarence Hicks on a strip sack and rambled 12 yards to the Tigers 7-yard line to set up the tying TD in the fourth quarter. On Oct. 2, he pounced on a loose ball that resulted from a strip sack by Dru Prox late in the third quarter of the 24-17 triumph over UNLV. Dantzler now has four career fumble recoveries, tied for second in school history, and a pair of fumble return touchdowns.
Wisdom in the secondary
UTSA safety Rashad Wisdom has emerged as one of the unquestioned team leaders during his two-plus years on campus. One of seven current Roadrunners who starred at Converse Judson High School, he has played in 30 games and drawn 28 starts at safety during his career. He landed on preseason watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik and Jim Thorpe Awards after a sensational sophomore season that saw him earn first-team all-conference and Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas College honors. Wisdom led the Roadrunners and ranked second in C-USA with 95 tackles and he picked off a league-high four passes, which tied the program's single-season record. He also recorded a team-best 60 solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pair of forced fumbles and a pass breakup in 2020 and he returned an interception 81 yards for a touchdown for his second career pick-six, which is tied atop the program's all-time list, in the 51-48 double-overtime victory against Texas State last September. He started off his third year as a Roadrunner by making three tackles, forcing a fumble and breaking up a pass in UTSA's 37-30 season-opening victory over Illinois. He added three more stops despite playing less than a half in the 54-0 shutout of Lamar before pacing the defense with six stops in the 27-13 victory over Middle Tennessee. Wisdom tallied five tackles, including one behind the line, and a PBU in the 31-28 comeback win over Memphis, and then led the Roadrunners with eight stops in the 24-17 victory against UNLV. In the win at WKU last Saturday, he logged his sixth career double-digit game with a career high-tying 13 tackles, including matching the UTSA record with 11 solo stops. He leads the team lead with 39 total tackles and 28 solo stops to go along with two PBUs, one hurry and a forced fumble this season. Wisdom's family has captured the hearts of the UTSA football program and the San Antonio community over the past two years 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 2020.
Riq the Freak
Tariq Woolen's development into one of UTSA's starting cornerbacks is unique. The Fort Worth native, whose nickname is Riq, started his college career as a wide receiver, catching 24 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown over his first two seasons. Late in his redshirt sophomore campaign, Woolen made the switch to the defensive side of the ball and posted a pair of tackles as a cornerback in the season finale against Louisiana Tech. Prior to the 2020 campaign, Woolen decided to make the position change permanent. That decision paid off as he emerged as one of the team's top defensive backs with 35 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and an interception last fall. Earlier this year, he made Bruce Feldman's annual Freaks List, landing at the No. 6 spot out of 101 college football players after turning in eye-opening numbers during summer strength and conditioning testing. He leaped 11 feet, five inches in the broad jump and clocked a time of 4.34 second in the 40-yard dash, in which he hit 23.33 miles per hour. Woolen started off his senior season with a bang, recording a career-high nine tackles and a pass breakup in the 37-30 road triumph over Illinois. He added his second PBU of the year in the 54-0 shutout of Lamar before posting a TFL and a PBU in the 27-13 victory over Middle Tennessee and two more stops in the 31-28 comeback win at Memphis. Woolen picked off his second career pass and tallied three tackles in the 24-17 win over UNLV and then registered three tackles in the win at WKU. He is tied for the team lead with four passes defended and his three PBUs this season give him eight for his career.
Tackling machine
UTSA inside linebacker Trevor Harmanson has emerged as one of the team's top tacklers during his time as a Roadrunner. The Dickinson High School product transferred to UTSA in 2019 following one season at Blinn College, and he made an immediate impact with 48 tackles, including 8.5 behind the line of scrimmage in his debut campaign. He enjoyed a breakout season in 2020, earning honorable mention All-Conference USA accolades after ranking second on the team with 73 tackles, including nine TFL, to go along with seven quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, an interception, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Harmanson, a preseason all-league pick by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, opened his 2021 campaign by tying for the team high with nine tackles, which included a team-best seven solo stops, in the 37-30 road win over Illinois. Despite playing less than a half in the 54-0 rout of Lamar, he tallied three stops. He then made a pair of tackles, including being part of a fourth-down stop, in the 27-13 victory over Middle Tennessee before posting four tackles in the 31-28 comeback win at Memphis. Harmanson logged four stops, including one TFL, in the 24-17 victory against UNLV, and he tallied five unassisted tackles in the 52-46 win at WKU. He ranks second on the team with 27 tackles this season and has recorded 148 total tackles and 18.5 TFL in 30 games as a Roadrunner.
