UTSA Roadrunners Preview 2024
This isn’t going to stop just because one era is over.
If it seemed like former quarterback Frank Harris was around for a bajillion yards, it’s because he was - he was a seven-season Face of the Franchise type of star.
During that time the UTSA football program that started up in the FBS world in 2012 became a Group of Five powerhouse winning 32 games over the last three seasons.
The move up last year from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference had some bearing on the slight step back - even with the first bowl win in program history - but head coach Jeff Traylor - who by some miracle isn’t at a bigger Power Four-caliber place - has another strong team, even if the star power isn’t there.
So watch out with this year’s Roadrunner team. Last season the program was the hipster-cool “must see” thing that all the kids were getting into, and it never quite materialized. This time around, UTSA will fly under the radar - mainly because there’s no Harris-type to create a narrative - but the overall production and results might be even better.
UTSA Preview 2024: Offense
- It all starts with an offensive front that never quite found its groove. Injuries were a problem across the board for the Roadrunners - mostly the nitpicky kind that never allowed the team to rely on the same formula each week - but the line had the most turnover.
It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t dominate. It’ll likely take all fall camp to come up with the right starting five, but helped by New Mexico transfer C CJ James, there are options.
- If there’s a silver lining in 2023’s up-and-down season for Harris - mostly because he played banged up - it’s that Owen McCown got plenty of work in. The former Colorado transfer is accurate and can move, but he’ll be in a fall battle to get the gig.
The bigger issue might be the loss of top two receivers Joshua Cephus and Tykee Ogle-Kellogg. Sophomore Devin McCuin was second on the team with 42 grabs, and Oscar Cardenas might be the best tight end in the AAC.
- As long as the offensive line is settled - and it should be - the backs will be fine. The combination of Kevorian Barnes, Rocko Griffin, and Robert Henry should push for close to 2,000 yards.
UTSA Preview 2024: Defense
- The UTSA defensive side gets after it. It will be shoved at times again, and it needs to be a bit more consistent and stronger on third downs, but it’ll still get into the backfield after finishing second in the nation in sacks and fifth in tackles for loss.
Top playmaking lineman Trey Moore is done, but there’s size on the inside and enough left over parts to form a good rotation early on. But …
- The secondary is where the strength should be. It’ll help that the pass rush makes everything easier, and there’s no replacing a star safety like Rashad Wisdom, but landing one-time super-recruit Denver Harris - from Texas A&M and LSU - is huge at one corner, and the New Mexico combination of S Jermarius Lewis and CB Zach Morris deepens an already good group.
- The linebackers aren’t huge, but they’re experienced, they're very good, and they can move. Jamal Ligon will eat everything up, but it’s Martavius French in the middle who should have one of the team’s better statistical seasons. Again, the transfer portal played a big role here, for the positive.
UTSA Key To The Season
Hold up against the run.
That’s not usually an issue for the Roadrunners over the last few seasons, but when they struggle against the good ground games, they usually lose.
Overall the run defense was great last season, but it gave up over 200 yards three times - loss to Tennessee, loss to Army, loss to Tulane. UTSA was 9-1 against everyone else when it stuffed the run.
UTSA Key Player
QB Owen McCown, Soph.
He’s hardly a sure-thing to take the snaps when Kennesaw State comes to town - watch out for Alabama State transfer Damatrius Davis - but after his good 251-yard, two-touchdown day in the bowl win over Marshall, he’s the odds-on favorite to make the offense his.
He won’t be peak Frank Harris running the attack, but as long as he’s hitting his midrange throws and keeping things moving, he’ll be doing his job.
UTSA Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: CB Denver Harris
A superstar recruit for Texas A&M, he got in a little work as a freshman, transferred to LSU, and now he has the potential to be one of the most talented and productive corners in the American Athletic Conference. This is his chance to shine as a No. 1 shutdown corner.
Top Transfer Out: EDGE Trey Moore
The UTSA pass rush will be fine no matter what - they bring the heat from all sides - but losing a star like Moore is a crusher. One of the best Group of Five defensive stars over the last two seasons, he made 22 sacks with 35.5 tackles for loss with nine broken up passes. Now he’ll be doing it all for Texas.
UTSA Key Game
Memphis, Nov. 2
It UTSA can stay as good as it has been over the last few years, it should be at least 3-1 in the AAC going into November, if not 4-0. There’s no Tulane or USF to deal with, and the last three games against North Texas, Temple and at Army are manageable.
Beat Memphis at home - it’s just the second ever meeting, with UTSA winning the first one in 2021 - and an appearance in the AAC title game is more than possible.
UTSA 10 Best Players
1. Donal Taylor, LB Sr.
2. Brandon Brown, DT Jr.
3. Jimmori Robinson, LB Sr.
4. Ken Robinson, S Sr.
5. Robert Henry, RB Sr.
6. Oscar Cardenas, TE Sr.
7. Kendrick Blackshire, LB Sr.
8. Makai Hart, OT Sr.
9. Kevorian Barnes, RB Jr.
10. Denver Harris, CB Jr.
UTSA 2023 Fun Stats
- Sacks: UTSA 46 for 301 yards, Opponents 25 for 175 yards
- 3rd Down Conversions: UTSA 92-of-193 (48%), Opponents 83-of-215 (39%)
- Punting Yards Per Game: UTSA 41.81, Opponents 41.81
UTSA 2024 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
Can UTSA win all of the winnable games?
Last year’s team got drilled by Tennessee and lost at Tulane - no shame or shock in either of those games - and dropping the date at Houston in a 17-14 fight wasn’t bad, either. The fourth loss was Army - Army is Army, and sometimes the curveball works.
In other words, 9-4 last season was fine. 9-4 might not be fine this year.
At Texas is the only sure loss. There aren’t any other games against Power Four programs, UTSA is good enough to win at Army, Texas State, and Rice, and everything else of note is at home.
Of course, there will be a misfire somewhere against - say - Florida Atlantic, or at East Carolina, but don’t set the bar too low here. Being in the American Athletic Conference title game fight until the end is a must.
Set The UTSA Win Total At … 8.5
Likely Wins: Houston Christian, Kennesaw State, Temple
50/50 Games: at Army, at East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, at Rice, at Texas State, at Tulsa
Likely Losses: at Texas
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