Coach Jeff Traylor just dropped a bombshell at UTSA, adding a massive 17 new names to the Roadrunners’ elite single-digit jersey club, and he did it right in the middle of the 2026 season. After cruising to a 5-1 record and a 31-24 win against South Florida last week, the regular season is officially halfway done, and Traylor decided it was time to fill out those top roster spots. It’s a total shake-up to how they’ve always done things.
Tradition Gets a Midseason Upgrade
This isn’t some random thing, either. Since Traylor rolled into town in 2020, the Roadrunners have held a preseason vote to award these coveted single-digit jerseys. It’s not just about raw talent, though; these numbers go to the standouts who show up big on the field *and* uphold the program’s culture. For years, the 2, 1, and 0 digits, representing San Antonio’s area code, were the absolute highest honor. But heading into the 2026 season, those three numbers were the *only* ones handed out during preseason camp. What gives?
Traylor admitted that in this wild era of roster churn thanks to the transfer portal, he just wanted more than one single offseason to figure out who was truly worthy of those roles. Sticking to just the 210 might have been easier, but the idea of a single-digit jersey has become absolutely locked into UTSA’s program. It’s something the players genuinely aspire to. And Traylor knew they had to get it right. He said, “It’s the best way to do what we’re doing, because we’ve got a lot of tradition. I was trying to bring that back, because there was a time when they were in that number, and it really meant something. As the years have gone on, you can look out there and go, ‘Are we sure about that?’” You hear that? He’s looking to solidify that culture, not dilute it.
Who’s Rocking the New Threads?
So, with UTSA sitting pretty at 5-1, Traylor and the squad held a vote over the weekend to fill out the rest of the spots. We’re talking 17 new honorees! Check out who’s officially joining the club:
* **0:** David Amador II, Jeremiah Bailey
* **1:** Camron Cooper, Will Henderson III
* **2:** Owen McCown, Owen Pewee
* **3:** RJ Lester Jr., Michael Petro
* **4:** Mekhi Anderson, Brandon Tucker
* **5:** Darion White
* **6:** Jusiah Sampleton
* **7:** Ahamad Chapman, Brandon High Jr.
* **8:** Asaad Chapman
* **9:** Jameian Buxton
Plus, a bunch of other guys earned enough votes but are keeping their original numbers: Bryce Grays (26), Darrell Jones (74), Luke Lapeze (76), Tai Leonard (99), Deandre Marshall (70), A’Marion Peterson (28), and Ben Rios (57).
This midseason timing is key. It opened the door for players who might not have had a ton of experience at UTSA before this year, letting them earn their stripes on the field. Think guys like receiver Mekhi Anderson, linebacker Darion White, defensive tackle Jusiah Sampleton, and corners RJ Lester, Ahamad Chapman, and Asaad Chapman. Traylor put it perfectly: “It’s more of a natural allowing the season to play out, where in the old days when you did it, they hadn’t had a chance to go out there and do anything yet. So those guys have gone out there and showed how really good they are.”
Next up, the Roadrunners are squaring off against Navy at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Alamodome. You know what that means: these guys are gonna be suiting up in their brand-new numbers for the very first time. You gotta watch how this new energy hits the field!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply