UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 17, 2026

Darion White

Press Conference

UTSA 38, Navy 34

Q. Darion, how did it feel to prove that win on defense today?

DARION WHITE: Man, it felt really good. I remember I was losing to Army last year, so being in military school, it was big on my list. I get you could say it was a little get-back.

Q. I know they got out of the gate a few times on a couple of big plays, but you guys came out with those stops at the end. What was the difference in that fourth quarter for you guys?

DARION WHITE: We knew it was going to come down to the defense making a stop, holding them. The way their offense runs, they like to hold the ball a lot, time of possession. We knew it was going to come down to the defense, us making a stop, holding them and playing our brand of football.

Q. Darion, in that first half the Navy players were really rowdy and really celebrating after each play against y'all. How did it feel to pull out that win with a final defensive stop?

DARION WHITE: It felt really good. It felt really good, honestly. We're a team, and I'm so proud of this team, and from the special teams to the offense to the defense, we played as a unit. We're just going to keep getting better every week. It felt really good.

Q. Darion, Coach Traylor was saying Navy threw some stuff at you that you might not have expected. How was what they did on the field different from what you saw on film?

DARION WHITE: Them circling the defense a little bit at the beginning of the game, trying to circle the defense, trying to get on the edges. That was a little -- it was something that we -- yeah, I guess you could say didn't see much in practice, so we had to make some adjustments during the game, and we got right.

Q. How did you feel like you guys responded to that challenge and sort of handle making that adjustment mid-game?

DARION WHITE: I feel like we did good. I feel like we did a pretty good job. Still, that was a really good team. Navy is a great football team. They play hard. They play physical. I'm just so happy we got the dub.

Like I said, hat's off to them.

Q. Braxton Woodson became kind of an X-factor for them. How did you prepare for him, and what role did you expect him to have versus what he was able to do in this game?

DARION WHITE: Who did you say again?

Q. Woodson, it's 5 --

DARION WHITE: The second quarterback, yes, sir. We knew he was going to come in. They play a two-quarterback system. We knew they were going to come in and try to utilize him a little bit. He made a good couple plays.

Q. Darion, how important was it to get Brandon Tucker back after his ejection last game?

DARION WHITE: That's my guy, man. I love B-Tuck to death. We came in here together, been rolling with me ever since, man. That's my ride-or-die brother, so it felt really good to be back on the field.

Q. Talked to Coach Traylor about it a little bit before, but with the incident pregame, were you as a player privy to anything that was happening, and what was the message from Coach Traylor? You knew there was a delay; did you know anything else?

DARION WHITE: Honestly, no, sir, I really didn't know anything else. I'm so sad; we just heard the news. I'm so sad, and prayers to that family. That is a tragic thing. So just prayers to the family and everyone that had a part in that situation.

Q. Similarly, did you notice anything coming out of the locker room before the game? Obviously the crowd was very affected by what they saw. Coach Traylor said he could tell when he came out. Were you able to tell as a player, and how did you guys respond and try to get them back into the game?

DARION WHITE: Yes, sir, we could kind of feel it. That's tough, like just to be out there and see -- we weren't out there, but I know to see that is a very traumatic experience. So I knew it was going to take a little time for the fans and the team to get their swagger back, but we got it. It took us a little minute, but we got it.

Q. Your defense got kind of broken open by a few big plays there in the second half, but what does it mean to you to come out with the win despite those plays, and what's the mindset like between taking lessons and enjoying the victory?

DARION WHITE: It's a lesson in every win, lesson in every loss and every win honestly. Like Coach Traylor said, like in our meeting, we're only like six or seven plays away from being 1-6, so we cherish every moment. We know every play is critical. Like Coach Traylor says, a champion has the ability to play one play longer, so just having that one play mindset every down, every single down come to play football.

Q. What can you say about Navy's quarterback Jackson Gutierrez and what he was able to do?

DARION WHITE: So much respect for that guy, man. We knew he was a tough ball player. He was going to make some big plays. We knew we had to contain him a good amount. But he's a really good player, and that was a really good team.

Q. This game had four lead changes in the fourth quarter alone. What is it about your team that allows you guys to stay connected and stay with it in tough moments like that?

DARION WHITE: Ubuntu. I am because we are. We are a team. We always know that as long as there's time on that clock, we have the ability to make a play, to come back and win the game. Keep fighting.

Q. Your defense has been known this season for a lot of bending, but what do you think gives you guys that special edge to really pull through at the end of these games?

DARION WHITE: The fact that all of us are really connected. Like we really love each other. We genuinely have a connection. It's not just on the defensive side of the ball or the offensive side of the ball, man. I love every single guy in that locker room, every coach. They've took the time in the off-season to really get to know us. We went over our E plus article O like response and also our heroes, history, stuff like that. It was really good to see just being around some of those guys, knowing their lives, their experiences that they've went through. Man, we've really connected. We're a team. I'm so blessed.

Q. A couple weeks ago after the Colorado State win, you said pack the dome. Despite the pregame incident, can you feel that energy from the crowd?

DARION WHITE: Oh, yes, sir. No matter the crowd got 5,000 fans or 500, man. The people here in San Antonio, they are one of a kind, and we cherish them and we love them so much.

Q. Can you talk a little bit more about what you guys did in preseason? Owen was talking about how it brought y'all together. What did you do?

DARION WHITE: Yes, ma'am. So we had like certain groups, everybody, the team was spun into certain groups, and we just went over, it was four main topics. It was the heroes in your life -- four H's we call it, so your heroes, your highlights, and then your hardships and history. Every single person that was in that group got to talk -- stand up and talk in front of the group.

Man, it was uplifting. It was like heartwarming. Man, it really brought us together to know those guys' experience, their background, their lives. Yes, ma'am.

Q. Your coach was really animated at a point in the game, and it seemed like you really responded to that. Were you able to see what happened, and what was your take on what happened?

DARION WHITE: Are you talking about --

Q. He went off and they had to restrain him --

DARION WHITE: I don't, I didn't really see that. I was too busy focusing on the game trying to win the football game. I'm sorry.