UTSA Roadrunners (3-4) vs. Texas A&M Aggies (5-3)
11 a.m. | Nov. 2, 2019
Kyle Field (102,733) | College Station, Texas
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Ticket 760 AM
Opening drive
• This will be the second meeting between UTSA and Texas A&M.
• The Aggies downed the Roadrunners, 23-10, on Nov. 19, 2016, in the only previous meeting.
• UTSA has won two of its last three games, including a 26-16 decision over UTEP in its last road contest.
• UTSA is 20-15 all-time versus teams from the state of Texas.
• The Roadrunners will not play a game outside the state of Texas until next Saturday, Nov. 9, at Old Dominion (Norfolk, Va.).
• Saturday's game will air on the SEC Network, marking the 80th straight UTSA game to be broadcast.
Setting the scene
Coming off a 31-27 victory against Rice followed by its second idle week of the season, UTSA will travel to College Station to face Texas A&M in a nonconference road contest on Saturday, Nov. 2. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. at Kyle Field and the game will be televised on the SEC Network and air on Ticket 760 AM in the San Antonio area. This will mark the second meeting between the Roadrunners (3-4) and Aggies (5-3). Texas A&M scored a 23-10 home victory on Nov. 19, 2016, in the only other matchup.
Tuning in
The game will be televised on the SEC Network, which is available nationwide with satellite, cable and telecom providers and streaming services, as well as via the ESPN app or online at watchespn.com. Dave Neal (play-by-play), D.J. Shockley (analyst) and Dawn Davenport (reporter) have the call. The contest will air live on the Roadrunners Sports Network and can be heard in the San Antonio area on Ticket 760 AM. Andy Everett (play-by-play), Jay Riley (analyst) and Pat Evans (sideline reporter) will call all the action. The pregame show will begin at 3 p.m. and there will be a 45-minute postgame show. The broadcast also can be heard live online at goUTSA.com and ticket760.comand via the free iHeartRadio app.
Who's counting?
Saturday's league tilt will mark the 102nd game in UTSA history and the 51st road contest. The Roadrunners are 44-57 all-time and 18-32 away from San Antonio. By comparison, Texas A&M has played football since 1894 and owns an all-time record of 746-484-48.
Strong second half sends UTSA past Rice
Lowell Narcisse passed for 212 yards and two touchdowns and UTSA scored 24 points after halftime en route to a 31-27 victory over Rice on Oct. 19 at the Alamodome. The Roadrunners piled up 229 yards of offense in the second half and 361 for the game in running their record to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in conference with their fifth straight win against the Owls. Making his third start of the season, Narcisse completed 19 of 29 passes (65.5 percent) in posting his season high in passing yardage. The sophomore's favorite target was Carlos Strickland II, who hauled in six passes for a season-high 86 yards. Meanwhile, Zakhari Franklin added four receptions for 26 yards and a school record-tying two TDs and Sincere McCormick had a pair of catches for 39 yards to go along with a team-high 94 rushing yards and a score. Rice held a slim 10-7 advantage at halftime, but the two teams combined for 31 points in the third quarter resulting in a 24-24 deadlock entering the final 15 minutes. The Owls took a 27-24 lead when Chris Barnes nailed a 37-yard field goal with 9:02 left to play. However, the Roadrunners answered with a scoring drive of their own that resulted in the go-ahead touchdown, an 8-yard TD reception by Franklin with 5:06 remaining. With Rice driving in the final minute, the UTSA defense brought pressure and posted four consecutive tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including a sack by Lorenzo Dantzler and DeQuarius Henry on the final play to improve to 5-4 all-time in Homecoming games.
