#15 UTSA Roadrunners (10-0, 6-0) vs. UAB Blazers (7-3, 5-1)
2:30 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 20
Alamodome | San Antonio, Texas
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Ticket 760 AM
Opening drive
• UTSA is nationally ranked for the fifth straight week, appearing at No. 15 in the AP Top 25 and No. 18 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.
• The Roadrunners are 10-0 for the first time in school history, also a school record for wins in a season.
• UTSA is riding a program-record 10-game winning streak, tied with Cincinnati for the second-longest active streak in the FBS.
• The Roadrunners have won eight straight home games — a school record — and are 10-1 at the Alamodome under head coach Jeff Traylor.
• UTSA has won nine consecutive conference games, the best stretch in program history.
• UTSA is one of three undefeated FBS teams along with Cincinnati and Georgia.
• Jeff Traylor is 17-5 at the helm of the Roadrunners, the best 22-game start for a UTSA coach.
• UTSA has won 13 of its last 14 contests dating back to last season.
• Saturday will mark the sixth meeting between UTSA and UAB.
Setting the scene
Riding a program-record 10-game winning streak, No. 15/18 UTSA (10-0, 6-0) will host UAB (7-3, 5-1) in a Conference USA West Division showdown on Saturday, Nov. 20. Kickoff for the sixth meeting between the two teams is set for 2:30 p.m. at the Alamodome and the game will air on ESPN+ and Ticket 760 AM. With two weeks left on the C-USA schedule, the Roadrunners and Blazers are the only two West Division teams still alive for the title. UTSA will honor more than 20 seniors prior to kickoff.
Tuning in
Saturday's game will air on ESPN+ and is available on WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app. Doug Anderson (play-by-play) and LaDarrin McLane (analyst) have the call. The contest will air live on Ticket 760 AM in the San Antonio area, on Sirius channel 103, XM channel 203 and SiriusXM appchannel 966. Andy Everett (play-by-play), Jay Riley (analyst) and Pat Evans (reporter) will call the action. The pregame show will begin at 12:30 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.
C-USA West title on line
With two regular season conference games left on each team's schedule, UTSA and UAB will meet on Saturday with the Conference USA West Division title on the line. The Roadrunners own a 6-0 league record, while the Blazers are 5-1 with their lone loss a 30-24 home setback to Rice on Oct. 23. Looking at the rest of the division, North Texas and UTEP are tied for third place at 3-3 and mathematically eliminated from the race for the West crown. Louisiana Tech and Rice share fifth at 2-4 and Southern Miss is seventh at 0-6. UAB has won each of the last three C-USA West Division titles and also captured C-USA Championships in 2018 and 2020.
UTSA off to record starts
The Roadrunners have stormed out to the best overall (10-0) and conference (6-0) starts in program history and currently are riding a school-record 10-game winning streak, tied with Cincinnati for the second-longest active streak in the FBS behind No. 1 Georgia (14). UTSA pushed the program standard for wins to 10 and tied the school record for most conference wins (6) with the 27-17 victory over Southern Miss on Saturday. The Roadrunners join Cincinnati and Georgia as the only undefeated FBS teams, and they have been victorious in a program-best nine consecutive league contests. The Roadrunners have won 13 of their last 14 contests dating back to last season with the only loss a 31-24 setback to No. 16 Louisiana in the First Responder Bowl on Dec. 26, 2020, in Dallas. The previous best overall start to a season before the first loss came when the 2012 team started 5-0, while the best start to a conference schedule was 2-0 in 2018.
Roadrunners ranked for fifth straight week
UTSA is nationally ranked for the fifth consecutive week, appearing at No. 15 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 18 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll this week. The Roadrunners received 591 votes stay at No. 15 — their highest ranking ever — in this week's AP Top 25. UTSA first cracked the AP Top 25 at No. 24 four weeks ago before moving up one position after the 45-16 win at Louisiana Tech and then to 16th on Oct. 31. This also marks the eighth consecutive week and ninth time overall UTSA has received votes in the poll. On Sept. 20, 2020, UTSA collected two votes in the AP Top 25 Poll, a first for the program. The Roadrunners received 528 votes this week for 18th, down two spots from last week, in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. UTSA made its first appearance in the top 25 in program annals at No. 25 on Oct. 17 and this marks the 10th straight week the Roadrunners have collected votes in that poll. The Roadrunners also stayed at No. 15 for the second straight week in the Football Writers Association of America/National Football Foundation Super 16 Poll.
