By: Sean Cartell
It’s not hyperbole to say that Dan Dishman has seen it all during his time as a UTSA Football player.
The redshirt senior tight end committed to the Roadrunners before head coach Jeff Traylor was hired and he was one of Traylor’s first signees in December 2019. Dishman has been an important contributor as UTSA has ascended from a young program to a consistent conference contender and bowl participant.
Dishman has been a member of six consecutive bowl teams, two straight bowl wins and a pair of Conference USA Championships – all part of an impressive trajectory that also included a move to the American Conference prior to the 2023 season.
“It’s been really cool to see the culture be instilled,” Dishman said. “Everyone has taken it to the next level and being consistent ever year, especially going back-to-back [conference championships]. I’ve just seen the whole thing get turned around.”
Growing up in Seabrook, Texas, in the greater Houston area, Dishman first started playing the game when he was 12, as part of the League City 49ers youth football organization. A wide receiver on the gridiron, Dishman also competed in baseball, basketball and track & field before focusing his full attention on football during his high school days.
Immediately following Traylor’s hire, Dishman came to San Antonio to meet the new coaching staff. He knew that it would be a perfect fit.
“He brought me here on a visit,” Dishman said. “I met the whole staff – they were very welcoming and inviting. I really trusted them and it turned out to be a great decision.”
After redshirting his freshman season of 2020, Dishman saw action in eight games in 2021, transitioning to the tight end position. Playing at 215 pounds as a prep, he focused on becoming stronger and now checks in at 245 pounds.
“It was a little weird trying to block D-ends and it was really tough on me at first,” Dishman said. “It was hard for me to gain weight. I was trying to eat a lot and work out a lot. I noticed the more I was working out, I started to get hungrier, and it really helped me gain weight. The whole staff in the weight room have done a great job with me and everybody else. The whole journey of getting better at my craft every single day has been really cool to go through.”
Dishman, who was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team in 2021, has carried on an impressive legacy of success at the tight end position in UTSA’s history. The first Roadrunner to be drafted into the National Football League, David Morgan, was a tight end. Since Traylor’s arrival, it has been an impactful position group that included recent graduate and standout Oscar Cardenas.
“It really all started with Leroy Watson,” Dishman said. “He set the example of physical dominance when you’re playing, whether it’s practice or a game. It has been passed down to all these guys. We bust our tails every day and we have a lot of talent in there.
Dishman is one of three current UTSA tight ends to have been selected to wear the program’s coveted single-digit numbers, joining Patrick Overmyer and Houston Thomas.
“That meant a lot to me,” Dishman said. “Especially with how long I’ve been here and all the work I’ve put in. It also really means a lot that I have two other studs in our room who also represent the Triangle of Toughness the way we all do.”
Dishman, who earned his bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies last fall and aspires to one day pursue a career helping animals who have been affected by oil spills and other disasters, is working towards an opportunity to play in the NFL once his days in the Roadrunners’ jersey have concluded.
“Right now, I’m shooting for the NFL,” he said. “I’m going to be training for Pro Day. It’s been very motivating with all the [UTSA] guys who have gone to the NFL and had their chances, and the ones who are still playing.”
When Dishman first committed to the Roadrunners, he had to buy into a vision for what the program could become. Looking back, he’s been there every step of the way as UTSA has largely made those aspirations a reality. Dishman believes the potential the future of the program is unlimited.
“I just hope to be remembered as being a great guy on and off the field, always giving great effort and physicality on the field,” he said. “It’s been a great journey. When I come back five years from now to visit, I expect this place to be a powerhouse.”
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