Entering their sixth season of football and fifth season in FBS play, the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Roadrunners "run" into 11th place.
Mediocracy and coaching changes
UTSA has neither impressed nor drastically disappointed during their tenure. The Roadrunners have a 26-32 (44%) record over five seasons and a combined record of 7-17 (29%) over the past two seasons. I imagine UTSA as a game of Flappy Bird: flying, but desperately trying to stay airborne.
It is safe to say UTSA had, and continues to have, a soft spot for ex-head coach Larry Coker. The veteran coach, with an impressive stint at the University of Miami, guided the Roadrunners during their transition from no team, to FCS, to FBS: successfully, I might add.
However, a 7-17 record over two seasons was not going to cut it. Exit Coker, enter Frank Wilson. Despite having never been a head coach, Wilson's coaching career and accolades are difficult to ignore. Wilson's resume highlights include gigs at Ole Miss, Southern Miss, Tennessee, and LSU. Most recently, Wilson was the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at LSU from 2010-2015. I do not have to tell you twice that LSU's running backs are gooooood. What you may not know is Wilson's stellar recruiting background:
-2011 - Rivals.com National Recruiter of the Year
-2014 - NFL.com Top Recruiter in all of College Football
-2015 - SEC Recruiter of the Year
Judging by LSU fan accounts, Wilson is a huge steal for UTSA.
What to expect in 2016
The Roadrunners have always been pointed in the right direction, or at least static. Will UTSA have to rebuild like North Texas and Charlotte? Yes, but not to the same extent.
In 2015, the offense averaged 22.6 points per game making them 103rd in the nation: ahead of FAU, UTEP, Charlotte, and North Texas. Although not dead last, a lot of improvement is to be made. Graduate transfer Jared Johnson will likely challenge Dalton Sturm for the starting quarterback role. Johnson, a transfer from Sam Houston State (FCS), comes in as a dual-threat quarterback with 5,352 passing yards, 1,601 yards on the ground, and 50 total touchdowns (2013-2015). And while some may see "FCS," let out a chuckle, and move along, this kid is no joke. Sturm is gutsy and shows quick bursts of potential, but Johnson is consistent and reliable. Johnson did not play in UTSA's Football Fiesta Spring Game while Sturm went 19-33 for 199 yards and 1 interception. Sturm may be falling behind a bit as redshirt freshman Jaylon Henderson went 12-23 for 176 yards and 1 touchdown.
The star of 2015 - running back Jarveon Williams - will be back to complete his senior campaign. In 2015, Williams racked up 1,042 yards and 8 touchdowns. Only 3 other C-USA running backs averaged more yards per carry than Williams' 6.0 (*cough* Ace Wales *cough*). Should the guys in front of him improve...well...drastically, Williams could have another stellar season. With Wilson's running back success at LSU, Williams and Wilson seem to be a perfect match.
Speaking of offensive linemen...
Allowing 44 sacks is terrible. How does that even happen?! I can just imagine UTSA's opponent sacking Sturm for the 4th time that game, and quoting Wedding Crashers: "Boo-yah! That's what we call a sack lunch! Nom nom nom!"
However, the o-line seemed to improve a bit during the spring game: keeping pressure out of the backfield and *only* allowing 3 sacks on the day. If the o-line allowed an average of 3 sacks per game, that would equal 36 sacks on the season...sooooo 8 less than last year's mess.
Following Coach Wilson, LSU transfer Jevonte Domond may give the o-line the boost it needs. Domond does not have any notable statistics as he did not play much for the Tigers; however, he could shine in C-USA.
Overall, the Roadrunner offense should improve especially with well-established running backs and receivers. Wide receivers Kerry Thomas, JaBryce Taylor, and Oklahoma transfer Dannon Cavil, along with Jarveon Williams, will carry the load as the quarterback situation unfolds and the offensive line gains more confidence.
On Defense, Pete Golding will take charge as defensive coordinator. Golding will be introducing a 3-3-5 base defense which will make the best use of a small-ish defensive line and some solid returning safeties: Chase Dahlquist, Nate Gaines, and Michael Egwuagu. Last year, 3 of the top 5 tacklers for the Roadrunners were safeties. Like North Texas, safeties leading your team in tackling is not a good sign. Fortunately for UTSA, the Roadrunners will return 4 of their top 6 linemen and 8 of their 12 defensive backs.
The defense is no Alabama. They are not especially large nor overwhelmingly talented. In 2015, they were - at best - passive: allowing an average of 32.9 points per game. Golding's hope is to implement a confusing and aggressive defensive scheme. The Roadrunners may not have the size nor talent, but confusing their opponent will be their best weapon.
Linebacker Ronnie Feist, another transfer from LSU, will hopefully put a little spark back into the defense. Like Domond, Feist does not have many statistics: only playing 14 games throughout four years. UTSA will offer Feist more playing time and allow him to show his abilities more so than at LSU.
Should linebacker Marcos Curry, defensive end Marcus Davenport, and defensive end Kevin Strong Jr. take leadership and build on their signs of potential, the Roadrunners will probably have a slightly improved defense. However, I would not doubt if Gaines and Egwuagu are still the leading tacklers.
The future
Have I mentioned how difficult it is to recruit in Texas?! UTSA definitely has a bit more talent than North Texas, and adding head coach Frank Wilson is a major bonus. The question remains:
If Wilson does well, how long will he stay?
The future is a little foggy for the Roadrunners. They have a young, somewhat inexperienced head coach and a young, somewhat inexperienced defensive coordinator. The players have potential and talent, but will it translate on the field? Will the standout running back and few safeties have to carry the team, again?
Schedule & Projected Record
Sept 3. Alabama State
Sept 10. @ Colorado State
Sept 16. Arizona State
Sept 24. @ Old Dominion
Oct 8. Southern Miss
Oct 15. @ Rice
Oct 22. UTEP
Oct 29. North Texas
Nov 5. @ Middle Tennessee
Nov 12. @ Louisiana Tech
Nov 19. @ Texas A&M
Nov 26. Charlotte
Prediction: 4-8 with wins over Alabama State, Old Dominion, UTEP, and Charlotte.
