LEWISVILLE, Texas — Five UTSA Roadrunners have been named to the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football All-Texas College Team, as the publication on Monday unveiled its preseason honors.
Defensive lineman Brandon Brown and offensive lineman Venly Tatafu were chosen to the first team, while Chase Allen, Kevorian Barnes and Joe Evans received second-team nods.
UTSA’s five selections are tied with three other teams for the second-highest total behind SMU and Texas, who share the lead with 10 apiece.
Brown is a three-time all-conference honoree and three-year starter on the defensive line. A junior out of Katy Morton Ranch High School, he earned third-team All-American Athletic Conference accolades last season after registering 20 total tackles, nine solo stops, 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Tatafu has started 20 games over the past two seasons on the offensive line, 16 coming at left tackle. A native of Portland, Oregon, he was key member of an offense that piled up 5,421 yards (421.6 yards per game), including 3,248 passing and 2,531 rushing, in 2023. Pro Football Focus graded the redshirt senior with a 97.6 pass blocking efficiency last fall.
Allen emerged as UTSA’s place-kicker in 2023 after transferring from Alabama. The Colleyville Heritage High School product garnered second-team all-conference accolades after making 13 of 15 field goals and all 49 extra-point attempts. He led The American and ranked 14th in the FBS in field-goal percentage (.867) and equaled the UTSA record for longest field goal with a 53-yard make against UAB.
Barnes is entering his fourth season as a mainstay in the offensive backfield for the Roadrunners after rushing for a team-high 715 yards and six touchdowns on 147 attempts and catching 14 passes for 61 yards in 2023. The San Augustine, Texas, native and 2022 Conference USA Freshman of the Year has racked up 1,576 yards and 12 TDs in 27 career contests at UTSA.
Evans, a senior defensive lineman from Haynesville, Louisiana, has collected all-conference honors in each of his first two seasons with the Roadrunners. He earned third-team all-league recognition last fall after posting 18 total tackles, 11 unassisted stops, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a safety. The LSU transfer boasts 36 tackles, six TFLs and 3.5 sacks in 24 games as a Roadrunner.
The Roadrunners will kick off the 2024 season on Saturday, Aug. 31, when they host Kennesaw State at 2:30 p.m. at the Alamodome.
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