SAN ANTONIO — Riding a six-game winning streak and alone atop the Conference USA standings at 5-0, UTSA (7-2) will return home to host Louisiana Tech (3-6, 2-3) for the annual Military Appreciation Game this Saturday, Nov. 12. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at the Alamodome and the game will air on ESPN+ and Ticket 760 AM. The Roadrunners, who are receiving six votes in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll and five votes in the Associated Press Top 25 this week, are coming off a 44-38 double-overtime road win over UAB. The Bulldogs also came out victorious in their last outing, a 40-24 home triumph over Middle Tennessee. Saturday's game will serve as the annual Military Appreciation Game.
UTSA Roadrunners (7-2, 5-0)
vs.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (3-6, 2-3)
2:30 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 12
Alamodome | San Antonio, Texas
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Ticket 760 AM
Series History: Louisiana Tech leads, 7-3
Last Meeting: UTSA 45, LA Tech 16 (10/23/21 • Ruston, La.)
Opening drive
• UTSA and Louisiana Tech will meet for the 11th time on Saturday, making this the most-played series in program history.
• The Bulldogs hold a 7-3 edge in the series but the Roadrunners have won the last two meetings, 45-16 last year in Ruston and 27-26 in 2020 in San Antonio.
• The Roadrunners are 17-3 in C-USA games under third-year head coach Jeff Traylor.
• UTSA is seeking its second straight 6-0 start to C-USA play.
• The Roadrunners received six votes in this week's USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll and five votes in the Associated Press Top 25.
• UTSA is 26-9 under Jeff Traylor, the best record for a head coach through 35 games in program history.
• The Roadrunners have won 13 of their last 14 home games and are 15-2 at the Alamodome in the Jeff Traylor era.
• UTSA's current six-game winning streak is tied with Liberty and Troy for the sixth-longest active FBS streak and for the second longest run in program history behind the 11-game stretch to start the 2021 season.
• The Roadrunners have won 22 of their last 27 contests dating back to November 2020.
• UTSA is 7-1 in the month of November under Jeff Traylor.
Tuning in
Saturday's game will air on ESPN+. 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 988. 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. Central time 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.
On a streak
UTSA won its sixth straight game with the 44-38 double-overtime win over UAB last Saturday in Birmingham. UTSA's current six-game stretch is tied with Liberty and Troy for the sixth-longest active streak in the FBS, trailing only Georgia (11), Ohio State (10), TCU (9), Michigan (9) and Oregon (8). It also equals the second-longest winning streak in program history behind the 11-0 start to the 2021 campaign. The Roadrunners won six consecutive contests spanning their first two seasons with a 49-7 victory over Minot State in the 2011 finale and a 5-0 start to the 2012 slate. UTSA matched that run by winning its final five games in 2013 and the 2014 season opener against Houston.
Working overtime
The Roadrunners have been working overtime in 2022, with a program-record three contests needing extra periods to determine the outcome. UTSA played the first back-to-back overtime games in program history to open the campaign. The Roadrunners dropped a 37-35 decision to No. 24 Houston in triple overtime in the opener. One week later, UTSA rallied from a 14-point, second-half deficit to score a 41-38 road triumph over Army West Point in one extra period. On Nov. 5 in Birmingham, the Roadrunners outlasted UAB 44-38 in double overtime to improve to 2-1 this season and 5-3 overall in overtime games. UTSA has played overtime, double-overtime and triple-overtime games this season and joins Houston as the only FBS teams to have played three overtime contests this year.
UTSA's All-Time Overtime Games (5-3)
Date Opponent Result
10/8/11 South Alabama L, 27-30 (2OT)
10/29/11 Georgia State W, 17-14 (OT)
11/14/15 at Charlotte W, 30-27 (OT)
10/22/16 UTEP L, 49-52 (5OT)
9/12/20 at Texas State W, 51-48 (2OT)
9/3/22 Houston L, 35-37 (3OT)
9/10/22 at Army West Point W, 41-38 (OT)
11/5/22 at UAB W, 44-38 (2OT)
Down to the wire
UTSA is no stranger to close contests in the Jeff Traylor era, as 23 of the 35 have been one-score ballgames in the fourth quarter. The Roadrunners own a 17-6 record in those games including a 5-1 mark this year following the 44-38 double-overtime victory at UAB on Nov. 5. Dating back to last season, UTSA has seen 10 of the last 14 contests decided in the fourth quarter or later. Further, the Roadrunners are 10-1 in games decided by eight points or less since 2021, good for the most wins and best winning percentage (.909) among FBS teams who have played at least seven one-score contests. The first two games this season went to overtime, with the Roadrunners dropping a 37-35 decision to No. 24 Houston in three overtimes on Sept. 3 before rallying to beat Army 41-38 in overtime one week later. UTSA saw Middle Tennessee draw to within 38-30 in the fourth quarter on Sept. 30 before a late touchdown run by Brenden Brady provided the final 15-point margin. The Roadrunners pulled out a 31-28 win against WKU on Oct. 8 and a 31-27 victory over North Texas two weeks later. Last November, the Roadrunners broke a 17-17 fourth-quarter deadlock against Southern Miss with two late scores in a 10-point victory before upending UAB 34-31 one week later on a TD pass with three seconds left to play. UTSA used an interception on the final play of the game to secure a 49-41 C-USA Championship Game win over WKU on Dec. 3 and then pulled to within seven points of No. 24 San Diego State in the fourth quarter of the Frisco Bowl before dropping a 38-24 decision in the 2021 finale. The Roadrunners also saw games against Illinois (37-30), Memphis (31-28), UNLV (24-17) and WKU (52-46) come down to the final minutes last fall. In 2020, UTSA's matchups against Texas State (51-48/2OT), Stephen F. Austin (24-10), Middle Tennessee (37-35), UAB (13-21), No. 15 BYU (20-27), Army (16-28), Louisiana Tech (27-26), Southern Miss (23-20) and No. 16 Louisiana (24-31) all were one-score games in the final stanza.
Remember November
UTSA has focused on finishing the regular season on a strong note in the Jeff Traylor era. Following the 44-38 double-overtime win at UAB on Nov. 5, the Roadrunners are now 7-1 in games played in the month of November under Traylor. UTSA went 3-0 in the penultimate month of 2020 and then posted a 3-1 mark in November last season.
Home Sweet Dome
UTSA has been tough to beat at the Alamodome during the Jeff Traylor era. The Roadrunners have won 13 of their last 14 home contests and are 15-2 at the facility under the third-year head coach. UTSA reeled off a school-record 10-game win streak at home that started with a 27-26 victory over Louisiana Tech on Oct. 24, 2020, and ran through the 49-41 win against Western Kentucky in the 2021 Conference USA Championship Game on Dec. 3 before it was snapped in triple overtime against No. 24 Houston in the 2022 season opener on Sept. 3. The Roadrunners have won their last three at home and are 41-29 all-time in the Alamodome.
