NEW ORLEANS — Frank Harris has hauled in yet another preseason honor, as the UTSA senior quarterback on Tuesday was named to the Manning Award Watch List.



Harris joins Seth Henigan of Memphis and Michael Pratt of Tulane as American Athletic Conference (AAC) players on the list of 33 of the top quarterbacks in the nation.



Harris, who also has been named to the Davey O’Brien Award, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award watch lists, 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 Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates’ bowl performances in its balloting. The winner will again be selected by a voting panel, which includes national media and each of the Mannings, after the bowls.



“We have another outstanding group of quarterbacks on our Watch List,” said Archie Manning. “We’re excited to get a new season rolling to see who will rise up and establish themselves as the best in the country. We’ll add another batch of quarterbacks to the Watch List midway through the season to allow us to recognize transfers and young QBs who have become stars in their new roles or with their new schools.”



Inclusion on the Watch List is not necessary for the quarterbacks to be selected for the honor. Transfers and other newcomers at schools were not eligible for the preseason Watch List, but additional quarterbacks will be added to the Watch List during the season. Finalists will be selected prior to the postseason and the winner will be announced following the College Football Playoff National Championship.



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).



UTSA, which has been picked to finish second in the AAC Preseason Media Poll and is receiving votes in both major preseason rankings, will open its 13th season of play on Saturday, Sept. 2, against Houston. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at TDECU Stadium and the game will be televised nationally on FS1.



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-

PHILADELPHIA — UTSA senior safety Rashad Wisdom has earned a spot on the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.



Wisdom is one of 85 players, including one of five from the American Athletic Conference, named to the preseason list for the award presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football.



A product of Converse Judson High School, Wisdom is a two-time first-team all-conference performer in the secondary for the Roadrunners. Last fall, he posted 27 total tackles, 21 solo stops, one pass breakup and a fumble recovery in six starts before suffering a season-ending injury.



Wisdom, who is also on the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, earned first-team all-league recognition in 2021 after tallying 88 total tackles — including 67 unassisted and four tackles for loss — six pass breakups, one forced fumble and a quarterback hurry. In 2020, he picked off four passes and logged 95 total stops, 60 solos, 2.5 TFL, a pair of forced fumbles and a PBU while earning first-team all-conference accolades.



Semifinalists for the 29th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 13, while the three finalists will be unveiled Nov. 28. The winner of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 7. The formal presentations of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in March 2024.



The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.



The Chuck Bednarik Award has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, with several senior PFF analysts are members of our selection committee. Phil Steele’s College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete preseason magazine.



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).



UTSA has been picked to finish second in the AAC Preseason Media Poll and will kick off its 13th season of play on Saturday, Sept. 2, against Houston. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at TDECU Stadium and the game will be televised nationally on FS1.



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-

DALLAS — UTSA sophomore running back Kevorian Barnes has been chosen as a candidate for the Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Wednesday.



A native of San Augustine, Texas, Barnes is one of 75 FBS players, including one of three from the American Athletic Conference, named to the preseason list for the award presented annually to the nation’s top college running back.



The 2022 Conference USA Freshman of the Year played in 13 games and drew a pair of starts in the backfield last fall. A Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas College Second Team selection, Barnes rushed for 845 yards and six touchdowns on 135 carries with 825 of his yards coming over the final eight contests. He topped the 100-yard mark on the ground in five contests and averaged 6.3 yards per rush during his breakout season that was capped with a 132-yard output against No. 23 Troy in the Cure Bowl.



The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.



The recipient of the 2023 Doak Walker Award will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards live on ESPN on Dec. 7.



The award is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.



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).



UTSA has been picked to finish second in the AAC Preseason Media Poll and will kick off its 13th season of play on Saturday, Sept. 2, against Houston. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at TDECU Stadium and the game will be televised nationally on FS1.



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.





