San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Seniors maximizing extra year of eligibility
When UTSA safety Kelechi Nwachuku delivered his senior speech during a team meeting leading up to the Roadrunners’ final home game last month, he reflected on all the teammates, coaches and staff who helped him during his career.
UTSA’s career leader with 66 games played, Nwachuku felt a sea of emotions as he offered advice to his younger teammates: “Always stay patient.”
“There are going to be so many highs and lows every day when you play college football, and you just have to keep preparing, keep working,” Nwachuku said. “Some days are going to be harder than others, but just know your time is coming, and you want to be most prepared when it does come, because you might not get another opportunity ever again.”
Few can speak to the value of patience better than UTSA’s group of sixth-year seniors, who joined the program in 2018 and sparked the rise from obscurity to consecutive conference championships before returning for a final lap in 2023.
While Frank Harris, Joshua Cephus and Rashad Wisdom claimed most of the spotlight, about a dozen UTSA super seniors utilized the extra year of eligibility allowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with many delivering career-best seasons or crossing personal milestones.
That group of Roadrunners is embracing their final set of practices this week, set to close their
careers with a matchup against Marshall in the Frisco Bowl at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
“I wouldn’t change anything. I would’ve come back again,” guard Terrell Haynes said. “Being around great guys, great staff, great teammates, it would be hard to not come back. So proud of the way guys have fought, and excited for this bowl game.”
Haynes and coach Jeff Traylor still recall the first team meeting after Traylor was hired in December 2019, as Haynes said his “naturally mean face” gave Traylor the impression they would never connect.
Nearly four years later, Traylor has learned that Haynes is “just a real chill, laid back, good dude” — one of the leaders driving energy in recent practices rather than needing a push from his coach.
Haynes described his final year of eligibility as a “blessing,” and he rounded back into form week after week following a pair of offseason
ankle surgeries. He highlighted the way Traylor and the Roadrunners’ culture have “changed me for the better,” cutting out selfish habits from early in his career.
“He used to call me an energy vampire just because of my face and demeanor,” Haynes said. “It goes back to my mindset back then, and what I was going through. Hopefully he doesn’t say that about me anymore.”
Sixth-year defensive lineman Trumane Bell remembers texting former UTSA running back Brenden Brady during his recruiting process in 2018, creating a list of goals that included winning conference championships and playing in bowl games.
Even after checking most of those boxes, Bell elected to come back for a sixth year in 2023. Adding about 20 pounds to his frame entering this season, Bell felt his power and run-stopping ability improve, and he became a starter
for the first time in his career.
“This year has just been amazing,” Bell said. “Not giving up, just continue to chase after my dreams, and do whatever it takes to help the team be successful. I’m happy I came back, and happy to be part of this team, and just trying to play one more game with my guys, one last time.”
When Tykee Ogle-Kellogg chose to return for his sixth season, he expected to have to compete for playing time in a crowded wide receiver room. But Zakhari Franklin’s transfer to Ole Miss and De’Corian Clark’s continued struggles with a knee injury led to a larger opening for playing time, and Ogle-Kellogg delivered by far his most productive season. His 30 receptions, 521 yards and seven touchdowns more than double his best marks from any previous campaign.
Following years of questions about his maturity and off-field commitment, Ogle-Kellogg’s “work ethic has just flipped,” Traylor said.
Harris describes Ogle-Kellogg as “like a little brother,” building on a connection that started when Harris hosted his recruiting visit in 2017. After long pushing OgleKellogg “probably the hardest” of any of the Roadrunners, Harris said he was proud to see talent translate to the field.
Ogle-Kellogg said he sometimes “got in my feelings a little bit” when coaches and teammates pushed him about off-field issues, adding that his improvement was simply a matter of focus.
“I just had to be more in tune, and really the want-to,” Ogle-Kellogg said. “I feel like if everything would’ve happened sooner, I probably wouldn’t have been ready for it. So, I think the timing was perfect.”
The extra year has helped many of the Roadrunners earn or work toward graduate degrees. Harris finished a master’s in public administration this spring, and Nwachuku is on track to complete his master’s in management of technology in May.
Ken Robinson, who started at UTSA in 2019, is lined up to complete his MBA next December — one of the reasons he said he intends to return.
Some of his teammates are still weighing the option, with tight end Oscar Cardenas and defensive lineman Joe Evans among the group yet to publicly commit one way or the other. Traylor said the Roadrunners have worked out who is staying and going, but he is “going to try to keep it a secret” to fend off any programs who might seek to add the returners as graduate transfers.
“They’re just mature, so good to have those guys,” Traylor said. “They’re veterans. They help lead us. It’s just awesome. I usually call them the old heads, my old souls. Just help my young kids, help me teach. Help me show them how to have fun, be rewarded, but keep the main thing the main thing.”