UTSA is back at the proof of concept stage … again.

By Rich Cirminiello | @RichCirminiello

The Roadrunners started from scratch in 2011 when they played their first-ever game. The situation certainly isn’t that dire today, but the program went solidly in reverse a year ago. After starting so strong with an upset of Houston and a three-point loss to eventual Pac-12 South champ Arizona, the team sunk into the Conference USA wilderness with a disappointing 4-8 finish.

UTSA still brims with potential, and head coach Larry Coker is the right man to make sure that potential is realized. But the Roadrunners lost a ton of senior leadership to graduation, putting nearly every position up for grabs this offseason.

Only six starters return from a year ago, so there’ll be competition everywhere this summer. And maybe that’s not such a bad thing after the way last season unfolded. No position will get more attention than quarterback, which was the face of the Roadrunners’ offensive meltdown in 2014.

Redshirt freshman Blake Bogenschutz, the backup before breaking his wrist, is the expected heir, though Austin Robinson and Michigan transfer Russell Bellomy will provide competition. Whoever wins the job will be joined in the backfield by junior Jarveon Williams, who has the potential to be the best back in UTSA’s brief history.

If not for Neal Neathery’s defense, 2014 would have been even worse for the Roadrunners; two of their four victories occurred despite scoring no more than 16 points in either game. And while only four starters are back, there’s a sense around San Antonio that the program won’t skip a beat after properly preparing the backups for this year’s opportunity to be promoted.

UTSA harbors no stars on pro scouts’ radar. Instead, it relies upon a blue-collar work ethic and sound fundamentals to force opponents to earn every yard—and point—they get.

UTSA must have a short memory, because last year was a significant setback for a veteran team that was eyeing a first bowl game—and even West Division contention. It’s a good thing the Roadrunners have recent experience building from the ground up, because that’ll be a common theme leading up to the opener at Arizona.

After failing to capitalize on a veteran squad, UTSA is out to recapture the momentum it amassed by going 7-5 two years ago with a squad comprised of a bunch of first-time starters.

What you need to know about the offense: The defense has been ahead of the offense in San Antonio since UTSA’s birth of football. But last season was a worst-case scenario. The Roadrunners failed to properly manage life after longtime QB Eric Soza, sputtering from start to finish in a truly hideous campaign. So, the return of just two starters, TE David Morgan and OG William Cavanaugh, can be viewed as either a blessing or a curse. If this unit is to show signs of life in 2015, it must come from the backfield. RB Jarveon Williams has every-down ability, provided he can stay healthy and get help from an O-line that’ll be breaking in three new starters. The most visible competition will take place at quarterback, a position that used three different players with similarly noxious results in 2014. The job is young Blake Bogenschutz’s to lose. He has the potential to be the next Soza, but first must hold off Austin Robinson and Michigan transfer Russell Bellomy, who arrives in July.

What you need to know about the defense: Blue-collar. Scrappy. Underrated. Coordinator Neal Neathery continues to manufacture a self-made D that helps keep the Roadrunners competitive on Saturdays. Last year’s squad, as a prime example, ranked third in the league—and 38th nationally—in yards per play allowed. Maintaining that stingy level of play, though, will require seven new starters to play in 2015 as if they’ve been in the lineup before. All five of last year’s league all-stars were seniors, creating an opening for a new set of Roadrunners to bask in a bigger spotlight. DE Jason Neill, DT Brian Price, LB Drew Douglas, CB Bennett Okotcha and SS Michael Egwuagu are all poised to become the new cornerstones of the defense. Despite modest expectations, complete anonymity away from campus and a lack of household names, it should surprise no one if UTSA is again one of Conference USA toughest defenses to navigate in 2015.

What to watch for on offense: Putting out an APB for a QB. Roadrunner quarterbacks were dreadful—and banged up—in 2014, combing to throw just seven touchdown passes. The good news is that favorite Blake Bogenschutz and likely backup Austin Robinson both earned valuable game reps a year ago. Bogenschutz is smart and efficient, which is exactly what Larry Coker expects from his guy behind center. The competition will get a new twist in the summer when Michigan transfer Russell Bellomy arrives in San Antonio. The Texan never made an impact in Ann Arbor, and has one season of eligibility left.

