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Athlon Sports
UTEP Football: 2024 Miners Season Preview and Prediction
By Athlon Sports,
6 hours ago
UTEP has one of the more passionate fan bases among Group of 5 programs. Frankly, the Miners are a great match for new head coach Scotty Walden’s energy. However, when you’re replacing your starting QB, your best running back and your best defensive player, instant success isn’t realistic. Miner fans may have to strap in for a longer rebuild before they get back to consistent postseason contention.
There’s been a roster overhaul in El Paso. Former FCS Austin Peay head coach Scotty Walden took over the Miners this offseason, bringing 11 transfers from his old team — nine of them on offense — with him and signing 47 new players in all. One of those transfers is quarterback Skyler Locklear, who, despite limited game experience, is a candidate for the starting job. The other candidate is redshirt junior Cade McConnell, who played in seven games for UTEP last season.
At running back, another Austin Peay transfer will hope to be a major contributor. Jevon Jackson ran for more than 1,300 yards under Walden last season. He’ll face a big jump in competition, but he’ll try to replace the production of UTEP’s two very good departed running backs. TCU transfer Corey Wren could also be a factor.
Getting all the new pieces to fit with the old and implementing Walden’s system with a group that’s hungry but largely inexperienced will be the overarching storyline of this offense this fall.
Linebacker/defensive end Maurice Westmoreland is UTEP’s only returning player who made the All-Conference USA first team in 2023. The Houston native had 7.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss with 37 total tackles in 2023. After losing highly productive starters Tyrice Knight at linebacker and Praise Amaewhule at end, hanging on to Westmoreland is a coup for the UTEP defense. That unit had a very respectable 26 sacks last season.
However, as is usually the case with coaching changes these days, the cupboard is rather bare in terms of other established defensive playmakers. That doesn’t mean there are no prospects, however. Intriguing transfer linebackers Dorian Hopkins (Tulsa) and Dylan Brown-Turner (Florida State) could greatly impact a defense that allowed 6.1 yards per play in 2023. Redshirt junior Nate Dyman also reportedly had a strong spring after seeing limited action last season.
Senior cornerback AJ Odums is one of the few returning starters for UTEP’s defense. He registered 36 total tackles and eight passes defended in 2023.
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The punting job is open, but Aussie Adam Jacklin is a likely candidate after transferring from North Texas, where he punted nine times last year. Placekicker Buzz Flabiano returns after connecting on 10-of-14 field goals in 2023. The Miners could look to redshirt freshman Caden Harris on kickoff and punt return duties.
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