The UAB football team has unfinished business on its mind as it hits the road to face UTSA, Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
So how do the teams match up?
Here is AL.com's position-by-position breakdown for UAB's showdown with the Roadrunners:
Jacob Zeno is in good company these days as one of only two quarterbacks (Washington's Michael Penix Jr.) in the country who is top 10 in passing yards (1,795 yards), completions per game (29.3) and completion rate (75.5 percent), the latter two of which Zeno is ranked third and fourth, respectively. The San Antonio native has thrown 12 touchdowns against five interceptions, adding 101 yards and three scores on the ground, and continues to grow in his role as conductor of a unit ranked 16th in passing offense (304.2 ypg) and 27th in total offense (451.5 ypg).
Landry Lyddy made his first appearance last week in the rout of South Florida, going 1-of-4 for two yards, and third-stringer Harrison Barker appeared in his second game with three carries for 24 yards.
UTSA's Frank Harris missed two games early this season while dealing with an injury but made his triumphant return last week in the Roadrunners' win at Temple. Harris has passed for 761 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions in three games, adding 68 yards and a score on the ground, and Eddie Lee Marburger threw for 300 yards, three touchdowns and a pick in the former's absence.
Harris is one of the most clutch performers in the nation and led the Roadrunners on a last-minute game-winning drive against UAB two years ago in the Alamodome. He passed for 285 yards and four touchdowns a year ago in a 44-38 overtime win over the Blazers. Advantage: UTSA
Running back
UAB's Jermaine Brown Jr. had his best outing of the season last week, posting 116 yards and four scores on the ground, and moved into fifth place in UAB history in rushing yards (2,541 yards) and rushing touchdowns (25). He is also one of four players in program history with more than 4,000 career all-purpose yards and needs 603 yards to set the record.
Isaiah Jacobs has 312 total yards and three scores but missed last week with an injury. His status is questionable heading into the showdown with UTSA. Lee Beebe, who has two fumble recoveries on special teams, stepped up as the second option in the backfield and added 44 yards and a touchdown. Lee Witherspoon and Demetrius Battle have combined for 49 yards and receivers Brandon Buckhaulter, TJ Jones and Amare Thomas are also utilized in the running game.
The Roadrunners are three-deep at running back, ranking 77th in rushing offense (146.4 ypg), and sophomore Kevorian Barnes leads the unit with more than twice as many attempts as both Robert Henry and Rocko Griffin. Barnes has a team-high 337 yards and two touchdowns, followed by Henry with 207 yards and three scores. Griffin has contributed 116 yards and a touchdown, and all three have a combined 21 receptions for 101 yards. Advantage: Even
Receiver/tight end
Fred Farrier II has the speed and route-running ability to be UAB's top deep threat but has not had that many opportunities in reeling in 13 catches for 198 yards for a 15.2 average. TJ Jones and Brandon Buckhaulter can be used both vertically and laterally, proven last week with a 75-yard touchdown catch by Buckhaulter on a jet sweep. The Blazers' tight end trio is adept in both required duties of blocking and receiving and Bryce Damous leads the unit with 18 catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Dallas Payne and Terrell McDonald have a combined 11 catches for 113 yards.
UTSA lost one of its top tree receivers from last season to the transfer portal, another, De'Corian Clark, is currently out with an injury, but Joshua Cephus is back and leading the unit with a team-high 38 reception for 386 yards and four touchdowns. Fellow senior Tykee Ogle-Kellogg is stepping up in his final season with 15 receptions, 269 yards and three touchdowns, and true freshman Devin McCuin has taken up the slack in Clark's absence with 14 catches for 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Juniors Chris Carpenter and Willie McCoy have five catches each for a combined 87 yards with McCoy adding a score.
