Brady, Sharp add to injury woes
As UTSA kicked off the week of preparation for a return trip to the Conference USA championship game, coach Jeff Traylor said the biggest difference from one year to the next is the Roadrunners' injury situation.
Running back Brenden Brady and tight end Gavin Sharp will be out against North Texas on Friday in the Alamodome due to injuries suffered Saturday against UTEP, Traylor said Monday, bringing the Roadrunners to eight starting-caliber players on the injured list.
“We've just been in a constant shuffle the entire season,” Traylor said. “We have eight starters down, guys that we were counting on to play that we just keep shuffling. That's not even to mention the backups that have been out, freak stuff. So we say it all the time: ‘Healthy teams don't win championships. Tough ones do.' ”
The loss of Brady, UTSA'S leading rusher this season with 699 yards and nine touchdowns, leaves the Roadrunners thin at running back.
Trelon Smith, an Arkansas transfer who was projected as one of UTSA'S primary backs entering the year, is a gametime decision for Friday after sitting out the past three weeks to rest a nagging right ankle injury, Traylor said.
Redshirt freshman Kevorian Barnes, a midseason revelation for the
Roadrunners who is averaging 86.3 yards across UTSA'S past six games, will “obviously start” Friday, Traylor said.
“Then, we have to make some decisions of who that next back is going to be,” Traylor said.
JUCO newcomer Tye Edwards has 14 carries across three games this season, and walk-on Justin Rodriguez compiled 14 carries late in blowout wins against Louisiana Tech and Rice.
With few other options on the roster, Barnes could be in line for a significant workload.
“The ball is not heavy,” Traylor said. “He'll be fine.”
The latest injuries add to a list of missing standouts that includes safety Rashad Wisdom, wideout
De'corian Clark, defensive lineman Brandon Matterson and offensive tackles Makai Hart and Demetris Allen.
Brady injured his left arm Saturday when his elbow hyperextended as he braced against the turf while going to the ground at the end of a run.
Sharp suffered a leg injury as a UTEP player fell on him from behind during a block, leaving the lower half of Sharp's leg twisted at an unnatural angle. He left the field on a cart and was taken to an area hospital.
Traylor said both players attended UTSA'S practice Monday and were in “great spirits,” with Sharp watching from a scooter and Brady wearing a brace on his arm.
The injuries served as
ammunition for the halftime speech that helped UTSA rally from a 24point deficit for a 34-31 win, Traylor said, with Brady chiming in to fire up his teammates.
“What would Gavin want them to do? I can promise you Gavin is going to feel a lot better when this game is over if we go finish this thing correctly and come back and win the ballgame,” Traylor said. “I Facetimed Gavin after the game once he got released from the hospital, and he started crying that he was so happy the kids came back and won the game. I believe a lot of that was because of Gavin and Brenden. Those kids are mentally tough, man.”