2023 Doak Walker Award Candidates

Rasheen Ali (So), Marshall

Braelon Allen (Jr.), Wisconsin

Kaytron Allen (So.), Penn State

LeQuint Allen (So.), Syracuse

Emani Bailey (Jr.), TCU

Sieh Bangura (So.), Ohio

Jovantae Barnes (So.), Oklahoma

Kevorian Barnes (So.), UTSA

Trey Benson (Jr.), Florida State

Tahj Brooks (Sr.), Texas Tech

Antario Brown (Jr.), NIU

Jermaine Brown Jr. (Sr.), UAB

Noah Cain (Sr.), LSU

Marcus Carroll (Sr.), Georgia State

Blake Corum (Sr.), Michigan

Marquis Crosby (So.), Louisiana Tech

CJ Donaldson Jr. (So.), West Virginia

Donovan Edwards (Jr.), Michigan

Justice Ellison (Jr.), Wake Forest

Davion Ervin-Poindexter (Jr.), WKU

Audric Estime' (Jr.), Notre Dame

Samson Evans (Grad.), Eastern Michigan

Pat Garwo (Grad.), Boston College

Rodney Hammond Jr. (Jr.), Pitt

Deion Hankins (Jr.), UTEP

Rahjai Harris (Jr.), East Carolina

RJ Harvey (Sr.), UCF

Roman Hemby (So.), Maryland

TreVeyon Henderson (Jr.), Ohio State

Daniel Hishaw Jr. (So.), Kansas

George Holani (Sr.), Boise State

Bucky Irving (Jr.), Oregon

Kaleb Johnson (So.), Iowa

Kobe Johnson (Grad.), Colorado State

Austin Jones (Sr.), USC

Jawhar Jordan (Jr.), Louisville

Quinshon Judkins (So.), Ole Miss

Reggie Love III (Sr.), Illinois

Jaylin Lucas (So.), Indiana

Jo’Quavious Marks (Sr.), Mississippi State

Damien Martinez (So.), Oregon State

Tony Mathis Jr. (Jr.), Houston

Alton McCaskill (So.), Colorado

Josh McCray (So.), Illinois

Chez Mellusi (Grad.), Wisconsin

Devin Mockobee (So.), Purdue

Devin Neal (Jr.), Kansas

Nate Noel (Jr.), App State

Jaydn Ott (So.), Cal

Frank Peasant (Jr.), Middle Tennessee

Richard Reese (So.), Baylor

Aidan Robbins (Jr.), BYU

Kairee Robinson (Grad.), San Jose State

Raheim Sanders (Jr.), Arkansas

Trey Sanders (Jr.), TCU

Will Shipley (Jr.), Clemson

Nicholas Singleton (So.), Penn State

Cam Skattebo (Jr.), Arizona State

Jabari Small (Sr.), Tennessee

Dontae Smith (Sr.), Georgia Tech

E.J. Smith (Sr.), Stanford

Kavosiey Smoke (Grad), Colorado

Carson Steele (Jr.), UCLA

Bhayshul Tuten (Jr.), Virginia Tech

Kimani Vidal (Jr.), Troy

Treshaun Ward (Sr.), Kansas State

Dre'lyn Washington (So.), Louisiana

Nakia Watson (Sr.), Washington State

La'Damian Webb (Sr.), South Alabama

Noah Whittington (Jr.), Oregon

Michael Wiley (Sr.), Arizona

Sy'veon Wilkerson (So.), Colorado

Josh Williams (Grad.), LSU

Miyan Williams (Sr.), Ohio State

Jaylen Wright (Jr.), Tennessee




-UTSA-

SAN ANTONIO — UTSA announced on Tuesday that it will host Kennesaw State in the 2024 season opener on Aug. 31 at the Alamodome.



The Roadrunners and the Owls, currently an FCS Independent that will join Conference USA next year, will meet for the first time in the 2024 lid-lifter.



The matchup replaces the originally scheduled 2024 season opener against New Mexico State, which was part of a four-game series that was canceled in July as the Aggies have transitioned from an FBS Independent to a member of Conference USA. The game also completes next year’s non-conference slate, which includes back-to-back road contests against Texas State and Texas on Sept. 7 and Sept. 14, as well as a home game against Houston Christian on Sept. 21.



The Roadrunners also will host American Athletic Conference home contests against Memphis, North Texas, Temple and Tulane and travel to Navy, Rice, South Florida and Tulsa in 2024 for their second season in the league.



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).



UTSA has been picked to finish second in the AAC Preseason Media Poll and will kick off its 13th season of play on Saturday, Sept. 2, against Houston. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at TDECU Stadium and the game will be televised nationally on FS1.