Packing the Dome
UTSA fans have packed the Alamodome during the last year, as three of the program's seven-largest home crowds have been recorded during that span of time. The final three home contests of last season all topped the 30,000-fan plateau, and the Roadrunners drew 37,526 for the 2022 season opener versus Houston on Sept. 3. On Nov. 20, 2021, a total of 35,147 fans saw the Roadrunners pull out a 34-31 thriller against UAB to claim the Conference USA West Division title. Two weeks later, UTSA secured its first league crown with a 49-41 triumph over Western Kentucky in front of 41,148 fans, the third-largest crowd for a UTSA game at the Alamodome. The Roadrunners also beat Southern Miss in front of 30,105 fans on Nov. 13 and led C-USA in average home attendance last fall with an average of 26,643 for seven home games. UTSA set NCAA modern startup program records in its first season by drawing 56,743 fans to the inaugural game against Northeastern State on Sept. 3, 2011, and by averaging 35,521 fans for six home contests that season. UTSA once again has set the pace in C-USA for average home attendance this season with a league-leading 27,385 mark through the first four contests at the Alamodome.
UTSA's Top 10 Home Crowds
Attendance Date Opponent
56,743 9/3/11 Northeastern State
42,071 9/8/18 Baylor
41,148 12/3/21 Western Kentucky
40,977 9/7/13 Oklahoma State
39,032 11/24/12 Texas State
37,526 9/3/22 Houston
35,147 11/20/21 UAB
33,517 9/24/11 Bacone
33,472 9/4/14 Arizona
32,886 10/8/11 South Alabama
Traylor successful in league play
UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor has experienced immediate success in league games during his time in San Antonio. The 2021 Conference USA Coach of the Year has guided the Roadrunners to 17 wins in 20 conference games during his tenure. The Roadrunners outlasted UAB 44-38 in double overtime last Saturday in Birmingham to record their second straight 5-0 start to conference play. Last season, Traylor led UTSA to a 7-1 league mark and the program's first-ever league crown with a 49-41 victory over Western Kentucky in the C-USA Championship Game. The Roadrunners registered a 5-2 record in C-USA play in Traylor's first season at the helm in 2020.
Who's counting?
Now in their 12th season of play, the Roadrunners will play the 142nd game in program history on Saturday when they host Louisiana Tech. UTSA is 71-70 all-time and 41-29 at home, including 3-1 this season. By comparison, LA Tech has been playing football since 1901 and owns an all-time record of 649-485-38 in 120 seasons.
Scouting Louisiana Tech
The Bulldogs improved to 3-6 overall and 2-3 in the conference with a 40-24 home victory over Middle Tennessee last Saturday. Louisiana Tech is averaging 32.6 points and 403.1 yards per game while allowing 37.9 points and 470.0 yards per contest. Parker McNeil has completed 123 of 214 passes for 1,908 yards and 18 touchdowns. Tre Harris has caught 49 passes for 803 yards and nine TDs, while Smoke Harris owns 47 receptions for 488 yards and four scores. Marquis Crosby leads the ground attack with 694 yards and five touchdowns on 127 carries. Hugh Davis (55) and Beejay Williamson (52) are the top tacklers, while Myles Brooks and Willie Roberts share the team lead with three interceptions apiece. Head coach Sonny Cumbie is in his first season.
Series history
Saturday will mark the 11th meeting between UTSA and Louisiana Tech, making it the most-played series in program history ahead of North Texas (10 games). The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 7-3 but the Roadrunners have won the last two meetings, 45-16 last year in Ruston and 27-26 in 2020 in San Antonio. UTSA is 2-2 versus LA Tech at the Alamodome. The two teams first met as members of the Western Athletic Conference in 2012 before both joined Conference USA in 2013.
UTSA/LA Tech Series History
Date Location Score
11/3/12 Ruston L, 27-51
11/30/13 San Antonio W, 30-10
10/18/14 Ruston L, 20-27
10/10/15 San Antonio L, 31-34
11/12/16 Ruston L, 35-63
11/25/17 Ruston L, 6-20
10/13/18 San Antonio L, 3-31
11/30/19 Ruston L, 27-41
10/24/20 San Antonio W, 27-26
10/23/21 Ruston W, 45-16
Last Meeting
Sincere McCormick rushed for 113 yards and three touchdowns, Zakhari Frankin had 118 receiving yards and a pair of scores and Clarence Hicks posted two and a half sacks to lead No. 24 UTSA to a 45-16 victory over Louisiana Tech on Oct. 23, 2021. The Roadrunners erased an early deficit to register their first-ever win against the Bulldogs in Ruston. McCormick's third straight 100-yard game helped pace a balanced offensive attack that piled up 406 total yards, 213 on the ground and 193 through the air. Franklin's third 100-yard output of the fall led the aerial attack, and he did his damage on just five catches. Meanwhile, Hicks led a pressure defense that registered six sacks and 10 tackles for loss. DeQuarius Henry and Jahmal Sam also had a sack apiece, as a total of six Roadrunners had a hand in a sack and nine players were part of a TFL. Dadrian Taylor had four tackles and a 51-yard interception return for a touchdown, UTSA's fifth defensive TD of the season. Jarrett Preston also came up with his first career INT on the final play of the contest.
Last time out
Joshua Cephus caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Frank Harris and the defense forced an incompletion on fourth down in the second overtime, as UTSA outlasted UAB 44-38 on Nov. 5 at Protective Stadium. Playing their program-record third overtime game of the season, the Roadrunners won for the first time in Birmingham to improve to 7-2 overall, run their winning streak to six games and maintain sole possession of first place in the league with a 5-0 mark. The Roadrunners registered the most points and passing yards (285) allowed by UAB this season, which entered the contest holding opponents to 18.5 points and 171.0 passing yards per game. UTSA held a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter but the Blazers rallied to tie things up in the final minutes. Trailing 31-24 with 1:15 left to play, UAB put together an eight-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in a 38-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Zeno to Trea Shropshire with 15 seconds remaining. The Blazers took a 38-31 lead in the first extra period on an 11-yard TD catch by Tejhuan Palmer, but UTSA answered with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Tykee Ogle-Kellogg to send the contest into a second OT. The Roadrunners took a 44-38 advantage after Cephus' TD catch on a wheel route down the right sideline, and the defense then held strong, as Nick Booker-Brown made a key sack on third down and Corey Mayfield and Clifford Chattman provided coverage on a long pass attempt on fourth down to secure the victory. Mayfield registered four tackles and picked off a pass for the third game in a row, becoming just the second Roadrunner in program annals to register an interception in three consecutive games. Ken Robinson paced the defense with 12 tackles, while Chattman, Jamal Ligon and Dywan Griffin posted seven stops apiece. Meanwhile, Harris completed 22 of 31 passes for 285 yards and four touchdowns, while Kevorian Barnes rushed 16 times for 114 yards and a score, as the Roadrunners churned out 209 rushing and 494 total yards.
