UTSA-A Fiesta of Football

Credit: UTSA Athletics via Twitter

In San Antonio, there is the Alamo, the Riverwalk, and UTSA football. The Alamodome has been rocking for three years, a fiesta of football, as the Roadrunners have posted a 30-10 record.

Head Coach Jeff Traylor arrived in San Antonio in the COVID season of 2020 and led UTSA to a 7-5 season after a 4-8 season the year before. The last two seasons have resulted in back-to-back Conference USA championships. And the Roadrunners are loaded again, with 16 starters back in 2023.

The Sinatra of the UTSA Offense

QB Frank Harris is the undisputed leader of this "Rat Pack" of an offense that averaged 36 points per game last season. They ranked in the top 15 in the FBS in total offense (#12), passing offense (#13), and scoring offense (#14). After an early season loss to Texas, the Roadrunners reeled off 10 straight victories.

Harris passed for 4063 yards, 32 touchdowns, and only 9 INTs. He completed 70% of his passes. In addition, he rushed for 602 yards and 9 more scores. Against Rice, Harris rushed for 124 yards on just seven carries and accounted for five touchdowns.

The accolades piled up for Harris in 2022. Conference USA MVP, 1st Team All-CUSA, and CUSA Championship Game MVP. Against North Texas in the title game, he passed for 341 yards and 4 TDs in a convincing win.

Harris posted six games of over 300 yards passing. Against Middle Tennessee State, Harris passed for 414 yards and 2 TDs, completing 75% of his passes. In addition, he added 2 rushing touchdowns.

He threw three TD passes in a game three times, and recorded three games with 4 passing touchdowns.

Three starters return on the offensive line to give Harris time to throw the ball.

Harris has been at UTSA so long (7 years), he should run for mayor of San Antonio.

The Good Hands Crew

Harris will throw to three of his top four returning receivers:

• WR Joshua Cephus: 87 catches, 985 yards, 6 TDs

• WR DeCorian Clark: 51 catches, 741 yards, 8 TDs (in 9 games-suffered torn ACL). Against Texas Southern, Clark caught 9 passes for 217 yards and 3 TDs in a 52-24 win.

• TE Oscar Cardenas: 31 catches, 438 yards, 2 TDs

The running game will be handled by Kevorian Barnes. Barnes rushed for 845 yards and 6 touchdowns. He averaged 6-yards per carry. His high game of the 2022 season was a 175-yard, 1-touchdown effort in the win over North Texas in the conference title game. Barned recorded five games of over 100 yards rushing.

Remember the Alamodome

The Roadrunners return eight starters on the defensive side of the ball, another year of team chemistry, and another year of experience:

• LB Jamal Ligon: 88 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1 sack

• DL Brandon Brown: 21 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks

• DL Brandon Matterson: 11 tackles

• LB Trey Moore: 58 tackles, 17 TFLs, 8 sacks, 6 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles

• DL Asyrus Simon: 25 tackles, 3 TFLs, 3 pass breakups

• CB Nicktroy Fortune: 41 tackles, 4 TFLs, 5 pass breakups

• S Kelechi Nwachuku: 49 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 INT, 2 pass breakups

• FS Rashad Wisdom: 27 tackles, 1 pass breakup, 1 fumble recovery.

These are the defenders of the Alamodome against the onslaught of opponents in the college football revolution. Every game is a battle to the last man.

The Schedule

UTSA's schedule is favorable, with the exception of two games: at Tennessee on 9/23 and at Tulane on 11/25. Look for the Roadrunners to dominate in their first season in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and earn a trip to the AAC title game.