The Roadrunners will face Texas State for the home opener at 2:30 p.m. the following Saturday at the Alamodome. The Roadrunners also 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-

FORT WORTH, Texas — UTSA senior quarterback Frank Harris has landed on the Davey O’Brien Award Preseason Watch List, the Davey O’Brien Foundation announced Tuesday.



A semifinalist for the award last season, Harris is one of 35 signal callers — including one of four from the American Athletic Conference — on this year’s list.



Harris, who also was tabbed for the Maxwell Award Watch List for the second straight season last week, 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 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 47th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, at The Fort Worth Club.



The official Davey O’Brien Midseason Watch List will be released on Tuesday, Oct. 17, and will contain all active quarterbacks from the Preseason Watch List, all players honored as a weekly Great 8 recipient through the season’s first seven weeks and any additional quarterbacks approved by the selection subcommittee.



The Midseason Watch List will then be pared down to the 35-player Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2023 on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Fan voting on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) will again play a role in the semifinalist, finalist and winner voting totals when combined with the national selection committee’s ballots. Voting will begin on Oct. 24.



The list of semifinalists selected from the QB Class will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The Foundation will announce the three finalists two weeks later (Tuesday, Nov. 21). The 2023 Davey O’Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Thursday, Dec. 7, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.



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).



UTSA has been picked to finish second in the AAC Preseason Media Poll and will kick off its 13th season of play on Saturday, Sept. 2, against Houston. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at TDECU Stadium and the game will be televised nationally on FS1.



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.



2023 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Preseason Watch List

Carter Bradley, South Alabama, Sr., 6-3, 216, Jacksonville, Fla.

Chevan Cordeiro, San Jose State, Sr., 6-1, 196, Honolulu, Hawai’i

Jalon Daniels, Kansas, Jr., 6-0, 215, Lawndale, Calif.

Jayden Daniels, LSU, Sr., 6-4, 210, San Bernardino, Calif.

Quinn Ewers, Texas, So., 6-2, 195, Southlake, Texas

Dequan Finn, Toledo, Jr., 6-2, 205, Detroit, Mich.

Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma, Sr., 5-11, 204, Mililani, Hawai’i

Taylen Green, Boise State, So., 6-6, 223, Lewisville, Texas

Frank Harris, UTSA, Sr., 6-0, 205, Schertz, Texas

Sam Hartman, Notre Dame, Sr., 6-1, 212, Charlotte, N.C.

Seth Henigan, Memphis, Jr., 6-3, 210, Denton, Texas

Will Howard, Kansas State, Sr., 6-5, 242, Downingtown, Pa.

KJ Jefferson, Arkansas, Sr., 6-3, 247, Sardis, Miss.

Cade Klubnik, Clemson, So., 6-2, 195, Austin, Texas

Devin Leary, Kentucky, Sr., 6-1, 217, Sicklerville, N.J.

Riley Leonard, Duke, Jr., 6-4, 212, Fairhope, Ala.

Drake Maye, North Carolina, So., 6-4, 230, Huntersville, N.C.

Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina, Sr., 6-3, 220, Indian Trail, N.C.

J.J. McCarthy, Michigan, Jr., 6-3, 202, La Grange Park, Ill.

Joe Milton III, Tennessee, Sr., 6-5, 235, Pahokee, Fla.

Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin, Sr., 6-2, 218, Waco, Texas

Bo Nix, Oregon, Sr., 6-3, 214, Pinson, Ala.

Michael Penix Jr., Sr., Washington, 6-3, 213, Tampa, Fla.

John Rhys Plumlee, UCF, Sr., 6-0, 200, Hattiesburg, Miss.

Michael Pratt, Tulane, Jr., 6-3, 220, Boca Raton, Fla.

Austin Reed, Western Kentucky, Jr., 6-2, 230, St. Augustine Beach, Fla.

Cameron Rising, Utah, Sr., 6-2, 220, Ventura, Calif.

Will Rogers, Mississippi State, Jr., 6-2, 210, Brandon, Miss.

Kurtis Rourke, Ohio, Sr., 6-5, 231, Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Garrett Shrader, Syracuse, Sr., 6-4, 225, Charlotte, N.C.

Jeff Sims, Nebraska, Jr., 6-4, 220, Jacksonville, Fla.

Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland, Sr., 5-11, 208, Ewa Beach, Hawai’i

Jordan Travis, Florida State, Sr., 6-1, 212, West Palm Beach, Fla.