UTSA moves up in CFP Rankings
After making their College Football Playoff Rankings debut at No. 23 on Nov. 9, the Roadrunners moved up one spot to No. 22 in this week's rankings. UTSA is the third highest-ranked team from a Group of Five conference behind No. 5 Cincinnati and No. 19 San Diego State.
Remember November
UTSA won all three games in the month of November last season in the debut campaign for head coach Jeff Traylor and is off to a 2-0 start this year following Saturday's 27-17 home triumph over Southern Miss. The Roadrunners rolled past UTEP 52-21, outlasted Southern Miss 23-20 on the road and scored a 49-17 triumph over North Texas a year ago this month. UTSA is 21-19 all-time in games played in the 11th month of the calendar year.
Home Sweet Dome
UTSA has won a school-record eight straight home games dating back to last season's 27-26 comeback win over Louisiana Tech on Oct. 24. In fact, the Roadrunners reeled off three straight victories at the Alamodome last year to close out Jeff Traylor's debut campaign and they have come out on top in the first five home contests this fall. UTSA is 36-28 all-time in home games, including 10-1 under Traylor.
UTSA outlasts Southern Miss
UTSA forced three turnovers — two fumble recoveries and an interception — in the final seven minutes to help the Roadrunners outlast Southern Miss 27-17 last Saturday in front of a season-high 30,105 at the Alamodome. Trevor Harmanson registered a team-high nine tackles and forced a fumble on Golden Eagles quarterback Antavio Willis that was recovered by Jahmal Sam at the Southern Miss 33-yard line to help set up Hunter Duplessis for a 24-yard field goal with 4:39 left that gave UTSA the lead for good at 20-17. On Southern Miss' next possession deep in its own territory, Corey Mayfield Jr. stripped the ball loose from Willis and Charles Wiley scooped it up and returned it to the 9-yard line. On the next play, Sincere McCormick, who rushed for 90 yards on the day, pounded his way into the end zone to help provide the final 10-point margin. Antonio Parks then picked off a Willis pass attempt on the next drive and raced 44 yards down the sideline to the USM 10 with a little more than two minutes left to play to help seal it. Joshua Cephus registered his first 100-yard receiving game with eight catches for 106 yards, including a 40-yard catch-and-run score, while Frank Harris passed for 227 yards and rushed for 54.
Scouting UAB
The Blazers have won four of their last five games and enter Saturday's contest at 7-3 overall and 5-1 in Conference USA. UAB is averaging 28.0 points and 381.0 yards of offense per game while allowing 21.5 points and 320.2 yards per outing. DeWayne McBride leads the ground attack with 945 yards and 10 touchdowns on 145 rushes, while Gerrit Prince is the top receiver with 26 catches for 571 yards and seven TDs. Dylan Hopkins has completed 106 of 170 passes for 1,723 yards and 11 scores. Antonio Moultrie paces the defense with 48 tackles, while Alex Wright has a team-best four sacks and 10 quarterback hurries. Head coach Bill Clark is 47-25 in his sixth season at the helm.
Series history
Saturday will mark the sixth meeting between UTSA and UAB. The Blazers have won the last four matchups and own a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series. The Roadrunners' lone win in the series was a 52-31 home victory on Oct. 26, 2013, but UAB totes a 2-1 edge in games played at the Alamodome.
Who's counting?
Now in their 11th season of play, the Roadrunners will play the 129th game in program history on Saturday when they face UAB at the Alamodome. UTSA is 62-66 all time and 36-28 in home games.
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 four times, including in both years of the Jeff Traylor era. This year's squad has surpassed the 2012 team by winning a program-record 10 games, while the Roadrunners finished with seven victories in 2013 and 2020.
Traylor building on first-year success
Second-year UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor, a member of the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards Coach of the Year watch list, 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 then improved to 6-0 for the first time in school annals following the 52-46 road win over WKU. The Roadrunners logged their second shutout of the season with the 45-0 rout of Rice before winning for the first time in Ruston with a 45-16 triumph over Louisiana Tech. UTSA broke the school record for wins in a season following the 44-23 road win over UTEP before improving to 10-0 overall and 6-0 in Conference USA play — both program best starts — with the 27-17 home victory against Southern Miss. Last fall, Traylor became the first head coach in program annals to win his first three games and to notch seven victories in his debut season. He 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. 9, 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. On Oct. 31, Traylor agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in San Antonio through 2031.