Maka named Campbell Trophy finalist
UTSA senior Ahofitu Maka became the third Roadrunner to be named a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. He is one of 15 finalists and will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2022 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class. The center from Honolulu, Hawai'i, joins Eric Soza (2013) and Nate Leonard (2014) as the only UTSA student-athletes to be named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in the 12-year history of the program. The finalists will travel to Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Dec. 6 for the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner.
Roadrunners collect weekly accolades
The Roadrunners have collected several weekly honors so far this season. Jared Sackett was named Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time this season and fifth of his career after he drilled three field goals and both extra points in the 44-38 double-overtime win at UAB on Nov. 5. Frank Harris picked up his fourth Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week award after accounting for 313 yards of offense (238 passing/75 rushing) and a pair of touchdowns in the 31-27 win over North Texas on Oct. 22. He also claimed the league's weekly award on Oct. 3 and also landed on the Manning Award "Stars of the Week" list following his record-setting performance in the 45-30 road triumph over Middle Tennessee. De'Corian Clark was tabbed the East-West Shrine Bowl Breakout Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 26 after piling up a school-record 217 yards and three touchdowns on nine receptions in the 52-24 win over Texas Southern. Lucas Dean was named to the Ray Guy Award Ray's 8 list after averaging 60.5 yards on four punts, which included a school-record 76-yarder and a 67-yard kick, versus Texas Southern. Harris picked up several honors following his performance in the 41-38 comeback win over Army in overtime on Sept. 10. He was named Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week, as well as C-USA Offensive Player of the Week, and he also landed on the Davey O'Brien Great 8 and the Manning Award Stars of the Week lists. Harris also earned C-USA's weekly award following the season opener against No. 24 Houston, while Sackett picked up C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week accolades after the Houston and WKU games.
Traylor off to resounding start at UTSA
Head coach Jeff Traylor is off to a resounding start to his tenure at UTSA. The Gilmer, Texas, native has turned around the program by instilling his 210 Triangle of Toughness culture, producing results on and off the field. Taking over a team that won a combined seven games in the two seasons prior to his arrival, he has led the Roadrunners to a 26-9 record, the best record through 35 games by a UTSA head football coach. Traylor, who has been named to the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards Coach of the Year watch list for the second straight year, has UTSA off to a 7-2 overall ledger and its second straight 5-0 start to league play in 2022. He already has mentored five All-Americans and a pair of NFL Draft picks during his time in San Antonio. In his first season, Traylor guided the Roadrunners to a 7-5 overall record, a runner-up finish in Conference USA's West Division with a 5-2 mark and an appearance in the First Responder Bowl. The Roadrunners received votes in a national poll for the first time in program history and the seven wins are the most by a first-year UTSA head coach. The Roadrunners enjoyed a record-setting campaign in his second season. The Roadrunners won their first 11 games, were nationally ranked (as high as No. 15) for the first time in school history and captured the program's first league title by winning the 2021 C-USA Championship with a 49-41 victory over WKU. UTSA capped the season with its second straight and third overall bowl appearance. Traylor was honored for his success as the 2021 C-USA Coach of the Year, AFCA FBS Regional Coach of the Year for Region 4 and 2021 San Antonio Express-News Sportsman of the Year, as well as being a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, AFCA National Coach of the Year and George Munger College Coach of the Year Award.
Season 12
UTSA is playing its 12th season of football in 2022. The Roadrunners started their 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. The Roadrunners captured their first conference championship by claiming the 2021 C-USA crown and capped a 12-2 campaign with their third bowl game. UTSA has posted at least six wins in seven of the 12 seasons in program history and it has reached the seven-win plateau five times, including in each of the first three years of the Jeff Traylor era.
UTSA picked to win C-USA crown
The defending Conference USA champion UTSA Roadrunners were picked to finish first in the league this season. The Roadrunners received 14 of a possible 22 first-place votes from a panel of media members that covers all 11 C-USA schools. UAB received the remaining eight first-place votes and is slotted second in the preseason poll, followed by WKU, which UTSA beat 49-41 to claim the 2021 conference crown.
C-USA PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. UTSA (14)
2. UAB (8)
3. WKU
4. Florida Atlantic
5. North Texas
6. UTEP
7. Charlotte
8. Middle Tennessee
9. Louisiana Tech
10. Rice
11. FIU
UTSA senior duo earns C-USA preseason accolades
UTSA seniors Frank Harris and Rashad Wisdom have been named Conference USA Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. Harris and Wisdom, who recently announced he is out for the season due to an injury, join C-USA Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year Brayden Narveson of WKU as preseason superlative award winners in a vote by the league's head coaches.
Roadrunners reel in honors
UTSA has reeled in numerous honors this season, as 10 Roadrunners have landed on preseason or in-season watch lists or have been honored as nominees for awards. Senior quarterback Frank Harris leads the way after earning a spot on five lists — the Davey O'Brien, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose, Manning, Maxwell and Walter Camp Player of the Year Awards — and the Schertz Clemens high product also is a nominee for the Wuerffel Trophy. Meanwhile, senior safety Rashad Wisdom appears on watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik and Paycom Jim Thorpe Awards and Bronko Nagurski Trophy. The Converse Judson High graduate also is a nominee for the Allstate Good Works Team. Senior center Ahofitu Maka was named a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy on Oct. 26 and is a member of watch lists for the Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy and Polynesian College Football Player of the Year, while senior wide receiver Zakhari Franklin is on the Biletnikoff Award and Reese's Senior Bowl watch lists. Oscar Cardenas (John Mackey Award), Joshua Cephus (Biletnikoff Award), De'Corian Clark (Biletnikoff Award), Lucas Dean (Ray Guy Award) and Jared Sackett (Lou Groza Award) also appear on watch lists, while Jeff Traylor was named to the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards Coach of the Year watch list for the second straight season.
Player — Watch List(s)
Oscar Cardenas — John Mackey Award
Joshua Cephus — Biletnikoff Award
De'Corian Clark — Biletnikoff Award
Lucas Dean — Ray Guy Award
Zakhari Franklin — Biletnikoff Award, Reese's Senior Bowl
Frank Harris — Davey O'Brien Award, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, Manning Award, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Wuerffel Trophy nominee
Ahofitu Maka — William V. Campbell Trophy finalist, Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy, Polynesian College Football Player of the Year
Jared Sackett — Lou Groza Award
Rashad Wisdom — Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronco Nagurski Trophy, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Allstate Good Works Team nominee
Jeff Traylor — Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards Coach of the Year
Points-a-plenty
Under the direction of co-offensive coordinators Will Stein and Matt Mattox, UTSA has emerged as one of the top scoring offenses in Conference USA. The Roadrunners are averaging 36.6 points per game, which puts them just behind of North Texas (37.2) and Western Kentucky (37.2) in the league and 21st in the FBS. UTSA has posted 30-plus points in eight of the nine contests this season and they have topped the 40-point barrier four times. The Roadrunners set school records for scoring last season, tallying 516 total points in 14 contests for a program-record 36.9 points per game. UTSA has scored 20-plus points in 27 consecutive games dating back to the 2020 campaign. The Roadrunners have scored a total of 1,184 points in 35 games under third-year head coach Jeff Traylor, good for an average of 33.8 per game.