E.J. Warner, Temple, So., 6-0, 190, Phoenix, Ariz.

Caleb Williams, USC, Jr., 6-1, 220, Washington, D.C.



-UTSA-

Biletnikoff Award Watch List — https://biletnikoffaward.com/2023-watch-list/


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — UTSA senior wide receiver De’Corian Clark has been named to the Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation announced Monday.



Clark is one of 47 players, and the only one from the American Athletic Conference (AAC), chosen for the preseason list for the award that annually recognizes the college football season's outstanding FBS receiver. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. As such, the Biletnikoff Award recognizes college football's outstanding receiver, not merely college football's outstanding wide receiver.



A second-team all-conference performer in 2022, Clark hauled in 51 passes for 741 yards and eight touchdowns despite missing the last five games due to an injury. The Fort Worth O.D. Wyatt High School product averaged 82.3 receiving yards per game and 14.5 yards per catch last fall.



Clark, who also is on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List and an Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee, set the program record for single-game receiving yards with 217 and matched his own single-game touchdown standard with three in the 52-24 win over Texas Southern last September. He hauled in eight passes for 139 yards in the 45-30 road triumph over Middle Tennessee, made seven grabs for 90 yards — including the game-winning touchdown — in the 41-38 overtime victory at Army and also had the game-winning TD on a 10-yard catch in the corner of the end zone to cap off a six-reception, 54-yard day in the 31-27 regular season win against North Texas. He will enter the 2023 campaign with 112 receptions for 1,559 yards and 16 touchdowns for his career.



Receivers are frequently added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List as their season performances dictate. Actual, not potential, performance is the basis for inclusion. The Biletnikoff Award candidate eligibility and voting criteria, transparently explicit and detailed, are available for review at BiletnikoffAward.com/criteria.



The semifinalists, finalists, and award recipient are selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of 650 prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, Biletnikoff Award winners, and other former receivers. Foundation trustees do not vote and have never voted. For a list of voters, please see BiletnikoffAward.com/voters.



The committee will select semifinalists that will be announced on Nov. 20. Finalists will be determined by Nov. 28 and the winner will be announced live on ESPN during the The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 7. The Biletnikoff Award Banquet & Celebration will honor the Biletnikoff Award winner on March 9, 2024, in Tallahassee.



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.



2023 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List

Alex Adams, Akron

Elijhah Badger, Arizona State

Brock Bowers, Georgia

Jerand Bradley, Texas Tech

Jalon Calhoun, Duke

Dante Cephas, Penn State

De'Corian Clark, UTSA

Keon Coleman, Florida State

Malachi Corley, WKU

Jacob Cowing, Arizona

Corey Crooms Jr., Minnesota

Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

Zakhari Franklin, Ole Miss

Troy Franklin, Oregon

Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse

Corey Gammage, UCF

Tre Harris, Ole Miss

Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State

Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern

Tory Horton, Colorado State

Tyrone Howell, ULM

Jeremiah Hunter, California

Ali Jennings III, Virginia Tech

Tez Johnson, Oregon

Caullin Lacy, South Alabama

Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech

Dominic Lovett, Georgia

Ladd McConkey, Georgia

Jalen McMillan, Washington

Malik Nabers, LSU

Jerjuan Newton, Toledo

Rome Odunze, Washington

Ryan O'Keefe, Boston College

Sam Pinckney, Coastal Carolina

Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State

Bradley Rozner, NC State

Will Sheppard, Vanderbilt

Dorian Singer, USC

Tyrin Smith, UTEP

Elijah Spencer, Minnesota

J.Michael Sturdivant, UCLA

Jamari Thrash, Louisville

Devin Voisin, South Alabama

Devontez Walker, North Carolina

Tahj Washington, USC

Antwane Wells Jr., South Carolina

Sam Wiglusz, Ohio



-UTSA-

Big 12 did an excellent job scooping up the four corner universities. This maintains regional rivalries, it expands TV market size (the entire states of Arizona and Utah), and men’s basketball and baseball within the Big 12 will now be considered the best in college sports. Kudos to the Big 12; however, the expansion should not stop there. Within the next few years and assuming the goal for the Big 12 would be to get to 20 universities, UTSA should be considered a placeholder for one of those remaining spots, so they can finish their Texas expansion while also going after Miami, Clemson and Georgia Tech.

