Outland Trophy Official Announcement — https://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2023/08/01/2023-outland-trophy-watch-list-unveiled



DALLAS — UTSA junior defensive lineman Brandon Brown and senior offensive lineman Makai Hart have earned spots on the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy, the Football Writers Association of American (FWAA) announced on Tuesday.



Brown and Hart are two of 91 players, including eight from the American Athletic Conference, named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy, which goes to the nation’s best interior lineman.



Brown collected first-team All-Conference USA honors in 2022 after starting all 14 games. A product of Katy Morton Ranch High School, he posted 21 total tackles, 11 solo stops, 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.



Brown transferred to UTSA from Tulane prior to the 2021 campaign and earned honorable mention all-conference and C-USA All-Freshman Team accolades. He saw action in all 14 games and drew starts in seven, registering 23 total tackles, nine solo stops, three tackles for loss, three pass breakups and a forced fumble.



Hart has started 22 games for the Roadrunners since arriving in San Antonio prior to the 2020 season. A two-time all-conference performer, he helped the offensive line pave the way for back-to-back All-America campaigns by Sincere McCormick, who topped 1,400 rushing yards each year.



Hart garnered second-team all-league accolades in 2020 after appearing in the final games with eight starts at right tackle. The Clinton, Iowa, native did not allow a hit on the quarterback and surrendered just two sacks in 312 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).



In 2021, Hart committed only one penalty and allowed just four sacks and one hit on the quarterback in 699 snaps per PFF en route to honorable mention all-conference recognition.



Last season, he started the season opener versus Houston but was injured, and then came back for the WKU contest before suffering a season-ending injury.



The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from three finalists who are a part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually the three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award. Ends are not eligible.



Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. For the first time, the FWAA will announce an Outland Trophy National Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week’s honored player will be added at that time.



The recipient of the 2023 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN in December. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Nebraska, on Jan. 10, 2024.



The Outland Trophy, celebrating 78 years since its founding, is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since. Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, eventually took up practice in Kansas City, Mo. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.



Under the direction of two-time conference coach of the year Jeff Traylor, the Roadrunners are coming off an 11-3 campaign that saw them capture their second straight Conference USA crown and play in a bowl game for the third year in a row. UTSA has been ranked in the top 25 in each of the last two seasons and boasts a combined 23 wins over that span, the fourth-best total among all FBS teams behind only Georgia (29), Michigan (25) and Alabama (24).



The Roadrunners have been picked to finish second in the AAC Preseason Media Poll and will kick off their 13th season of play on Saturday, Sept. 2, when they travel to Houston to face the Cougars at 6 p.m. at TDECU Stadium.



UTSA will face Texas State for the home opener at 2:30 p.m. the following Saturday at the Alamodome. The Roadrunners will host Army at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, UAB on Oct. 14, East Carolina on Oct. 28, Rice on Nov. 11 and South Florida at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17.



Season and single-game tickets are on sale now by calling 210-458-UTSA (8872) or visiting goUTSA.com/tickets.



-UTSA-

SAN ANTONIO — UTSA Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Lisa Campos announced today that Brad Smith has been named Deputy Athletics Director for External Affairs.



A veteran of intercollegiate athletics for nearly two decades, he will oversee UTSA’s Broadcasting, Communications, Creative Services, Marketing, Ticket Operations and Ticket Sales units.



“I am thrilled to welcome Brad Smith to the Roadrunner Family,” Campos said. “His extensive experience in leading external operations will help to continue elevating UTSA Athletics’ brand while further growing our department for continued success, particularly as we embark on our first year in the American Athletic Conference.”



Smith comes to UTSA from Southern Miss, where he served as Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations since 2019. During his time in Hattiesburg, he handled the day-to-day operations of the external units including branding and fan experience, communications, video, streaming/broadcasts, digital content and social media. In addition, he provided oversight for the softball team, band, cheer and dance programs along with serving as the primary contact for athletics branding and licensing as well as the department's primary contact for Learfield/IMG College. USM’s baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, football and softball programs all achieved increases in ticket sales. Additionally, Smith developed a creative content team and implemented initiatives that created an in-house streaming/broadcast booth that produced over 200 live events on various streaming platforms.



Prior to that, Smith was the Senior Associate AD for External Affairs at Morehead State from 2014 to 2019. He oversaw fundraising, corporate sponsorships, ticket sales, media relations, video production and marketing departments, while also having sport oversight responsibilities for football, cheerleading and the dance team. While at MSU, total revenue through fundraising and corporate sponsorships increased by 220 percent since 2015. He was awarded for his efforts from the National Association of Collegiate Marketing, including the 2014-15 NACMA "Best of" national award winner in the following categories: Gold Winner for best Sales Piece and Silver Winner for best Sponsorship Activation.



Born in Killeen, Texas and a native of Brookhaven, Mississippi, he got his start in the sports industry as a student volunteer in the Southern Miss Athletics Department, where he handled marketing for the women’s soccer program. He later interned with ISP Sports at USM and gained valuable experience in corporate sponsorships.



