2026 Position Previews: Quarterback 

The 2025 Roadrunners were heavily impacted by injury at the game’s most vital position. For its upcoming campaign, UTSA is led by a QB with two seasons of starting experience. Behind him are a likely solidified backup and three exciting underclassmen. Below is a detailed look at the Roadrunners’ quarterback room.

Owen McCown (Redshirt Senior) 

McCown battled multiple injuries in 2025, hampering his mobility and performance. He still managed 30 touchdowns to just seven interceptions as UTSA finished 7-6 for the second straight year. For his senior season, McCown will be working under a new offensive coordinator, former Western Kentucky University Offensive Coordinator Rick Bowie. The switch from former OC Justin Burke to Bowie is less about filling up the stat sheet and more about filling out the win column —  though if all goes as planned, McCown will have no problem accomplishing both. A healthy Owen McCown has a legitimate case for the American Conference’s top signal-caller. With returning weapons such as receivers David Amador II and AJ Wilson alongside promising newcomers like TJ West and James Madison II, McCown is primed for his best season yet. 

Brandon Tennison (Redshirt Junior) 

Tennison flashed during UTSA’s season-opening loss to Texas A&M University last season when the Gilmer High School product connected with wide receiver AJ Wilson for a 34-yard touchdown in the game’s final seconds. Eight weeks later, he played 36 total snaps against South Florida — the most he’s played in a Roadrunner uniform; Tennison completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. While injuries have limited Tennison’s overall athleticism, he’s shown — in his brief appearances — that he is the most qualified among UTSA’s rostered quarterbacks to serve as the team’s second option. 

Max Gerlich (Redshirt Freshman) 

Don’t let Gerlich’s 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame fool you. While he does operate primarily inside the pocket, he’s more than capable of scoring with his legs if the opposing defense presents the opportunity. He has yet to see any game action with McCown and Tennison firmly ahead of him on the depth chart, but more time to bake under Bowie’s tutelage will only benefit him. In his senior season with Anderson High School in Austin, Texas, Gerlich tossed 41 touchdowns to five interceptions and completed 63 percent of his passes. It’s apparent when viewing his tape that Gerlich loves the long ball and has elite accuracy when targeting receivers outside the numbers. His skill set favorably pairs with Bowie’s scheme, making him an intriguing candidate for the starting role once McCown graduates.

Mark Wiepert (Redshirt Freshman) 

Wiepert has a fascinating athletic background and is the most recent UTSA signee on this list, as he announced his commitment to the Roadrunners on July 20. At Wilsonville High School, Wiepert led the football team to an Oregon Class 5A State Championship before spearheading the baseball team to the Oregon Class 5A Semifinals. He was so revered for his dual-sport success that the Wilsonville Spokesman tabbed him as “The Super Man.” He committed to play both sports for the University of Oregon in 2024, but the “Man of Steel” became the “Man of Still” in Eugene, as he redshirted for both programs during his true freshman season. A path to playing time was a large factor in his decision to transfer to UTSA, he told the Wilsonville Spokesman. His primary focus will be on playing football, not baseball, to the delight of coach Jeff Traylor and to the chagrin of Pat Hallmark. 

Maguire Gasperson (True Freshman)

Gasperson’s mobility is at the forefront of his skill set as a quarterback. He’s got the innate ability to climb the pocket and evade defenders before finding his target. At Argyle High School, Gasperson threw 35 touchdowns and picked up nine additional scores on the ground, all while completing 70 percent of his passes. He held offers from schools such as Tulane University, the University of Maryland and the University of North Texas, but committed to play for the Roadrunners last December. It might be a while before fans see Gasperson in action, but the wait has the potential to be well worth it.

Position Outlook for 2026

On paper, UTSA fans should be excited to watch the top end of this group perform in 2026. Of course, as they saw last year, this season is contingent on McCown’s health. Ideally, the only time fans should see anyone besides McCown under center is if the Roadrunners have a large lead in the fourth quarter. If McCown were to miss time, Tennison is more than capable of producing wins. The further down the depth chart you go, the lack of combined experience among the underclassmen becomes a large question mark. All of that is hypothetical, though; across both seasons as the starter, McCown has not missed a start. If that trend continues, UTSA will find itself well within the race for its first American Conference championship.