Athletics: Mabry, Wade agree to terms following NFL Draft

Photo courtesy of Jeff Huehn / UTSA Athletics

(May 5, 2015) - Ashaad Mabry and Triston Wade both made UTSA Football history following this weekend's National Football League (NFL) Draft, as both agreed to terms as undrafted free agents with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks, respectively, to become the first players to move on the professional ranks in the program's four-year history.

Mabry, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive tackle, was an honorable mention All-Conference USA selection his final two seasons as a Roadrunner. The San Antonio MacArthur High School product was second among the team’s defensive linemen with 49 tackles, six of which went for loss, a year ago. That came on the heels of a junior campaign that saw him register 41 stops, which led all defensive linemen, and 2.5 of those came behind the line of scrimmage, including a half sack in the program’s first-ever Conference USA tilt at UTEP. All told, he appeared in 46 games as a Roadrunners, including 28 starting assignments.

"This truly is a blessing," Mabry said. "I honestly didn't think the NFL was a possibility following everything I went through with coming back for my mother and having a son at the age of 19. It shows that hard work really does pay off. I want to thank Coach Coker and the entire coaching staff because I would not have had this opportunity without their coaching and support the last four years. I cannot wait to get to New Orleans."

Meanwhile, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Wade leaves the Alamo City as the most decorated player in school annals. The 2014 Jim Thorpe Award (nation's top defensive back) semifinalist, three-time all-conference honoree and two-year team captain led UTSA with 86 tackles, 14 pass breakups, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries from the free safety position en route to second-team All-Conference USA accolades last fall. He finished his Roadrunners career as the program leader in tackles (293), pass breakups (35), interceptions (12), forced fumbles (8) and fumble recoveries (6) after appearing in 46 contests, including 40 starts.

"Today has been a blessing honestly," Wade said. "Having the opportunity to play for Seattle and Coach Carroll is exciting and it will be a great place to begin my pro career. I want to thank Coach Coker, Coach Eliano and everyone at UTSA for all their support the last four years. I wouldn't be here today without them."

"I am happy that Ashaad and Triston will have a chance to continue their careers at the next level," UTSA head coach Larry Coker said. "Their hard work and dedication has made this possible and this is a historic moment for our program. I am looking forward to seeing former Roadrunners in the NFL next season."

UTSA will open its 2015 season on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Arizona.

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Republished with permission from UTSA Athletics. View the original article at GoUTSA.com.

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