The season didn’t end the way anyone had hoped, with three losses in the final four games and no bowl bid. But the disappointing finish for UTSA didn’t seem to hurt recruiting.

Of the 19 players signed by the Roadrunners on Wednesday, the first day of the new early signing period, a record 16 are considered three-star recruits, the most in the program’s short history.

“It didn’t affect us at all,” said UTSA coach Frank Wilson, who signed 11 three-star recruits in his first season at the school. “Sometimes it bodes even better for you because they see the opportunity to contribute right away.

“We’re very pleased with the young men we signed. We were able to fill (several needs).”

A noted recruiting guru at LSU, Tennessee and Ole Miss, Wilson apparently hasn’t lost his touch.

One major recruiting service rated the Roadrunners’ early signing class the third-best in Conference USA — after Florida Atlantic and Southern Miss — and 84th nationally.

Of the 19 signees, 13 are from Texas, including two from San Antonio.

More Information UTSA early signees Trumane Bell, LB, Lake Highlands, 3-star Spencer Burford, OL, Wagner, 3-star Lorenzo Dantzler, DE, East Mississippi CC, 3-star Jalyn Galmore, OL, Itawamba [Miss.] CC, 2-star Zachary Gilson, DE, Sachse, 2-star Peter Gray, DE, Tupelo, Miss., 3-star Terrell Haynes, OL/DL, Seguin, 2-star Sheldon Jones, WR, Warren Easton, La., 3-star T.J. King, DE, Fort Scott [Kan.] CC, 3-star Brandon Matterson, DT, Brandeis, 2-star Corey Mayfield Jr., CB, North Forney, 3-star Andrew McGowan, WR, Sinton, 3-star Kevin Nelson, DT, Arlington Heights Kelechi Nwachuku, S, McAllen Memorial, 3-star Tykee Ogle-Kellogg, WR, Alcoa Tenn., 3-star Jarrett Preston, LB, Ridge Point, 3-star Treyvion Shannon, OL, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, 2-star La’Thaniel Washington, WR, Del Valle, 2-star Jordan Weeks, QB,Wimberley, 3-star

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Wilson called 6-foot-3, 290-pound Spencer Burford from Wagner High School “the most talented offensive lineman we’ve recruited in our time here. He could play anywhere.”

He said 6-2, 300-pound defensive tackle Brandon Matterson of Brandeis “dominated at his position as a senior.”

“He did phenomenal things,” said Wilson, who is 12-12 in two seasons with the Roadrunners.

The jewel of the class, however, could be pro-style quarterback Jordan “JoJo” Weeks of Wimberley. He passed for 4,396 yards with 52 touchdowns and just four interceptions as a senior in leading the Texans to a 13-2 record and a trip to the Class 4A state semifinals.

Weeks was a late signee after decommitting from Texas State as a baseball recruit. Wilson said he does not know if Weeks will try to play both sports at UTSA.

“It’s not often you recruit a quarterback who has 50 touchdowns and (four) interceptions,” Wilson said. “That’s pretty doggone good. It caught our attention. I went and watched him practice, and he went something like 24 out of 25 that day. I don’t know if the ball ever touched the ground. He has an uncanny way of placing the ball exactly where it needs to be.”

“Thanks to @CoachWilsonUTSA and the UTSA staff. (I’m) excited to be part of the family!” Weeks tweeted.

The presence of Weeks next fall will give the Roadrunners five scholarship quarterbacks, including sophomores Bryce Rivers from Stevens and Frank Harris from Clemens.

Wilson said he’ll likely recruit one more experienced quarterback to compete for the starting job to replace graduating senior Dalton Sturm.

The early signings also include four junior college transfers, led by defensive end Lorenzo Dantzler, who helped East Mississippi Community College to the NJCAA national championship in 2017.

All likely will contribute next season, as the Roadrunners suffered heavy losses to graduation on both lines.

UTSA will complete the 2018 signing class with four additional scholarships Feb. 7.

Wilson was operating during much of the recruiting process without offensive coordinator Frank Scelfo, who was fired after the season-ending loss to Louisiana Tech, and defensive boss Pete Golding, who took a job at Alabama.

“It was challenging,” Wilson said. “It’s always concerning to parents when transition happens. It was important to ensure that the leadership of this program is intact.”

New athletic director Lisa Campos said she was pleased with the class.

“Coach Wilson is a great evaluator of talent,” she said. “He looks at the entire student from character to academics to athleticism.”

jwhisler@express-news.net

Twitter: @johnfwhisler