by Sean Cartell
Versatility can be an underrated characteristic, but it’s almost always one of the most impactful traits an athlete can have.
UTSA Football tight end Oscar Cardenas, a San Antonio native, has done it all during his five-year career with the Roadrunners, helping Coach Jeff Traylor lead UTSA’s rise to prominence that has included a pair of conference championships and the first bowl win in program history. That versatility is also what he most enjoys about his position.
“We do it all,” Cardenas said. “We get to run block, we get to be as physical as we need to be and then we still get the ball sometimes. It’s always fun catching touchdowns. Honestly, it’s a challenge and I like challenges.”
Cardenas was a third-team All-American Athletic Conference selection last season and he’s fully cemented himself into UTSA Football lore with a pair of touchdowns that may always remain epic. In 2021, Cardenas caught a one-yard pass from quarterback Frank Harris with three seconds left to boost the Roadrunners to a win against UAB and push the team to an 11-0 record. A year later, on the road at North Texas, Cardenas snared a one-handed catch of Harris’ downfield pass to set up the game-winning touchdown and put UTSA in first place in the conference.
“People still come up to me about either (catch),” Cardenas said. “I always say that I like the UNT one better. It’s still the same reaction. It’s a good feeling but I want to stay humble and keep going with the flow.”
Cardenas’ status as a hometown legend extends far beyond what he has done on the football field. He is active in the community and is UTSA’s nominee for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which honors the college football player with the nation’s best combination of academics, community service and on-field performance.
“The city has done so much for me,” Cardenas said. “San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the country and we should always be giving back. Not everything is about you. It’s just the right thing to do.”
Wearing UTSA’s coveted No. 0 this season, as voted on by his teammates, Cardenas embraces his ability to serve as a role model for San Antonio youth, particularly in the Hispanic community. Saturday’s game is the Roadrunners’ annual Hispanic Heritage game as part of a national celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
“It means a lot to me,” Cardenas said. “I know that people here in San Antonio see me as that figure on the football team. I want to be able to lead whoever I can, especially in the Hispanic community. This game has a special place in my heart.”
Mentoring the next generation is a theme that runs through Cardenas’ entire family. His father, Oscar, coached football for 33 years. Three uncles also were coaches in the San Antonio Independent School District and his sister, Analise, is a high school volleyball coach in the greater San Antonio area.
“Whenever anybody asks me what I want to do after football, I tell them that I’m going to go into coaching,” Cardenas said. “It’s a family business and I have friends starting their coaching careers right now too. I just want to be around sports still – whatever the sport is, I like all of them.”
But Cardenas isn’t quite ready to hang up his cleats in exchange for a whistle. He aspires to play in the National Football League and advice he received from NFL scouts has helped him optimize his body for his senior season and prepare for the next level.
“This past spring, I was at 285 pounds. Scouts told the coaches that I could either gain 20 pounds and be 305 and be a guard or center in the league, or I could lose 20 pounds and be a tight end at 265. I want to play tight end as much as I can. That was a huge goal for me in speed and agility. I tell people, it’s sad that I waited until my last year to do it. I hope that’s one thing that these guys learn, don’t wait until your last year to do your best. You want to have a few good years of your best.”
While Cardenas plans to make his senior season his best, he has made his impact on UTSA and the City of San Antonio for a long time.
“I just hope people know that I gave it my all,” Cardenas said. “I tried to lead as much as I could and I tried to be the best person I could be. I really want my teammates to just have fun. Whether it’s me or somebody else, have a good time with the time that you have because it’s going to go by quick.”