Scouting Texas A&M
The Aggies ran their record to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference with a 49-30 victory against Mississippi State last Saturday at Kyle Field. Texas A&M also owns wins against Texas State (41-7), Lamar (62-3), Arkansas (31-27) and Mississippi (24-17). The Aggies have faced a pair of top-ranked teams in losses to Clemson (24-10) and Alabama (47-28) and their other setback was against No. 8 Auburn (28-20). Texas A&M is averaging 33.1 points and 412.2 yards of offense per game and allowing 22.9 points and 348.1 yards per outing. Junior quarterback Kellen Mond, who hails from San Antonio, has completed 174 of 274 passes for 2,003 yards and 16 touchdowns and the former Reagan High star has rushed for 352 yards and five scores. Freshman running back Isaiah Spiller paces the ground game with 450 yards and five TDs on 89 carries, while junior Jhamon Ausbon is the top receiver with 46 catches for 608 yards and three touchdowns. Junior linebacker Buddy Johnson headlines the defense with 54 tackles, eight tackles for loss and a fumble recovery, while freshman defensive back Demani Richardson has 47 stops and an interception. Head coach Jimbo Fisher is 14-7 in his second season in College Station.
Series history
UTSA and Texas A&M will meet for the second time on Saturday in College Station. The Aggies posted a 23-10 home victory on Nov. 19, 2016, in the only previous meeting between the two teams. The Roadrunners have yet to face another SEC squad in their short history, but will open the 2020 season at LSU. UTSA is 20-15 all-time versus teams from the state of Texas.
UTSA/Texas A&M Series History
Date - Location - Result
11/19/16 - College Station - L, 10-23
Last meeting
Jared Johnson came off the bench to throw for 186 yards, but it was not enough for UTSA in a 23-10 setback at No. 22 Texas A&M on Nov. 19, 2016, in front of 102,502 fans at Kyle Field. Johnson completed 15 of 24 passes after coming on late in the first quarter and five of his passes found their way into the hands of College Station native Josh Stewart. Playing a few miles away from his high school — A&M Consolidated — the wide receiver hauled in six total receptions for 75 yards, highlighted by an acrobatic, one-handed grab for a 10-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. On the other side of the ball, Marcus Davenport registered a career-high 11 tackles, including a sack, in leading a defense that held the Aggies to 23 points, 13 below their season average. Texas A&M led 16-7 at halftime and 23-7 before Victor Falcon split the uprights from 24 yards out late in the third quarter. The Roadrunners threatened early in the fourth after Johnson hit Shaq Williams on a 12-yard pass down to the A&M 22-yard line. However, Myles Garrett came up with a sack — one of 4.5 on the day for the defensive end — on the next play and a forced fumbled, which was recovered by the Aggies' Alex Sezer Jr. to help seal the win in the first meeting between the two teams.
Staying close to home
The 2019 schedule has kept the Roadrunners close to home, as the first eight games on the slate all will be played in the state of Texas, a stretch that will end with this Saturday's contest at Texas A&M. The Roadrunners will not play a game outside of the Lone Star State until next Saturday, Nov. 9, when they face Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va., and the only other regular season contest outside the state borders will be against Louisiana Tech on Nov. 30 in Ruston.
Ground attack
UTSA has used a potent ground attack to power its offense this season. The Roadrunners have piled up 1,261 yards through the first seven games, an average of 180.1 per contest, which ranks fourth in Conference USA and 50th nationally. UTSA already has recorded two of the top eight team rushing yardage totals in program history this season, as the Roadrunners gained 320 (No. 3) in the 26-16 win over UTEP on Oct. 5 and tallied 284 (No. 8) in the 35-7 triumph over UIW on Aug. 31. UTSA has registered three individual 100-yard rushing performances this fall, two by quarterbacks, and is one of 19 FBS teams to boast at least three 100-yard rushers in 2019. In the season opener versus UIW, sophomore signal caller Frank Harris set a program record for rushing yards by a QB with 123 on 15 carries. A pair of Roadrunners topped the century mark in the victory at UTEP, as freshman tailback Sincere McCormick gashed the Miners for a school-record 189 yards on 22 totes and sophomore quarterback Lowell Narcisse carried 19 times for 115 yards. McCormick leads the team with 567 rushing yards and six touchdowns, while Narcisse has tallied 358 yards and three scores on the ground.
