UTRGV football participate in 2024 SLC Opening Drive

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Football participated in the 2024 Southland Conference Opening Drive on Monday.

The Vaqueros were in the spotlight along with Head Coach, Travis Bush getting used to the Division One Media that is set to come.

"It's an honor to be here too," said Bush. "We did one last year but it was just me by myself. We didn't have student-athletes, so I'm excited to have these two young men with us here."

Student-athletes and incoming freshmen Jaxson Maynard and Brennan Carroll were in attendance representing UTRGV Football.

Media days are typically reserved for captains and experienced players, however, since the program is brand new the athletes are feeling a touch out of place due to being in high school just months before.

"With all these other teams they're all 22 and up, I feel like a baby right now," said Maynard. "It's definitely weird but it's definitely a big honor. I'm really excited about it."

The athletes are eager to get on the field and bring home some wins for the program.

"Taking pictures and doing media, honestly I was ready for it," said Carroll. "I'm ready to get down there. I'm ready to just show what I can do and hopefully win some games for the Valley."

Both Carroll and Maynard say having a practice year factored into their decision to sign with UTRGV.

"At UTRGV having this extra year, they have a plan and having that plan with me they talked about it with me and made me choose that way faster," said Maynard. "I think it's gonna be a big develop year."

UTRGV's first football game is still 13 months away and Bush says his staff will take it slow with the players before they hit the practice field.

"We can't even break a hurdle right now, they don't know a snap count so we're gonna spend about three weeks of doing some off-season spring conditioning stuff, really start teaching offense and defense and then before we hit the field in September then we'll go the regular reason and we'll be practicing September through November," Bush said.