Harris, McCormick land on semifinalist lists
UTSA quarterback Frank Harris has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award. The senior from Schertz Clemens High School and running back Sincere McCormick also are two of 16 semifinalists for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. It marks the second straight season McCormick, a Converse Judson High School product, has made the award's semifinalist list, as he was one of five finalists in 2020.
High-scoring Roadrunners
UTSA has emerged as one of the highest-scoring teams in the nation this season, ranking second in Conference USA and 12th in the FBS at 38.6 points per game. The Roadrunners have topped the 30-point barrier in seven games and have surpassed 50 points twice this fall, including in the 52-46 shootout win at WKU on Oct. 9. UTSA scored 40-plus points in a four-game stretch — a program record — before tallying 27 in the Southern Miss win and is averaging 42.6 points over the last five contests. With 386 points scored through 10 games, the Roadrunners have broken the program's single-season record of 379 points scored in 13 contests in 2016, and they have their sights set on taking down the points-per-game standard of 31.2 established in 12 games in 2012.
Scoring in unconventional ways
While UTSA might be averaging 38.6 points per game, not all of the scoring has come from the offense. The Roadrunners have found ways to reach the end zone in the other two phases of the game, as well. UTSA ranks third in the FBS behind Nevada and Ohio State with five defensive touchdowns — three interception returns and a pair of fumble returns — to go along with one special teams TD this year. The Roadrunners are one of 10 FBS teams to have scored in all three phases in a single game this season, doing so in the 54-0 shutout of Lamar on Sept. 11. Additionally, UTSA has broken the school record with three interception return touchdowns this season, all of which occurred in back-to-back games in October.
Limiting penalties
UTSA ranks as one of the least-penalized teams in the nation through eight games this season. The Roadrunners have committed only 43 penalties for 446 yards, league-best figures that stand 9th and 31st nationally, respectively. UTSA's averages of 4.3 penalties and 44.6 penalty yards per game also lead Conference USA and rank 31st among FBS teams. The program record for fewest penalties committed in a season is 63 set in 10 games in 2011.
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 and 194 passing 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 logged their top offensive yardage total of the season with 564, including a season-high 372 passing yards, in the 52-46 win at WKU. UTSA rushed for 261 as part of a 403-yard output in the 45-0 shutout of Rice on Oct. 16. The Roadrunners have unleashed a balanced attack in road wins over Louisiana Tech and UTEP, running for 213 yards and throwing for 193 against the Bulldogs and then tallying a season-high 276 rushing yards and 286 passing yards for a total of 562 versus the Miners. On the season, UTSA is averaging 257.0 passing yards and 189.2 rushing yards (2nd/C-USA) per outing to rank third in the league and 26th nationally in total offense (446.2 ypg).
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 rushing for 120 on 23 carries in the 52-46 win at WKU. McCormick gashed Rice for 117 yards on 13 totes, including a career-long 81-yard sprint, before posting 113 yards and three scores on 23 rushes in the 45-16 win at Louisiana Tech. McCormick went for 169 yards on 21 carries, including a 75-yard TD dash on the second play from scrimmage, in the 44-23 road win over UTEP for his school record-tying seventh 100-yard game of the season and UTSA-best 17th of his career. He has topped the 1,000-yard barrier for the second straight season, as his 90-yard, one-TD output versus Southern Miss moved him to 1,150 yards (8th/FBS) and 11 scores on 230 rushes this fall. 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.
