C-USA honors Harris, Barnes, Traylor

UTSA quarterback Frank Harris was named Conference USA’S Most Valuable Player, with running back Kevorian Barnes earning Freshman of the Year and Jeff Traylor repeating as Coach of the Year, the league announced Wednesday.

In his third full season as the Roadrunners’ starting quarterback, Harris delivered on the promise of being the league’s preseason player of the year, throwing for 3,865 yards and 31 touchdowns while adding 588 yards and nine scores on the ground. The Clemens product ranks third nationally in completion percentage (71.1) and is fourth in total offense per game (342.5 yards).

Barnes, from San Augustine, emerged midway through the year and became a stalwart in the Roadrunners’ offense. Across UTSA’S final seven games, Barnes averaged 99 yards per game with six touchdowns, finishing as the team’s leading rusher with 713 yards.

Traylor, in his third season at the helm, led the program to a second straight Conference USA championship and 11-win season to repeat as the league’s Coach of the Year. UTSA had won a combined seven games in the two years before his arrival but has gone 30-9 since.

The Roadrunners on Tuesday landed a combined 30 players on the league’s all-conference and all-freshman teams, including six first-team selections: Harris, wide receiver Zakhari Franklin, center Ahofitu Maka, defensive lineman Brandon Brown, safety Clifford Chattman and corner Corey Mayfield.

No. 25 UTSA will face No. 24 Troy in the Cure Bowl on Dec. 16 in Orlando, Fla.