D-line factory
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. Several current Roadrunners have their eyes on joining the likes of Davenport, current Detroit Lions defensive linemen Eric Banks and Kevin Strong Jr., Ashaad Mabry, Jason Neill and Brian Price. Leading the way is super senior Jaylon Haynes, a two-time honorable mention all-conference performer with 22.5 tackles for loss — tied for fourth on UTSA's career chart — and seven sacks in 43 career games. The Roadrunners' experienced line also includes super senior Lorenzo Dantzler, who earned honorable mention all-league recognition a year ago and boasts 21.5 TFL and 10 sacks in 42 games as a Roadrunner. Brandon Matterson, a fourth-year player from San Antonio Brandeis High School, also made C-USA's honorable mention list in 2020 and he has logged 68 tackles and nine TFL during his career.
Dependable Duplessis
UTSA place-kicker Hunter Duplessis has developed into a dependable option with his right leg. A member of the Lou Groza Award preseason watch list, he started his super senior season by making all three field-goal attempts and going 4 for 4 on extra points in the 37-30 road win over Illinois, earning Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance. He turned in his second straight and fourth overall three-field-goal game after connecting from 46 yards twice and again from 41 in the 54-0 shutout of Lamar. Duplessis, who is a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy for the second straight year, went 2 for 4 on field goals and 3 for 3 on PATs in the win over Middle Tennessee and then made all four PATs and drilled the game-winning 42-yarder as time expired in the 31-28 win over Memphis, earning him his second C-USA weekly award. He made one field goal against UNLV and was good on his only try from 35 yards to go along with tying the UTSA record with seven PATs in the 52-46 win at WKU. He now has made 37 career field goals and 92 extra points for 203 points, totals that stand second in school history. He currently shares the C-USA lead with 11 field goals and ranks seventh in the FBS with 1.83 field goals per game. The San Antonio Cole High School product was a Phil Steele honorable mention All-American, Lou Groza semifinalist and first-team all-conference selection in 2020 after he made 17 of 20 field goals and 40 of 41 PATs, marks that both rank second on the school's single-season chart. Duplessis finished ninth nationally in field goals made, 21st in field-goal percentage (.850) and 25th in field goals per game (1.42), and he scored a UTSA-record 91 points. Also an excellent student, he was the 2020-21 C-USA Football Scholar Athlete of the Year, a C-USA All-Academic Team selection, a Campbell Trophy semifinalist and a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree. Duplessis earned his bachelor's degree as a double major in cyber security and information systems, graduating with a 3.78 GPA in August 2020, and he currently is studying technology management in postgraduate work.
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. Lucas Dean has emerged as the next in that strong punting lineage. A product of Prokick Australia and the first Roadrunner 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. Dean provided quite the encore in 2020, shattering UTSA's single-season punting average record with a 46.0 mark to lead Conference USA and rank sixth nationally. A semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, he was named C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year and a second-team All-American by the Sporting News. Dean registered 27 punts that pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line, including 15 inside the 10 and seven inside the 5, and he recorded 21 punts of 50-plus yards, including a career-best 67-yarder against Florida Atlantic, during his sophomore season. Dean opened his third season by averaging 44.2 yards on five punts with one inside the 20 and a long of 55 in the 37-30 road victory over Illinois. He averaged 50.8 yards on five punts with three inside the 20 and a long of 63 in the 31-28 win at Memphis. Dean, who is on the Ray Guy Award watch list and has been tabbed a preseason second-team All-American by the Sporting News, currently ranks fourth in C-USA with a 44.0-yard average.
Jones emerges as punt return threat
Sheldon Jones has emerged as one of the top punt returners in the nation this season. The New Orleans native currently leads Conference USA and ranks fourth in the FBS with an average punt return of 16.2 yards. Jones, whose nickname is Sticks, has returned 13 punts for 210 yards in 2021. He returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown in the 54-0 rout of Lamar on Sept. 11 and he had five returns for 68 yards, including 33- and 22-yarders in the second half of the 27-13 victory over Middle Tennessee. In his last outing, he logged a 38-yard return against WKU that prevented UTSA from starting a second-half possession from inside its own 10-yard line. Jones is one of 28 FBS players with a punt return TD this year and he became just the second Roadrunner to return a punt for a score, joining Kenny Harrison (2012 vs. Texas State). He owns UTSA career records for punt returns (56) and has amassed 329 punt return yards as a Roadrunner.
Limiting penalties
UTSA ranks as one of the least-penalized teams in the nation through six games this season. The Roadrunners have committed only 22 penalties for 214 yards so far, league-best figures that stand fourth and 15th nationally, respectively. UTSA's averages of 3.67 penalties and 35.67 penalty yards per game also lead Conference USA and rank second and seventh among FBS teams. The program record for fewest penalties committed in a season is 63 set in 10 games in 2011.
