Player profile: Triston Wade
It is never too early to start delving into football season. With fewer than 90 days left until UTSA starts the season on the road against Houston, we start to breakdown each scholarship player currently on the roster for the 2014 season. We'll go in numerical order and next up is Triston Wade.
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No. 7, Triston Wade, S, Senior
History
Free safety Triston Wade is the most decorated player in the history of the UTSA football program. He became the first player to earn all-conference honors after a tremendous sophomore season in Conference USA. He played in all 10 games as a freshman but really took over as the starter in the last half of the season. Ever since then the former John Tyler High School standout has been the biggest playmaker on the Roadrunner defense. He is the program's all-time leader in interceptions, fumbles caused and fumbles recovered despite not recording anything but two interceptions in the turnover department in 2013. UTSA as a whole struggled to create turnovers until the last five games of the season. Wade still led the defense in tackles and was strong in pass coverage as a junior.
Expectations
Wade and the UTSA coaching staff hope he can get back to his ball-hawking ways as a sophomore. With a step-up in competition and some inconsistency at the Rover safety position, Wade wasn't allowed to freelance as much as a junior as he did as a sophomore. This lowered his production as a playmaker but he was still arguably the best, and most consistent, defensive player on the team. Wade isn't the biggest safety in CUSA, but he may be the most aggressive. He likes to hit despite what his frame suggests and he has improved as a student of the game over the last two offseasons. With some true D-1 experience under his belt and the Rover position becoming stronger next to him, the expectations for Wade will be all-conference level production in his last season roaming the Roadrunner secondary.
Ceiling
Wade has the ability to be one of the top playmakers in CUSA if he is allowed to play more centerfield this season. He was given a lot more "man" responsibility as a junior because he was needed to help out in coverage as the cornerbacks and Rover position got their feet under them throughout the season. He was freed up a bit towards the end of the year as Bennett Okotcha really started to lockdown one side of the field, but defensive coordinator Neal Neathery would like to do more with Wade this season if the guys around him can handle the added responsibility. Wade's ceiling is the best safety in the Western Division of Conference USA and his ability to reach those heights really depends on the responsibility he is given this season.
Floor
Wade's floor has more to do with scheme than ability. While he does overplay sometimes and get out of position, Wade is going to be the best safety on the field in most games he plays this season. His floor will be a reflection of his impact and his impact will be determined by what he is asked to do within this defense. If the other secondary members are up to par, Wade can play an "Ed Reed" type safety role in this defense to make plays.
The future
This is it for Triston Wade at UTSA. A NFL training camp is most likely what awaits.
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