Senior tight end Oscar Cardenas is a mismatch against most defenses and caught the game-winning touchdown pass two years ago to lift the Roadrunners over UAB in the final seconds. Dan Dishman has played in only one game this season but is hopeful for a return this week. Redshirt freshman Houston Thomas has held his own in Dishman's place. Advantage: UAB
Offensive line
The Blazers saw another change along the offensive line last week, starting Tater Reid at right tackle and Quez Yates back at right guard, and produced its best rushing effort (253 yards) of the season. UAB now ranks 76th in rushing offense (147.3 ypg) and has given up 13 sacks and 46 tackles for loss at the midway point of the season. Will Parker and Luke Jones have both settled in on the left side, Jones starting the last three games, and Brady Wilson has been an anchor at center. Reid went down last week against South Florida and Trey Bedosky's experience paid off in maintaining order along the right side.
UTSA has also seen a shuffle along its offensive line, due to injuries at the tackle positions, and has given up 12 sacks and 29 tackles for loss this season. Venly Tatafu took over at left tackle last week, subbing for Walker Baty, who started the first four games, and senior center Ernesto Almaraz moved to right tackle after Makai Hart went down. Sophomore Luke Lapeze took over center duties three weeks ago and is expected to remain in the middle, and senior Terrell Haynes was moved to left guard when Tatafu went to tackle. True sophomore Cory Godinet took over right guard from Haynes. Advantage: Even
Defensive line
UAB's defense is showing improvement but is still the Achilles heel of the team to this point of the season. The Blazers have yet to figure out how to stop the run, ranking 123rd in rushing defense (205.5 ypg), and the defensive line is dealing with a couple of injuries that have forced a trio of true freshmen to enter the fray. Michael Fairbanks II has started every game at defensive end while racking up 13 tackles (1.5 for loss) and 1/2 sack and forcing a team-high three fumbles.
Kevin Penn is having his best season on the Southside, racking up 17 tackles (3 for loss) and three sacks, but missed last week's win over South Florida. Fish McWilliams has 11 tackles and a fumble recovery, and Joker Gill has contributed six tackles. Tyrique Howard has four tackles (1.5 for loss) and 1/2 sack but missed the last two games. Miquon Merriweather received his first start at nose tackle last week and, along with Eamon Smalls and Emmanuel Waller, has appeared in three games each with a combined nine tackles.
The Roadrunners rank 107th in the nation in total defense (414.4 ypg) and the defensive line has aided in ranking 81st in rushing defense (151.8 ypg). UTSA operates out of a traditional 3-4 alignment, led by senior bookends Trumane Bell II and Joe Evans, both of whom have eight tackles each with Bell tacking on a sack.
Asyros Simon and Ronald Triplette have contributed eight tackles each behind Bell, and Brandon Matterson and Nick Booker-Brown have a combined 11 tackles (4.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks on the other side. Brandon Brown is a load in the middle at nose tackle, posting eight tackles and recovering a fumble, and Christian Clayton and Tai Leonard round out the rotation. Advantage: UTSA
The Blazers are getting plenty of production from their linebacker corps, providing more than half of the team's tackles for loss and sack total, and Jackson Bratton leads the unit with 33 tackles (3.5 for loss), two sacks and a fumble recovery. Following the loss of Charlie Goode for the season, redshirt sophomore Will Sorrells and true freshman Everett Roussaw Jr. have split time next to Bratton in the middle while combining for 32 tackles (2 for loss) and 1.5 sacks.
Michael Moore is having his best season at SAM linebacker, starting four games this season, and leads the outside linebacker unit with 34 tackles (3 for loss). On the opposite side at JACK, LSU transfer Desmond Little has earned five starts, producing 17 tackles (4.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks, and Nikia Eason Jr. is tied with Penn for a team-high three sacks while adding 14 tackles (3 for loss) and recovering two fumbles. Kendall Johnson has contributed five tackles and a sack behind Little.
UTSA's linebacker corps is the single most productive unit for the Roadrunners, totaling two-thirds of the team's tackles for loss and sack totals. Avery Morris has started four games at the MIKE position, racking up 23 tackles (1.5 for loss) and a sack, while Martavius French has one start and a team-high 29 tackles (1/2 loss) working behind Morris. Trey More and Jimmori Robinson form a dangerous tandem at the WILL position and have caused quite a bit of damage in the backfield with a combined 39 tackles (11.5 for loss) and six sacks.
