This former UTSA Roadrunner is making an impact after transferring to the Texas Longhorns

UTSA coach Jeff Traylor looks up and down the Texas roster and notes “the whole sheet is marked with great players.”

“They’re massive. They’re extremely fast,” said Traylor, now in his fifth season in San Antonio. “It’s the best team we’ve ever played since we’ve been here.”

Traylor said the Roadrunners (1-1) are somewhat in transition. Veterans from last season’s 9-4 team are gone, including one of Traylor’s best defenders. Trey Moore moved up Interstate 35 and now wears burnt orange for the second-ranked Longhorns (2-0).

Moore set UTSA records with 14 sacks last season and 18 tackles for loss in 2022. He transferred to UT as the reigning American Athletic Conference defensive player of the year and first-team All-AAC pick.

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In two games with the Longhorns, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Moore has four tackles. That’s not an indictment. Texas rotates its defensive linemen, giving multiple players a chance. And making the jump from the AAC to the SEC requires a natural adjustment period.

“When you’re not in the Power Four, and then you play one game against the Power Four, that’s one game to get up for. At this level, it’s every week,” Sarkisian said.

The biggest adjustment is mental, Sarkisian said. “One thing for Trey that I’ve been impressed with is, I know the sacks aren’t just flying off the board right now, but he's playing really good football.”

Sarkisian said Moore is playing tough, physical football. For two games, opponents have tried to run straight at him, “and he’s holding the point,” Sarkisian said. What they’re trying to do isn’t working.

To hear his teammates tell it, Moore is simply keeping his head down and going to work.

“Trey's a hard worker and obviously a really good player as well, and very productive player,” defensive line Barryn Sorrell said. “He's a great teammate, very positive, and someone obviously always I can count on to do their job, and then even outside the locker room, just somebody I can trust.”

Moore was a standout defensive player at Smithson Valley, which is located north of San Antonio. He had 70 tackles and eight sacks as a high school senior. Moore was a natural pick to play for Traylor and UTSA. He’s blossomed into a defensive force, which got the attention of those coaching in Austin.

Left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. said he gave Moore some grief about facing his old teammates. Don’t go easy on the Roadrunners, Banks warned.

“It’s going to be a cool moment for him to go and play his old team,” Banks said.