Life as a Group of Five program in the NIL era of college athletics is a constant fight for survival. When a smaller university like UTSA begins to compete with schools that have billions of dollars in resources and decades of tradition, larger programs look to lure away that talent. Every program within UTSA Athletics has lost key contributors in recent years, but is the grass always greener on the other side? The results are a mixed bag.
Zakhari Franklin, football
When Franklin entered the transfer portal following the conclusion of the 2022 campaign, he left as the program record holder in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. He played an integral role in UTSA winning back-to-back Conference-USA championships in 2021 and 2022 before eventually taking his talents to the SEC. Franklin caught four passes for 38 yards and one touchdown in 2023 for the University of Mississippi and re-entered the transfer portal the following offseason. Franklin landed at the University of Illinois, where he enjoyed a bounce-back season for the Fighting Illini, posting 55 catches for 652 yards and four touchdowns.
Ruger Riojas, baseball
Riojas served as the Roadrunners’ “stopper” from 2023 to 2024. In his two seasons at UTSA, he collected 15 wins, maintained a 3.68 ERA on the mound and left the program following the team’s collapse in the 2024 American Athletic Conference tournament. Riojas didn’t go far though, heading up I-35 to join the University of Texas at Austin. His transition to the University of Texas at Austin has been mostly seamless; he has a 7-1 win-loss record and has posted a 3.33 ERA in 13 appearances in 2025. Ironically, UTSA is the only team to beat Riojas so far this season.
Jordan Ivy-Curry, men’s basketball
The La Marque, Texas native played his first two seasons with the Roadrunners before transferring to the University of the Pacific in 2022. Ivy-Curry returned to UTSA in 2023 and enjoyed a breakout season, averaging 17.1 points per game. Following the firing of former UTSA men’s basketball coach Steve Henson, Ivy-Curry entered the portal once again, This time, he joined the University of Central Florida. His scoring average saw a slight decrease, dropping to 13.1 points per game, but he still aided the Knights in reaching 20 wins in 2025.
Madi Hayes, softball
In her freshman campaign, Hayes finished top-six in batting average and hits for the Roadrunners. UTSA totaled just 15 wins in 2024, and Hayes left the Alamo City for the University of Kansas. Hayes has two hits and one RBI in 25 appearances for the Jayhawks.
Tomás Pinho, men’s tennis
Pinho tallied 21 wins in singles and 19 in doubles during his time at UTSA. He finished his final season with the ‘Runners ranked No.78 in the ITA doubles ranking. In his first season with Texas A&M, Pinho has yet to secure a win in doubles.
Whether it’s financially motivated or opportunity-based, it’s hard to judge a player for doing what they deem is best for their career. After all, some of the Roadrunners’ elite talent was acquired through the transfer portal: women’s basketball forward Jordyn Jenkins, football’s starting quarterback Owen McCown and baseball’s star outfielder Mason Lytle began their collegiate careers elsewhere. The portal giveth, and the portal taketh away. What matters most is the university’s ability to adapt and continue to replenish, season after season — a feat that most programs at UTSA Athletics have accomplished over the past four years of the NIL era.
