UTRGV Begins Second FCS Spring as Bush Highlights Retention, Transfers

A returning roster that went 9-3 and was perfect 7-0 at Vackar Stadium opened spring practice March 2, and head coach Travis Bush framed the session around continuity. “Excited to be out here guys are moving around well a lot of retention, again lot of returners back so we're a lot further ahead more at this time last year so it's good to see them moving around and being able to expand on our packages,” Bush said on Day 1.

Quarterback evaluation will dominate spring work as the room features four returners alongside transfer Garret Rangel, the Oklahoma State/Virginia Tech transfer expected to compete for the job. Returning options include Aidan Jakobson (also reported as Jakobsohn), Atzel Chavez Jr., Jayden Paluseo and Jaxon Baize, and spring will be the coaching staff’s window to replace last year’s top producers such as Eddie Lee Marburger and Tony Diaz. “The majority of our offensive production last year we got to replace we like the guys here, but bottom line is the lack of game experience. We're really trying to grow those guys up as much as we can put in them as many adverse situations as we can and really try to build that confidence in the skill group,” Bush added.

UTRGV also leaned on experienced additions to tighten its back end and beef up the interior line. The secondary gains 2025-26 FCS national champion safety Ife Ohalete from Montana State, plus transfers Aaron Andrews Jr. (Blinn) and DJ Shaw (West Texas A&M), while returning defensive backs include safeties TJ Neal and Marcus Heard Jr., cornerback Dorian Blackwell and star/nickel Alijah Prosser. In the trenches the Vaqueros added defensive end Josh Cashiola (Sacramento State) and interior defenders Nick Joseph (Southwestern), Anthony Santoscoy (UTSA and PSJA High alumnus) and Marek Wojno (San Diego Mesa).

Spring session logistics line up toward the second annual Orange and White Spring Game on Saturday, April 11 at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville, with the program opening March 2 and holding practices over roughly a month and a half. Published accounts list either 14 or 15 scheduled practices before the spring game; staff noted the team had been grinding with strength and conditioning work and that “things will turn up a notch with the arrival of spring ball.”

The spring comes on the heels of a historic inaugural FCS season for UTRGV: the Vaqueros won nine games, scored at least 17 points in every Division I matchup, put up 60-plus points three times and 50-plus four times, recorded an 80-0 win over Langston, and drew AFCA Coaches Poll votes nine times. Coach Travis Bush finished sixth in Eddie Robinson Award voting after guiding the program from recruiting and a 2024 practice year into competition. Athletics director Chasse Conque praised Bush’s leadership and core values, saying, “Coach Bush has done an extraordinary job launching our football program. What we experienced this past fall was nothing short of remarkable.” Bush, reacting to the program’s momentum and contract extension, said, “I couldn’t be more thankful for the belief in our vision. My family and I love UTRGV and the way the Rio Grande Valley has embraced us. We’re excited to keep developing young men and building this program to compete for championships.”

Spring wraps with the April 11 Orange and White Game; UTRGV’s 2026 full-season opener is scheduled for Aug. 29 at Vackar Stadium in Edinburg against Texas Permian Basin as the Vaqueros push to sustain Southland Conference momentum.