In 2003, he landed the role of Director of Marketing and Ticket Sales for the Mississippi Sea Wolves professional hockey franchise. He was in charge of management and event operations, sales, client services and fundraising. The Sea Wolves increased their attendance by 22 percent as a result of his new ticket sales plans.



In 2005, Smith moved into college athletics as Assistant AD for Marketing and Promotions at Middle Tennessee, where he worked until landing the Director of Marketing role at Texas A&M in 2010-11.



Smith then served as Assistant AD of Marketing at UAB from 2011 to 2013. He directed ticket sales, community relations, licensing, marketing and promotions, video board operations, social media efforts and a partnership with IMG Collegiate Marketing



Smith earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southern Miss, his master’s degree in sport management from Morehead State and his doctorate degree in higher education from Southern Miss.



Smith and his wife, Melanie, are parents to sons Grayson (15) and Garrett (7).



-UTSA-

2023 Maxwell Award Watch List — https://maxwellfootballclub.org



PHILADELPHIA — UTSA senior quarterback Frank Harris has been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List for the second straight season, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday



Harris is one of 85 players, including one of six from the American Athletic Conference, on the list for the award presented annually to the outstanding player in college football.



Harris owns more than 30 school records and a 31-11 record as the starting QB as he enters his final campaign with the Roadrunners. The 2022 Conference USA Most Valuable Player and first-team all-conference performer completed 328 of 471 passes (69.6%) for 4,063 yards and 32 TDs and a 160.7 passing efficiency, all school records to help lead UTSA to an 11-3 record and a second straight league crown last fall. A finalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and a Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist a year ago, he logged seven 300-yard passing games, including a UTSA record 414 in the 45-30 win at Middle Tennessee, and he totaled 400-plus yards of offense three times, highlighted by a school record 423 in the same contest. Harris added 602 rushing yards — the program standard for a QB — and nine scores on the ground.



For his career, Harris has thrown for 9,356 yards and 74 touchdowns on 816-of-1210 passing to go with 1,822 rushing yards and 24 scores on 372 carries. The Schertz Clemens High School product owns UTSA’s total offense record with 11,178 yards, which ranks fifth among active FBS quarterbacks, and his 42 career starts are the fourth-best total.



The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert “Tiny” Maxwell who was a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official.



Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 13, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled Nov. 28. The winner of the 87th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 7. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in March 2024.



The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners.



Under the direction of two-time conference coach of the year Jeff Traylor, the Roadrunners are coming off an 11-3 campaign that saw them capture their second straight Conference USA crown and play in a bowl game for the third year in a row. UTSA has been ranked in the top 25 in each of the last two seasons and boasts a combined 23 wins over that span, the fourth-best total among all FBS teams behind only Georgia (29), Michigan (25) and Alabama (24).



The Roadrunners have been picked to finish second in the AAC Preseason Media Poll and will kick off their 13th season of play on Saturday, Sept. 2, when they travel to Houston to face the Cougars at 6 p.m. at TDECU Stadium.



UTSA will face Texas State for the home opener at 2:30 p.m. the following Saturday at the Alamodome. The Roadrunners will host Army at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, UAB on Oct. 14, East Carolina on Oct. 28, Rice on Nov. 11 and South Florida at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17.



Season and single-game tickets are on sale now by calling 210-458-UTSA (8872) or visiting goUTSA.com/tickets.



-UTSA-

UTSA at AAC Media Days

Some observations of mine that didn't make it in my recap.

• The location for AAC Media Day was top notch. Live! By Loews in Arlington was a good place to have it. I will say you don't realize how big Jerry World is until you are across the street from it.
• Both Lisa and Jeff were very approachable during the event. Burk and I sat with Jeff during Lunch on Tuesday and Burk sat with them for Dinner on Monday night.
• You could tell this was the first media day rodeo for some coaches. Other coaches looked like they were happy to be back in a media day setting.
• I think aside from Dallas, San Antonio had the largest media contingent at the Media Day. In addition to myself, Burk, Greg Luca and JJ there were two TV stations and of course Andy Everrett from Radio.
• I met some of the national media folks and they were all nice. Very inquisitive about UTSA and a few were surprised we had gotten this far in only 12 seasons of football.

Each summer since 2020 I have done a story series each summer looking at different aspects of UTSA Football and Athletics past. This summer since we are changing from Conference USA to the American I decided to expand the summer series to look at every sport at UTSA and how they faired as members of Conference USA.

The series will start June 14 with a look back at UTSA women's soccer in Conference USA.

Here is the tentative schedule
June 14 -- Women's Soccer
June 17 -- Volleyball
June 21 -- Football
June 24 -- Men's and Women's Cross Country
June 28 -- Men's and Women's Basketball
July 1 -- Men's and Women's Tennis
July 8 -- Baseball
July 12 -- Softball
July 15 -- Men's and Women's Golf
July 19 -- Men's and Women's Track

As a reminder here is what the previous summer series were
2020: UTSA What If
2021: The First Season
2022: 10 Greatest Conference Games

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The list of players not returning for the 2023-24 season has been shared with me. There are some surprises on here:


DL - Zach Causey
OL - Ronnie Garza
DB - Ronald Gurley
RB - De'Anthony Lewis
TE - Gavin Sharp
DB - Tony Wallace
LB - Cameron Wilkins
ATH - Julon Williams

Starting up the 2023 baseball thread. I plan on getting to a few games this year for coverage.

