A promising Group of Five team at the beginning of the year is off to a rough start. The UTSA Roadrunners are 1-2. However, they still have a good bit of talent, so Tennessee Football will have to constantly be on the lookout for what they can do. Here are five UTSA players the Vols must keep an eye on.
5. Frank Harris, QB
At the beginning of the year, he would have been No. 1. However, UTSA quarterback Frank Harris missed last week due to a toe injury, which has limited his mobility, a key factor in the game, and is now day to day. If he’s out, Eddie Lee Marburger starts and takes this spot. For now, though, the Vols should prepare for Harris.
4. Kevorian Barnes, RB
Despite averaging under five yards a carry, Kevorian Barnes is a reliable workhorse for UTSA at running back. He has 51 carries for 245 yards, four catches for 20 yards and a touchdown on the year. Jeff Traylor, in a similar fashion to Josh Heupel, will likely stay patient with Barnes before going deep, so the Vols have to be on their heels.
3. Donyai Taylor, LB
Trey Moore should have this spot, as he has five tackles for a loss and four sacks on the season. However, Moore is expected to miss an undisclosed amount of time. Enter Donyai Taylor, who switches between safety and linebacker and has three tackles for a loss. He and former Tennessee Football linebacker Martavius French wil be the playmakers on defense.
2. Brandon Brown, DL
Part of the reason UTSA has enjoyed so much success stopping the run is the push their defensive line is getting up front, led by nose tackle Brandon Brown. Sure, he has just one tackle for a loss and four tackles overall this year, but he’s the unsung hero of the group. Given the questions surrounding the interior of the Vols’ offensive line, he’s a real threat.
1. Joshua Cephus, WR
Regardless of his quarterback, Traylor loves to take deep shots down the field, and we know Tennessee Football is vulnerable in the secondary. That opens things up for Joshua Cephus. For the year so far, Cephus has 24 catches for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Standing at 6’3″, he’s a legitimate deep threat, so he’ll be the top playmaker in the game.
