‘6-figure’ deal brings Harris back to UTSA
When UTSA quarterback Frank Harris first began to ponder returning to the Roadrunners for the 2023 football season, he said he felt “no desire to come back.”
After arriving on campus in 2017, the Clemens High School grad lost all or parts of three seasons to injuries. Then he took hold of the starting quarterback job to lead the University of Texas at San Antonio to back-to-back Conference USA championships. He was ready to take the next step, chasing a spot in the National Football League.
But as he mulled the possibilities, he recalled the charged atmosphere in the Alamodome last Friday night, where more than 41,000 fans cheered UTSA to victory in the title game. He thought about his love for the city. San Antonio’s 210 area code is tattooed on the back of his left calf; the city skyline stretches below his knee.
Then Harris found another reason — a financial reason — to return for another season of college football. The PM Group, a San Antonio advertising and marketing agency, offered to compensate him for the use of his name, image and likeness. Socalled NIL deals, first sanctioned by the NCAA last year, give college athletes a way to earn income related to their onfield exploits.
The PM Group’s founder and CEO, Bob Wills, said the arrangement with Harris totaled “six figures.”
Standing in the PM Group’s headquarters on Wednesday, Harris announced that he is return
ing to UTSA for a final year of eligibility in 2023. His decision prolongs the tenure of one of San Antonio’s most recognizable athletes and boosts UTSA’S hopes for next season as the football program jumps to the tougher American Athletic Conference.
Harris and Wills both declined to share details of the star athlete’s compensation.
“It was a big part of it, for sure,” Harris said of his decision to return to UTSA. “But I’m just blessed to be part of this team. I couldn’t leave those guys. I love my teammates, I love the coaching staff, and I love the city of San Antonio.”
Harris shared his decision just hours after being named Conference USA’S 2022 Most Valuable Player.
Wills referred to the honor, saying the PM Group had “agreed to fund the NIL compensation to secure the Conference USA MVP.”
Wills also announced the formation of City Fans 210, an NIL collective with a goal of raising “about $5 million” over the next
year to enable Harris and other athletes to continue their college careers.
The PM Group already was involved in NIL deals with 22 UTSA players, Wills said. The company announced in October that it had committed $360,000 over three years to Roadrunners football.
Wills said the City Fans 210 effort will require the support of individuals, businesses and government — an approach underscored by the presence of outgoing Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, County Judgeelect Peter Sakai and former state Sen. John Montford at Wednesday’s event.
“Forget the NFL. We don’t need it,” Wolff said. “We’ve got more excitement in college football than you’ll ever, ever see in the NFL.”
Harris has set more than 30 school records during his UTSA career, amassing 9,158 career passing yards and 73 touchdowns, plus 1,808 rushing yards and 24 scores.
His announcement Wednesday ended months of speculation about whether he would pursue an additional season — speculation that peaked this week as fans took to social media
to express their wish to see him in a Roadrunners uniform again next year.
After the Roadrunners defeated North Texas on Friday night to claim their second consecutive Conference USA title, UTSA coach Jeff Traylor said that contributions to the school’s NIL collectives, including 210 Inspired and the Runners Rising Project, could help keep Harris in San Antonio.
“I’d be hitting up 210Inspired.org
and getting some NIL money coming in,” Traylor said. “I’d make it really hard for him to leave. He’s fun to watch. That’s the best money you could ever spend.”
Many supporters rallied to Traylor’s call. April Ancira, vice president of the Ancira Auto Group and founder of 210 Inspired, used social media to solicit fan contributions.
Wills said his agreement with Harris is independent of any recent crowdfunding effort or other collective.
Harris’ early years at UTSA were star-crossed, as he missed the 2017 and 2018 seasons and part of 2019 with injuries.
He’s held the starting role at UTSA for the past three seasons, compiling a 31-10 record and sparking the most successful run in program history.
As UTSA prepares to shift to the more challenging American Athletic Conference next season, Harris will be at the helm of an offense that could bring back most of this year’s standouts.
Harris said his initial reaction to the prospect of returning to UTSA was that he’s “been here for a very long time.” But with only three full seasons under his belt, he concluded it was worth spending one more year to complete a traditional college playing career.
“I love the city of San Antonio,” Harris said. “I wasn’t ready to leave yet.”
“Sorry I startled y’all,” the star quarterback said. “Y’all were scared for a little bit, but you got one more year out of me, so let’s go.”