What to watch for on defense: Is Brooks back? On a defense that returns just four starters—and no all-stars—UTSA really needs its veterans to play up to their potential. DE Codie Brooks, as a prime example. The former walk-on earned a free ride with his play in 2013, but regressed a year ago because of injuries and a general lack of consistency. And this past spring was missed because of injury. The Roadrunners need Brooks to channel his freshman self, teaming up with Jason Neill to give the defense a high-motor, productive bookend for opposing tackles to manage.

The team will be far better if … the offense locates a pulse. The Roadrunners have been scrappy on defense in recent years, and should be again in 2015. But if the offense even resembles the 2014 unit, holistic growth will be impossible in San Antonio. UTSA was held to 16 or fewer points seven times last fall, threw just seven touchdown passes and ranked 124th nationally in yards per play. If this situation doesn’t improve, the Roadrunners can’t possibly improve.

The Schedule: As is often the case, the Roadrunners will begin league play battle-tested, having faced Arizona, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Colorado State in September.
– UTSA hosts Louisiana Tech on Oct. 10, and will not return to the Alamodome again until Nov. 7, when Old Dominion comes to town.
– The schedule is built for a Roadrunner rally in November, with three of the final four games being staged in San Antonio.
– Only three of this season’s opponents finished 2014 with a losing record, Southern Miss, North Texas and Charlotte.
– The Roadrunners will begin the Conference USA portion of the schedule with an Oct. 3 venture to West Texas to meet UTEP in the Sun Bowl.
– WATCH OUT FOR … Charlotte. By the time the Miners journey east to the Queen City, Brad Lambert’s 49ers should be a lot more comfortable in their maiden season in Conference USA.

Best Offensive Player: Junior Jarveon Williams. UTSA is about to rip the training wheels off Williams, who’s set to become the premier player on a needy offense. He has 1,000-yard potential, provided he stays healthy, as well as the complete support and confidence of the coaching staff. What Williams probably won’t have is much help from the rest of the unit, the only element capable of keeping his strong legs from churning through opposing defenses for additional yards.

Best Defensive Player: Senior LB Drew Douglas. Douglas elevated the level of his play in 2014. In 2015, he’ll be asked to do even more. He’s the heart-and-soul of the Roadrunner defense, a three-down linebacker at Mike. Douglas is in many the epitome of a UTSA defender; he’s smart, hard-working and not prone to many mistakes. This fall, he’ll add teacher and mentor to his resume, because he’s one of just four returning starters on this side of the ball.

Key player to a successful season: Sophomore QB Blake Bogenschutz. Or whoever wins the quarterback job. It’s an obvious choice, but also the only choice for a program that was so feeble on offense a season ago. Bogenschutz authored a brilliant high school career, including a state championship, and won the No. 2 job as a true freshman in 2014. Now he needs to build on the flashes he showed before an injury ended his debut after just a pair of games. Bogenschutz is a winner. UTSA hopes that becomes evident as early as this fall.

The season will be a success if … UTSA is playing its best football in November. Appearing in that school-first bowl game was supposed to happen in 2014. It didn’t. And now that the Roadrunners return just a small handful of starters, they’re unlikely to break through in 2015, especially with opening games versus Arizona, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Colorado State. This season must be a table-setter that ends with enough momentum to feel optimistic about the 2016 campaign.

Key game: Nov. 21 vs. Rice. November will be the most telling month for Larry Coker’s kids. And no game in that final stretch will be more important to the Roadrunners than the visit from Rice, the West’s steadiest program. If UTSA can deliver an upset in the Alamodome, it’ll be the kind of game that can transform the entire feel of a season. The Owls are what the Roadrunners hope to someday be. In the third week of November, though, they just want to be better than their Houston rivals.

2014 Fun Stats:
– Third-down%: UTSA 28% – Opponents 43%
– Touchdowns passes: UTSA 7 – Opponents 18
– Sacks: UTSA 21 – Opponents 29

Players You Need To Know

1. LB Drew Douglas, Sr.
Douglas is the epitome of a UTSA defender, tough, fundamentally-sound and unlikely to be outworked. He elevated his play in the middle in 2014, finishing third on the team with 71 tackles, seven of which were behind the line. The 6-1, 230-pounder can scrape through the traffic to be proficient as a run defender and against the pass. Douglas will be one of the cornerstones of the 2015 D, with a shot at 100 tackles now that the front wall is rebuilding.

