UTSA Roadrunners (5-5, 3-2) vs. Southern Miss Golden Eagles (6-3, 4-1)
5 p.m. | Nov. 16, 2019
Alamodome (36,582) | San Antonio, Texas
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Ticket 760 AM
Opening drive
• UTSA has won three of its last four Conference USA games.
• This will be the sixth meeting between UTSA and Southern Miss.
• The Golden Eagles have won the last two meetings and lead the all-time series, 3-2.
• The Roadrunners own a 2-1 series advantage in games played at the Alamodome.
• This is #SetTheExpectation Awareness Week for UTSA Athletics and #SetTheExpectation founder Brenda Tracy will be the honorary guest for the coin flip.
• Saturday also will mark UTSA's annual Extra Yard for Teachers/Education Day.
• The game will air on ESPN+, marking the 82nd straight UTSA contest to be broadcast.
Setting the scene
Fresh off a thrilling 24-23 comeback victory over Old Dominion, UTSA will return to San Antonio to host Southern Miss on Saturday, Nov. 16, in the first of back-to-back home games. Kickoff for the sixth all-time meeting between the Roadrunners (4-5, 3-2 C-USA) and Golden Eagles (6-3, 4-1) is scheduled for 5 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN+ and Ticket 760 AM in San Antonio. UTSA has won three of its last four league contests, while Southern Miss has been victorious in four its last five C-USA games.
#SetThe Expectation Awareness Week
In partnership with Brenda Tracy, sexual assault survivor, public speaker and founder of the national campaign and nonprofit, #SetTheExpectation, UTSA will hold #SetTheExpectation Awareness Week. UTSA has Saturday's Conference USA West Division matchup against Southern Miss as its #SetTheExpectation game. UTSA student-athletes, in conjunction with several campus partners, will host a collection for The Battered Women and Children's Shelter at the game and they are inviting fans to sign a community pledge to be the change in the culture of violence at schools and in the community. Tracy will visit the UTSA campus this week to help raise awareness for her national campaign. She will be a special guest on The Frank Wilson Radio Show at 7 p.m. Wednesday at The SandBox (7280 UTSA Blvd) and she will join the team for the Spirit Walk and be the honorary guest for the coin flip prior to Saturday's game.
Tuning in
The game will air on the ESPN+ digital network, which can be found online at plus.espn.com and via the ESPN app. Lincoln Rose (play-by-play), LaDarrin McLane (analyst) and Brooke Shoemaker (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, as well as Sirius XM Internet channel 981.
About ESPN+
UTSA's game at UTEP will stream live on the ESPN+ digital network. ESPN+ is a direct-to-consumer (no cable or satellite subscription needed) streaming service that costs $4.99 per month. ESPN+ can be found online at plus.espn.com and via the ESPN app. Subscribers will receive access to thousands of live events, original shows and films and an on-demand library, which is not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks. ESPN+ is NOT included with your cable/satellite subscription, and ESPN+ does NOT include other ESPN content (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ESPN3, etc). It is a completely standalone subscription.
Last time out
Lowell Narcisse engineered a pair of second-half scoring drives that took nearly 11 minutes off the clock and Clarence Hicks forced a fumble on a sack with 1:28 left to play to help UTSA rally from a 13-point deficit for a 24-23 victory over Old Dominion on Saturday in Norfolk, Va. Playing for the first time all season outside the state of Texas, the Roadrunners trailed 23-10 early in the fourth quarter but touchdowns by Sincere McCormick, who rushed for 137 yards on 23 carries, and Carlos Strickland II on an 11-yard pass from Narcisse with 2:41 remaining led UTSA to its first win in three tries against the Monarchs. Needing a field goal or touchdown to go ahead, ODU had second down at its own 41-yard line, but Hicks came from behind Monarchs quarterback Hayden Wolff and knocked away the ball, which was recovered by Jarrod Carter-McLin to seal the Roadrunners' third win in their last four league outings. Narcisse enjoyed his best passing performance in a UTSA uniform, as the sophomore quarterback completed 18 of 23 passes for 240 yards to go along with 29 rushing yards. His favorite target was Zakhari Franklin, who hauled in six passes for 134 yards. Meanwhile, the defense held the Monarchs to just 98 yards and three points in the second half. Andrew Martel led the way with eight tackles (seven solo), one pass breakup and a quarterback hurry, while Clayton Johnson posted six stops. Carl Austin III had five tackles, 2.5 behind the line of scrimmage, and Hicks also had five stops, including his key strip-sack in the final minutes.
Who's counting?