UTSA's Top Rushing Yardage Games
Yards - Opponent - Date
357 - Texas State - 9/23/17
339 - Southern Miss - 10/8/16
320 - UTEP - 10/5/19
314 - Rice - 10/21/17
299 - Texas State - 11/24/12
289 - Minot State - 11/19/11
286 - Tulsa - 11/2/13
284 - UIW - 8/31/19
279 - Colorado State - 9/26/15
278 - UTEP - 10/22/16
Sincere success
UTSA tailback Sincere McCormick has enjoyed a record-breaking start to his collegiate career and he recently was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Midseason Watch List for his performance this fall. Through seven games, the 5-9, 200-pounder has rushed 97 times for 567 yards and six touchdowns — all team highs — and is averaging 5.8 yards per carry, which ranks fifth in C-USA and 38th nationally. He is posting 81.0 rushing yards per contest, good for sixth overall in the league and first among freshmen. In fact, the Converse Judson High School product stands third among all FBS freshmen in total rushing yards and rushing yards per game. On Oct. 5, he gashed UTEP for 189 yards on 22 carries to eclipse by three yards the school record for single-game rushing yardage held by Jarveon Williams, also a former Judson Rocket. As the first true freshman to start at tailback in a season opener since the inaugural game in 2011, McCormick gained 74 yards on 12 totes with a long of 47 in the 35-7 victory over UIW. He followed that performance with 87 yards and two scores on 12 rushes, including a season-long 54-yard TD scamper, against Baylor. McCormick, who rushed for 3,407 yards and 43 touchdowns during his prep career, posted 53 total yards and scored his third rushing TD of the season versus Army and he added 62 rushing yards on 16 carries against North Texas before his record-setting night in El Paso. McCormick's 51-yard TD dash in the fourth quarter helped seal that win, as UTSA improved to a perfect 4-0 against the Miners at the Sun Bowl. He nearly notched his second 100-yard game of the season with 94 yards and a TD on 14 carries in the 31-27 victory over Rice in his last outing. McCormick is chasing Williams' single-season rushing yardage standard of 1,042 set in 2015.
Sophomore signal caller steps up
Sophomore quarterback Lowell Narcisse has stepped up in his role as UTSA's new starter after an injury to Frank Harris on the second snap of the North Texas game on Sept. 21. The 6-3, 230-pound lefthander has passed for 485 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 358 yards and three TDs this fall. He saw limited action in the first three games but did score his first touchdown in a UTSA uniform on a 2-yard keeper against Army. A native of St. James, La., Narcisse entered the North Texas contest off the bench and carried the ball 15 times for 98 yards and completed 16 passes for 124 yards. In his first start as a Roadrunner, he rushed for 115 yards and a TD on 19 attempts to become the second QB this season and third in UTSA history to top the century mark on the ground. He also provided a highlight-reel play in the third quarter of that contest when he scrambled to his left and tiptoed near the sideline before tossing an off-balance throw to Blaze Moorhead for an 18-yard scoring connection. He added a game-high 86 rushing yards and his third TD of the season in the UAB contest and followed that with his best passing performance of the season by completing 19 of 29 for 212 yards and a pair of TDs in the 31-27 victory over Rice on Oct. 19. He added 32 rushing yards against the Owls and with at least five games left on the fall slate, he is only 187 yards shy of UTSA's single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback of 545 set by Dalton Sturm in 2017. Narcisse, who redshirted in 2017 at LSU before transferring to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for the 2018 season, was a four-star recruit and rated as the fifth-best dual-threat QB in the nation as a prep senior in 2016.
Sure-handed Strickland
UTSA junior tight end Carlos Strickland II has emerged as the top target for the passing game this fall. A transfer from Kansas State who began his collegiate career at California, he leads the Roadrunners with 21 receptions and 215 receiving yards through seven games. A former four-star recruit out of Dallas Skyline High School, he posted his best game of the season in his last outing, hauling in six passes for 86 yards in the 31-27 victory over Rice on Oct. 19. Strickland, registered four catches for 26 yards and a touchdown in the season-opening triumph over UIW and also was on the receiving end of four passes for 38 yards versus Army West Point. Listed at 6-4, 230, Strickland joined UTSA as a walk-on for the spring semester before earning a scholarship this summer.
