Committing to play football at UTSA was an easy decision for Luke Lapeze. The star Class of 2021 offensive lineman at Humble Summer Creek High School was sold on head coach Jeff Traylor and the 210 Triangle of Toughness culture he had instilled within the program. Even without a visit to campus due to COVID-19 protocols still in effect, Lapeze could tell UTSA was the right fit for him.
“I had a few offers to other places, but Coach Traylor’s vision just really stuck out to me,” Lapeze reflected. “Granted, everything was on Zoom and I couldn't come and visit campus until later, but I really just trusted his vision, and it was honestly just an easy decision.”
That decision to become a Roadrunner has led Lapeze down a memorable path that has created everlasting memories and friendships on and off the field. Now in his sixth year at UTSA, he has been a mainstay on the offensive line, which means he has been mentored not only by head coach Jeff Traylor, but also by offensive line coach Kurt Traylor, Jeff’s younger brother.
“He’s a great man and he's helped develop me to become the player that I am today,” Lapeze said. “I'm extremely grateful. You can tell that it's bigger than football in our (offensive line) room. He does a great job mentoring us on and off the field. He’s a great father, a great husband and just a really great role model for all of us.”
Under the direction of Kurt Traylor, the UTSA offensive line has grown into a tight-knit group during Lapeze’s career. He has built lifelong friendships with several of his fellow o-linemen.
“My closest friend on the team is Deandre Marshall, and then I’m really tight with guys like Ben Rios and Jonah Miller, really just a lot of guys in our room. Deandre specifically, he's a year younger than me, and I was actually his host on his (official) visit here. I've gotten to kind of watch him grow up a little bit. He's a father now and I just couldn't be more proud of him. I really value our friendship.”
The bond between Lapeze and Marshall grew even tighter following a health scare that sent Marshall to the hospital and caused him to miss several months of offseason workouts earlier this year.
“It was terrifying to see somebody that you're so close with go through something that severe. It was awful and I thank God every day that he's here with us and that he's able to play and still chase his dreams. Ben (Rios) and I visited him in the hospital. That was just the least we could do just to give him some company during that time. I just wanted him to know that we valued his friendship and we're so glad that he was able to pull through that and be here with us.”
Lapeze also faced a setback that kept him off the field for more than a year. After playing in all 14 games for UTSA’s conference championship team in 2022 and then earning the starting center role in 2023, he suffered an injury that caused him to miss the entire 2024 season.
“The injury held me out for a year. I came back last year and was able to kind of work my way back, but it took me a while to get my feet underneath me and play football again. When you don't play football for a year and a half, especially at this level, it's really, really tough. Now to be back, I'm really grateful. Even if I wasn't starting, I would have just been grateful to be on the field and get one last year in with my teammates and my friends.”
The road back to his starting role was not an easy one, but with the support of his friends and UTSA’s Sports Medicine and Sports Performance staffs, it was one he looks back on with much appreciation.
“I'm just really appreciative of the training staff. They took great care of me. It's validating, like the hard work pays off with all those days rehabbing, all those days in the weight room, all those days trying to get back on the field. It was just really difficult for a while. Hard work pays off and I'm just really grateful to be out there with my teammates.”
Now 10 games into his final campaign with the Roadrunners, Lapeze is enjoying every minute being around the program and his teammates. With two regular season home games remaining, he wants UTSA fans and the City of San Antonio to know how appreciative he and his teammates are of them.
“I just hope that they are proud of us. We love this city and we love this program that Coach Traylor has built. We have something to be really proud of, and I'm proud to be a part of it.”