Tariq Woolen wanted to move back to wide receiver.

The Arlington Heights product was a three-star prospect in the 2017 class who committed to UTSA and head coach Frank Wilson over offers from North Texas, Texas State, and Houston. Woolen started six times at wide receiver and caught 24 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown over his first three years on campus. But late in 2019, Wilson and the Roadrunner staff moved him to cornerback. 

Jeff Traylor was hired as the third head coach at UTSA after the 2019 season and Woolen hoped the new regime would provide him the opportunity to return to his preferred position on offense, where he had been all-district in high school. Instead, a holdover from the previous staff – Damon Williams, known as "Sarge," approached new cornerback coach Nick Graham and told him about the 6-foot-4 Woolen and that he was moved to cornerback late in the year and now wanted to return to wide receiver. 

Graham was skeptical. He thought Sarge was exaggerating his height and athleticism until Woolen walked into Graham’s office “looking like Russell Westbrook from a size and length standpoint.” Graham immediately told Woolen to hang out in his office while he went to watch some practice film of Woolen playing cornerback. Graham couldn’t believe his eyes, or his luck. 

“Right then and there I was like, ‘God, I don’t know what I did to deserve this but thank you,” Graham laughed. He explained to Woolen that there were numerous receivers him size that can run like him, including a trio of young Roadrunners named Zakhari Franklin, Joshua Cephus, and JT Clark, but there weren’t many cornerbacks walking the earth with Woolen’s combination of height, length, and athleticism. “I told him, ‘I promise that if you give me two years, I’ll get you to the league.” 

That’s all Woolen needed to hear. It was the COVID year of 2020 so the new staff was limited in spring ball to things like mat drills. Following the first day of drills with the new team, Traylor asked position coaches for some feedback on individuals that stood out. Graham quickly called out Woolen and told the group that he’d be a future NFL player. He remembers the room chuckling, even the holdovers who saw Woolen practice at the position at the end of 2019. 

But it was Woolen and Graham who’d get the last laugh. Woolen started at cornerback in seven of the 11 games he played in during 2020, recording his first interception that season against Middle Tennessee. He started all nine games he played in during the 2021 season that culminated in a Conference USA championship, the first in school history for the Roadrunners. 

“Just being around football, I knew how good he could be if he bought in to the technique and learning the position,” Graham said. “Everything was new and he was learning and growing every day. The sky was the limit and he took advantage of the opportunity.” 

Woolen declared for the 2022 NFL Draft and made headlines by posting a 4.26 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, the third-fastest time in the event’s history and the fastest for any player over 6-feet tall. The Seattle Seahawks selected him in the fifth round with the 153rd overall pick. 

He unexpectantly earned a starting spot as a rookie and ended the year with 63 tackles, 16 pass deflections, and tied for the most interceptions with six. Woolen, who had become the first rookie in 10 years with picks in four straight games, was named to the All-Rookie Team and to the Pro Bowl after 2022. Flash-forward to 2025 and Woolen has started over 50 games in his career with 12 interceptions and over 50 passes defended. 

Woolen will become the third UTSA alum to play in a Super Bowl on Sunday when his Seahawks face the New England Patriots, joining Teddy Williams (Super Bowl 50, Panthers) and Spencer Burford (Super Bowl 53, 49ers). It’s odd to call it a Cinderella story given that Woolen is 6-4 and runs a 4.2 40, but that’s exactly what it is. Not many former backup wide receivers at the G5 level transition into starting cornerbacks in the NFL. 

“Growing up, I think people doubted him quite a bit,” Graham said of his star pupil. “They knew he was a good athlete, but they doubted him because he has that laidback personality that can come across like he doesn’t care, but he does care, a lot. I’m just happy for him to get this opportunity in the Super Bowl and as a player in the NFL.”

But this isn’t the end for Woolen. Graham sees an even higher ceiling. 

“His best football is still ahead of him,” Graham said. “I’m excited for where his career will go next because I think the sky is the limit for that kid. I think we haven’t seen the best of him yet, which is scary.”