Saturday's league tilt will mark the 104th game in UTSA history and the 52nd home contest. The Roadrunners are 45-58 all-time and 26-25 at the Alamodome. By comparison, Southern Miss has played football since 1912 and owns an all-time record 600-428-27 now in its 103rdseason.
Scouting Southern Miss
The Golden Eagles ran their record to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in Conference USA action with a 37-2 victory over UAB on Saturday night in Hattiesburg. Southern Miss also has beaten UTEP (31-13), North Texas (45-27) and Rice (20-6) in league play and its only conference setback was a 45-30 decision at Louisiana Tech on Oct. 19. The Golden Eagles are scoring 30.0 points and averaging 421.4 yards of offense per game, while allowing 25.8 points and 346.3 yards per contest. Junior quarterback Jack Abraham leads the offense, as he has completed 195 of 278 passes for 2,634 yards and 15 touchdowns against nine interceptions. Junior running back Kevin Perkins is the top rusher with 444 yards and a pair of TDs. Junior Quez Watkins leads a potent receiving corps with 37 catches for 784 yards and four scores. Junior defensive back Ky'el Hemby is the top tackler with 63 stops, while senior defensive back DQ Thomas has a team-high three interceptions. Head coach Jay Hopson is 27-19 in his fourth season at the helm.
Series history
This will be the sixth meeting between UTSA and Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles lead the all-time series, 3-2, and have won the last two matchups. The Roadrunners have won two of the three previous contests at the Alamodome, including the only other November meeting, a 12-10 triumph in 2014.
Last meeting
Southern Miss used a balanced offensive attack and a stingy defense to down UTSA, 27-17, on Oct. 20, 2018, at M.M. Roberts Stadium. The Golden Eagles tallied 487 yards of offense — 269 through the air and 218 on the ground — and held the Roadrunners to 174 yards. Jack Abraham completed 28-of-33 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown, while Trivenskey Mosley rushed for a game-high 142 yards on 26 carries and Tim Jones caught seven passes for 107 yards to lead Southern Miss, which finished with a 36:35-23:25 edge in time of possession. UTSA's defense forced three turnovers and was led in tackles by Andrew Martel (14), Josiah Tauaefa (13), C.J. Levine (12), Les Maruo (12) and Darryl Godfrey (11). Offensively, Jordan Weeks passed for 117 yards and a touchdown in his first career start, while Greg Campbell Jr. hauled in a team-high five passes for 44 yards and a score.
Southern Miss connections
The UTSA coaching staff has a couple of connections to Southern Miss. Head coach Frank Wilson was the Golden Eagles' running backs coach and recruiting coordinator in 2008. UTSA cornerbacks coach Deron Wilson was a standout corner at Southern Miss in 2010-12. He posted 171 tackles and eight interceptions, four of which he returned for touchdowns, for his career and helped lead the Golden Eagles to back-to-back bowl games. Additionally, UTSA Director of Operations Amanda Gilpin is a native of Hattiesburg.
Close to home
The 2019 schedule has kept the Roadrunners close to home, as the first eight games on the slate all were played in the state of Texas, a stretch that ended with a trip to Norfolk, Va, on Nov. 9 for the 24-23 road win over Old Dominion. 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 1,533 yards through the first nine games, an average of 170.3 per contest, which ranks sixth in Conference USA. They are rushing for 188.2 yards per game in league play, good for third in the circuit. UTSA 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 four individual 100-yard rushing performances this fall, two by quarterbacks, and is one of 21 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 C-USA 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 topped the century for the second time in his young career with 137 on 23 carries in the 24-23 win over Old Dominion. He leads the team with 747 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, while Narcisse has tallied 441 yards and four scores on the ground.
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 nine games, the 5-9, 200-pounder has rushed 132 times for 747 yards and eight touchdowns — all team highs — and is averaging 5.7 yards per carry, which ranks fifth in C-USA. He is posting 83.0 rushing yards per contest, good for sixth overall in the league and first among freshmen. In fact, the Converse Judson High School product stands second among all FBS freshmen in rushing yards per game and third in rushing yards. 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 previously held by Jarveon Williams, also a former Judson Rocket. He topped the century mark for the second time with 137 and a pair of TDs on 23 totes in the 24-23 victory at Old Dominion on Nov. 9. 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. He added 62 rushing yards on 16 carries against North Texas before his record-setting night in El Paso that featured a 51-yard TD dash in the fourth quarter. He ran for 94 yards and a TD on 14 carries in the 31-27 victory over Rice and added 43 rushing yards to go along with a 44-yard reception against Texas A&M. McCormick leads the Roadrunners with 907 all-purpose yards and his average of 100.8 per game stands fifth among FBS freshmen. He is chasing Williams' single-season rushing yardage record of 1,042 (2015) and all-purpose yards standard of 1,121 (2016) and he is one TD shy of Jalen Rhodes' single-season mark of nine from 2016.
