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The 2024 Roadrunners were the definition of consistently inconsistent, needing four wins in their final five games to finish 7-6 and keep coach Jeff Traylor’s streak of winning seasons alive at five. UTSA’s offense ranked 30th in the nation at 32.2 points per game, but it’ll have to crank things up in 2025 to make up for a defense that lost key pieces such as American Conference Defensive Player of the Year in senior defensive lineman Jimmori Robinson, now at West Virginia . Junior quarterback Owen McCown (3,424 passing yards, 25 TDs and 10 INTs) will grab most of the headlines, but redshirt sophomore wide receiver David Amador II is poised for a breakout year and can be the spark that ignites the offense.

Matchup Nightmare for Defenses

When Amador is on the field, defenses have a problem because he can catch it, run it or even throw it. Back in his senior year at Houston powerhouse North Shore High School in 2022, he took over at quarterback after an injury and still led the team to the state title game. Fast-forward to 2024, and even after missing the first eight games with a hamstring injury, Pro Football Focus charted him lining up in five different spots pre-snap, such as quarterback, backfield or in the slot. At the 2024 Myrtle Beach Bowl, Amador put on a show: seven receptions for 110 yards, a 16-yard run and his best PFF grade of the year at 84.8 in a 44-25 victory over Coastal Carolina.

No Injuries, No Limits

In addition to McCown, the Roadrunners return plenty of firepower at the skill positions, including senior running back Robert Henry (706 rushing yards, 8 TDs), senior WR Willie McCoy (536 receiving yards, 4 TDs) and junior WR Devon McCuin (424 receiving yards, 5 TDs). While Amador has earned some preseason buzz, such as a spot on Athlon’s All-AAC second team, he’s still flying under the radar for most fans, even within his own locker room. If he stays healthy for all 12 games in 2025, here’s an estimate what his final statistics look like:

  • 84 receptions
  • 1,232 all-purpose yards (932 receiving, 223 rushing and 77 passing yards)
  • 13 TDs
  • First-team All-AAC WR

The Roadrunners open the season on the road at Kyle Field against Texas A&M on Aug. 30. If Amador brings his full arsenal to College Station, the Aggies will be the first to learn how dangerous UTSA’s most versatile weapon can be.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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