UTRGV football signs 41 recruits

UTRGV football head coach Travis Bush announced the addition of 41 players to the program’s first roster during National Signing Day. 

Chasse Conque, vice president and director of Athletics; John Simmons, director of Football Operations and Administration; and Jonah Goldberg, senior associate athletic director for Communications and Championships, attended Bush’s announcement last Thursday at the football offices on the Edinburg campus.

Bush said it is “another exciting day for UTRGV, and the Rio Grande Valley in general.”

He said coaches usually do not sign as many players unless it is a new program.

“In the 15 years of coaching never have we had to sign 60, 65, 70 guys,” Bush said. “You’re signing 12 to 15 every year so it’s a little different.”

Six of the 41 players are from the Rio Grande Valley.

Recruitment began last April and on Dec. 20, the first 10 football recruits were introduced.

“We start down here in the Valley and work our way up,” Bush said. “We made it all the way to El Paso, Dallas, Houston, everywhere between here and all those spots.”

Bush said there was a lot taken into account when recruiting players, such as athletic ability, mentality, leadership and fit to culture.

“When they come in, they don’t have upperclassmen to learn from,” Bush said. “They don’t have juniors and seniors to show them around and teach them the culture. We really made a point in this class to really look for those leaders.”

Bush said the program wants mentally tough players with a good work ethic.

“It’s unique because, as they come in, everybody is competing for jobs,” Bush said. “There’s no returning starters. Every little detail matters and they’re going to know when we come in … not everyone can stay. So, it’s going to be a battle every day in competition.”

Conque said Bush and investment of facilities has been the most successful recruitment strategy the university has employed.

 “I think hiring somebody that understands young people, has a passion for young people, has a passion for competition, and who has built and assembled a tremendous assistant coaching staff,” he said.

Bush said the Vaquero Performance Center, a 45,000-square-foot facility on the Edinburg campus, would impact the team greatly, allowing it to recruit the best talent in the area and providing resources to compete with teams across the country.

The facility is set to be the main home for the football program.

“That’s going to be a facility that is going to be one of the best in the nation off the bat,” Bush said. “… It goes back to the commitment of Chasse and our president and everyone involved in making sure this thing is done right.”

Bush told The Rider what the next steps are for the signees.

“The next step is about getting everything they need to get admitted and enrolled here in August,” he said.

The team will have a practice season during 2024 before starting its first season in 2025.

Practice fields are expected to be finished this summer.

Bush said it is an amazing feeling to finally see the football team coming together.

“It’s been amazing,” he said. “It’s been fun to watch from ground zero and we’re climbing our way up the hill.”

In 2025, the UTRGV Football Team will participate in its first season of NCAA Division I FCS competition.

UTRGV Athletics  announced Wednesday in a news release that it will hold football tryouts in August for enrolled students.

The program will continue recruiting through the spring and the final roster will be announced in August.