San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Newcomers bring physicality to the offense
UTSA tight end Leroy Watson describes toughness simply: don’t flinch, and do whatever you have to do.
Watson played offensive line at Shiloh High in Snellville, Ga., converting to tight end after his graduation in 2016. Joining UTSA this spring as a transfer from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, Watson quickly earned coach Frank Wilson’s praise as one of the team’s most physical players.
As Watson takes part in his first fall practices with UTSA, he said his aim is to become a leader in his position group and instill toughness in his teammates.
“Iron sharpens iron,” Watson said. “If I go at him 100 percent all the time, and he comes at me 100 percent, then we do nothing but get better. Then, nobody in our conference can play with us. It’s constant physicality. We love it.”
Watson and offensive lineman Ahofitu Maka are UTSA’s two key newcomers up front, and the duo is looking to help the Roadrunners establish a more consistent and powerful running game this season.
Now 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds, Watson said he never had the body type to be a Division I offensive lineman. Following a redshirt year at Hutchinson, Watson caught six passes for 51 yards and a touchdown as a freshman in 2017, then six passes for 88 yards and a score in 2018.
“Certainly the best blocking tight end in junior college a year ago, that has continued to develop from a ball skills standpoint,” Wilson said. “He’s dominant at the point of attack. He has developed into being a pass threat, and he is everything that we hoped that he would be. Very pleased with his development.”
Watson describes himself as versatile and a “dominant run blocker.” He sees himself as a strong fit for UTSA’s offense, and he said the transition to a new system has been smooth. He expects to contribute this season, but he stressed winning is a priority over individual accolades.
Drawing from his experience at the position, Watson said he’s quickly developed a connection with the Roadrunners’ offensive linemen.
“We know each other very well. We hang out almost all the time,” Watson said. “Me and (left tackle) Trey Shannon, that’s big bro. So we have a real good connection. It just allows you to play better when that continuity is there.”
Maka, who said he has been practicing exclusively at center, also has been focused on fostering communication with the rest of the line. He said the carryover from spring has made the first few fall practices smooth, but his switch to a new position remains a work in progress.
Maka played guard alongside Richard Bates, now a center for Eastern Michigan, during his time at Independence (Kan.) Community College. Maka’s start with the Roadrunners marked his first experience at center.
“Back at Indy, I would listen to what my center would say. Now, I'm the one who has to call all the shots,” Maka said. “I’m more of a quiet guy. I just do what people tell me to do on the field. So it’s kind of hard to be confident in my calls. But I’m getting used to it.”
Maka earned the role of first-team center in the spring — an ascension he expected to take until at least the fall, he said.
Maka said the Roadrunners’ offense has a “template” for translating the opposing defenses’ look into a call for the offensive line. Though that role is a new one for Maka, Wilson praised him for quickly acclimating to the job.
“He’s smart. He’s athletic. He’s tough. He’s boisterous,” Wilson said. “Off the field, very unassuming. Kind of quiet. On the field, barks out commands. Brings physicality to the team. And an intellect of a guy who is second only to the quarterback when it comes to communicating with the other four offensive linemen.”
Together with four returning offensive line starters, Maka and Watson are looking to boost a rushing attack that ranked 128th of 130 FBS teams last year with 87.3 yards per game.
Sophomore running back Brenden Brady, a Steele product, enters the fall a bit heavier at 208 pounds, and Wilson spent most of the spring preaching a return to a tough, physical style of play.
Quarterbacks Frank Harris, Cordale Grundy and Lowell Narcisse provide additional rushing threats.
“We’ll for sure be able to run the ball a lot,” Harris said. “Our running backs are amazing, and our linemen are doing a great job of blocking people. And that just opens up so much for everybody else.”