Harris back to provide ‘calm’ QB presence
First in a position-by-position series looking at the 2022 UTSA Roadrunners after spring workouts.
Today: Quarterbacks
Who’s back: Frank Harris, redshirt senior; Eddie Lee Marburger, redshirt freshman; Cam Peters, redshirt sophomore.
Who’s gone: Josh Adkins, Lowell Narcisse, Zach Rangel
2022 signees: Diego Tello, Brandon Tennison
What to expect: For the first time in his career, Harris will enter the year as the unquestioned No. 1 at quarterback, avoiding the speculation about competition for the job that has followed him the past three seasons.
Harris answered any questions about his passing ability in 2021, setting school records with 3,177 yards and 27 touchdowns while completing 66.1 percent of his attempts with just six interceptions. Though his arm strength will never be elite, Harris has developed the timing and accuracy to link up on sideline throws and deep routes that may have been elusive earlier in his career.
The Clemens product also gives the Roadrunners a dynamic rushing threat, picking up 566 yards and six touchdowns on the ground in 2021 after running for 528 yards and nine scores as a junior.
As the Roadrunners wrapped up spring practice last month, coach Jeff Traylor highlighted Harris’ continued improvement as one of the aspects of the team he was most pleased with.
“Just his progression in three years,” Traylor said. “He’s just so calm and so comfortable.”
Last season also marked the first time Harris made it through a year without a significant injury, starting all 14 games. He sat out the 2017 and 2018 seasons due to ACL tears, was limited to four games in 2019 due to a shoulder injury and pushed through a knee injury in 2020 that led him to miss one game and be limited in others.
After UTSA’S spring game, Harris said he was “blessed” and grateful to still be healthy at the end of a month of practices. His injury history has taught him to cherish every opportunity and not take any moment on the field for granted, understanding any play could be his last.
Harris also looked forward to an offseason of continued improvement, chasing a goal of 70 percent passing in 2022.
“Just keep getting better as a quarterback. Keep throwing the ball better,” Harris said. “Get bigger, faster, stronger, flexibility, everything. Learning defenses — all of those things. Keep going. Keep pushing my game. You can never get enough of it.”
Though the Roadrunners have no experienced backup at the position following the graduation of Smithson Valley alum and New Mexico State transfer Adkins, redshirt freshman Marburger has generated plenty of buzz about his potential.
He attempted just eight passes in limited action as a freshman but grabbed attention with a 67-yard touchdown strike to Tre’von Bradley late in a blowout loss to North Texas.
Though he still has much room for growth as he transitions to Division I football from Mission Sharyland Pioneer, Marburger boasts the arm strength to potentially expand UTSA’S offense with more long bombs and deep sideline passes.
While not offering the same speed and elusiveness as Harris, Marburger is an accomplished runner, picking up 1,177 yards and 26 touchdowns during his senior high school season.
Marburger appears to be the clear front-runner for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, but Traylor also highlighted the spring performance of sophomore Peters from Stafford.
“(Marburger) can throw it around. He’s a good ballplayer, but Cam is really coming on, too,” Traylor said. “He’s one that’s really stepped up. Those guys are in a heck of a battle for that backup spot.”
Projected depth chart
1. Frank Harris
2. Eddie Lee Marburger
3. Cam Peters