Rewriting the record book
With just 33 games as a Roadrunner to his name, Sincere McCormick has rewritten the program's record book. UTSA's career rushing leader with 3,600 yards, he currently ranks second among active FBS players in rushes (19.88) and rushing yards (109.1) per game (107.8) and fourth in rushing yards. He owns the best averages for rushing yards per attempt (5.5) and game (109.1) in program annals. His 17 career 100-yard rushing games and 122.3 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 30. He raced past Jarveon Williams' career rushing attempts mark of 474 earlier this season and now has 656 carries. He also is the program's all-time leader in points scored by a non-kicker with 186. 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 — which he has tied this fall — 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 (3x, last at Louisiana Tech, 10/23/21)
42 rushes (vs. Memphis, 9/25/21)
Season
1,467 rushing yards (2020)
11 rushing touchdowns (2020, 2021)
249 rushes (2020)
133.4 rushing yards/game (2020)
7 100-yard rushing games (2020, 2021)
1,598 all-purpose yards (2020)
145.3 all-purpose yards/game (2020)
Career
3,600 rushing yards
30 rushing touchdowns
31 total touchdowns
186 points (non-kicker)
656 rushes
5.5 yards/rush
109.1 rushing yards/game
17 100-yard rushing games
4,037 all-purpose yards
122.3 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 24 games under center during his UTSA career and owns an 18-6 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
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-threat quarterbacks in the nation. A member of 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 25 contests with 24 starts (18-6 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 passed for 264 yards and a pair of scores and 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 to earn Manning Award QB of the Week and C-USA Offensive Player of the Week honors. He rushed for 51 yards, giving him the single-game total offense program mark of 400, and he also caught a 23-yard TD pass and forced a fumble on his only interception of the night against the Hilltoppers. After throwing for 318 yards and four TDs and rushing for 106 yards combined in wins over Rice and Louisiana Tech, the Schertz Clemens High School product accounted for 362 yards and four scores in the 44-23 road triumph over UTEP, completing 22 of 34 passes for 286 yards and 2 TDs and rushing for 76 yards and 2 scores. He threw for 227 and rushed for 54 in the win over Southern Miss and now has completed 189 of 283 passes for 2,306 yards and 20 touchdowns this fall, and 414 of 624 passes for 4,422 yards and 35 touchdowns as a Roadrunner. He currently owns UTSA career records for completion percentage (.663) and passing efficiency (140.2), while he ranks third in passing yards and TDs.
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 1,917 yards and 19 touchdowns on 150 receptions through the first 10 games. Despite missing the UNLV game, Franklin paces the squad with a school-record 750 receiving yards and eight TDs on 58 receptions. Cephus owns a program-record 59 catches for 682 yards and six TDs following his first career 100-yard game with 106 and a score on eight receptions versus Southern Miss. Clark — whose nickname "J.T." is short for his middle name, John Thomas — exploded onto the scene in the month of October with 19 of his 33 receptions, 304 of his 485 yards and four of his five scores. Franklin, a Cedar Hill High School product, has become the program's all-time receiving yardage (1,935), receptions (145) and receiving TDs (18) leader, doing so in just 28 career contests. Cephus, a Houston native, now ranks fourth on the program's career list with 1,382 yards and 125 catches. All three receivers were part of UTSA's 2019 signing class and have seen action in each of the past three seasons.
Making his mark
UTSA wide receiver Zakhari Franklin is making his mark as one of Conference USA's top pass-catchers. The third-year wide receiver has registered four 100-yard performances this season and nine for his career, both school records. He opened the 2021 campaign by catching 10 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown in the 37-30 road victory over Illinois and then surpassed the century mark again with 114 yards and a score on eight catches in the 27-13 win versus Middle Tennessee. The Cedar Hill native topped 100 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns in back-to-back outings, going for 118 yards on five catches in the 45-16 road triumph over Louisiana Tech before catching 10 balls for 114 yards in the 44-23 win at UTEP. After catching three passes for 64 yards in the win over Southern Miss, Franklin leads the Roadrunners with a school-record 750 receiving yards on 58 catches, one shy of Joshua Cephus' current school standard. He also shares the program record with eight TD catches this fall, which ranks second in C-USA and 16th nationally. UTSA's career record-holder for every major receiving category also stands second in the league and 19th in the FBS in receptions per game (6.4).
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 109 starts during their UTSA careers. Burford, a San Antonio Wagner graduate and member of the Outland Trophy watch list, has made 39 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 33 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, has earned 37 career starts, including 14 at center.
Protecting the QB
UTSA's experienced offensive line has emerged as one of the best in the nation when it comes to protecting the quarterback. Through 10 games, the group has yielded only eight sacks, a conference-best average of 0.8 per game that ranks fourth in the FBS. The Roadrunners have surrendered just two sacks in the last six contests while attempting 176 passes over that stretch.
Taking care of the football
The Roadrunners rank among the best in the nation when it comes to taking care of the football. UTSA has committed only nine turnovers through the first 10 contests to lead Conference USA and rank 18th in the FBS in fewest turnovers lost. UTSA has lost four fumbles and thrown five interceptions.