Aerial attack
UTSA boasts one of the top offenses in the country, featuring one of the most prolific aerial attacks in the FBS this season. Led by quarterback Frank Harris and the wide receiver trio of Joshua Cephus, De'Corian Clark and Zakhari Franklin, the Roadrunners are averaging 325.3 passing yards per contest, good for second in Conference USA and ninth nationally, and they rank second in Conference USA and 12th nationally with 490.2 total yards per game. UTSA opened the campaign by throwing for 337 yards in the 37-35, triple-overtime loss to No. 24 Houston. The Roadrunners then aired it out for 359 yards as part of a 512-yard output in the 41-38 overtime triumph over Army. UTSA broke the school record for passing yards in a game with 441, including a program-record 392 from Harris, and racked up 553 yards of offense in the 52-24 victory over Texas Southern. Less than one week later in the 45-30 road triumph over Middle Tennessee, Harris broke his own single-game passing yardage mark with 414 as UTSA threw for 423 yards and cranked out a season-best 590 total yards, the most since setting the school record of 624 against North Texas on Nov. 29, 2020. The Roadrunners racked up 486 yards — 273 passing and 213 rushing — in the 31-28 victory against WKU before logging 430 yards, including 303 passing, in the road win over FIU. The Roadrunners tallied 495 yards with a season-best 257 coming on the ground, in the 31-27 thriller over North Texas and then registered 494 against the league's top-rated defense in the win at UAB. UTSA — which eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark for passing yards in six games, two quicker than the previous school standard set in 2013 and matched a year ago — has registered four of the top nine single-game passing performances in program history so far this season.
UTSA's Top 10 Team Single-Game Passing Yardage
Yards Opponent Date
441 Texas Southern 9/24/22
423 Middle Tennessee 9/30/22
414 Charlotte 11/26/16
372 Western Kentucky 10/9/21
369 Oklahoma State 9/7/13
367 Southern Miss 10/7/17
365 Houston 9/28/13
359 Army West Point 9/10/22
337 Houston 9/3/22
335 Southern 9/16/17
Leader under center
During the course of his UTSA career, senior quarterback Frank Harris has developed into one of the team's unquestioned leaders. The Schertz Clemens High product, who owns a 27-10 record as the starting QB and more than 30 school records, has thrown for 8,116 yards and 63 touchdowns on 716-of-1,070 passing (.669) — all program records — and rushed for 1,574 yards and 20 TDs, the most in a career by a UTSA quarterback. In fact, Harris is one of only eight active FBS quarterbacks with 8,000 or more passing yards and 1,500-plus rushing yards, and he has piled up those numbers in the second-fewest number of games (39) among that group. This season, Harris has completed 228 of 330 passes (.691) for 2,823 yards and 21 TDs and he has added 354 yards and five scores on the ground. He has been named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week four times this fall, most recently on Oct. 24 after he threw for 238 yards and two TDs and added 75 rushing yards in the 31-27 victory over North Texas. He owns five of the top six individual passing performances in program annals with four occurring in the first five games this season. Harris currently ranks third in the nation in total offense with a league-best 353.0 yards per game, and he ranks sixth in passing yards per game (313.7), 11th in points responsible for (160), 13th in completion percentage (.691), 16th in passing TDs and 19th in passing efficiency (158.3). The 2022 Conference USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year guided UTSA to the most successful season in program history last fall, helping lead the Roadrunners to a 12-2 record, their first conference championship and top-25 ranking and to their second straight and third overall bowl game. He set school single-season records for passing yards (3,177), completions (398), touchdowns (27), attempts (263), completion percentage (.661), passing efficiency (152.5), total offense (3,743) and touchdowns responsible for (33). He also rushed for 566 yards — a program record for a QB — and six scores and caught three passes for 36 yards and a TD en route to Dave Campbell's Texas Football Offensive Player of the Year and second-team all-conference accolades. A member of preseason watch lists for the Davey O'Brien, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose, Manning, Maxwell and Walter Camp Player of the Year Awards, Harris has overcome multiple season-ending injuries sustained earlier in his career to emerge as one of the top signal callers in the country. He was named to the Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2022 on Nov. 1, marking his third straight appearance on that list.
Frank Harris School-Record Tracker (32)
Game (8)
Passing Yards 414 at Middle Tennessee (9/30/22)
Passing TDs 6 at WKU (10/9/21)
Completions 32 at Army (9/10/22)
Completion Percentage .866 (13-15) vs. Lamar (9/11/21)
Rushing TDs 3 at Texas State (9/12/20)
Rushing Yards by a QB 123 vs. UIW (8/31/19)
Longest Rush by a QB 71 vs. North Texas (11/28/20)
Total Offense 445 vs. Middle Tennessee (9/30/22)
Season (12)
Passing Yards 3,177 (2021)
Passing Yards Per Game 313.7 (2022)
Passing TDs 27 (2021)
Completions 263 (2021)
Attempts 399 (2021)
Completion Percentage .691 (2022)
Passing Efficiency 158.3 (2022)
300-Yard Passing Games 5 (2022)
Rushing Yards by a QB 566 (2021)
Rushing TDs by a QB 9 (2020)
TDs Responsible For 33 (2021)
Total Offense 3,743 (2021)
Career (12)
Passing Yards 8,116
Passing TDs 63
Completions 716
Attempts 1,070
Consecutive Completions 13
Completion Percentage .669
Passing Efficiency 146.3
300-Yard Passing Games 8
Rushing Yards by a QB 1,574
Rushing TDs by a QB 20
TDs Responsible For 84
Total Offense 9,690
Terrific trio
UTSA boasts arguably the most productive active pass-catching trio in the FBS. Senior wide receivers Joshua Cephus, De'Corian "JT" Clark and Zakhari Franklin have teamed up to provide the Roadrunners with a formidable air attack. The trio has combined for 545 receptions, 6,784 receiving yards and 63 touchdowns during their career. No other FBS team has a trio of active players with more receptions, receiving yards or touchdown catches. The next closest teams are Eastern Michigan for receptions (454) and Ball State for yards (5,399) and TDs (37). This season, the trio has totaled 179 catches for 2,251 yards and 21 TDs and all three appear in the Biletnikoff Award watch list, joining Ohio State as the only two schools with three on that list. They all rank in the top eight in Conference USA in both receptions and receiving yards per contest. Additionally, all three receivers are in the top 26 nationally in receiving yards with Franklin 21st (768), Cephus 25th (742) and Clark 26th (741). No other team has three players on that list. They also all rank in the top 35 nationally in receptions per game this season with Cephus sixth (7.9), Franklin 11th (6.9) and Clark 35th (5.7). No other team has three on that chart. All three receivers were voted into the coveted single-digit jersey numbers by their teammates this season, with Cephus wearing No. 2, Clark in No. 1 and Franklin donning No. 4.