We all know what UTSA and its potential can bring, so I’m not going down that road, but UTSA can really make this happen several ways and contribute to a similar regional expansion. First some help from the University of Texas system, in combination with a revenue bond, can be the first step into getting the critical funding now to begin building a new baseball stadium and basketball arena on campus. Borrowing from the University of Texas endowment fund will be tricky, but if UT wants to one up A&M, getting another UT system university into a power conference is one way to show some dominance between the two systems (note: UCLA and Cal are currently part of the same system). Another solution is to do a joint venture with the Spurs to build a basketball arena on UTSA property (1604 campus), where there is plenty of room and the cost of land is not a factor like it would if built in the downtown area (yes it will be a tough sale, but still a viable option). It will be located next door to The Rock, so that is also a plus for the Spurs. Another option is getting the full commitment from the City of San Antonio in the way of bond funding, but this needs some heavy PR to get the voters behind it. If either of the options above are accomplished, a new baseball stadium, softball stadium and basketball arena, will show UTSA’s and the City of San Antonio’s commitment to having world class facilities.

Let’s also assume that the indoor football practice facility and student athlete food hall get privately funded, so all other sources of funding get directed to these other projects.

In the end, the funding sources need to start trickling in by the beginning of next year in order to have these facilities ready or under construction when the next big realignment occurs.

With Cal and Stanford up for grabs, it would be a good idea for Michael Aresco to kick those tires and see if a merger into the AAC is possible. Additionally, a San Diego State and UNLV combo with those two would create a solid regional POD out west. To polish out the conference expansion to 20 strong, an expansion back out east would make more sense. Some universities to ponder: Georgia State (they can use the Falcons football stadium similar to what UNLV is doing and can use the Hawks basketball arena) and FIU to add another Florida school to pair up with FAU. Reasoning for these two universities will be size of current enrollment and alumni base, but definitely a long-term investment.

Some may argue that Colorado State and Air Force would make an immediate impact, but if the ESPN contract allows to pay the universities above the same allotment or even sweeten the deal with incentives, the long-term outcome of this suggested alignment may work better. The key point will be if the AAC can secure more money from ESPN annually or maybe an NFL network/Amazon Prime deal can inject more annual funds, which would get the AAC payout into the double digits (double the current payout). Either way, if ESPN makes up for the missed opportunity on the B1G TV deal, or the other networks expand their footprint, the AAC has options. This should make for an interesting discussion.

Paul Hornung Award Watch List — https://www.louisvillesports.org/ph-article/53-players-named-to-the-14th-annual-paul-hornung-award-watch-list/



LOUISVILLE, Ky. — UTSA senior wide receiver Joshua Cephus has been chosen for the Paul Hornung Award Watch List presented by Texas Roadhouse, the Louisville Sports Commission announced on Thursday.



Cephus is one 53 players, including one of five from the American Athletic Conference, named to the list for the award given annually to the most versatile player in major college football.



A native of Houston, Cephus was a second-team All-Conference USA selection at wide receiver and honorable mention all-league choice at punt returner in 2022. He caught 87 passes for 985 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 11.3 yards per catch and 75.8 yards per contest. He returned nine punts for 36 yards with a long of 17, and he also rushed three times for 10 yards and completed both pass attempts for a total of 12 yards. He logged three 100-yard receiving games including a season-high 114 and a score on five receptions in the 52-24 win over Texas Southern.



An honorable mention all-conference performer in 2020 and 2021, Cephus has played in 51 career contests with 43 starts for the Roadrunners. He will enter his final campaign with 224 catches for 2,504 yards and 18 touchdowns, marks that each rank second on UTSA’s career list.



Now in its 14th season, the Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission in memory of the late football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner in March 2024 in Louisville.



The 2023 Paul Hornung Award Watch List was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of statistics, career performance, SID recommendations and expectations heading into the 2023 season. In addition to the Watch List, the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll will recognize players whose performances during the regular season meet the award’s criteria. Players from both the watch list and the weekly honor roll are eligible to win the award.



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-

ATLANTA — UTSA senior wide receiver De’Corian Clark has been named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, The Wuerffel Foundation announced on Thursday.



