UTSA running back B.J. Daniels saw the opposing defensive line shift left.

Designated to run toward the shift’s direction, the sophomore noticed a hole on the right side and naturally cutback.

Then, a few strides later, it happened.

“You can watch, I stopped,” said Greg Campbell Jr., a receiver blocking during the play. “I was like, ‘What?’ I was in shock. That was absolutely amazing.”

It took until overtime, but Daniels made the play of UTSA’s spring game Saturday at the Dub Farris Athletic Complex with his 25-yard touchdown run. In the process, he hurdled a defender before breaking another tackle near the 10-yard line.

Oh my. @UTSAFTBL RB BJ Daniels just leaped over a human before running for a 25-yard TD. Definitely the play of the day. — Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) April 14, 2018

It wasn’t anything new to his head coach, though.

“That’s what we’ve seen all spring from him — those runs that were going 20, 30, 40-plus yards on a consistent manner,” UTSA coach Frank Wilson said. “You got a glimpse of it — to see what we have been seeing all spring.”

BJ Daniels’ touchdown rush. I didn’t get a photo or video because my jaw was dropped. Here’s video from KSAT 12. pic.twitter.com/O3fLjakilX — JJ Perez (@theJJPerez) April 15, 2018

UTSA’s defense held its opposition to 196 total yards in the unit’s 37-36 victory.

Daniels donned shin guards for the occasion, keeping the potential of a leap in mind. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder attracted low tackles all spring, but he always refrained from going airborne.

“I tried to save it for the spring game, because they’ve been chopping me all spring,” Daniels said. “…I don’t want them to get used to it, so I try to stay on the ground and save it for the game.”

In 2017, veterans Tyrell Clay and Jalen Rhodes overshadowed Daniels, who carried the ball 13 times in his first season. With Clay gone and Rhodes injury-prone, Daniels should receive a healthy workload this season. A starting role could be within reach for Daniels. Wilson named the running back UTSA’s Most Valuable Offensive Player this spring.

“I can’t wait to get a bigger role in the offense,” Daniels said.

The sophomore led the Roadrunners in rushing Saturday with 78 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Rhodes was a limited participant.

Daniels’ lone touchdown was a microcosm of his intangibles — there aren’t many weaknesses to his game.

“I feel like he displays it all,” Campbell Jr. said. “He can pass-block, run-block if he needs to, catch the ball out of the backfield, run somebody over and as you guys saw, jump over somebody.”

Beyond Daniels’ production, rushing yards were hard to come by. UTSA’s 31 other carries went for 42 yards. The Roadrunner defensive line wreaked havoc, registering 13 sacks and 19 tackles for loss.

Offensive line turnover plagued the Roadrunners. Austin Pratt, Stefan Beard, Kyle McKinney and Reed Darragh — a quartet that combined for 92 career starts — departed after the 2017 season. Left guard Jordan Wright and right tackle Josh Dunlop are the only returnees with starting experience.

“All of them aren’t completely familiar with their assignment, but they’re great, they’re talented,” said Daniels of the offensive line. “This is just the beginning, there’s a lot of progression to be done and a lot of potential.”

Before tearing his ACL, Frank Harris became the favorite in the team’s quarterback race. The redshirt freshman would’ve helped the fresh faces up front with his legs and improvisational ability.

Bryce Rivers and Cordale Grundy, the remaining quarterback competitors, were flushed out of the pocket often. Neither possess Harris’ ad-lib specialty, but they showed capable flashes on the run.

Rivers, who led the first-team offense, threw for 121 yards on 6-for-13 passing and added two touchdowns (one rushing, one passing). The sophomore delivered his best throws on the run.

Walk-on quarterback Brandon Garza threw one of the best passes of the day when scrambling. Garza connected with freshman Tykee Ogle-Kellogg on a late touchdown.

Ogle-Kellogg failed to haul in a one-handed grab earlier in the game, but he made amends with his 5-yard score. Garza rolled to his right and threw a 50-50 ball high for the 6-foot-4 receiver, who high-pointed it in the right corner of the end zone.

UTSA QB Bryce Rivers has looked good today. He's made a handful of nice throws on the run. Freshman Tykee Ogle-Kellogg has been the most surprising WR and made a very impressive TD catch. — Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) April 14, 2018

“Once he got going, he’s shown that he can be a guy that we can rely on in situations, whether it’s a deep ball down the field or a contested ball, using his catch radius and his size to create problems against defensive backs,” Wilson said.

Grundy also frequently avoided pressure, but he saw his afternoon cut short after suffering an injury early in the second quarter. His left cleat jarred loose on a 13-yard run, leading to a dislocated front toe.

Cornerback Clayton Johnson looked seriously injured after slipping on cement and crashing into the bleachers, but he only suffered a leg abrasion that will require stitches.

Good news for @UTSAFTBL: Frank Wilson says QB Cordale Grundy only dislocated his big left toe & CB Clayton Johnson suffered a leg abrasion that will require stitches. Nothing too serious. — Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) April 14, 2018

“That’s not up to me, but I feel pretty good,” said Rivers on his performance. “I think I did what I had to do, what was in my hands. I think I did pretty well.”

The offense lacked consistency, though, Wilson said.

But Daniels’ leapfrog act delivered a salvaging moment.

“This team could have one of the best running attacks I think in the Conference USA, probably the best running attacks in the Conference USA,” Daniels said.

Twitter: @CarterKarels