UTSA improved to 2 - 2 in conference as they dominated the hapless UTEP Miners in El Paso on Saturday. It wasn’t a pretty game, but UTSA did what they needed to do get a conference win with quite a few key pieces out with injury. As always, we start of our week with the 11 most impactful Roadrunners from Saturday’s game.

1. Jalen Rhodes - Rhodes hasn’t been as dominant as he was early this season, and the main thing missing from his game is the explosive runs he seemed to pop off regularly last season and at the beginning of this season. Saturday was more of a grind it out type game for Jalen as he contributed 88 total yards on 19 touches. Where he shined was getting the ball into the endzone as he punched it in for 2 scores.

2. Nate Gaines - Gaines picked off his team leading 3rd pass of the season, and contributed 3 stops. What stood out the most was the fact that it seemed each one of his 3 stops saved what could have been a long touchdown.

3. Dalton Sturm - Another solid but unspectacular performance from the senior QB. Dalton had a two long runs called back due to penalties, threw a pick, and also missed on a few open receivers (Stewart wide open for the TD stands out the most). All that being said, Dalton still had nearly 250 yards of total offense and threw a TD pass to Kerry Thomas.

4. Tyrell Clay - Clay was actually UTSA’s most active back carrying the ball. Clay helped carry the load while Rhodes was out of the game as he went for 77 yards on 16 carries. The senior from Corpus has been a real bright spot in the backfield, and has rewarded the staff for deciding not to go after a JUCO RB after the graduation of Jarveon Williams.

5. Devron Davis - Davis emerged from the doghouse and was able to step up with an INT for a TD and another pass breakup. Has not lived up to what were some lofty expectations coming into the season, but we need to remember he didn’t start flashing for UTSA til late last season. If he can finish as strong this season as he did last fans will mostly forget his early season struggles.

6. La’kel Bass - Led the team in tackles with 5 and also contributed a TFL. Bass was solid as he took over the defensive play calling with Josiah out for the game. The senior hasn’t been the havoc force he was last season, but has settled in and played solid football for UTSA over the last few weeks.

7. King Newton - King got the start at DT this week and rewarded the coach’s confidence with 5 tackles and 1.5 TFLs. Nate Newton’s son has been a solid if unspectacular piece to the Dline puzzle for the past 2 seasons, and it’s nice to see him get in the backfield and make some plays.

8. Kerry Thomas - Kerry returned after a few games of being in and out of the lineup with injury to lead the team with 48 receiving yards and a Touchdown. Another banged up player that did not get to play much in each of UTSA’s 2 losses that could be a huge part of the staff hopes is a strong finish to the season.

9. Greg Campbell - Another solid game from Campbell as a pass catcher as he lead the team with 5 catches for 40 yards. He was dinged a couple spots due to some holding calls that brought back long gains in the running game.

10. Yannis Routsas - The newly minted Ray Guy nominee had another very strong game as he boomed 5 punts for a 45 yard average. 3 of his 5 punts were stuck inside the 20. Outside of a bad S. Miss game, Yannis might be the most consistent weapon on the team right now.

11. Josh Stewart - The tall WR from college station had a solid 4 catches for 46 with a spectacular 3rd down catch along the sideline one of the UTSA touchdown drives.