Clark is one of 110 FBS players, including one of 13 from the American Athletic Conference, picked for the list of nominees for college football’s premier award for community service, and one of the most meaningful awards in collegiate sports.



A product of Fort Worth O.D. Wyatt High School, Clark has been actively involved in several projects off the field during his time at UTSA. A founding member and the Public Relations Chair of Black Athletes Striving for Excellence (BASE), he was chosen to represent the university at the Black Student-Athlete Summit in 2022 and again this year. Also a nominee for the Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team, he has served as host of events, game nights and panels hosted by BASE and as a speaker at “Life as a Student-Athlete” and “Untangling the Truth: A Discussion on Black Hair” panels, as well as with various sports youth leagues and camps. He has volunteered his time with UTSA Move-In Day, ComicCon, Cooks Children’s Hospital and Be a Champion Inc., which provides healthy meals and education services to children.



A second-team all-conference performer last season, Clark hauled in 51 passes for 741 yards and eight touchdowns despite missing the last five games due to an injury. He averaged 82.3 receiving yards per game and 14.5 yards per catch to help the Roadrunners emerge as one of the most productive offenses in the nation. He set the program record for single-game receiving yards with 217 and matched his own single-game TD standard with three in the 52-24 win over Texas Southern last September. He will enter the 2023 campaign with 112 receptions for 1,559 yards and 16 touchdowns for his career.



The Wuerffel Trophy is named after Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from the University of Florida who parlayed his success on the football field into a lifetime of service. The Wuerffel Trophy embodies Danny’s commitment to being a humanitarian, while honoring student-athletes who are inspired to serve others and make positive impacts on society.



“The life changing impact of thinking of others before ourselves is so rewarding, and it’s truly inspiring to see so many student-athletes recognize this, and use their platform for good,” said Danny Wuerffel. “College Football players across the country are making a difference in their communities, and I’m excited to see so many incredible stories associated with the 2023 Wuerffel Trophy candidates.”



Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities’ sports information departments and will close on Oct. 16. An up-to-date list of nominees can be found at wuerffeltrophy.org. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 2 and finalists will be announced on Nov. 28. The formal announcement of the 2023 recipient is scheduled to be made in December during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN, and the presentation of the 2023 Wuerffel Trophy will take place on Feb. 17, 2024, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.



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-

Ray Guy Award Official Announcement — https://us3.campaign-archive.com/?e=[UNIQID]&u=36388a9e32700f6d498fb8311&id=258386e5a3



AUGUSTA, Ga. — UTSA senior punter Lucas Dean has been named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List for the fourth straight season, the Augusta Sports Council announced on Wednesday.



Dean is one of 50 candidates, including one of three from the American Athletic Conference, who earned a spot on the preseason watch list for the award that honors the nation’s top punter.



A three-time all-conference selection and 2020 All-American, Dean is entering his fifth season as the Roadrunners’ punter. The Australian owns school records for career punting average (44.0), single-season punting average (46.0) and longest punt (76).



Last year, Dean averaged 45.0 yards on 41 punts with a long of 76 yards. He pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line 19 times, had 14 punts of 50-plus yards, induced 10 fair catches and surrendered an average of only 3.9 yards per return en route to second-team All-Conference USA accolades.



Dean was a second-team all-conference pick in 2021 after posting a 45.2-yard average with 10 punts of 50-plus yards and 21 inside the 20. The year prior, he was the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year, a second-team All-American by the Sporting News and a fourth-team honoree from Phil Steele. He set the program standard with a 46.0 punting average and had 21 punts of 50-or-more yards and 27 that were inside the 20.



The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Thomson, Georgia, native and College and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ray Guy. Among the statistics used to identify the winner is net punting average, number of times punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage and percentage of punts not returned with particular emphasis placed on net punting average. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team's success.



The number of eligible candidates for this season will grow when the award opens nominations on Aug. 3. The complete list of candidates will be released on Nov. 6. In mid-November, the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to select the 10 semifinalists. A national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will then vote for the top three finalists to be announced on Nov. 22. After the finalists are named, the voting body will cast ballots again to select the nation’s top punter. The winner will be announced live during The Home Depot College Football Awards airing on ESPN in December.



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 — On Tuesday, coach Carol Price-Torok announced that former student-athlete Audrey Smith has officially joined the volleyball program as an assistant coach for player development.