UTSA Wide Receiver Trio Career Stats
Player Rec. Yards TD
Joshua Cephus 203 2,245 16
De'Corian Clark 112 1,559 16
Zakhari Franklin 230 2,960 31
Totals 545 6,784 63
Keeping the streak alive
The UTSA receiving duo of Zakhari Franklin and Joshua Cephus are among the nation's best when it comes to consecutive games with a reception. Franklin has caught a pass in all 41 career contests in which he has been available dating back to 2019, good for a tie for the longest streak in the FBS with Arizona's Jacob Cowing and Minnesota's Chris Autman-Bell. Cephus has at least one catch in 35 consecutive games dating back to the 2020 season opener, putting him in a tie for sixth nationally.
Franklin rewriting record book
UTSA senior Zakhari Franklin has rewritten UTSA's record book for receivers. The Biletnikoff Award and Reese's Senior Bowl watch list honoree smashed UTSA single-season standards for receptions (81), receiving yards (1,027), receiving yards per game (79.0), receiving touchdowns (12) and 100-yard games (4) last year en route to first-team all-conference and second-team Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas College honors. The Cedar Hill High product also owns the program's single-game record for receptions with 12, which he turned into 138 yards and a pair of scores versus Army in 2020. He started the 2022 campaign off with a bang by catching 10 passes for 100 yards against No. 24 Houston. He then hauled in 10 passes for 122 yards and a pair of TDs in the 41-38 overtime win at Army to push his UTSA career record for 100-yard games to 11 and give him eight of the top 14 single-game receiving yardage totals in program history. He caught six passes for 84 yards and a touchdown against No. 20 Texas and followed that with six catches for 87 yards and a score in the win over Texas Southern. He found the end zone twice and totaled 98 yards on five catches in the 45-30 win at Middle Tennessee and had six receptions for 95 yards in the home victory over WKU. He caught seven balls for 93 yards and two touchdowns in the 44-38 road win over UAB to bring his season totals to 62 catches, 768 yards and nine TDs, and he ranks in the top 25 in the FBS in all of those categories. Franklin continues to sit atop the UTSA all-time charts for receptions (230), receiving yards (2,960) and TD catches (31). Further, he leads all active FBS players in receiving touchdowns and he ranks second in receptions, fourth in receiving yards, fifth in receptions per game (5.61) and sixth in receiving yards per game (72.7).
Sure-handed Cephus
Joshua Cephus has built a reputation as a wide receiver who does not drop anything thrown his way. The senior from Houston, who was added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list on Nov. 2, has been tagged with only six drops in 285 targets during his career for a drop rate of 2.9% according to Pro Football Focus. PFF also has not charged him with a drop in 85 targets this season, the most without a drop in the FBS. He started 2022 by piling up 106 yards on seven receptions, including a 51-yard catch-and-run that opened the scoring for UTSA against No. 24 Houston. Cephus then recorded his second straight 100-yard game with 112 on 10 receptions in the 41-38 overtime triumph over Army. He caught seven passes for 80 yards and had a 45-yard TD catch wiped out by a penalty against No. 20 Texas before topping the century mark for the third time this season with a career-high 114 yards and a TD on five receptions versus Texas Southern. Cephus had seven receptions for 91 yards in the road triumph over Middle Tennessee, eight for 46 in the win over WKU and six for 55 versus FIU. He hauled in a career-best 11 passes — the second-most in a game in program history — for 88 yards and a score in the 31-27 victory over North Texas and then had five catches for 50 yards, including the game winner in the second overtime, in the 44-38 win at UAB to give him 66 catches for 742 yards and four TDs this year. The Dekaney High product now has turned 203 catches — tied for eighth among active FBS players — into 2,245 yards and 16 touchdowns during his career, marks that rank in the top three on the program's all-time chart.
Clark creating highlight-reel catches
De'Corian "JT" Clark has emerged as one of UTSA's top receiving targets, often making catches worthy of a spot on any highlight reel. The senior from Fort Worth caught six passes for 70 yards and a pair of spectacular touchdown grabs in the season-opening setback to No. 24 Houston. Clark — who gets his nickname from his middle name, John Thomas — hauled in a 15-yard pass that gave the Roadrunners a 21-7 advantage in the third quarter, and he made a diving catch between two defenders on a 13-yard TD that forced a third overtime. Clark provided another highlight clip with his game-winning 7-yard grab in the corner of the end zone to help lift UTSA to a 41-38 overtime triumph over Army. He provided more highlights in the 52-24 win over Texas Southern, breaking the school record for receiving yards in a game with 217 — the sixth-most by any FBS player this season — on nine receptions and was tabbed East-West Shrine Bowl Breakout Offensive Player of the Week. He caught three touchdown passes — a 31-yarder where he stretched the ball just inside the pylon, a 69-yard catch-and-run on the opening possession of the second half and a 7-yard grab over a defender in the end zone in the fourth quarter — to match his own UTSA standard set last year in the road win over WKU. Clark turned in his second straight 100-yard game with 139 yards on eight catches in the 45-30 road triumph over Middle Tennessee to give him five for his career, earning him a spot on the Biletnikoff Award watch list as part of 10 midseason additions. Clark hauled in a 12-yard touchdown grab over a defender in the corner of the end zone in the 31-28 victory against WKU and then had yet another game winner on a 10-yard pass on a fade route in the final seconds of the 31-27 triumph over North Texas. He now has 51 catches, 741 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022. He is one of only 25 FBS players with three-plus touchdown catches in a game this year. A product of O.D. Wyatt High School, he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for his career against Texas on Sept. 24 and now has 1,559 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns on 112 catches in 41 contests.
Cardenas a dual threat at tight end
UTSA junior Oscar Cardenas has developed into a punishing blocker and clutch pass-catcher at the tight end position. The San Antonio Brandeis High graduate earned a spot on the John Mackey Award preseason watch list this summer after a breakout 2021 campaign. He appeared in all 14 games and made four starts last fall, catching 16 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns, and he already has surpassed those numbers through nine contests this fall with 17 receptions and 260 yards. He caught two balls in the opener against No. 24 Houston including a key 25-yard reception that set up the game-tying field goal as time expired. He added two more receptions for 18 yards in the 41-38 overtime triumph over Army and followed that with 28 yards on three catches against No. 20 Texas. Cardenas made a one-handed grab and then hurdled a defender for a 35-yard reception on the final drive of the 31-27 victory over North Texas. He set single-game highs with four receptions for 86 yards, including a 54-yard catch-and-run on the opening drive of the 44-38 double-overtime win at UAB in his last outing to give him 36 receptions for 539 yards and two touchdowns in 39 games as a Roadrunner. Cardenas played a role in one of the iconic moments in UTSA's history, hauling in the game-winning TD reception after a tipped pass with three seconds left in the 34-31 victory over UAB last November. He also had a 28-yard catch on the game-winning drive in the final minute versus the Blazers to help the Roadrunners clinch the Conference USA West Division title.
