After their slow start in September, UTSA Football was undefeated throughout October, winning four consecutive games to maintain the top spot of the American Athletic Conference standings. The Roadrunners are 4-0 in AAC play, led by a resurgence from their stellar defensive front.
The unit held Florida Atlantic to a meager 162 total yards (including a season-high 13 tackles for loss of yardage.) Likewise, against UAB, the defense forced three turnovers.
The effort was primarily spearheaded by Smithson Valley graduate Trey Moore.
Last season, Moore broke New Orleans Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport’s tackles for loss record (18). Heading into this season’s opening kickoff, Moore was elected a single digit uniform by his teammates—one of the school’s highest honors.
Expectations were high for the draft prospect, projected to excel at the professional level alongside the likes of Pro Bowler Tariq Woolen as Roadrunner defensive graduates making a splash in the NFL.
In just eight games, Moore notched the single-season sack record. His three sacks against South Carolina during Saturday’s second half gave him 12 for the year, surpassing the marker of 10.5 set by Clarence Hicks in 2021. The showing was Moore’s third this season with three or more sacks, garnering his third American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week award.
It wasn’t easy going for Moore to start the year.
He endured an ankle injury during UTSA’s loss to Army. The next week against Tennessee, Moore was still hobbled. In the final tilt of the non-conference schedule, Moore played a mere eight snaps against Temple.
Since beginning conference play, Moore leads the league in total sacks and currently ranks third with 14.5 tackles for loss. His career tally of 20 sacks trails only Davenport’s 22 from 2014-17.
His consistent defensive efforts traces back to his time under coach Larry Hall at Smithson Valley. The District 27-6A Defensive Player of the Year recorded 70 tackles and eight sacks as a senior with the Rangers.
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