Experience up front
UTSA boasted one of the most-experienced offensive lines in the nation entering the 2019 campaign. The Roadrunners returned a combined 46 starts from the 2018 season, which ranked 14th among FBS teams going into this fall. Three of the returnees started all 12 contests last fall: Kevin Davis at center, preseason all-conference selection Josh Dunlop at right guard and right tackle and Trevion Shannon at left tackle. Additionally, 2018 Conference USA All-Freshman Team honoree Spencer Burford made starts at left guard in all 10 games he was cleared to play, while Jalyn Galmore drew the starting assignment at right tackle in the first five contests before suffering a season-ending injury. Jacob Graner also is back after starting three games at guard. The experience up front is part of nine total offensive starters back this fall, which is tied for fourth among all FBS teams.
Veteran defensive line boasts depth, experience
Much like the offensive side of the ball, big men lead the defense. UTSA welcomed back this season 11 defensive linemen who have seen previous action for the Roadrunners. Leading the way and now owning 33 starts in 40 games played is senior defensive tackle Baylen Baker. Fellow senior Jarrod Carter-McLin, who boasts 42 career appearances, started all 12 contests at defensive end last fall and has drawn the start in six of the first seven games this season. The senior duo of end Eric Banks and tackle King Newton has played in 43 and 36 career games, respectively, giving that senior quartet a combined 161 games of experience.
Creating havoc
The UTSA defense has become known for its attacking style during the Frank Wilson era, as the Roadrunners have posted a combined 277 tackles for loss, 86 sacks and 101 quarterback hurries in three-plus seasons. In surrendering just 209 yards of offense in the season-opening win against UIW, the Roadrunners recorded seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage — including four sacks — and pressured the quarterback seven times. UTSA tallied five stops for loss, including a sack by Rashad Wisdom, against Baylor and totaled five TFL and a pair of sacks, to go along with three forced fumbles — two of which were recovered — against the run-happy Army offense. Seven different players had a hand in a stop behind the line against North Texas and UTSA registered a season-high nine tackles for loss — including a season-best-tying four sacks — in the 26-16 triumph over UTEP. The Roadrunners added seven stops behind the line against UAB and matched their season high with nine TFL and a pair of sacks — which came on the final two defensive snaps — in the 31-27 victory over Rice. UTSA now is averaging seven tackles for loss, which ranks third in C-USA and 31stnationally, and 1.86 sacks per game this season.
No-fly zone
The Roadrunners have emerged as one of the top defenses in the nation when it comes to fewest passing yards allowed. UTSA ranks fourth in Conference USA and 19th among all FBS teams in passing yards allowed per game. Through seven games, the Roadrunners have surrendered a total of 1,286 yards through the air, an average of 183.7 yards per contest. UTSA limited the high-flying UIW passing attack to 181 yards through the air and followed that effort by holding Baylor to 178 passing yards. Army West Point completed only two passes for 18 yards — a school record for fewest passing yards allowed in a game — before North Texas posted 211. On Oct. 5, UTEP did not complete a pass until the final minute of the first half and managed just 181 passing yards for the game, while UAB and Rice combined for 517 over the last two outings. The program record for fewest passing yards allowed per game is 160.1 set in 2017.