Down to the wire
UTSA is no stranger to close contests dating back to last season, as 13 of its last 18 have been one-score ballgames in the fourth quarter. In the season opener, UTSA held off Illinois 37-30 in a game that saw the Illini have a chance to tie things up with two throws into the end zone in the final seconds. The Roadrunners rallied from a 21-0 first-quarter deficit for a 31-28 victory over Memphis, as Hunter Duplessis' 42-yard field goal as time expired sealed the win. UTSA held off UNLV 24-17 to improve to 5-0 on the year on Oct. 2 before securing a 52-46 win at WKU a week later with an interception by Clarence Hicks in the final minute. In 2020, UTSA's matchups against Texas State, Stephen F. Austin, Middle Tennessee, UAB, No. 15 BYU, Army, Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss and No. 16 Louisiana all were one-score games in the final stanza. The Roadrunners posted a 5-4 record in those contests and are 4-0 this season for a combined mark of 9-4.
TV birds
Saturday's game against Rice will air on ESPN+, marking 103 straight televised/streamed appearances for the Roadrunners. All 12 of UTSA's regular season games have been selected for broadcast, which will extend that streak to at least 108. The last UTSA game that was not broadcast was the 2012 season finale against Texas State.
Brotherly duos
UTSA has two sets of brothers on the 2021 roster in offensive lineman Kevin Davis and wide receiver Isaiah Davis, along with outside linebackers Dadrian and Donyai Taylor.
Dozen Roadrunners back for super senior season
A dozen UTSA football seniors elected to return to the Roadrunners for an extra year of eligibility in 2021, taking advantage of an NCAA blanket waiver for all 2020 fall sports student-athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 12 Roadrunners who are back for their super senior season are:
Myles Benning, TE
B.J. Daniels, RB
Lorenzo Dantzler, DL
Hunter Duplessis, PK
Jalyn Galmore, OL
Jaylon Haynes, DL
DeQuarius Henry, OLB
Clarence Hicks, OLB
Antonio Parks, S
Dominic Pastucci, OL
Leroy Watson, TE
Charles Wiley, OLB
A focus on recruiting Texas
UTSA's 115-man roster features 90 players — 78% — who hail from the state of Texas. The next-closest state is Louisiana with seven, while there are five players from Mississippi. California and Florida are considered home for three players apiece and two are from Georgia. UTSA has one player each from Iowa, Hawai'i, Tennessee and Virginia, while Lucas Dean is the first Roadrunner from Australia.
Keeping them home
UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor and his staff have placed an emphasis on recruiting the city of San Antonio and surrounding area. The current roster includes 29 players from Greater San Antonio with a team-high seven hailing from perennial power Converse Judson High School.
Player (High School)
Josh Adkins (Smithson Valley)
Rudy Aleman Jr. (Warren)
Brenden Brady (Steele)
Spencer Burford (Wagner)
Oscar Cardenas (Brandeis)
JayVeon Cardwell (Steele)
Cade Collenback (O'Connor)
Hunter Duplessis (Cole)
Frank Harris (Clemens)
Caden Holt (New Braunfels Canyon)
Jaden Jones (East Central)
Ethan Laing (Boerne Champion)
Caleb Lewis (Steele)
De'Anthony Lewis (Judson)
Frankie Martinez (East Central)
Brandon Matterson (Brandeis)
Sincere McCormick (Judson)
Trey Moore (Smithson Valley)
Xavier Player (Steele)
Jalen Rainey (Brandeis)
Jaren Randle (Johnson)
Robert Rigsby (Judson)
Justin Rodriguez (Johnson)
Daniel Santallana (East Central)
Kamron Scott (Judson)
Xavier Spencer (Judson)
Dre Spriggs (Harlan)
Julon Williams (Judson)
Rashad Wisdom (Judson)
UTSA's 210 Triangle of Toughness
UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor has installed many new ideas, 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. The numbers 2, 1 and 0 — San Antonio's area code — 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, Leroy Watson
2 — Joshua Cephus, Charles Wiley
3 — Sincere McCormick, Tariq Woolen
4 — Zakhari Franklin, Antonio Parks
5 — Brenden Brady, Hunter Duplessis
6 — Lorenzo Dantzler
7 — Dadrian Taylor
8 — Josh Adkins, Jamal Ligon
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, Makai Hart and Ahofitu Maka 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.
Quarterbacks — Josh Adkins, Frank Harris
Running Backs — Brenden Brady, Sincere McCormick
Wide Receivers — Joshua Cephus
Tight Ends — Leroy Watson
Offensive Line — Spencer Burford, Ahofitu Maka
Defensive Line — Lorenzo Dantzler, Jaylon Haynes
Inside Linebackers — Jamal Ligon
Outside Linebackers (S) — Dadrian Taylor
Outside Linebackers (W) — Charles Wiley
Safeties — Rashad Wisdom
Cornerbacks — Ken Robinson
Special Teams — Myles Benning, Kelechi Nwachuku
Specialists — Hunter Duplessis
Up next
UTSA will travel to the Bayou State to face Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Oct. 23. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. in Ruston and the game will be televised by Stadium.
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