Only six FBS programs have more wins than UTSA since Jeff Traylor arrived in 2020 and all of them – Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Clemson – are P5 programs. UTSA, Liberty, and Coastal Carolina are the cream of the G5 crop with 39 wins over the last four seasons. 

The biggest question for Roadrunner fans is simple: Can it continue without program stalwarts such as Frank Harris and Rashad Wisdom? If my stop by the Alamo City on the 2024 Dave Campbell’s summer magazine tour was any indication, the answer is an emphatic yes. 

During my stop, I was able to watch a full spring practice and talk to Traylor, tight end Oscar Cardenas and linebacker Jamal Ligon. Here are some notes from the stop. 

OFFENSE 

• Potential starting quarterbacks Owen McCown and Eddie Lee Marburger are splitting reps with the first and second teams in the spring. McCown must be the leader in the clubhouse to start at quarterback since it was him and not ELM playing against Tennessee and starting in the bowl win over Marshall. The real battle might be for the third string spot with Brandon Tennison and Jackson Gilkey also splitting snaps. 
• The confidence in McCown and Marburger is high enough to where I’d wager the Roadrunners don’t go into the portal to bring in a real contender to start (though, never say never depending on the options at QB), but it wouldn’t shock me if UTSA dips into the portal for a veteran for depth. 
• The running back position was wiped out this spring due to injury, but the Roadrunners expect Kevorian Barnes, Rocko Griffin, and Robert Henry back by fall. Only Justin Rodriguez was a healthy scholarship participant in the practice I watched. This is a spot that wouldn’t shock me if UTSA flirts with a portal addition. 
• The wide receiver room looks completely different heading into 2024. Joshua Cephus is gone. JT Clark was rehabbing but not practicing full time yet. There is obviously no Zakahri Franklin. That means the young guys are ready to start a new chapter at the position – Willie McCoy, Devin McCuin, Chris Carpenter. The hope is Clark is ready by the fall. David Amador II and TCU transfer DJ Allen are breakout candidates. Texas Tech transfer JJ Sparkman is a big-bodied receiver who can do a lot of the same things as Clark. 
• No team in Texas feels better about their tight end room. Cardenas is Mr. Clutch and looked a little thinner this spring. He’s being called the new leader on offense. A name to watch is redshirt freshman Patrick Overmyer. The former prep quarterback earned rave reviews this spring and has the potential to be next in line at tight end for UTSA. 
• Not many G5 teams carry a true two-deep along the offensive line, but Traylor was adamant that he has 10 players he trusts in the trenches. The battle at center between Luke Lapeze and CJ James is tight. If I had to guess, Buffalo Kruise or Kamar Missouri would start at left tackle and Houston transfer Jaylen Garth at right tackle, but that changes if Makai Hart returns healthy in the fall. Walker Beaty and Deandre Marshall also have starting experience and the coach’s trust. The added depth at tackle means Venly Tatafu can slide inside to left guard with Cory Godinet slotted for right guard. Ben Rios is another name the staff likes. 

DEFENSE 

• The interior defensive line trio of Brandon Brown, Joe Evans, and Nick Booker-Brown give the Roadrunners one of the best run defenses in the American, especially with Asyrus Simon back on the edge. It sounds like SMU transfer Daemian Wimberly is already making splashes. The staff also likes the development of Vic Shaw. 
• Jimmori Robinson is tasked with replacing Trey Moore’s production off the edge, but it’ll take a team effort. The Roadrunners always have a star rusher – think Marcus Davenport or Charles Wiley. But UTSA might need more from the other linebackers, including Money Backers like Donyai Taylor and Owen Pewee. Pewee sounds like he’s poised for a breakout season. 
• The inside linebacker room at UTSA is stacked. Ligon returns and might break Wisdom’s all-time tackle mark. Martavius French also returns. UTSA added Alabama transfer Ian Jackson, but it is La Tech transfer Brevin Randle turning the most heads. 
• Former five-star cornerback Denver Harris was the talk of my trip. Every coach I spoke to raved about his talent, but also his growth off the field. UTSA assistant Joe Price coached at North Shore when Harris was a star prep recruit, so that relationship feels important. Harris is an NFL talent. Zah Frazier will start at the other corner. 
• No surprise, but Ken Robinson and Elliott Davison are penciled in as starters at safety. New Mexico transfer Jermarius Lewis impressed.