LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — UTSA co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Jess Loepp has been named one of 15 semifinalists for the Broyles Award, the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation announced this week.
Loepp is one of 15 semifinalists — and the only one from Conference USA — for the award which honors college football's top assistant coaches. A selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, broadcasters and a committee representing the FWAA narrowed the list of nominees to 15 semifinalists. Five finalists will be selected from the list of semifinalists then an overall winner.
Under the tutelage of Loepp, co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Rod Wright, cornerbacks coach Nick Graham, linebackers coach Brad Sherrod and the rest of the defensive staff, the Roadrunners have emerged as one of the nation's top units in several statistical categories. UTSA leads C-USA and ranks 10th in the FBS by allowing just 101.1 rushing yards per contest, and it stands second in the league in total defense (336.8 ypg), good for 29th in the country. The Roadrunners also have dialed up the pressure throughout the year with 75 tackles for loss and a program-record 29 sacks through 11 games to rank in the top 40 nationally in both categories. UTSA has tallied 20 takeaways, the 18th-best total among FBS teams, boasting an even split with 10 fumbles recovered (7th/FBS) and 10 interceptions.
UTSA has pitched a pair of shutouts — the first two in program history — this season. In the home opener on Sept. 11, the Roadrunners blanked Lamar 54-0, allowing just 122 yards of offense, 89 rushing yards and 33 passing yards. For an encore, UTSA 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 16th-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.
In a 45-0 shutout of Rice, the Roadrunners gave up just 102 total yards to set the program standard for fewest yards allowed in a game, and they limited the Owls to only 36 yards through the air. In fact, UTSA is one of two FBS teams 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.
The Broyles Award was created in 1996 recognizing Coach Frank Broyles' legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his hall of fame career as head coach at Arkansas. You can follow the Broyles Award on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
2021 Broyles Award Semifinalists
Arkansas – Cody Kennedy, Offensive Line
Baylor – Jeff Grimes, Offensive Coordinator / TEs
Cincinnati – Mike Denbrock, Offensive Coordinator / TEs
Houston – Doug Belk, Assoc. Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator / Safeties
Ohio State – Kevin Wilson, Offensive Coordinator
Oklahoma State – Jim Knowles, Defensive Coordinator
Ole Miss – Jeff Lebby, Offensive Coordinator / QBs
Pittsburgh – Mark Whipple, Offensive Coordinator / QBs
Texas A&M – Mike Elko, Defensive Coordinator / Safeties
Georgia – Dan Lanning, Fain & Billy Slaughter Defensive Coordinator / OLBs
Iowa – Phil Parker, Defensive Coordinator / Def. Backs
Michigan – Josh Gattis, Offensive Coordinator / WRs
UTSA – Jess Loepp, Co-Defensive Coordinator / Safeties
Wake Forest – Warren Ruggiero, Offensive Coordinator / QBs
Wisconsin - Jim Leonhard, Defensive Coordinator / Safeties
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