The UTSA Roadrunners are still looking for more talent as they near the first days of spring ball. The previous season was disappointing, at best, and leaves many questions marks for the success of the team in the future. Many wondered, is it the coach that is the problem or is it merely the talent level? Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait and see if the changes made so far will positively impact the team, or if it will be another disappointing season.
UTSA NLI Day Round Two
Right now, the Roadrunners are at a +75000 odds to win the CFB playoff for the 2019 season. Obviously, no one expects this team to miraculously find their way into the dance, but it is just unrealistic given their weak schedule and lower-level FBS talent. However, the ‘Runners are looking to finish the year with a winning season and make it to their second bowl game in program history.
It is clear that UTSA knows what they are looking for when it comes to signing players in the offseason. They had numerous holes in the team last year and it showed. They were getting torched by teams they had decimated in the past and merely looked like a shell of what once was. The Roadrunners are praying for a breakout performer this year that will absolutely play out of their mind. This is something the team lacked in 2018. There was not a reliable position player to go to when things were going south. So, when the team went down, they stayed down.
NLI Day
UTSA fared pretty well on signing day picking up a few key recruits. The team was so weak last year that just about any talent will help. However, the Roadrunners went out and found guys that would fit their scheme and culture. This is all in hopes that the team will mesh so well that nothing, but success will come out of it. Unfortunately, this is just a fantasy at this point.
Miss today’s news? #UTSA head coach Frank Wilson recaps all of the excitement of #NSD19 during his press conference.#BirdsUp?https://t.co/x65iCopBm6
— UTSA Football ? (@UTSAFTBL) February 7, 2019
Offensive Signees
The Roadrunners appeared more offensive minded this time around in signing day. They picked two solid three-star receivers in De’Corian Clark and Dywan Griffin. In high school, these two players showed why they had enough talent to be recruited by the Roadrunners. Clark’s high school career is perplexing but promising which landed him the 268 ranked receiver in the nation. In his junior year at OD Wyatt High School in Fort Worth, TX he hauled in 26 receptions for 533 yards and seven scores. However, in his senior year, he was held to one catch for only 22 yards. The raw talent is there. However, he can be polished with the helped of the wide receivers’ coaches.
The huge steal from this day was the signing of three-star recruit Dywan Griffin. To this day, he is UTSA’s highest-ranked player in the school’s history. He was given offers from schools such as Tennessee and Memphis and has proved his skill. Griffin is the 103rd ranked receiver in this recruiting class and the 26th ranked player in Louisiana. He is coming out of Landry-Walker High School from New Orleans and has flown under the radar. He is one of the most slept on players coming out of New Orleans.
Another pickup for the Roadrunners was Cedric Claiborne. The offensive tackle from Westfield High Scholl in Houston, TX is the 248th ranked offensive tackle in the nation and the 384th ranked player in the state of Texas. UTSA struggled keeping their quarterback protected last year, so picking up this three-star recruit is a big signing. He had an offer from Florida State, so he has big division one talent and should be a great fit for the Roadrunners.
The Transfers
The Roadrunners were able to pick up two solid three-star transfers during this signing period. They bagged Trevor Harmanson and Antonio Parks. Harmanson is an outside linebacker from Blinn College who showcased solid performances in his time at Blinn. This past year he recorded 39 total tackles, two sacks, and an interception in 11 games. His play landed him offers from multiple offers from Conference-USA teams, but he eventually decided on UTSA. His experience should be a good fit for this young UTSA defense who was unable to contain opposing quarterbacks all year.
Another defensive player that the ‘Runners were able to get was Antonio Parks. Parks, who is a junior and is transferring from the University of Arizona and is hoping to be a saving grace for UTSA’s secondary. The deep ball killed the Roadrunners last year, so Parks is a key edition. He had limited stats at Arizona, so his transfer is another steal for the Roadrunners.
UTSA has been able to take advantage of many talented in-state and out-of-state players to help bring this team to the promised land. Overall, this was a solid signing day for the team so expect to see these guys on the field on Saturday nights in the near future.
