(Photo Credit: Ruben R. Ramirez)
Key Players Returning:
QB Gavin Hardison, RB Deion Hankins, WR Jacob Cowing, WR/KR Walter Dawn, WR/PR Justin Garrett, OC Andrew Meyer, OG Bobby DeHaro, OG Elijah Klein, OT Zuri Henry, OT Darta Lee, DE Praise Amaewhule, DT Kelton Moss, DT Keenan Stewart, LB Tyrice Knight, CB Josh Caldwell, SS Justin Prince, PK Gavin Baechle, and PT Joshua Sloan.
Key Players Departing:
LB Stephen Forester, LB Jayson VanHook, CB Dennis Barnes, CB Broderick Harrell, and CB Duron Lowe, and FS Dyvonne Inyang.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: DE Gerard Joseph (Houston, Texas), CB Tyler Williams (Santa Maria, California), QB Jokolby Longino (Missouri City, Texas), WR Jeremiah Ballard (Houston, Texas), and CB John Burris (Mesquite, Texas).
2 Star Recruits: QB Kevin Hurley (Booneville, Mississippi), and OG Joseph Immediato (El Paso, Texas).
1 Star Recruits: QB Nick Ast (Kansas State transfer), CB Torey Richardson (Brenham, Texas), and WR Jostein Clarke (Tyler, Texas).
2020 Results:
G01 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN W 24-14
G02 at #14 Texas L 3-59
G03 ABILENE CHRISTIAN W 17-13
G04 at UL-Monroe W 31-6
G05 at Louisiana Tech L 17-21
G06 at Charlotte L 28-38
G07 at UTSA L 21-52
G08 NORTH TEXAS L 43-45
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 3-5 (7th in CUSA West)
Home: 2-1
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 0-4
Non-CUSA: 3-1
Head Coach: Dana Dimel
UTEP: 5-27
Career: 35-66
Bowls: 0-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Gavin Hardison (108-199, 1419 yards, 54.3%, 6.5 avg., 5 TD, 5 Int.)
Rushing: Deion Hankins (121 car., 592 yards, 4.9 avg., 9 TD)
Receiving: Jacob Cowing (41 rec., 691 yards, 16.9 avg., 3 TD)
TD’s Scored: Deion Hankins (9)
Sacks: Praise Amaewhule (5.5)
Tackles: Tyrice Knight (54)
Interceptions: None
Pass Deflections: Praise Amaewhule (8)
Tackles For Loss: Praise Amaewhule/Keenan Stewart (7)
Forced Fumbles: Dyvonne Inyang (2)
Kick Returns: Walter Dawn (10 ret., 277 yards, 27.7 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Justin Garrett (7 ret., 23 yards, 3.3 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Gavin Baechle (5-9 fg/fga., 56%, 23-23 xp/xpa., 38 pts.)
Punting: Joshua Sloan (32 ret., 1251 yards, 39.1 avg., 5 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 12 Gavin Hankins (RS SO/TR)
RB: 33 Deion Hankins (RS FR)
WR: 6 Jacob Cowing (SO)
WR: 2 Justin Garrett (RS SR/TR)
WR: 1 Tyrin Smith (SO/TR)
TE: 45 Trent Thompson (JR)
LT: 76 Darta Lee (RS SR/TR)
LG: 73 Bobby DeHaro (RS JR)
OC: 75 Andrew Meyer (RS SO)
RG: 79 Elijah Klein (RS SO)
RT: 68 Zuri Henry (JR)
KR: 26 Walter Dawn (RS SR)
PK: 40 Gavin Baechle (JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 11 Jadrian Taylor (JR/TR)
DT: 7 Kelton Moss (JR/TR)
DT: 54 Keenan Stewart (RS SO/TR)
DE: 23 Praise Amaewhule (RS SO)
LB: 10 Tyrice Knight (JR/TR)
LB: 30 Cal Wallerstedt (RS SO)
LB: 6 Gary Theard (JR/TR)
CB: 15 Walter Neil (GR/TR)
CB: 22 Josh Caldwell (RS SR/TR)
FS: 3 Ty’reke James (RS JR/TR)
SS: 21 Justin Prince (RS JR)
PR: 26 Walter Dawn (RS SR)
PT: 13 Joshua Sloan (FR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/28 at New Mexico State Aggies | UTEP leads the series 57-38-2. The Miners are 6-3 since 2011, and they lost (35-44) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
09/04 BETHUNE-COOKMAN WILDCATS | First meeting between schools.
09/10 at Boise State Broncos | UTEP trails the series 0-5. The Miners lost (31-47) the last meeting between schools in 2004.
09/25 NEW MEXICO LOBOS | UTEP trails the series 32-43-3. The Miners won (31-24) the last meeting between schools in 2014.
10/02 OLD DOMINION MONARCHS | UTEP trails the series 1-2. The Miners lost (21-31) the last meeting between schools in 2016.
10/09 at Southern Miss Golden Eagles | UTEP trails the series 4-8. The Miners are 2-6 since 2011, and they lost (13-31) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/16 LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS | UTEP trails the series 2-14-1. The Miners are 0-8 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series win (44-27) was in 2004.
10/30 at Florida Atlantic Owls | The series is tied 1-1. The Miners lost (31-35) the last meeting between schools in 2016, and their only series win (27-17) was at the inaugural meeting in 2015.
11/06 UTSA ROADRUNNERS | UTEP trails the series 2-6. The Miners lost (21-52) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (52-49 OT) was in 2016.
11/13 at North Texas Mean Green | UTEP trails the series 8-18-3. The Miners are 3-5 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series win (52-24) was in 2016.
11/20 RICE OWLS | UTEP trails the series 8-15. The Miners are 2-7 since 2011, and they lost (16-30) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/27 at UAB Blazers | UTEP trails the series 1-6. The Miners are 0-3 since renewing the series in 2017, and they lost (10-37) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 3-5
Non-CUSA: 3-1
Overall: 6-6 (6th in CUSA West)
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