SAN ANTONIO — By the time Tariq Woolen steps onto the field for the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, the journey behind him will trace an unlikely path that runs straight through San Antonio and all the way to Santa Clara.
Woolen, a former UTSA standout and one-time college wide receiver, is just one player with San Antonio ties competing in this year’s Super Bowl, carrying the banner for the Roadrunners onto the NFL’s biggest stage.
Born May 2, 1999, Woolen arrived at UTSA as an athletic receiver with track speed and bounce. He redshirted as a freshman in 2017 and began his career on offense, catching 15 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown as a redshirt freshman in 2018.
The following season, he played primarily at wide receiver again, hauling in nine catches before a late-season position switch that would change everything.
In the final weeks of his redshirt sophomore year, Woolen moved to cornerback, a gamble that unlocked his rare physical traits. By his redshirt junior season in 2020, he had become a starter in the secondary, recording 35 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and his first career interception.
His growth continued in 2021, when he earned honorable mention All-Conference USA honors while starting nine games and helping lead a UTSA defense that forced 25 turnovers and posted the first two shutouts in program history.
That senior season cemented Woolen as one of the most intriguing athletes in college football as he finished the year with 25 tackles, five pass breakups and an interception, turning heads nationally with elite testing numbers.
At the 2022 NFL Combine, Woolen ran a blistering 4.26-second 40-yard dash -- one of the fastest times in combine history -- and posted a 42-inch vertical jump. His blend of size, speed, and raw upside landed him invitations to the Senior Bowl and other postseason showcases, along with a spot on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List.”
Still, the NFL Draft offered no guarantees.
Despite his traits, Woolen was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round, 153rd overall, in 2022. He signed a four-year rookie contract worth $3.99 million and quickly set out to prove that his rise from UTSA was no fluke.
Now, four seasons later, Woolen’s path from San Antonio to the Super Bowl stands as a testament to development, patience and belief. From a redshirted freshman on the Roadrunners’ roster to a converted cornerback with world-class speed, he has become one of the most prominent NFL players ever produced by UTSA.
As the Super Bowl spotlight shines, Woolen will represent more than just his team. He will represent UTSA and a San Antonio football community watching one of its own reach the sport’s highest stage.