Experience up front
UTSA boasts one of the most experienced offensive lines in the FBS this fall. The quartet of Kevin Davis (50 starts), Makai Hart (22), Terrell Haynes (28) and Ahofitu Maka (46) have combined for 146 career starts, which ranks in the top five among FBS schools. That foursome has combined to play in 164 games. With four starters returning entering the 2022 campaign, UTSA was tied with several other schools behind nine squads that returned all five starters this season.
Maka makes it happen on and off the field
Ahofitu Maka is back for his fourth season as UTSA's starting center, leading the way on a veteran offensive line. A second-team all-conference selection in each of the last two seasons, the Honolulu, Hawai'i, native has started 46 career games — 45 at center — as a Roadrunner after transferring from Independence Community College prior to the 2019 campaign. Dating back to the start of the 2020 season, the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy preseason watch list member has allowed only two sacks in more than 1,300 pass-blocking snaps according to Pro Football Focus, helping pave the way for a record-setting offense. In 2020, UTSA broke single-season program records for rushing yards (2,585), rushing yards per game (215.4), yards per rush (5.21) and rushing touchdowns (24). Maka surrendered just one sack and three hits on the quarterback in 430 pass-blocking snaps that season. Last fall, Maka — a member of the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year watch list — started all 14 contests, allowing just one sack and three hits on the quarterback in 471 pass-blocking snaps to help UTSA set school records for total yards (6,146), total yards per game (439.0), passing yards (3,577), passing yards per game (255.5), points scored (516) and points per game (36.9). So far this season, Maka has not surrendered a sack or hit on the quarterback in 420 pass-blocking snaps, owns a 98.2% pass-blocking efficiency and has only committed three penalties in 719 plays. Also an excellent student, Maka is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree, a three-time C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member, a 2021 C-USA All-Academic Team pick and a C-USA Academic Medal recipient. On Oct. 26, he became the third Roadrunner to be named a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award.
Fourth-down stops
UTSA has found recent success in stopping opponents on fourth down. The Roadrunners came up with a pair of fourth-down stops in the 44-38 road win at UAB last Saturday. Brandon Brown stuffed the league's leading rusher, DeWayne McBride, on a fourth-and-two attempt deep in UTSA territory in the fourth quarter and Corey Mayfield Jr. broke up a pass near the goal line on the final play of the second overtime to secure the program's first victory in Birmingham. In the 30-10 road triumph over FIU, the Roadrunners stopped the Panthers three out of four times on fourth down. They got off the field on fourth down twice in the third quarter by forcing an incomplete pass on fourth-and-goal and again with a stop for no gain by Nick Booker-Brown and Pig Cage on fourth-and 11 near midfield. In the 31-28 victory against WKU, UTSA stopped the Hilltoppers three times — all in the second half — on four fourth down-conversion attempts. They forced an incomplete pass on a fourth-and-15 try midway through the third quarter before Booker-Brown batted down a pass on a fourth-and-14 situation later in the stanza. With less than four minutes remaining in the game, Rashad Wisdom broke up a long pass attempt on a fourth-and-seven to give the ball back to UTSA for good. In the 45-30 road triumph over Middle Tennessee, the Roadrunners stopped the Blue Raiders on a pair of fourth-down tries in the fourth quarter and they also thwarted Texas Southern's only fourth-down attempt in the third quarter of the 52-24 victory the week prior. In the last six contests, UTSA's defense has gotten off the field on 11 of the past 17 fourth-down attempts combined. For the season, the Roadrunners lead the league in the FBS in fourth-down conversion percentage defense (.455).
D-line rotation keeps Roadrunners fresh
UTSA defensive coordinator Jess Loepp uses a deep rotation up front to keep the Roadrunners fresh throughout the course of a game. The Roadrunners played nine defensive linemen in the season opener versus No. 24 Houston. Brandon Brown, Brandon Matterson and Asyrus Simon drew starts and combined to register 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Simon led that trio with seven stops, while Brown made 1.5 sacks and caused the fumble. Joe Evans (3 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks), Lamonte McDougle (2 tackles), Trumane Bell II (0.5 TFL, QBH), Christian Clayton (tackle), Zach Causey and Ronald Triplette also saw snaps against the Cougars. A total of 10 defensive linemen saw action in the 41-38 comeback triumph over Army on Sept. 10, led by Matterson (5 tackles, 0.5 TFL), McDougle (4 tackles), Bell (4 tackles, sack), Evans (3 tackles) and Nick Booker-Brown (3 tackles, sack). UTSA rotated 10 players on the d-line in four consecutive games with Matterson's five tackles pacing the unit against No. 20 Texas, Triplette's six stops leading the way in the win over Texas Southern, Evans' two tackles topping the group in the 45-30 win at Middle Tennessee and Brown's three tackles setting the pace in the 31-28 victory over WKU. Nine saw action in the road victory over FIU which saw UTSA match the school record with 14 tackles for loss, including 2.5 from Booker-Brown. UTSA again rotated nine on the d-line in the 31-27 win against North Texas which saw Bell register a sack for a 6-yard loss, while eight saw action in the road victory over UAB. A total of 11 UTSA defensive linemen have been credited with a TFL this fall with Bell, Booker-Brown and Brown pacing the unit with 4.5 apiece.
Linebacker leaders
The Roadrunners are not short on leadership in the second line of defense this fall, as three players who earned one of the coveted single-digit jersey numbers are lining up as starters at linebacker. The tandem of Trevor Harmanson, who is wearing No. 1, and Jamal Ligon, who is donning No. 8 for the second straight season, provides UTSA with two veterans in the middle. A super senior from Dickinson, Texas, Harmanson has recorded 221 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and a pair of recoveries in 46 career contests. Ligon, a junior out of Tyler, has registered 193 tackles, 12 TFLs, five sacks, three forced fumbles, a pair of recoveries and an interception in 32 games as a Roadrunner, and he owns the program single-game tackles record with 19 against Middle Tennessee in 2020. Meanwhile, Dadrian Taylor is back in his No. 7 jersey for his final year manning the SAM linebacker spot. In 54 career appearances, the Shiner, Texas, native has logged 105 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, five PBUs, two fumble recoveries and a pair of interceptions, including a pick-six versus Louisiana Tech last season.