Sophomore signal caller steps up
Sophomore quarterback Lowell Narcisse has stepped up in his role as UTSA's 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 815 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 441 yards and four 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 by completing 19 of 29 for 212 yards and a pair of TDs in the 31-27 victory over Rice on Oct. 19. In his last outing, he enjoyed his best passing performance as a Roadrunner after competing 18 of 23 passes for 240 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown pass with 2:41 left to play. Narcisse has thrown for 542 yards and three TDs on 44-of-66 passing in his last three outings. With at least three games left on the fall slate, he is only 104 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.
Franklin bursts onto scene
UTSA true freshman wide receiver Zakhari Franklin has burst onto the scene over the last three games. A product of Cedar Hill High School near Dallas, he has hauled in 16 passes for 206 yards and a pair of touchdowns during that stretch. He emerged as a reliable target with four catches for 26 yards, including a pair of 8-yard TD grabs — in the 31-27 victory over Rice on Oct. 19. Franklin again was on the receiving end of four passes for 46 yards at Texas A&M before opening eyes with a record-setting performance against Old Dominion on Nov. 9. The 6-1, 185-pounder had six receptions for 134 yards, including a 65-yarder, the longest play from scrimmage for the Roadrunners this season. His performance ranks third on UTSA's single-game receiving yardage chart and is the top showing by a freshman in program history, bettering Kam Jones' 120-yard game at McNeese State in 2011. For the year, Franklin ranks second on the team with both 19 catches and 236 yards and his two TDs are tied with Carlos Strickland II for the team lead, and he has posted those numbers in only six contests.
Sure-handed Strickland
UTSA junior tight end Carlos Strickland II has emerged as one of the top targets for the passing game this fall. A transfer from Kansas State who began his collegiate career at California, he leads the Roadrunners with 24 receptions, 258 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns through nine games. A former four-star recruit out of Dallas Skyline High School, he posted his best game of the season in the 31-27 triumph over Rice, hauling in six passes for 86 yards 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. He caught his second TD pass of the season on an 11-yard reception for the go-ahead score in the 24-23 win at Old Dominion in his last outing. 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. UTSA's starting line of Burford, Davis, Dunlop, Shannon and center Ahofitu Maka now owns a combined 101 appearances and 96 starts.
Veteran defensive line boasts depth, experience
Much like the offensive side of the ball, big men lead the defense, especially when it comes to experience. UTSA welcomed back this season 11 defensive linemen who have seen previous action for the Roadrunners. Leading the way and now owning 35 starts in 42 games played is senior defensive tackle Baylen Baker. Fellow senior Jarrod Carter-McLin, who boasts 44 career appearances, started all 12 contests at defensive end last fall and has drawn the start in eight of the first nine games this season. Senior Eric Banks leads all active players with 45 career appearances, two games shy of the school record, and he has made 18 career starts.
Creating havoc
The UTSA defense has become known for its attacking style during the Frank Wilson era, as the Roadrunners have posted a combined 293 tackles for loss, 92 sacks and 107 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 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 nine TFL and a pair of sacks — which came on the final two defensive snaps — in the 31-27 victory over Rice. UTSA tackled Texas A&M players in the backfield six times, including a trio of sacks, and then registered a season-high 10 TFL with three sacks in the 24-23 win at Old Dominion. Eighteen different Roadrunners have had a hand in a TFL and UTSA now is averaging 7.2 tackles for loss, which ranks second in C-USA and 22nd nationally, and 2.1 sacks per game this season.
No-fly zone
The Roadrunners have emerged as one of the top defenses in the league when it comes to fewest passing yards allowed. UTSA ranks fourth in Conference USA and 26th among all FBS teams in passing yards allowed per game (201.4). 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, Rice and Texas A&M combined for 755. Old Dominion passed for 289 but UTSA surrendered only 66 through the air after halftime. The Roadrunners are riding a streak of four straight games with an interception. Rashad Wisdom and Dadrian Taylor each have a pick six during that stretch, while Cassius Grady picked off his fifth career pass against ODU. Grady's five pass breakups and Corey Mayfield Jr.'s four PBUs pace a unit that has batted away 23 passes this fall.
