📌 Disclaimer:
The following post is a work of fiction created for entertainment purposes within the video game universe of College Football 26. All characters, events, and storylines — including Coach Clay “Stonewall” Merritt, Frankie “The Horn” Calderón, and their journey with the UTSA Roadrunners — are entirely fictional and not affiliated with the NCAA, UTSA, or EA Sports. This series is fan-made and meant to celebrate the spirit of college football storytelling.

🏈 Invasion of Kyle Field: Meet the Players Clay "Stonewall" Merritt Is Bringing to Challenge SEC Juggernaut Texas A&M

By Frankie “The Horn” Calderón
UTSA Roadrunner Media Correspondent | Host of Runner Nation Radio

After spending time with the man at the helm of the UTSA football program (read the full story here), I couldn’t help but wonder — who are the guys Clay “Stonewall” Merritt is trusting to storm into SEC territory and put the country on notice?

When your football program is still a teenager — not even 20 years old — you’ve got to be realistic. The stars aren’t always aligned on the recruiting trail. Resources aren’t unlimited. But you can build something real. Something gritty. Something dangerous.

And Coach Merritt gets his first shot to prove just that — in front of 100,000 screaming Aggies at Kyle Field under the lights on national television.

I’ll be on the call live from College Station for 94.3 The Bird – Home of Roadrunner Football, and let me tell you — if you're not riding this wave yet, now’s your chance to jump on board before this thing takes off like a Roadrunner on rocket fuel.

🧨 Players You Need to Know

🧠 Owen McCown – QB, Junior

6’1” | 190 lbs | Lefty | 3⭐ Recruit – Rusk, TX

Quarterback. The position that keeps NFL owners and college coaches alike up at night. You need brains. You need guts. You need poise. And you need to deliver with everyone watching.

This weekend, McCown takes center stage in a duel with Texas A&M’s Marcell Reed. And yes — that McCown name should sound familiar. His dad, Josh McCown, suited up for 12 different NFL teams. That’s not just a journeyman — that’s a survivor.

Owen transferred to UTSA from Colorado (pre-Coach Prime era) and earned instant respect — MVP of the 2024 Myrtle Beach Bowl, now a team captain. He’s got that rare left-handed bazooka and the cool, steady presence that gives Roadrunner Nation confidence.

💥 Robert Henry Jr. – RB, Senior

5’9” | 205 lbs | 3⭐ Recruit – Lumberton, MS

The heart of the offense. A warrior with grit in his DNA. Robert Henry Jr. began at Jones College in Mississippi and clawed his way into Division I football. Thanks to an NCAA waiver, he’s back for a fifth season — and make no mistake: he’s here to finish what he started.

Coach Merritt praises his loyalty, leadership, and fire. Henry Jr. is a back with vision, balance, and violence in his cuts. He’s not just running the ball — he’s running to make a point.

⚡ Devin McCuin – WR, Junior

6’0” | 196 lbs | 3⭐ Recruit – Jacksonville, TX

Speed. Precision. Separation. McCuin is the kind of receiver quarterbacks dream about. He’s been with the program his entire college career and has shown elite route-running ability and explosive YAC potential.

He battled injuries last season, but after a dominant spring camp and earning a captain’s patch, Devin is back with something to prove. The transfer rumors? Dead. He’s locked in, and this is his moment to shine on the national stage.

🛡 Shad Banks Jr. – LB (Mike), Senior

6’1” | 245 lbs | 4⭐ Recruit – Houston, TX (via TCU)

THE ANCHOR.
Banks transferred from TCU to UTSA with one goal: lead the defense with authority. He’s been an absolute enforcer since arriving — a tone-setter who snuffs out run lanes and punishes anyone daring enough to cross the middle.

I asked him about defending Marcell Reed and his scrambling tendencies. His answer?

“When a QB likes to run, you remind him what happens in the open field. Not dirty — just clean, hard contact. If he wants to survive, he better win from the pocket.”

🧱 Tyan Milton – SS, Senior

5’11” | 185 lbs | 2⭐ Recruit – Lawrenceville, GA (via Fullerton College)

If there’s one guy who embodies this team’s transformation under Coach Merritt, it’s Tyan Milton. Two years ago, he came from JUCO with no promises. Now? He’s a captain and full-time starter, fresh off a breakout season where he stepped up in every big moment.

He’s the soul of this secondary. A quiet leader who hits hard, studies harder, and plays with that “we’ve got nothing to lose” mindset. The type of guy who’ll make you regret testing the seam route twice.

🌪 Invasion of Kyle Field

There are only a handful of places in college football with an atmosphere as electric and intimidating as Kyle Field in College Station. It’s a cathedral of tradition, ego, and expectation. It’s the Aggie Cult’s proving ground — and now it’s about to be stormed by a team from San Antonio with a chip on their shoulder and C4 in their soul.

Texas A&M made headlines last year for paying Jimbo Fisher a bazillion-dollar buyout to not coach. Now Mike Elko takes over, and while he's got the talent, he’s also got a reputation for folding when things get hot.

Their new QB, Marcell Reed, is a dual-threat dynamo with sky-high potential. But pressure in Aggieland isn’t a suggestion — it’s a fact. And that spotlight? It burns brighter in Kyle Field than anywhere else.

This is where Coach Merritt thrives. He’s not here to play close. He’s here to win. This is more than a season opener — it’s a statement of intent.

📣 Frankie’s Final Horn

You already know where to find me — 94.3 The Bird, your exclusive home for Roadrunner Football. I’ll be in the booth, headset on, heart pounding, calling what could be the biggest game in UTSA history.

Think about it:
20 years ago, this program didn’t exist.
Now, we walk into an SEC fortress ranked 21st in the country…
With a first-year head coach…
And every intention of blowing the doors off the college football world.

If football is king in Texas, then UTSA is storming the castle.
No fear. No backing down. Just Roadrunners.

We are the team that walks into the lion’s den, takes the punch, and throws one right back.
We are the team built by grit — not glamour.
We are the team with Stonewall on the sideline.

Texas A&M may be strong… but are they ready for Merritt’s mentality?

We’re about to find out.