Moore emerges on the edge
UTSA redshirt freshman Trey Moore has emerged on the edge for the defense this season. The Smithson Valley High School product leads the Roadrunners with 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, as part of his 35 total tackles this fall. He opened his debut campaign with three tackles, including half a sack, against No. 24 Houston before breaking out for eight stops in the overtime win at Army. He registered six tackles with 2.5 behind the line of scrimmage in the victory over Texas Southern and followed that with a sack as part of a three-tackle output in the road triumph over Middle Tennessee. Moore has picked up the pressure over the past month with 2.5 sacks in the 30-10 win at FIU, a half-TFL in the victory versus North Texas and three tackles for loss, including a sack, in the 44-38 double-overtime win at UAB. He sits just outside the program's single-season top-five list for tackles for loss, needing one more TFL to move into a tie with Josiah Tauaefa for fourth.
Mayfield comfortable on an island
UTSA cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. was thrown into the fire, so to speak, as a true freshman in 2018, seeing action in 10 games and drawing two starts. The Forney, Texas, native has made the most of that early playing time, developing into a steady presence at the position during the course of his career with 43 starts in 56 contests, the most games played on the current roster. The son of former Oklahoma and NFL defensive lineman Corey Mayfield has received honorable mention all-conference accolades in each of the past two seasons. Last fall, he registered 37 tackles, three tackles for loss, three pass breakups one forced fumble and an interception that he returned 49 yards for a touchdown in the 45-0 shutout of Rice. In 2020, he had a pair of interceptions and broke up a team-best six passes to go along with 37 stops and three TFLs. He started 2022 with six total tackles, four solo stops and a key pass breakup deep in UTSA territory against No. 24 Houston. Mayfield then registered three tackles and a PBU in overtime of UTSA's 41-38 comeback win over Army before logging four solo stops and a PBU at No. 20 Texas. Mayfield posted six unassisted tackles and a pair of pass breakups in the win over WKU and then came up with his first interception of the season to go with five solo stops in the 30-10 victory at FIU. Mayfield, who was voted into the No. 2 jersey number this season, made it back-to-back weeks with a pick when he stepped in front of a pass and also posted four tackles and three PBUs in the 31-27 win over North Texas. He equaled the program record with an interception in a third consecutive game, picking off a pass and returning it 15 yards to go with four tackles, one sack, a forced fumble and three PBUs in the win at UAB. He now has 39 tackles, 13 passes defended (6th/FBS) 10 PBUs and three INTs this year and 142 tackles, nine TFLs, 25 passes defended (No. 3 in program history), 18 PBUs, seven interceptions and three forced fumbles for his career.
Playmaker in the secondary
UTSA senior Clifford Chattman has emerged as a playmaker in the secondary for the Roadrunners in his final campaign. The New Orleans native ranks second on the squad with 52 total tackles and he is tied for the lead with 32 solo stops this year. The 6-5 safety has broken up 10 passes this fall, which is tied with Corey Mayfield Jr. for most on the roster. Chattman recorded 11 tackles and had a key PBU on a pass into the end zone in overtime of UTSA's 41-38 victory at Army. He made six stops against No. 20 Texas and eight tackles plus a PBU in the 52-24 win over Texas Southern. He broke up a pair of passes to go with four tackles in the 31-28 victory against WKU before registering nine stops and three PBUs in the 31-27 triumph over North Texas. Chattman, who started his career at Texas A&M (2016-19), logged seven solo stops and a PBU in the 44-38 double-overtime win at UAB in his last outing to give him 70 tackles and 13 PBUs as a Roadrunner.
Punter from Down Under
In its brief 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. This season, he is averaging 45.1 yards on 28 punts with nine of 50-plus yards and 11 inside the 20-yard line. Dean enjoyed a career day in the 52-24 win over Texas Southern, breaking his own school record with a 76-yard punt late in the contest He also had kicks of 67 and 52 yards and averaged 60.5 on four punts in that contest to smash his own UTSA standard of 51.2 set against North Texas last season. Dean averaged 52.0 yards on two punts with a long of 57 in the 45-30 win at Middle Tennessee. He averaged 45.7 on three attempts including pinning North Texas at the 3-yard line on a 54-yard punt before putting three times for a 47.3 mark with a long of 70 yards in the win at UAB. 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. He was a Ray Guy Award semifinalist, the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year and a second-team All-American by the Sporting News that season. Last fall, Dean punted 47 times for a 45.2 average that ranks second on the program's single-season chart, earning second-team all-league accolades. The Ray Guy Award preseason watch list member is the only Roadrunner with a punt of 70-plus yards with three to his name. He now owns five of the six longest punts in UTSA history and has improved his school record career average to 44.0, which ranks 11th among active FBS punters.
Welcome back, Sackett
Not often does a college football player finish his career where he started after transferring, but UTSA senior Jared Sackett is doing just that this season. As a true freshman for the Roadrunners in 2017, he made 19 of 22 field goals (.864) for the Roadrunners to rank third in the FBS in field goals per game (1.9) and ninth in field-goal percentage (.864). Those numbers helped him become the second Freshman All-American in program history and UTSA's first Lou Groza Award semifinalist. The Fort Worth native connected on 14 of 19 field goals en route to his second straight season as a Groza Award semifinalist in 2018. He transferred to Arkansas to kick for a coaching staff that included Jeff Traylor, but he sat out the 2019 season and then moved on to USF following a coaching change. Sackett made 5 of 7 field goals and all 10 extra points he tried in limited action in 2020 for the Bulls. After not kicking in any games last fall, he transferred back to UTSA for his final campaign, entering this season as a member of the Lou Groza Award watch list. He opened his second stint as a Roadrunner by drilling a pair of field goals, including a 37-yarder as time expired to send the game into overtime, and also made all three extra points and had two touchbacks on four kickoffs against No. 24 Houston. Sackett was tabbed C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week for his effort against the Cougars. Against No. 20 Texas, he made both field goal tries and two extra-point attempts, recorded three touchbacks and executed an onside kick that was recovered by Jimmori Robinson. Sackett drilled a 43-yard field goal, had three touchbacks and made seven PATs in the 52-24 win over Texas Southern and then made a 28-yarder and six extra points to go along with three touchbacks in the 45-30 victory at Middle Tennessee. After splitting the uprights from a season-long distance of 49 yards and making all four PATs in the 31-28 win versus WKU, Sackett earned the C-USA weekly award for the second time this season. He has made a field goal in each of the past seven contests, including going 3 for 3 with a long of 46 in the win at UAB, and now has 51 makes — 16th among active FBS kickers — on 64 tries (79.7%) and 87 PATs during his collegiate career. A Burlsworth Trophy nominee this year, he stands third in program history with 45 field goals and 77 extra points as a Roadrunner.
