With a program still in its formative years like UTSA, there isn’t the decades-worth of history, tradition, and legends for fans to rely on, argue about, or cherish. However, despite being as young as the football program is, we still have our fair share of heroes. Perhaps none loom as large in the hearts and minds of Roadrunner fans than Dalton Sturm.
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His story seems tailor-made by a Hollywood scriptwriter. He wracked up a stellar, multi-sport career at Goliad High School, but received no offers to play Division I football anywhere. Not ready to give up on his dream of playing big-time college football, Sturm walked on at UTSA. He quickly found himself fifth-string on the depth chart in 2014. However, by the time he left UTSA in 2017, he had been behind some of the biggest moments in Roadrunner history (this one for example).
Injuries derailed his training camp invites with the Dallas Cowboys and the now defunct San Antonio Commanders, but he has now made peace with it and has moved on from playing competitive football. He caught up with us recently to talk about his time at UTSA, beating Baylor, and passed on a special message to Roadrunner Nation.
EM: So, Dalton, I know your story is pretty well known to fans at this point. But, if you wouldn’t mind, can you tell us one more time how you decided to come to UTSA?
DS: Yeah, so, obviously growing up in a small town like Goliad, you play every sport, basketball and football being my top two. I had a couple of options to play basketball. No real opportunities to play football. I had a DII offer to play somewhere, but I’ve always been hard-headed and thought I could play Division I football somewhere.
I had a preferred walk-on opportunity at UTSA that Coach Coker offered me, so I took it. I knew a couple of the guys on there. I thought it would be a good opportunity to come in and compete really not knowing what it was going to be like to be a walk-on. I thought, all I just come in and compete and get in. But I got there weighing something like 170 pounds, but I still thought my athleticism would get me by. I was like fourth or fifth on the depth chart. It was tough for me. Being able to get accustomed to that and learn my role was huge. Everyone knows what happened after that.
EM: Going from a walk-on to being arguably the greatest quarterback in program history, you made quantum leaps in terms of your development. When did you have that breakthrough where you knew you belonged at this level?
DS: Going from playing at a 2A high school to playing in a Division I game was different. Being a freshman and getting thrown into the fire like that and losing a red shirt year, it wasn’t the best situation. At the end of my sophomore year, I think I knew that I really belonged. I think I played in or started something like 7 or 8 games that year and by the end of that season, I think it really clicked for me.
I remember that first game I started against La Tech that year. We weren’t a very good team and they were really good. My first drive I threw a pick six. I came back and threw another one. I was 1-5 with two interceptions after the first quarter and it wasn’t looking good. It was eye awakening. I settled down and threw four touchdown passes and we won on a last-second field goal. After doing that, I knew I was made for this and I could do this. After that it was time to grow and to build and that’s what we did.
EM: You were able to play for both of the Head Coaches in school history. What are your thoughts on Larry Coker and Frank Wilson?
DS: They’re both great coaches, first of all. Coach Coker did a great job building the program and getting guys in here who were dedicated to building the program up. He was able to recruit guys to UTSA when we had nothing, no buildings, no practice fields, no helmets, no nothing. I was with him for two years and really grew the next two under Coach Wilson.
I think how it ended with him wasn’t necessarily his fault. Hindsight being 20-20, things might have gone differently and we don’t know everything that happened. But I will always have the utmost respect for Coach Coker.
Like I said, I really grew under Coach Wilson. He and [former Offensive Coordinator Frank] Scelfo were the two guys that molded me. They really helped me to become the player that I became. How Coach Wilson is able to interact with the players and to recruit, I think he is going to be a really good coach for a really long time. I was really more mature and became really a better quarterback thanks to them. I have the utmost respect really for all of my coaches at UTSA.
EM: You’ve been around for some of the biggest moments in UTSA football history. What would you say are your favorite on-field memories with the Roadrunners?
DS: Yeah, beating Baylor definitely ranks up there with one of my favorites. Getting that first power five win was something we wanted to bring home to UTSA for a long time. I think we were well overdue. There were a lot of opportunities before that, but to get that first one under our belt was big.
Playing Texas State was always fun. I only got to play them once, but to play them there in San Marcos in that environment at a packed house, at least in the first half until we started kicking their tails. Playing at Kyle Field, playing in Stillwater, and playing at home in the Dome. When that place was packed there was nothing like it. There are so many different memories that I have, playing with guys that I still talk to all of the time. I wouldn’t trade my time at UTSA for anything.
EM: I know that it didn’t end up exactly as you would’ve liked with either the Cowboys or Commanders. Are you still pursuing playing at the pro level?
DS: No, I think I’m done. I had an elbow surgery right after I left the Cowboys. I went to Florida to train and hurt my elbow while I was training. I had never had any issues with my elbow or my shoulder the entire time I was playing football. It was an unfortunate incident that I got hurt and I started developing tendonitis.
I fought through it as best as I could and I don’t think that’s exactly why I got cut, but it was a good opportunity to learn from those guys. I tried out with Carolina right after that and then had the opportunity with the AAF. I thought that would have given me a good chance to get back to the league. But, to be quite blunt, that league sucked. It was piss poor in how they worked and was not anything that I would ever go back to. I’ve had opportunities since then to go to the CFL and XFL, but I think I have put that behind me and I’m blessed to have some good opportunities to pursue some things now. Football will always be a big part of my life, but things are going really good these days.
EM: Gotcha. Well, I know every Roadrunner fan is behind you and wishes you nothing but the best going forward. Now, I’m hoping you can settle a couple of debates for us. First, who do you consider to be UTSA’s rival? Second, helmet logo; are you a Rowdy head guy or a Texas logo guy?
DS: I wouldn’t say that Texas State is our rival necessarily. They haven’t beaten us and I don’t think we’ve beaten Louisiana Tech enough to consider them our rivals either. I think North Texas is a pretty good rivalry. There have been some great games in that rivalry. I would say them.
Logo wise, I like them both. I like the Texas. Growing up here, anything with Texas on it is something I like. My favorite uniform combo, I will say those, is the icy whites with the chrome on the helmets. Those are really my favorites.
EM: Last thing for you, what is a message you’d like to send out to all the Roadrunner fans?
DS: One thing I want to say is keep supporting the Roadrunners. I think it’s a learning curve for us right now. I know people hate to hear that, but I think our team is young this year. They are playing a lot better and I think they have a great future in front of them.
I want to say that I really appreciate everybody following me and wishing me well. I may not have gotten the chance to respond to everybody who’s reached out, but everybody who has sent me a message and wondered how I’m doing, I want them to know that I’m doing great, everything is great. My story doesn’t end here and I still have a long way to go.
It’s not an easy road to go from being a walk-on like I did, and to know that my story meant something to so many people. From grown adults to young kids, it warms my hear to know that I made a difference. It means the world to have that kind of support.
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