D-line depth on display
UTSA has used a heavy rotation on the defensive line this season, playing as many as three players at each position. That strategy keeps the unit fresh and spreads the wealth of stats among a dozen players. Of the 49 tackles for loss and 13 sacks recorded by the Roadrunners so far this season, the defensive line has been responsible for 31.5 TFL and 10 sacks. Leading the way is senior defensive end Jarrod Carter-McLin, who owns 21 total tackles, six tackles for loss and a pair of sacks to go along with one interception and a forced fumble. Meanwhile, a trio of juniors is right on his heels. DE DeQuarius Henry has registered 18 tackles, including team highs of 6.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks. Defensive tackle Jaylon Haynes is tied with Carter-McLin with 21 tackles and the Wharton native has turned in 5.5 tackles for loss, including one sack, three QB hurries, one batted pass and a fumble recovery. DE Lorenzo Dantzler has made the most of his 12 stops, with 4.5 coming behind the line, including 2.5 sacks, to go along with three quarterback pressures.
Senior bookends leaving their mark
UTSA's senior defensive end tandem of Eric Banks and Jarrod Carter-McLin forms one of the most disruptive d-line duos in Conference USA. A former high school quarterback in Memphis, Tenn., who weighed 230 pounds as a freshman at UTSA, Banks has turned in 11 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry. The 6-5 former two-sport East High School star now weighs 270 and is the most experienced player on the roster in terms of games played with 43, four shy of the school record. Banks has totaled 69 tackles, 18.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, five forced fumbles — which ranks fifth in school history — and three PBUs during his career. Meanwhile, Carter-McLin has posted 21 tackles, six tackles for loss and a pair of sacks to go along with an interception against UAB and a forced fumble against Army West Point. A product of perennial prep powerhouse Carthage High School, the former prep tight end has appeared in 42 career contests and owns 64 tackles, 11.5 TFL, three sacks, seven PBUs, two forced fumbles, one interception and a fumble recovery. He was on the receiving end of a 30-yard pass on UTSA's first fake field-goal attempt in 2016 against UTEP.
Martel makes most of position switch
UTSA senior Andrew Martel spent his first three seasons as a safety and special teams standout for the Roadrunners. Prior to spring practice this year, he made the move to linebacker to help fill a void left by departed 2018 starters Josiah Tauaefa and Les Maruo. The Richmond, Texas, native has flourished in his new role this season, as he leads the team in total tackles with 47 and solo stops with 31. After registering four tackles in each of the first two contests, he posted 10 in back-to-back outings. His 10 tackles against Army included eight solo stops and he added seven unassisted tackles at North Texas. Making the move from "Will" to "Mike" linebacker during the first off week for the Roadrunners, he picked up where left off by recording seven tackles and a PBU in the 26-16 victory at UTEP. He added seven tackles in the UAB game and five solo stops in the Rice victory during his last two outings. The Foster High School product owns three career double-digit tackle outings counting the career-high 14-tackle effort he turned in at Southern Miss last fall. Also a standout student, Martel earned his bachelor's degree in multidisciplinary studies in May while graduating with a 3.69 GPA. The four-time C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member is a semifinalist for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy and a member of the Wuerffel Trophy preseason watch list.
Senior safety a steady hand in secondary
UTSA safety Carl Austin III has proven to be a steady hand in the secondary in his senior season. A native of Austin, he has posted 41 tackles, including 29 solo stops and three tackles for loss, while providing leadership for a unit that ranks fourth in Conference USA and 19th nationally in passing defense (183.7 ypg). Austin III missed all of the 2018 campaign with an injury but has made an impact during his final curtain call. He led UTSA with nine tackles in the 26-16 win over UTEP and followed that with seven stops, including 1.5 behind the line, versus UAB and a team-best six stops (all solo) in the 31-27 win over Rice in his last game. Austin III tallied six tackles against both Baylor and North Texas earlier this fall and he stands second on the squad in both total tackles and solo stops.
Aussie makes immediate impact with leg and arm
UTSA freshman punter Lucas Dean has had an immediate impact in his first season as a Roadrunner and he recently was added to the Ray Guy Award watch list for his performance. As the program's first player from Australia, the Dunsborough native is averaging 41.6 yards on 31 punts this season. He has boomed six punts that have sailed 50-plus yards, including a season-long 56-yard punt against Baylor, and he has pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line five times and induced 13 fair catches. A product of ProKick Australia, which boasts more than 60 current NCAA Division I punters, Dean — who also serves as the team's holder — enrolled at UTSA in January and earned the punting job in spring practice. Not only has he made an impact with his right leg, but he also showed off a weapon with his right arm in the Army contest, completing a 22-yard pass to Rashad Wisdom on a fake punt to convert a fourth down.