Transfers making immediate impact
UTSA has seen several first-year transfers make an immediate impact this season. Nicktroy Fortune, who last played for West Virginia, has started the first nine games at cornerback and registered 30 tackles, four tackles for loss, four pass breakups and a forced fumble. LSU transfer Joe Evans has seen action on the defensive line and owns 10 stops, 2.5 TFLs and half a sack in six contests. NC State transfer defensive lineman Nick Booker-Brown made his UTSA debut in the 41-38 comeback win at Army, recording three tackles including a sack for a 5-yard loss, and he now has 19 stops, 4.5 TFLs, three sacks and a pair of PBUs on the year. Pig Cage, a defensive back from LSU who started his career at Nicholls, has logged 11 tackles and a TFL in nine contests. On offense, Venly Tatafu, who came from Independence Community College, earned the starting left tackle job and has helped the offense average 490.2 yards per game, good for 12th nationally. Arkansas transfer running back Trelon Smith has rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns, while Colorado transfer Chris Carpenter became the first Roadrunner to return a kickoff for a touchdown with a 97-yarder in the victory against Texas Southern.
Carpenter makes history
Chris Carpenter stamped his name in the UTSA record book as the first Roadrunner to return a kickoff for a touchdown when he took one back 97 yards for a score in the 52-24 victory over Texas Southern on Sept. 24. A transfer from Colorado, the Jacksonville, Texas, native's return also soared to the top of the program's list of longest plays, moving ahead of Jarveon Williams' 92-yard run versus Southern Miss in 2016. Now in its 12th season, UTSA had returned a total of 396 kickoffs without a score before Carpenter broke free for his record setter. The previous longest kickoff return before Carpenter's 97-yarder was 87 yards by Kam Jones at Florida Atlantic in 2014.
FBS graduates
UTSA boasts 22 graduates on its 2022 roster, a total that is tied for the third-most among FBS teams. Nebraska leads the way with 26, followed by Liberty and Rice with 23. The Roadrunners are equal with Baylor, Eastern Michigan, Fresno State, North Texas, Pitt and Texas State.
UTSA's Graduates
Trumane Bell
Tre'Von Bradley
Brenden Brady
Quincy Cage
Caleb Cantrell
Clifford Chattman
Kevin Davis
Trevor Harmanson
Frank Harris
Makai Hart
Terrell Haynes
Payne He'bert
Ahofitu Maka
Brandon Matterson
Lamonte McDougle
Dru Prox
Jared Sackett
Gavin Sharp
Trelon Smith
Dadrian Taylor
Tony Wallace
Julon Williams
Brotherly duos
UTSA has three sets of brothers on the 2022 roster in safety Pig Cage and wide receiver Quincy Cage, offensive lineman Kevin Davis and wide receiver Isaiah Davis, along with outside linebackers Dadrian and Donyai Taylor. The Roadrunners are one of only nine FBS teams with multiple sets of brothers this season. Additionally, the Taylor brothers are one of only eight sets of brothers to have combined for at least 5.0 tackles for loss this season, as they have registered a combined 5.5.
TV birds
Saturday's game will air on ESPN+, marking 120 straight televised/streamed appearances for the Roadrunners. The last UTSA game that was not broadcast was the 2012 season finale against Texas State.
Sixteen Roadrunners in super senior season
A total of 16 UTSA seniors have elected to take advantage of their extra year of eligibility this fall as a result of an NCAA blanket waiver for all 2020 fall sports student-athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brenden Brady
Caleb Cantrell
Clifford Chattman
Kevin Davis
Trevor Harmanson
Frank Harris
Makai Hart
Ahofitu Maka
Brandon Matterson
Corey Mayfield Jr.
Dru Prox
Jared Sackett
Gavin Sharp
Trelon Smith
Dadrian Taylor
Tony Wallace
Duo in seventh season of college football
UTSA seniors Clifford Chattman and Dru Prox are in rare company as two of only 23 FBS players who are in at least their seventh season of college football. In fact, that duo makes UTSA the only school on the list with two current seventh-year players.
A focus on recruiting Texas
UTSA's 112-man roster features 87 players — 78% — who hail from the state of Texas. Louisiana stands second with five players, while there are three each from California, Florida and Mississippi and two apiece from Georgia and Tennessee. Hawai'i, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon and Virginia each have produced one current Roadrunner, while Lucas Dean is the lone UTSA player 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 thesurrounding area. The current roster includes 26 players from Greater San Antonio with a team-high five hailing from perennial power Converse Judson High School.
Player (High School)
Rudy Aleman Jr. (Warren)
Brenden Brady (Steele)
Oscar Cardenas (Brandeis)
Cade Collenback (O'Connor)
Frank Harris (Clemens)
Caden Holt (New Braunfels Canyon)
Xion LaGrant (Cornerstone Christian)
Ethan Laing (Boerne Champion)
Caleb Lewis (Steele)
De'Anthony Lewis (Judson)
Deandre Marshall (Central Catholic)
Frankie Martinez (East Central)
Brandon Matterson (Brandeis)
Trey Moore (Smithson Valley)
Matthew O'Brien (New Braunfels)
Xavier Player (Steele)
Jalen Rainey (Brandeis)
Jaren Randle (Johnson)
Robert Rigsby (Judson)
Ben Rios (Central Catholic)
Justin Rodriguez (Johnson)
Kamron Scott (Judson)
Xavier Spencer (Judson)
Dre Spriggs (Harlan)
Julon Williams (Judson)
Rashad Wisdom (Judson)
UTSA's 210 Triangle of Toughness
Since his arrival in December 2019, UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor has instilled into the program his 210 Triangle Of Toughness — run the football, be physical on defense and good on special teams — and its Culture Pillars: Integrity, Passion, Mental & Physical Toughness, Selfless and Perfect Effort. As part of that 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 — De'Corian Clark, Trevor Harmanson
2 — Joshua Cephus, Corey Mayfield Jr.
3 — Brandon Matterson
4 — Clifford Chattman, Zakhari Franklin
5 — Brenden Brady, Lucas Dean
6 — Kelechi Nwachuku
7 — Dadrian Taylor
8 — Jamal Ligon
9 — Brandon Brown, Oscar Cardenas
Offensive linemen Kevin Davis (61), Makai Hart (77), Terrell Haynes (58) and Ahofitu Maka (55) 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 — Frank Harris
Running Backs — Brenden Brady
Wide Receivers — Joshua Cephus
Tight Ends — Oscar Cardenas
Offensive Line — Ahofitu Maka
Defensive Line — Brandon Brown
Inside Linebackers — Jamal Ligon
Outside Linebackers (S) — Dadrian Taylor
Outside Linebackers (W) — Trey Moore
Safeties — Kelechi Nwachuku, Rashad Wisdom
Cornerbacks — Corey Mayfield Jr.
Specialists — Caleb Cantrell, Lucas Dean
Up next
UTSA will hit the road to Houston to face Rice on Saturday, Nov. 19. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. at Rice Stadium and the game will air on ESPN+ and Ticket 760 AM.
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