2025 Position Previews: Defensive Back

Tariq Woolen of the Seattle Seahawks, Rashad Wisdom of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Zah Fraizer of the Chicago Bears.

All UTSA Defensive Backfield Legends now playing in the league. UTSA Football has produced elite defensive back NFL caliber talent which gives everyone affiliated with UTSA a tremendous amount of pride. And it may have you wondering, will the trend continue?

Or maybe the question isn’t a matter of if but more so a question of when that is on your mind. When thinking about UTSA’s secondary, you simply think, who’s next?

In 2025, the UTSA defensive backfield has potential. There is an interchangeable ability between positions, real on field experience, and pure raw athleticism, but is there chemistry?

Chemists themselves will confirm that just the right combination of parts to obtain the perfect mixture doesn’t happen every day, those special moments and discoveries are few and far between, but they do happen. You just have to have the right pieces, and UTSA has those pieces, or at least it appears to. The question is whether or not those pieces will mix together into the formula UTSA needs this fall. UTSA fans have seen how a special secondary can make a good defense great. And great defenses win championships.

Here are some of the reasons why UTSA just might have the pieces it needs to create this perfect championship mix.

Experienced Veterans

The 2025 UTSA Roadrunner defensive backfield will be led by upperclassmen Kaden Meier, Zach Morris and Jemarius Lewis—all of whom logged significant playing time across their collegiate careers. While Morris and Lewis saw some playing time at UTSA last fall, both were major contributors at New Mexico before transferring to San Antonio. Kaden Meier likewise cut his teeth in the Mountain West Conference before entering the transfer portal. Tyan Milton and Jimmy Wyrick also return for another season after flashing some potential in 2024.

Transfer Portal Wildcards

Cam Upshaw Jr. is a transfer from our friends over in Memphis and could earn more snaps as he settles into the defense. The fun fact is that he never actually saw on field game time during his stint with the Tigers, which I find incredibly odd. Upshaw was ranked in the top 50 safeties in the nation for his senior class by ESPN and No. 75 by 247Sports coming out of high school. He also went off in community college, posting some crazy high statistics.

The Roadrunners also have a hard-hitting cornerback transfer by the name of Armoni Rue. Rue’s resume and tape alone is enough to get excited about, but what’s more is that he reminds me of Zah Fraizer, and not just because of his on-field capabilities. Rue is coming to the 210 from the junior college ranks, as Zah Frazier did a couple of years back, and we know how that turned out.

UTSA double-dipped on transfers out of UCF to attempt to bolster the defensive depth. Both BJ Jacob and Jashad Presley come to San Antonio via Orlando looking to crack the two deep. Neither have made much of a splash throughout their collegiate career thus far, but their athleticism could give them a leg up on breaking through with the Roadrunners.

Young Depth

Sophomore Davin Martin will compete for a starting spot after seeing increasing playing time throughout 2024. Martin is a track freak, possessing world class speed in which he is now morphing into a weapon on the gridiron.. Over 17 games in 2023–24 he logged 14 tackles, 1 sack, and a fumble recovery for the Roadrunners.

Safety Kenyan Kelly has yet to see significant snaps for the Roadrunners, but he’s the highest-rated high school safety recruit in program history. His length could make him pop on the field if he’s able to crack the rotation. Cornerback Jakevian Rodgers will also be in the mix for playing time after recording his first career interception in last fall’s bowl victory.

Players to Keep an Eye on in 2025

Zach Morris CB
Originally a transfer from New Mexico, Morris is as solid of a corner you will find. During his time in Albuquerque, he posted 47 tackles, 13 PBUs, an interception and two forced fumbles. In six UTSA games, one of which he started, Morris logged five tackles and one interception which ended up being the sole bright spot in an otherwise dismal Saturday afternoon in San Marcos last year. Morris has been battling injury woes while with UTSA, so we’ll see if he’s able to stay healthy this fall.

Jermarius Lewis S
Standing at 5′ 11″ and weighing 190 pounds, Jermarius Lewis was born to play football. He has family ties to the college game with his brother and uncle both competing at the now FBS level. In 2024, Lewis played 13 games with 28 tackles and one interception coming on national television vs a top 25 opponent.

Kaden Meier CB
Like Zach Morris and Jermarius Lewis, Kaden Meier also cut his teeth in the Mountain West Conference. Meier is a transfer from Nevada where he played 25 games with 12 starts compiling 54 tackles, one interception and a forced fumble. With Meier’s experience and production to his name, he could have the lead for a week one start over the underclassmen.

Elijah Newell S
Newell is a multisport athlete from Maumelle HS (Arkansas). During the 2024 campaign he appeared in five games with his first start coming in the Mrytle Beach Bowl. Newell tallied 14 tackles with 9 of those being solo. Pushed into the fire quite early, Newell had some coverage lapses as a freshman that he’ll look to clean up this fall.

Single Digit Representative & Pre Season MVP of the UTSA Secondary

Jimmy Wyrick S
Wyrick gets a lot of attention due to his time on the Stanford Cardinal football team out in what used to be the PAC 12, but what folks really need to hone in on is the Texas High School powerhouse where Jimmy’s roots are. Said powerhouse, is South Oak Cliff. Personally, that is all I need to know to want this guy in the blue and orange. South Oak Cliff man, if you know, you know. Plus the dude has great hair. Just saying, if you look good, you feel good and when you feel good you play good.

The bottom line is that UTSA has a legitimate secondary, one that Rashard Wisdom, Zah and my favorite Roadrunner of all time Mr. Riq Woolen would approve of.

Upside and potential combined with veteran leadership often generate good chemistry, and the UTSA defensive backfield appears to have those components on lock. The real question is, can they turn that into that special blend of Championship Chemistry?

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