Kickoff coverage unit shines
The Roadrunners' kickoff coverage unit has shined this fall. UTSA is yielding an average kickoff return of 17.42 yards through the first seven games, a figure that ranks second in Conference USA and 17th among all FBS teams. Led by kickoff specialist Matthew Cluck, a graduate transfer from Texas Tech, the Roadrunners have 12 touchbacks and have allowed only 12 returns on 29 total kickoffs this fall. The longest return by an opposing team has been 26 yards, which was registered by both UIW and Baylor in the opening two contests. During the last five games, UTSA has 11 touchbacks and has surrendered a total of 88 yards on six kickoff returns, an average of 14.7 yards.
New birds
In the season opener against UIW, 25 players made their UTSA debut, with eight drawing their first starting assignment as a Roadrunner. Sophomore quarterback Frank Harris set a school record by completing his first 13 pass attempts in his debut, while Sincere McCormick became the first true freshman to start at tailback in a season opener since the inaugural game on Sept. 3, 2011. Tight ends Carlos Strickland II and Leroy Watson and center Ahofitu Maka also drew their first starts in a UTSA uniform on the offensive side of the ball. On defense, senior linebacker LaDarian McFarland, junior safety SaVion Harris and true freshman Rashad Wisdom all made their first starts, while senior Andrew Martel started his first game as a linebacker after previously making two starts in the secondary during his career. In the road opener at Baylor, freshman wide receiver De'Corian Clark, junior safety Antonio Parks and junior linebacker Dominic Sheppard all made their UTSA debut, while freshman Joshua Cephus drew his first starting assignment at wide receiver. In the 26-16 triumph over UTEP, sophomore quarterback Lowell Narcisse and sophomore linebacker Trevor Harmanson made their first starts in a UTSA uniform. Redshirt freshman Kelechi Nwachuku made his first start at safety in the win against Rice on Oct. 19. The Roadrunners now have 31 debuts and 12 first-time starters this season. When including special teams and punter Lucas Dean, four true freshmen have made starts this fall, which is tied for 14th-most among all FBS teams.
Wilson in fourth year at helm
Frank Wilson is in his fourth season as UTSA head coach. The New Orleans native has coached 19 All-Conference USA selections and a pair of Freshman All-Americans during his tenure. Twice he has guided UTSA to bowl eligibility, including leading the program to its first-ever postseason appearance at the 2016 Gildan New Mexico Bowl, as UTSA tied the NCAA modern startup program by reaching a bowl game in its sixth season of play. Wilson came to San Antonio after a six-year stint as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at LSU, where he also was the associate head coach in 2012-15. Armed with more than a decade of coaching experience in the Southeastern Conference, Wilson also has been an assistant coach at Tennessee (2009), Southern Miss (2008) and Mississippi (2005-07). He has coached or recruited more than 40 individuals who have made it to the NFL, including 2018 NFL First Round Draft pick Marcus Davenport of the Saints.
Roadrunners on national award watch lists
Four Roadrunners have earned their way onto national award watch lists. Senior linebacker Andrew Martel was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. Martel also is a member of the preseason watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy, which is awarded to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. Fellow senior Grant Merka, a second-team All-Conference USA pick in 2018, is one of 25 players chosen for the inaugural Patrick Mannelly Award watch list for the nation's top long snapper. Freshman Lucas Dean was added to the Ray Guy Award watch list for the nation's top punter, while fellow freshman Sincere McCormick was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Midseason Watch List.
