UTRGV adds six to football roster
During the early signing period, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley head football coach Travis Bush announced the addition of six student-athletes for the 2025 season, including athlete Jaxon Baize, wide receiver Corey Holmes, offensive lineman Gannon Lauer, defensive end David Nwabuoku, tight end Brendon Ray, and running back Broderick Taylor.
Most recently, Eddie Lee Marburger was announced as transferring to UTRGV from UTSA. Marburger, a former Sharyland Pioneer standout quarterback, spent the past four seasons at UTSA and entered the transfer portal Dec. 9. He played his final game with the Roadrunners on Dec. 23, 2024, a 44-15 win over Coastal Carolina in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
Marburger was a 3-star prospect coming out of high school. He will be a redshirt senior this is listed at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds.
Marburger is the Rio Grande Valley’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns with 103. He finished his high school career with 8,966 passing yards, 103 passing touchdowns. His 58 touchdown passes during the 2019-20 season is also a single-season record in the RGV.
Baize, Lauer and Nwabuoku are graduating this month and will join the Vaqueros in the spring.
This is the beginning of UTRGV's second-ever signing class, as these student-athletes are committing to the Vaqueros during the early signing period, which runs through Friday.
UTRGV will be able to add student-athletes during the regular signing period, which begins Feb. 5., and via the transfer portal, which opened Dec. 9 for the fall periods and April 16 for the spring period.
Jaxon Baize | ATH 6-0 190 | Fr. | Boerne, Texas | Boerne HS: “Has thrown for 60 touchdowns while rushing for seven and posting a 122.4 QB rating during career for head coach Che Hendrix … Has completed 64.7% of his passes (321-496) while throwing for 4,590 yards … Has added 214 rushing yards … Career accolades include District 14-4A DI Offensive MVP, Padilla Poll First Team All-State, Texas Sports Writers Association Second Team All-State Quarterback, Texas High School Coaches Association 4A Super Elite Team Quarterback, SBLive All Central-Texas Offensive MVP, and District 144A First Team All-District honors,” according to UTRGV’s website.
David Nwabuoku | DE 6-3 213 | Fr. | Plano, Texas | Plano Senior HS 2021-24 (Plano Senior High School): “As a senior, recorded 103 tackles (57 solo), 20 tackles for a loss, 32 quarterback pressures, six sacks and two passes broken up en route to First Team All-District honors for head coach Cody White,” according to UTRGV’s website.
Brendon Ray | TE 6-3 230 | Fr. | Bishop, Texas | Bishop HS 2021-24 (Bishop High School): “ As a senior, made 16 receptions for 169 yards while recording 55 tackles for head coach Rigo Morales … Finished career with 46 receptions for 576 yards … Earned defensive lineman of the year honors as a senior … Unanimous First Team All-District Tight End selection all four years … Unanimous First Team All-District Defensive End selection final three years … Also competed in track & field and golf,” according to UTRGV’s website.
Broderick Taylor | RB 5-9 175 | Fr. | Corpus Christi, Texas | Roy Miller HS 2021-24 (Roy Miller High School): “In 13 games as a senior, has rushed for 32 touchdowns and 1,890 yards on 214 carries, an average of 8.8 yards per carry and 145.4 yards per game for head coach Justen Evans … Posted nine 100-yard rushing games … Has also made 23 catches for five touchdowns and 331 yards, an average of 14.4 yards per reception and 25.5 yards per game … In 41 games at the Varsity level over a four-year career, has scored 70 touchdowns while rushing for 5,034 yards on 589 carries, an average of 8.5 yards per carry and 122.8 yards per game … Posted 25 100-yard rushing games … Has also made 47 receptions for nine touchdowns and 749 yards, an average of 15.9 yards per catch and 18.3 yards per game … Earned First Team All-State, Whataburger Super Team All-State, and District 14-5A Division I MVP honors as a junior after rushing for 29 touchdowns and 2,333 yards on 248 carries in 14 games, during 13 of which he rushed for 100+ yards,” according to UTRGV’s website.