UTSA Football Embarks on Spring Practice with Roster Overhaul

Roadrunners welcome 39 newcomers as they look to bounce back from two straight 7-6 seasons

Mar. 22, 2026 at 9:11pm

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The UTSA football team is set to begin spring practices on Monday, with head coach Jeff Traylor facing a significant roster overhaul. The Roadrunners have welcomed 39 new players, the largest signing class of Traylor's six-year tenure, as they aim to reload after losing 23 players to the transfer portal. Starting quarterback Owen McCown will also sit out the spring as he recovers from offseason surgery, adding to the list of changes the team will navigate this spring.

Why it matters

UTSA is looking to bounce back after two straight 7-6 seasons that fell short of expectations. The Roadrunners have lost key contributors on both offense and defense, including top receiver Devin McCuin, who is transferring to Ohio State. Traylor acknowledges he needs to do a better job adapting to the frequent roster turnover in the modern college football landscape.

The details

UTSA has brought in 39 new players, the largest signing class of Traylor's tenure, to help offset the loss of 23 players to the transfer portal. The Roadrunners have lost their top receiver, tight ends, and a significant portion of their starting defense. Traylor says the team needs to focus on fixing big plays and red zone issues on defense this spring. The team is also adjusting to a new offensive coordinator, Rick Bowie, whose system is similar but has some differences from Traylor's previous approach.

  • UTSA will open spring practice on Monday, March 22, 2026.
  • The Roadrunners will kick off the 2026 season on September 5, 2026 against UTRGV.

The players

Jeff Traylor

The head coach of the UTSA Roadrunners, now in his sixth year leading the program.

Owen McCown

UTSA's starting quarterback, who will sit out spring practice as he recovers from offseason surgery.

Devin McCuin

UTSA's former top receiver, who is transferring to Ohio State after ranking in the top five in program history with 152 receptions, 1,696 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Rick Bowie

UTSA's new offensive coordinator, who is implementing a system similar but with some differences from Traylor's previous approach.

Brandon Tennison

A junior quarterback who has a leg up on the starting job with McCown out, as he is a Gilmer product familiar with Bowie's system.

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What they’re saying

“I'd say your order of priority has changed. I don't really want everybody to know what we're doing, but yeah, there's stuff you've got to adjust. I've done a terrible job. Obviously we've underachieved the last two years, so I've got to adjust.”

— Jeff Traylor, Head Coach

“Obviously the data shows that I've not adjusted very well to this, and I've got to do a better job. It's the highest we've ever been, so we will see. We've made quite a few adjustments, and hopefully they'll turn into more wins.”

— Jeff Traylor, Head Coach

What’s next

The Roadrunners will kick off the 2026 season on September 5, 2026 against UTRGV.

The takeaway

UTSA's football program is undergoing a significant roster overhaul as they look to bounce back from two straight 7-6 seasons. Head coach Jeff Traylor acknowledges he needs to do a better job adapting to the frequent roster turnover in modern college football, and the team will use the spring to implement a new offensive coordinator's system while also addressing defensive issues. The Roadrunners' ability to quickly integrate their large influx of new players will be crucial to their success in the 2026 season.