Pair garners preseason all-conference recognition
Seniors Josh Dunlop and Brett Winnegan were named to the Preseason All-Conference USA Team as voted upon by the league's head coaches. Dunlop was chosen as one of five offensive linemen on the squad, while Winnegan received the nod at kickoff returner. A versatile offensive lineman who has logged time at both guard and tackle, the Zionsville, Ind., native has appeared in 29 career games and has drawn 25 starts. Meanwhile, Winnegan holds UTSA career records for kickoff returns (68) and kickoff return yardage (1,515) and has averaged 22.3 yards per return. The Pearland Dawson High School product, who missed all of the 2018 season due to injury, has appeared in 36 career contests, primarily as a returner and running back before making the move to wide receiver this season.
UTSA picked fifth in C-USA West Division
UTSA was picked to finish fifth in the Conference USA West Division in in a preseason vote conducted by a panel of media members that cover C-USA schools. North Texas was the preseason favorite in the West, while Marshall received the nod for the East Division.
C-USA MEDIA MEMBERS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
EAST DIVISION
1. Marshall (14)
2. FIU (9)
3. Florida Atlantic (3)
4. Middle Tennessee
5. WKU
6. Old Dominion
7. Charlotte
WEST DIVISION
1. North Texas (20)
2. Southern Miss (4)
3. Louisiana Tech
4. UAB (2)
5. UTSA
6. Rice
7. UTEP
(first place votes in parentheses)
UTSA quartet has NFL ties
Four UTSA players have significant family ties when it comes to relatives who have played in the National Football League. Senior defensive tackle King Newton is the son of Nate Newton, who was a three-time Super Bowl Champion (1992-93, '95) and six-time Pro Bowl offensive guard (1992-96, '98) for the Cowboys. Junior defensive end Solomon Wise is the son of Deatrich Wise, a defensive lineman for the Seahawks and Saints, and his brothers Deatrich Jr. (Patriots) and Daniel (Cowboys) currently play in the NFL. Senior fullback Halen Steward is the younger brother of Tony Steward, a linebacker who logged time for the Bills and Saints, while sophomore cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr.'s father was a defensive lineman for the 49ers, Buccaneers and Jaguars.
Roadrunners roster makeup
UTSA's 112-man roster features 22 seniors, 28 juniors, 28 sophomores and 34 redshirt or true freshmen. The roster lists 76 players who hail from the state of Texas, while the next-closest state is Louisiana with 10. There are six players from Mississippi, five from Florida, four from California, three from Tennessee and a pair from Indiana. UTSA has one player each from Georgia, Hawai'i, Massachusetts, Michigan and Oklahoma, while freshman punter Lucas Dean is the first Roadrunner from Australia.
Degree in hand
Thirteen current Roadrunners already have earned their undergraduate degree, the 11th-most number of graduates among all FBS rosters. That list includes Carl Austin III, Baylen Baker, Matthew Cluck, Brandon Garza, Nick Locken, Andrew Martel, Grant Merka, Blaze Moorhead, Antonio Parks, Dominic Sheppard, Halen Steward, Carlos Strickland II and Brett Winnegan.
Leadership council elected
For the first time in program history, UTSA has elected a Leadership Council made up of representatives from each position group.
QB — Brandon Garza and Frank Harris
RB — Halen Steward
WR — Kirk Johnson Jr. and Blaze Moorhead
TE — Leroy Watson
OL — Josh Dunlop
DL — Eric Banks and Jarrod Carter-McLin
LB — Andrew Martel
S — Carl Austin III
CB — Clayton Johnson
ST — Hunter Duplessis
TV birds
All 12 of UTSA's regular season games this fall have been selected for broadcast. The Roadrunners, who have seen their last 79 outings appear over the airwaves, will make it 84 straight televised/streamed appearances by the end of the regular season.
Few can call a dome home
The Roadrunners are one of only two FBS teams to play their home games indoors. UTSA, which boasts a 26-25 all-time mark inside the Alamodome, joins Syracuse (Carrier Dome) as the only FBS programs to play in enclosed facilities.
Up next
UTSA will leave the state of Texas for the first time this season when it travels to Norfolk, Va., to face Old Dominion on Saturday, Nov. 9. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT and the game will air on ESPN3.
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