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 nation in several categories. The Roadrunners lead the league by allowing just 89.9 rushing yards per contest to rank sixth in the nation, and they stand second in Conference USA in total defense (323.1 ypg), good for 20th in the FBS. The Roadrunners also have dialed up the pressure throughout the year with 62 tackles for loss and 26 sacks — one shy of the program record set in 2016 — to rank in the top 35 nationally in both categories. 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 — then a school record — and held the Cardinals to 89 rushing yards and only 33 passing 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 and the 15th-best performance in the FBS this fall. 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. UTSA held Rice to 102 total yards to better the program standard for fewest yards allowed in a game, and they limited the Owls to only 36 yards through the air. In fact, the Roadrunners are the only FBS team to hold two opponents — Rice and Lamar — to fewer than 40 passing yards in a game this season. UTSA yielded only 62 rushing yards to Louisiana Tech, the sixth opponent to gain fewer than 100 yards on the ground this fall. In the win over Southern Miss, UTSA surrendered only 189 total yards — the fourth opponent this season held below 200 — and gave up only 52 passing yards, the third time holding a foe to fewer than 60 yards through the air in 2021.
Creating turnovers
The Roadrunners have displayed a knack for creating turnovers during the Jeff Traylor era. Through the first 10 games this season, UTSA has tallied 19 takeaways, the 14th-best total among FBS teams. The Roadrunners boast a near-even split with 10 fumbles recovered and nine interceptions in 2021. Corey Mayfield Jr. paces the unit with two interceptions while Trevor Harmanson, Clarence Hicks, Antonio Parks, Jarrett Preston, Jahmal Sam, Dadrian Taylor and Tariq Woolen have one pick apiece. Lorenzo Dantzler is tied for second among FBS players with three fumble recoveries this fall, while Kelechi Nwachuku and Charles Wiley have two apiece. Caleb Cantrell, Lamonte McDougle and Jahmal Sam all have one recovery each. Last season, UTSA forced 19 turnovers to lead C-USA and rank 19th in the country. Eleven of those takeaways came via an interception, good for first in the league and 23rd nationally, while the Roadrunners' eight recoveries ended up 25th among FBS teams.
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 lead the way 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 21 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in 49 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 33 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 27 tackles, including a team-best 11 tackles for loss and six sacks, and his 0.60 sacks-per-game average ranks third in the conference. He also owns four quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, one interception and a forced fumble through 10 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. Hicks recorded 2.5 sacks and a pair of pressures in the 45-16 win at Louisiana Tech. For his UTSA career, he has tallied 98 tackles, 25.5 TFL to rank third in program history, eight sacks, five 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 29 tackles, including eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, as well as four quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries. 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 posted 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 and a sack for a 22-yard loss in the 45-0 shutout of Rice. He recovered his second fumble of the fall in the 27-17 win over Southern Miss and now ranks 12th among FBS players in that category. A native of Stockbridge Ga., who transferred from Ole Miss in 2020, Wiley has piled up 129 tackles, including 30 behind the line of scrimmage, during his collegiate career with 72 stops, 18 TFL and 4.5 sacks coming in his two seasons at UTSA.
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 33 games and drawn 31 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 paced the defense with six stops in the 27-13 victory over Middle Tennessee and then tallied five tackles, including one behind the line, and a PBU in the 31-28 comeback win over Memphis. Wisdom led the Roadrunners with eight stops in the 24-17 victory against UNLV before logging a career high-tying 13 tackles, including matching the UTSA record with 11 solo stops, in the road win over WKU. He led the team in tackles with six in the 45-0 shutout of Rice and turned in double digit tackles for the second time this season and seventh time in his career with 10 in the 44-23 road triumph over UTEP. He paces the defense with 63 total tackles and 47 solo stops to go along with four 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 seconds 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 second on the team with four passes defended and his three PBUs this season give him eight for his career.