Here is my preview of the upcoming season: One last run in Conference USA

This can be the place for baseball discussion.

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Recruiting Links:

Offers

Visit Dates

FutureCast

Commits

CUSA Recruiting Rankings

What the heck is going on? Didn’t he have a mass exodus a year or two ago?

Looking for that inside info!

Spring football is here! We will be posting all spring football content in this thread.

UTSA is hosting a large number of recruits today. Here are some of the notable names:

Alex Foster - LB - Vandergrift
Joseph Dobbs - RB - Tidehaven
Raymond Edwards - RB - Clear Springs
Ty Hawkins - QB - SA Johnson
Ryan Hughes - OL - Woodlands
Ronnel McLain - OL - DeSoto
Devron Williams - OL - Aledo
Samir Camacho - OL - Cypress Falls
Jordan Washigton - TE - Langham Creek
Royal Cape - WR - SA Steele
Will Cianfrini - WR - Ball High
Adrian Wilson - WR - Weiss
Ja'Kaden Ferguson - WR - Fort Bend Marshall
Mitch Melton - LB - Conroe
Alex Green - WR - Hutto
Jordan Washigton - RB - Helena
Tanook Hines - WR - Dekaney
Tristian Gardner - WR - Horn
Brooks Perez - WR - Boerne
Austin Carlisle - QB - Ridgepoint
Brady Wagner - TE - Grapevine
Taiwo Atunrase - ATH - Cole
Devin Ford - LB - Clemens
Jaxson Maynard - DE - Smithson Valley
Kehinde Atunrase - TE - Cole
Carterrious Brown - WR - SA Steele
Courtney Gordon - LB - Duncanville
Tyson Turner - WR - Bryan
Andre Feast - WR - Fort Bend Marshall
Davion Hurth - OL - Mesquite
Jayden Clear - LB - Keller Central
Trey Mosley - LB - Duncanville

“After careful evaluation of our men’s basketball program, including candid and open discussions with Coach Henson on the team’s performance and his leadership, he will remain as head coach for the 2023-24 season. Coach recognizes that we have high expectations at UTSA for all of our athletic teams and that this year’s men’s basketball season did not meet those expectations. He is committed to substantive improvement, has already begun a complete evaluation of the program and will make the changes necessary to enable success next season.”

— Lisa Campos, UTSA Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics

SAN ANTONIO — UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor on Monday announced that he has named Mike Giglio as the program's first-ever general manager.

Among his many responsibilities, Giglio (pronounced jill-ee-oh) will manage the program's budget and the head coach's travel, calendar and speaking requests and engagements, as well as coordinate practice and bowl game logistics, cultivate football alumni relationships, assist the head coach and development office with donor cultivation and serve as program liaison to various units within the athletics department.

A collegiate football staff veteran for more than a decade, Giglio has helped sign eight All-Americans, three national award winners, five conference players of the year and nearly 30 future NFL Draft picks, including five first-round selections.

Giglio comes to San Antonio from Tampa, Florida, after spending the past six seasons on the USF football staff, most recently as Director of Recruiting & Pro Liaison since 2019. He oversaw several aspects of the recruiting process, including official and unofficial visits, creating coaches' schedules, maintaining databases, updating scholarship numbers and projecting scholarship and position needs.

Giglio was USF's Director of Player Personnel/Pro Liaison under former head coach Charlie Strong in 2017-18. In his first full recruiting cycle at USF, Giglio helped the Bulls secure 24 signees during the first-ever NCAA early signing period, a number that ranked second nationally. USF's 2018 class was ranked No. 1 in The American by Rivals following the early period.

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Giglio also served in the same role at Texas under Strong from 2014-16. He helped Strong secure back-to-back top 10-ranked recruiting classes at Texas, including a 2015 group that featured three freshman All-Americans, three other players who earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors and 10 players who started a game as true freshmen.

Giglio also worked with Strong at Louisville from 2010 to 2013, serving as director of high school relations during the Cardinals' back-to-back Big East Championship run in 2011-12. Giglio's responsibilities included monitoring the overall recruiting evaluation process, constructing the film database, coordinating official and unofficial visits and assisting with summer camps.

During Giglio's time at Louisville, the Cardinals went 37-15 and reached a bowl game in each of the four seasons. He helped Louisville sign the top-ranked class in the Big East and No. 29 class nationally in 2011 per Rivals. Nine of Strong's players at Louisville went on to become NFL Draft picks, including quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who was selected 32nd overall in 2014 by the Vikings. The following year, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins was picked 12th overall by the Saints.

Giglio got his start in the industry as a recruiting assistant at Florida in 2008-09.

Giglio earned his bachelor's degree in sport management from Florida in 2008 and master's degrees in sport management and management from Florida in 2009.

Giglio is married to the former Katelyn Nelson. The couple has a daughter, Christine.

-UTSA-