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 65 tackles for loss and 19 sacks recorded by the Roadrunners so far this season, the defensive line has been responsible for 37 TFL and 13 sacks. Leading the way is junior defensive tackle Jaylon Haynes, who has 30 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and three quarterback hurries. Senior defensive end Jarrod Carter-McLin is right on his heels with 28 tackles, 7.5 TFL and three sacks to go along with a pair of QB pressures, one interception, a forced fumble and one fumble recovery, which sealed the 24-23 win at Old Dominion. Meanwhile, junior defensive end DeQuarius Henry has registered 22 tackles, including 6.5 TFL and a team-high 3.5 sacks. Fellow junior DE Lorenzo Dantzler has made the most of his 16 stops, with 4.5 coming behind the line, including 2.5 sacks, to go along with a team-best four QB hurries. Senior DT Baylen Baker has turned in 15 stops with two coming behind the line, to go along with one PBU and a pressure, while senior DE Eric Banks owns 2.5 TFL, a pair of sacks and two QB hurries.
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 15 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks, two quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The 6-5 former two-sport East High School star now weighs 270 pounds and is the most experienced player on the roster in terms of games played with 45, two appearances shy of the school record. Banks has totaled 71 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, five forced fumbles — fifth in school history — and three PBUs during his career. Meanwhile, Carter-McLin has posted 28 tackles, 7.5 TFL and a trio of sacks, two QB pressures and one PBU to go along with an interception against UAB, a forced fumble against Army West Point and a fumble recovery that sealed the win at Old Dominion. A product of perennial prep powerhouse Carthage High School, he has appeared in 44 career contests and owns 71 tackles, 13 TFL, four sacks, seven PBUs, two forced fumbles, a pair of fumble recoveries and an interception. The former prep tight end also 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 with 62 total tackles and 40 solo stops. After registering four tackles in each of the first two contests, he posted 10 in back-to-back outings to close out the September slate. 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 on Oct. 5. He added seven tackles in the UAB game, five solo stops in the Rice victory and seven stops — including a sack — versus Texas A&M before turning in eight tackles, a half-tackle for loss, one PBU and a QB hurry in the win at Old Dominion. 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 was 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 52 tackles (36 unassisted) and 5.5 tackles for loss, while providing leadership for a unit that ranks fourth in Conference USA and 36th nationally in passing defense (201.4 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. He turned in a team-best six stops (all solo) in the 31-27 win over Rice and recorded six tackles versus Texas A&M before making five stops, including 2.5 behind the line, and forcing a fumble in the 24-23 win at Old Dominion. Austin III tallied six tackles against both Baylor and North Texas earlier this fall and he stands second on the squad in total tackles.
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 40.7 yards on 43 punts this season. He has boomed seven 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 nine times and induced 17 fair catches. A product of ProKick Australia, which boasts more than 60 current NCAA Division I punters, Dean 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 17.8 yards through the first nine games, a figure that ranks second in Conference USA and 22nd among all FBS teams. Led by kickoff specialist Matthew Cluck, a graduate transfer from Texas Tech, the Roadrunners have 13 touchbacks and have allowed only 17 returns on 37 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 seven games, UTSA has 12 touchbacks and has surrendered a total of 181 yards on 11 kickoff returns, an average of 16.5 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 true 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, while true freshman Dywan Griffin earned the start at wide receiver against Texas A&M. One week later, fellow true freshman wide receiver Zakhari Franklin drew his first start in the 24-23 win at Old Dominion. The Roadrunners now have 31 debuts and 14 first-time starters this season. When including special teams and punter Lucas Dean, six true freshmen have made starts this fall, which is tied for ninth-most among all FBS teams. Additionally, UTSA's four true freshmen starters on offense is tied for the most in the nation with Stanford, South Carolina and Texas A&M.
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 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 was 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 81 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.
New playing surface unveiled
The Alamodome and UTSA unveiled on Aug. 26 a new playing surface that features the familiar roadrunner logo at midfield and end zones painted in navy blue with UTSA and Roadrunners word marks in the south and north end zones, respectively. The sidelines highlight the UTSA Athletics hashtag (#BirdsUp) and recognize San Antonio as Military City USA. Manufactured by Hellas Construction, the FusionH XP2 Synthetic Turf is composed of 60-ounce monofilament, slit film and thatch (Fusion HXP2 with thatch) with 1.75-inch pile height, SBR infill only and triple-layer backing with an additional k-29 backing.
Up next
UTSA will host Florida Atlantic in the home finale on Saturday, Nov. 23. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. at the Alamodome and the contest will air on ESPN+.
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