Veteran corner provides steady presence
With the most games played (43) and starts (31) among UTSA's cornerbacks, Corey Mayfield Jr. is one of the leaders in the secondary. A product of North Forney High School, Mayfield has appeared in all 10 games and made nine starts this season. He has posted 24 tackles, including 21 solo stops, two tackles for loss, one sack, a team-high two interceptions and a pair of pass breakups. He picked off his first pass of his fourth campaign to go along with two tackles in the 27-13 win over Middle Tennessee. He made three stops in the comeback win at Memphis and logged a season-best five tackles in the 52-46 road triumph over WKU. Mayfield logged his second interception of the season and fourth of his career when he stepped in front of a pass and returned it 49 yards to the end zone in the 45-0 shutout of Rice. He played a key role in another takeaway in the Southern Miss win, as his strip-sack in the fourth quarter led to Charles Wiley's 8-yard fumble return that set up the final score. The son of former Oklahoma and NFL defensive lineman Corey Mayfield is just outside the UTSA top five in career interceptions and his 17 career passes defended stand one shy of fifth place in program annals.
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. He 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 nine stops during a two-game stretch in wins over UNLV and WKU, before recording a sack and returning an interception 40 yards for a touchdown in the 45-0 shutout of Rice. He matched his season with nine stops and forced a fumble that led to the go-ahead score in the 27-17 win over Southern Miss. Harmanson ranks second on the team with 45 tackles and 27 solo stops, and he has recorded 166 total tackles, 20 TFL, eight QB hurries, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries in 34 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 Kevin Strong Jr., Eric Banks, Ashaad Mabry, Jason Neill and Brian Price. Leading the way is super senior Jaylon Haynes, a two-time honorable mention all-conference performer with 25 tackles for loss — fourth on UTSA's career chart — and eight sacks in 47 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 46 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 71 tackles and nine TFL in 39 career contests.
Dependable Duplessis
UTSA place-kicker Hunter Duplessis has developed into a dependable option with his right leg during his career. A member of the Lou Groza Award preseason watch list and a Burlsworth Trophy nominee for the second straight year, he has made 18 of 23 field goals and a school-record 47 extra points in 2021. The former walk-on 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. He turned in his second straight three-field-goal game after connecting from 46 yards twice and again from 41 in the 54-0 shutout of Lamar. Duplessis, who landed on the semifinalist list 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 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 and he drilled all three field goal tries in the road win over UTEP, including a career-long 51-yarder that is tied for the second-longest kick in program history. He made two more field goals and three PATs in the Southern Miss win and now has 44 for his career — five shy of Sean Ianno's UTSA record — and a school-record 112 extra points for 244 points, 12 short of Ianno's mark. He currently leads C-USA with 18 field goals and ranks sixth in the FBS with 1.8 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. 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 carries a 4.0 GPA in technology management as part of an MBA program.
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. 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 and 45.6 yards on five punts with three inside the 20 against Rice. In his last outing, he averaged 47.0 yards on three punts with two inside the 10-yard line, including a 51-yarder that pinned Southern Miss at the 2. 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 averages 44.4 yards per punt with 14 of his 33 kicks inside the 20.
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 ranks second in Conference USA and seventh in the FBS with an average punt return of 13.1 yards. Jones, whose nickname is Sticks, has returned 20 punts for 262 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. He logged a 38-yard return against WKU that prevented UTSA from starting a second-half possession from inside its own 10-yard line and had six returns for 39 yards with a long of 14 in the win over Rice. Jones is 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 (63) and has amassed 381 punt return yards as a Roadrunner, while his current average of 6.0 yards per return ranks fourth on the school's career chart.
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 Oct. 11 for his record-setting performance in the 52-46 win at WKU. 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
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 but since broken by surrendering only 102 yards to Rice on Oct. 16. UTSA's point total in that win over the Cardinals marked the third most scored in a game.
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.
Down to the wire
UTSA is no stranger to close contests dating back to last season, as 14 of its last 22 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 on Oct. 2 before securing a 52-46 win at WKU a week later with an interception by Clarence Hicks in the final minute. The Roadrunners broke a 17-17 fourth-quarter deadlock against Southern Miss with two late scores in a 10-point victory in their last outing. 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 5-0 this season for a combined mark of 10-4.
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
An unprecedented nine Roadrunners landed on preseason watch lists for national awards. Leading the way is All-America running back Sincere McCormick, who appeared on four different watch lists, while Hunter Duplessis, Frank Harris and Rashad Wisdom each 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 was named Conference USA Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year and running back Sincere McCormick was 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. Additionally, both players have received invites to the East-West Shrine Bowl, which will be played in February in Las Vegas. 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.
TV birds
Saturday's game against UAB will air on ESPN+, marking 107 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
Prior to the season, UTSA 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 Denton to face North Texas on Saturday, Nov. 27. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN+ and Ticket 760 AM.
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