Get to know UTSA Football student-athlete Ben Rios in this Q&A.
Q: Why did you choose UTSA?
Ben Rios: “I chose UTSA for several reasons. Number one, I am proudly born and raised in San Antonio and believe the best talent in the city should stay in the city. UTSA during my senior year of high school had just won the conference championship and I wanted to be a part of that culture. Also, Coach Traylor is truly a great coach and had my family hooked from the start.”
Q: What do you like most about being a student-athlete at UTSA?
Ben Rios: “I love being able to represent the school wherever I am. Speaking with kids of the next generation and seeing their faces glow up knowing I'm a student-athlete is truly a full circle moment, as I was once them just trying to get a high five from a college athlete.”
Q: How did you first get involved in playing football?
Ben Rios: “I had always been involved in football ever since I was a kid. My dad put me in multiple sports trying to see which ones I took most interest in. Playing flag football and then moving on to tackle in about the 4th grade, I was always too big for my age group so I played up two grade levels.”
Q: What are you majoring in and what do you hope to do following your athletic career?
Ben Rios: “I am currently a Criminal Justice/Communications Major, as I graduate this May and will hopefully be starting my Master’s in Global Affairs this upcoming Fall. I hope to use these degrees and follow in my parents’ footsteps in becoming an attorney and joining the law field.”
Q: What is an interesting fact about you that most people might not know?
Ben Rios: “A random fun fact about me is in my senior year of high school, I self-taught myself the first 858 digits of Pi in exchange for not taking my Math final. Yes, I really can tell you 3.1415926535897… and so on. I also love volunteering, if it’s reading to kids at Myers Elementary, Food Banks, etc.”
Q: Who has been the most influential person in your life?
Ben Rios: “The most influential person in my life has to be my father. I always tell my coaches/teammates that I strive to be just half the man he is when I'm older. Always being there for me throughout my whole athletic journey, to constantly giving me encouragement/wisdom in whatever it is, I truly wouldn't be here without him.”
Q: Who is your sports hero?
Ben Rios: “If I had to pick just one sports hero, it would have to be Jason Kelce. From hearing his back story to seeing how he plays on the field, it is quite amazing. From his leadership, knowledge of the game, and he just happens to be one the best players to ever play the position, he I would say is my sports hero.”
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