UTSA HC Responds to Viral Photos of Memphis Player Appearing to Leak Playbook to QB

UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor denied Friday that a former Memphis player sending elements of the team's playbook to quarterback Owen McCown played a role in UTSA beating the Tigers 44-38 last season.

On Thursday, TigerSportsReport (h/t On3.com's Sam Shoemaker) published screenshots of messages between McCown and former Memphis safety Tahj Ra-El. The photos appeared to show Ra-El sending McCown the Tigers' defensive signals and coverages.

Per David Ubben of The Athletic, Traylor downplayed the importance of the information, saying: "The stuff he sent him didn't make any sense, so he didn't tell me. He was just being nice to his buddy. It got blown out of context in my opinion."

After sending McCown photos of pages from Memphis' playbook, Ra-El also sent the following messages:

"Far left is coverages. I'll send you better list showing you the call. But they run qtrs n none of they safeties can cover btw. No reroutes on the slot. The field safety is the weakest link in the defense. His hamstring hurting, but he running out of eligibility, so when you play him he number 0."

McCown, who is the son of former longtime NFL quarterback Josh McCown, replied: "Bet, but lmk if they cut your stuff. I'll put in a word."

Ra-El was reportedly dismissed from Memphis' football team in October 2024 after transferring to the school from Old Dominion.

McCown and Ra-El were high school teammates for a time, playing together at Myers Park High School in Charlotte.

While Traylor denied having any knowledges of the messages or information at the time the game was played, a Memphis player from last year's team told TigerSportsReport the following regarding UTSA: "We're on the field, and their offense has a check for every single one of our defenses' checks."

The game in question saw McCown go 20-of-37 for 280 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, and the Roadrunners racked up 408 yards of total offense.

That was the second and final loss of the season for a Tigers team that went 11-2 overall, while UTSA posted a 7-6 mark, winning four of its final five games, including the victory over Memphis.

American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti minimized the situation Friday much like Traylor, saying: "I think a lot of it has been sensationalized and some of it quite frankly is clickbait."

Despite being American Conference foes, UTSA and Memphis are not scheduled to face each other during the 2025 season.