(Photo Credit: UTEP Miners Athletics)
Key Players Returning:
QB Skyler Locklear, WR/KR Kenny Odom, WR Jaden Smith, WR/RS Kam Thomas, OC Ivan Escobar, OT Azizi Henry, DT KD Johnson, LB Nate Dyman, FS Lantz Russell, SS Xavier Smith, and PK Buzz Flabiano.
Key Players Departing:
RB Jevon Jackson, WR Trey Goodman, OC Brennan Smith, OG Otis Pitts III, OT Isaiah Wright, DE Kyron Duhan, DE Maurice Westmoreland, DE Bryton Thompson, NT Sione Tonga’uiha, LB Dorian Hopkins, CB Josiah Allen, CB Amier Boyd-Matthews, CB AJ Odums, NB Kory Chapman, NB Dillon Williams, SS Oscar Moore. and PT Adam Jacklin.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: DS Allen Grant (Lubbock, Texas), RB Elijah McCoy (Midland, Texas), ATH Jordan Andrus (Houston, Texas), QB Malachi Nelson (Boise State transfer), WR Jaden Smith (Eastern Kentucky transfer), WR Nik Henry (Seguin, Texas), CB TJ Tillman (Amarillo, Texas), WR Ryland Bradford (Abilene, Texas), EDGE Jamal Frilot (Houston, Texas), and EDGE Justin Lee (Round Rock, Texas).
2024 Results:
G01 @ Nebraska L 7-40
G02 SOUTHERN UTAH L/OT 24-27
G03 @ Liberty L 10-28
G04 @ Colorado State L 17-27
G05 SAM HOUSTON L 21-41
G06 @ Western Kentucky L 17-44
G07 FIU W 30-21
G08 @ Louisiana Tech L 10-14
G09 MIDDLE TENNESSEE L 13-20
G10 KENNESAW STATE W/2OT 43-35
G11 @ Tennessee L 0-56
G12 @ New Mexico State W 42-35
Team Info:
2024 Overall: 3-9 (6th in CUSA)
Home: 2-3
Away: 1-6
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 3-5
Non-CUSA: 0-4
Head Coach: Scotty Walden
UTEP: 3-9
Bowls: 0-0
Career: 37-29
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Skyler Locklear (148-233, 1583 yards, 63.5%, 6.8 avg., 10 TD, 6 Int.)
Rushing: Skyler Locklear (80 car., 237 yards, 3.0 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Kam Thomas (47 rec., 532 yards, 11.3 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored: Kenny Odom (8)
Sacks: KD Johnson (3.5)
Tackles: Nate Dyman (84)
Interceptions: Lantz Russell (2)
Pass Deflections: Xavier Smith (5)
Tackles For Loss: Nate Dyman (10)
Forced Fumbles: None
Kick Returns: Kenny Odum (7 ret., 123 yards, 17.6 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Kam Thomas (10 ret., 200 yards, 20.0 avg., 1 TD)
Kicking: Buzz Flabiano (10-17 fg/fga., 59%, 28-28 xp/xpa., 58 pts.)
Punting: Joe Bowman (3 punts, 78 yards, 26.0 avg., 0 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 9 Skyler Locklear (RS SR/TR)
RB: 4 Ashten Emory (RS SO)
WR: 3 Jaden Smith (RS SR/TR)
WR: 6 Kenny Odom (RS JR/TR)
WR: 5 Kam Thomas (RS SR/TR)
TE: 17 Cash Cheeks (JR/TR)
LT: 66 Mark Robinson (SO/TR)
LG: 60 Joseph Immediato (RS SR)
OC: 53 Ivan Escobar (RS SR/TR)
RG: 58 Jaquan Toney (RS SR/TR)
RT: 74 Azizi Henry (RS SR)
KR: 5 Kam Thomas (RS SR/TR)
PK: 36 Buzz Flabiano (RS SR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 11 Derek Burns (RS JR/TR)
NT: 90 Ashton Coker (JR)
DT: 7 KD Johnson (RS SR/TR)
DE: 44 Shakaun Bowser (RS JR/TR)
LB: 30 Nate Dyman (RS SR/TR)
LB: 8 Stratton Shufelt (SO)
LB: 10 Jayden Wilson (JR/TR)
CB: 9 Jaylon Shelton (RS SR/TR)
CB: 4 Neil Campbell (GR/TR)
FS: 22 Lantz Russsell (RS SR/TR)
SS: 2 Xavier Smith (RS SR/TR)
PR: 5 Kam Thomas (RS SR/TR)
PT: 42 Noah Botsford (RS JR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/30 @ Utah State Aggies | UTEP trails the series 0-3. The Miners lost (6-21) the last meeting in 2014, and they lost (6-21) the prior meeting in 1961.
09/06 UT-MARTIN SKYHAWKS | First meeting.
09/13 @ Texas Longhorns | UTEP trails the series 0-6. The Miners lost (3-59) the last meeting in 2020, and they lost (7-41) the prior meeting in 2016.
09/20 ULM WARHAWKS | UTEP won (31-6) the only prior meeting in 2020.
09/27 LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS | UTEP trails the series 2-11. The Miners are 1-9 since 2015, and their last series win (19-3) was in 2021.
10/08 LIBERTY FLAMES | UTEP trails the series 0-2. The Miners lost (10-28) last season’s meeting, and they lost (28-42) the inaugural meeting in 2023.
10/15 @ Sam Houston Bearkats | The series is tied 1-1. The Miners lost (21-41) last season’s meeting, and they won (37-34) the inaugural meeting in 2023.
10/28 @ Kennesaw State Owls | Last season’s 43-35 win was the first meeting between schools.
11/08 JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS | UTEP lost (14-17) the only prior meeting in 2023.
11/15 @ Missouri State Bears | First meeting.
11/22 NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES | UTEP leads the series 14-6. The Miners are 5-4 since 2015, and their last series loss (7-28) was in 2023.
11/29 @ Delaware Blue Hens | First meeting.
Predictions:
Home: 6-0
Away: 3-3
Neutral: 0-1
CUSA: 6-2
Non-CUSA: 3-1
Overall: 9-3 (2nd in CUSA – Bowl Eligible)
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