2. RB Jarveon Williams, Jr.
Head coach Larry Coker is excited by the future of Williams, who’s on the brink of becoming the much-needed linchpin of this sagging offense. As a sophomore, Williams came off the bench in eight games to rush for 325 yards and three touchdowns on 66 carries, adding 14 receptions for 124 yards. He’s a squat 5-9, 200-pounder, with the low center of gravity and powerful legs to run through tacklers. In Williams, Coker sees shades of Barry Sanders, who the coach had at Oklahoma State in the late 1980s.

3. DE Jason Neill, Sr.
Neill returned from a season-ending knee injury suffered in 2013 to become one of UTSA’s more consistent pass rushers. Although he only started four games, he made 29 tackles, 6.5 stops for loss and a team-high 3.5 sacks. Neill is a scrappy, hard-working 6-2, 260-pounder who should lock down one of the openings at end. Plus, he’ll be even better prepared to disrupt now that he’s further removed from the serious injury.

4. TE David Morgan, Sr.
As the UTSA receiving corps transition following a number of key graduations, Morgan will play an even bigger in the passing game. Despite missing three games to injury, he still finished fourth on the team with 20 receptions for 255 yards and a touchdown. With better quarterback support and a full season of reps, the 6-4, 250-pounder is capable of elevating beyond last season’s honorable mention All-Conference USA recognition.

5. CB Bennett Okotcha, Sr.
Okotcha is back as the leader of the Roadrunner secondary. The one-time Oklahoma transfer has started 20 games in San Antonio, earning honorable mention All-Conference USA in 2013. A year ago, he made 23 tackles, a pick and five pass breakups. At 6-0 and 195 pounds, Okotcha possesses the length to match up with many of the bigger receivers in the league. But he needs to polish up his overall game and take another big step forward.

6. DE Codie Brooks, Jr.
Brooks never got on track in 2014, but he’s seeking redemption this season. Although the 6-1, 250-pounder endured a sophomore slump last fall, he’s the same former walk-on who earned a scholarship with 34 tackles, four pass breakups and a team-best five sacks in 2013. Brooks has quality fundamentals as a pass rusher, a good thing since he missed all of spring to rehab an injury. Now he just needs to stay healthy.

7. S Michael Egwuagu, Jr.
The body of work is small. But the potential is considerable. The Roadrunners are excited by the raw ability of Egwuagu, a three-game starter in 2014 who made 41 tackles, three stops for loss and a pick. He’s the frontrunner at Dawg, bringing both size and athleticism to a position that has typically been manned by overachievers. The 6-0, 225-pound Egwuagu, though, is a cut above his predecessors, which he plans to showcase in the fall.

8. DT Brian Price, Sr.
Price is an underrated cog in a D-line rotation that helped hold opponents to just 3.6 yards per carry a year ago. He’s come a long way since transferring from Hancock (Calif.) Junior College two years ago, clogging running lanes with his strength and 6-3, 310-pound frame. In 2014, he missed three games with an injury that also cost him the spring, yet still notched 23 tackles, three stops for loss, two sacks and three quarterback hurries.

9. WR Kenny Bias, Sr.
This is a critical year for Bias, who’s being asked to finally fulfill his potential in the passing game. He has the raw ability, especially now that he appears to have doused all of his off-field fires. Bias is 6-1 and 180 pounds, with good wheels. But consistency has eluded him, resulting in non-existent production, such as last season’s seven catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns. With one year remaining, the staff is hopeful No. 81 will operate with a sense of urgency.

10. OG William Cavanaugh, Sr.
Cavanaugh is suddenly the veteran of an offensive line that’s been stripped down by graduation. He’s the lone returning starter, bringing six starts at right guard in 2014, and 15 for his career. Cavanaugh is a blue-collar 6-1, 310-pounder, with the drive and work ethic to play to the whistle. This season, he’ll be asked to be a leader, especially with so many newcomers expected to compete for a spot in the two-deep.