On the outside, senior Jamal Ligon is locked in the JACK role, producing 17 tackles (1 for loss), and East Mississippi Community College transfer Rodney Groce has earned time at the position. Donyai Taylor has started all five games at SAM and combined with Owen Pewee for 30 tackles (5 for loss). Advantage: UTSA
UAB's secondary is drastically improving and now ranks 76th in passing yards allowed (234.3 ypg) after holding South Florida to only 124 passing yards through three quarters of its win over the Bulls. Keondre Swoopes missed the opener but has been one of the Blazers' best players on the field, posting a team-high 38 tackles from both strong safety and the STAR position and adding an interception and fumble recovery last week.
Along with Swoopes in the backend, Ike Rowell has racked up 20 tackles and two pass breakups in four starts at strong safety, and Damien Miller has switched between linebacker and safety, racking up 17 tackles and forcing two fumbles. Ray Thornton III has three starts under his belt at free safety, contributing eight tackles and three pass breakups, and true freshman Chris Bracy is developing at a rapid rate and has nine tackles and an interception. Damon Miller has dealt with injuries this season and AJ Brown has appeared in every game to bolster the depth.
The cornerback rotation is technically four-deep halfway through the season but Mac McWilliams, BJ Mayes and Colby Dempsey have formed a solid trio with the aid of true freshman Ricky Lee III. McWilliams has 29 tackles and four pass breakups, and Lee has seven stops along with a pick. Mayes and Dempsey have combined for 30 tackles, the former tacking on an interception, and both are tied with a team-high six pass breakups. A.D. Diamond pulled down his first career pick last week to end the final South Florida possession.
Despite a senior-laden secondary, the Roadrunners rank 110th nationally in passing yards allowed (262.6 ypg) and are one of four teams (Arizona, Arizona State and New Mexico) yet to intercept a pass this season. Rashad Wisdom is second on the team with 24 tackles and leads the unit from his back safety position, along with fellow senior Kelechi Nwachuka. Ken Robinson and Incarnate Word transfer form a second senior duo at free safety and have a combined 42 tackles (1.5 for loss).
Another pair of seniors start at the corner spots, Nicktroy Fortune and Dywan Griffin, and junior Kam Alexander is right there in the mix. Fortune and Griffin have pooled together 26 tackles and three pass breakups, and Alexander leads the trio with 18 tackles (1 For loss) and a team-high six pass breakups. Advantage: UAB
Special Teams
UAB kicker Matt Quinn seemed to be back on track after going 3-for-3 at Tulane but missed his only attempt last week in the win over South Florida. He is now 4-of-8 on the season, all four misses on attempts less than 40 yards but 2-for-2 from beyond. Patrick Foley has turned out to be a useful weapon in the field position and the Arkansas transfer is averaging 39.9 yards on 18 attempts while forcing three fair catches and downing two kicks inside the 20-yard line. Mac McWilliams has three punt returns, breaking one loose for 19 yards, and Jermaine Brown Jr. and true freshman Kameran Shanks are still biding their time on kickoff return.
Chase Allen is a perfect 2-for-2 on field goals this season, knocking back a long of 46 yards, while kickoff specialist Tate Sandell has 11 touchbacks on 23 kickoffs, along with a miss on his only field goal attempt. Lucas Dean has 22 punt attempts for 41.1 yards on average, including nine fair catches and two touchbacks. Joshua Cephus and Chris Carpenter have shared punt return duties and Carpenter and Willie McCoy return kickoffs. Advantage: Even
Trent Dilfer and his UAB staff are learning and have hopefully turned the corner on the season with adjustments and familiarity within a new system. Meanwhile, UTSA's Jeff Traylor is coming off his second conference title and has the Roadrunners immediately competing in the new AAC. Advantage: UTSA
The last three games have been decided by a single possession and UTSA has won the past two meetings on the final play of the game. Both offenses are humming and a shootout is to be expected, but the team with the best defensive effort is likely to walk away the victor. Advantage: UTSA
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.