"I am so excited to welcome Audrey back to our program!" said Price-Torok. "There was no doubt throughout this search that she was the perfect fit to round out our staff. Her knowledge in the gym and passion for UTSA will continue to help our program grow. Audrey will be an integral part in growing our relationships with the community and helping foster meaningful connections with our players. Welcome home, Audrey!"



The move comes following a 2022 season that saw Smith hold the title of student coach with job responsibilities including day-to-day operations, video coordination, and statistical analysis for practice and match preparation. Additionally, she brings experience from the club level, serving as the assistant coach for the San Antonio Force Volleyball Club since 2021, where she's helped the 16U travel team qualify for the 2023 USAV Girls Junior National Championships.



On the court, Smith joined the Roadrunners for her senior season, appearing in 12 matches and 21 sets in 2021 after spending three seasons at Texas Tech.



Keep up with UTSA Volleyball all season long on goutsa.com, and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSAVBall, Twitter@UTSAVolleyball, and on Instagram @utsa_vb.

SAN ANTONIO — On Tuesday, head coach Vann Stuedeman announced the newest member of her coaching staff in the form of Tori Smith, who joins as an assistant coach following two years at Trinity Valley Community College. Smith will serve as the primary hitting coach and camp coordinator for the upcoming campaign.



“Coach Smith is the perfect fit for UTSA softball,” said Stuedeman on the new hire. “She is a relationship builder, a continual learner and most importantly a person of high quality and standards. She will help bring top caliber players on campus as she is well connected in San Antonio as well as the state of Texas. I am excited to work with her and experience all that she has to offer.”



In 2023, she assisted TVCC in a fourth-place finish at the NJCAA Region XIV Tournament while the team compiled a school-record 33 wins across the season and was named NJCAA Softball Academic Team of the Year with a 3.82 GPA. She saw six Cardinals achieve All-Conference status, including a pair of all-region performers in 2022, a season featuring 10 NJCAA Academic All-Americans.



Ahead of a brief stint at Galveston College, Smith spent three years as the assistant coach for Vernon College, building a junior college power that rose as high as No. 6 in the national rankings. She served primarily as a hitting instructor with the Chaps in a period that saw the squad shatter records in on-base percentage (. 447), doubles (141), and home runs (81). In her time at Vernon College, she coached up 11 all-conference performers, with one going on to win the league's Utility Player of the Year accolade as well as second-team All-America.



Smith received a bachelor's in sports and exercise science at Cameron University, where she represented the Aggies on the diamond following two years at Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa. Additionally, she completed her Senior Capstone as an assistant coach and aided the Oklahoma Bulldogs travel ball organization in the summer of 2018.



Keep up with UTSA Softball all season long on goutsa.com, and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSASB, Twitter @UTSASoftball, and on Instagram @utsasoftball.

Bronko Nagurski Trophy Official Announcement — https://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2023/08/01/2023-bronko-nagurski-trophy-watch-list-unveiled



DALLAS — UTSA redshirt sophomore outside linebacker Trey Moore and senior safety Rashad Wisdom have landed on the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced on Tuesday.



Moore and Wisdom are two of 94 players, including six total defenders from the American Athletic Conference, who were named to the list.



Moore earned Freshman All-America accolades from the FWAA, The Athletic and College Football News and he was a Conference USA All-Freshman Team and honorable mention all-conference selection in 2022. The Smithson Valley High School product started all 14 contests at outside linebacker and broke Marcus Davenport's school single-season record for tackles for loss with 18. On the season, he posted 59 total tackles, 30 solo stops, eight sacks, six pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.



Wisdom is a two-time first-team all-conference performer in the secondary. Last fall, he posted 27 total tackles, 21 solo stops, one pass breakup and a fumble recovery in six starts before suffering a season-ending injury. The Converse Judson High School graduate earned first-team all-league recognition in 2021 after tallying 88 total tackles — including 67 unassisted and four tackles for loss — six pass breakups, one forced fumble and a QB hurry. He picked off a school record-tying four passes and logged 95 stops, 60 solos, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pair of forced fumbles and a pass breakup while earning first-team all-conference accolades in 2020.



The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2023 trophy on Nov. 15 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 4 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C.



Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. As in previous years, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive 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 FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football’s Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.



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-

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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