UTSA tests toughness in first full-pad practice

The UTSA Roadrunners took the field in full pads for the first time this week, turning up the intensity as they gear up for the 2024 college football season. With fall camp underway, head coach Sean Lewis emphasized controlling emotions while embracing the physical demands of the early preseason grind. The session marked a key step in building team chemistry and establishing the foundation for a competitive campaign.

This early hit of full-contact practice comes after a disappointing 3-9 finish last season, the program’s third straight losing campaign. UTSA’s move to the American Athletic Conference in 2023 brought stiffer competition, exposing weaknesses on both sides of the ball. Lewis, hired in December 2023, has promised a more aggressive, physical identity—one that demands players hit harder, run faster, and think smarter. Full-pad drills signal the shift from theory to execution, putting rookies and veterans through the same gauntlet to test conditioning and mental toughness.

Players reported a noticeable rise in intensity compared to spring ball and early camp sessions. Linebacker Trey Hillman, a senior, said the difference between one-on-one drills and live contact was “night and day.” Offensive tackle Jaylon Haynes added that the physicality was more realistic, forcing linemen to fire off blocks faster and defenders to trust their tackling technique. UTSA’s defensive coordinator, Jess Loepp, told local reporters the team recorded more big collisions during Tuesday’s practice than in the first two weeks combined. The goal isn’t just to survive contact—it’s to dominate it.

What happens next could define the Roadrunners’ season. After a week of full-pad practices, UTSA will shift focus to special teams and situational reps before facing its first scrimmage on August 17. A strong showing there could build momentum heading into the opener against Arizona on August 31. But Lewis has already warned that early-season physicality must translate into sustained performance. The team’s identity is still taking shape, and every bone-jarring hit now is either building resilience—or exposing cracks in the foundation.