UTEP College Football Preview 2024: Key Players, Schedule, Season Predictions

UTEP College Football Preview 2024

Let’s have some more fun.

To keep this in Texas - about 600 miles down the road from El Paso - Texas State showed last year how things can change around a big boost from the offense.

UTEP won’t exactly roll with the high-octane flying circus like GJ Kinne brought to the Bobcats, but new head coach Scotty Walden and the attack he ran at Austin Peay over the last few years should make an already good situation even better.

There has been only one winning season at UTEP since 2014, and the last bowl win was in 1967. The expectations aren’t huge with the program, but Walden should set the bar higher than you might expect.

Don’t be shocked if UTEP is good right away with this new staff.

Mike Price showed in the mid-2000s that UTEP can win with an offense that works, but that’s too long ago. Walden is only 34, he has a good group of coaches around him, he brought over a slew of good pieces from his Austin Peay teams, and now it’s time to do some damage in Conference USA.

And have an entertaining team to crank up the interest and attention.

UTEP Football Preview 2024: Offense

- Well let’s get this offense moving. At Austin Peay, Scotty Walden’s attack had one of the nation’s most efficient passing games, the team was 14th in total offense, and there was enough of a ground game to get by. The question will be who’ll run it.

Cade McConnell was UTEP’s leading passer of the four options last season, throwing for 1,437 yards and six touchdowns, but Skyler Locklear is coming over for Austin Peay after serving as one of the main backups.

- The receiving corps got an instant boost from the transfer portal. Leading receiver Kelly Akharaiyi left for Mississippi State, and Tyrin Smith is gone to Cincinnati. In from Austin Peay is Trey Goodman after averaging 21 yards per catch with seven scores, and Jaden Smith was a big producer at Eastern Kentucky with 173 career grabs.

- The offensive line wasn’t awful last season, but it needs work. It’s an all-new starting five and there’s no depth, but the interior is full of upperclassmen who’ve been around. The tackles are coming in from Austin Peay with Isaiah Wright an instant starter at left side and Brennan Smith starting on the right.

Jevon Jackson ran for 1,373 yards and ten scores for Austin Peay last season. There’s a little bit of depth, but Ezell Jolly has to grow into the role as the No. 2.

UTEP Football Preview 2024: Defense

- The UTEP defense was among the best in Conference USA. It wasn't a rock, but it was the best in the league in pass D, but there were huge problems against the run.

The line gets back top pass rusher Maurice Westmoreland, and Missouri State transfer Devin Core should be a factor on the other side. There might not be massive bulk inside, but Sione Tonga’uiha and KD Johnson are big veterans who can move a bit.

- The top linebackers are all from the portal. Tyrice Knight is gone after leading the team with 140 tackles, and now it’s up to Tulsa transfer Dorian Hopkins to hold up on the inside. He’s experienced enough to be the quarterback of the corps, and Gardner-Webb transfer Tray Dunson should be a playmaker behind the line.

- The secondary that was so strong has to pick off more passes. Corners AJ Odums and Amier Boyd-Matthews are veterans who’ll be fine with transfers boosting up the depth.

Oscar Moore led the team with just two picks, but he’s a decent veteran at one safety spot to go along with fourth-leading tackler Josiah Allen. In from Austin Peay is Kory Chapman after making 73 tackles with two picks.

Key To The UTEP Football Season

Get the passing game up and flying right away.
The style of the new staff and scheme will get the downfield passes rolling, but it’ll be more about the completion percentage. Austin Peay quarterbacks combined to hit 67% of their throws last season. UTEP quarterback completed 54% of their passes, so …

UTEP Key Player

Cade McConnell, QB Jr.
The former JUCO transfer got a little bit of starting work in last season and has enough time logged in at different levels to take ahold of the gig. Someone has to make this offense go, and if it’s not him it needs to be Skyler Locklear, who at least knows the offense and the coaches.

UTEP Football Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: Jevon Jackson, RB Jr.
Out of all the former Governors coming over with the new coaches, Jackson is the one the offense should work around. Yes, the attack highlights the passing game, but the 5-8, 200-pounder can be a bit of a workhorse and serve as a steadying force.

Top Transfer Out: Justin Mayers, OG Sr.
The UTEP offensive line should be okay even with all new starters across the board, but it needs to be better and more consistent for the ground game. The 6-3, 309-pound Mayers would’ve been the anchor of the line, but now he’ll be the right guard for Coach Prime at Colorado.

UTEP Key Game

Middle Tennessee, Nov. 2
There are just enough winnable games on the board to get to six and a bowl, but the Miners have to take care of the home dates.

UTEP is 1-5 all-time against the Blue Raiders - and lost each of the last four - and with Kennesaw State up next, there’s a chance to come up with a few early November wins to boost up the hopes with one more CUSA date at New Mexico State.

10 Best UTEP Football Players

1. Maurice Westmoreland, EDGE Sr.
2. Jevon Jackson, RB Jr.
3. Dorian Hopkins, LB
4. Trey Goodman, WR Sr.
5. Devin Goree, EDGE Sr.
6. AJ Odums, CB Sr.
7. Cade McConnell, QB Jr.
8. Isaiah Wright, OT Sr.
9. Josiah Allen, S Sr.
10. Xavier Smith, S Soph.

UTEP 2023 Fun Stats

- Fumbles: Opponents 17 (lost 6), UTEP 10 (lost 6)

- 3rd Quarter Scoring: Opponents 93, UTEP 27

- Average Yards Per Carry: Opponents 5.4, UTEP 3.9

UTEP Football 2024 Win Total Prediction: What to Expect This Season

There’s a chance this gets up and moving relatively early.

UTEP might not have enough to be in the Conference USA title mix, but it should be on the right side of enough 50/50 games to improve on the three wins of last season.

It’ll be a rough September, but a date against Sam Houston needs to be a win to get everything going. The Miners should come up with five wins, but they’ll get rocked by Tennessee and lose at New Mexico State to close.

It’ll be a good first year under the new staff, though, with a two-win improvement.

Set The UTEP Win Total At … 4.5

Likely Wins: Kennesaw State, Southern Utah

50/50 Games: FIU, at Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, at New Mexico State, Sam Houston

Likely Losses: at Colorado State, at Liberty, at Nebraska, at Tennessee, at WKU

2024 UTEP Football Schedule

Aug 31 at Nebraska
Sept 7 Southern Utah
Sept 14 at Liberty
Sept 21 at Colorado State
Oct 3 Sam Houston
Oct 5 OPEN DATE
Oct 10 at WKU
Oct 16 FIU
Oct 22 at Louisiana Tech
Nov 2 Middle Tennessee
Nov 9 Kennesaw State
Nov 16 OPEN DATE
Nov 23 at Tennessee
Nov 30 at New Mexico State
Missing: Jacksonville State