UTEP to switch to Cade McConnell at QB for game against Sam Houston

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — UTEP’s late comeback effort — that ended up coming up short — in its game against Colorado State last weekend was led by redshirt junior quarterback Cade McConnell.

It was the second-string QB’s second appearance at quarterback this season after UTEP head coach Scotty Walden put McConnell in for starting QB Skyler Locklear at halftime.

McConnell made the most of the opportunity and put together a solid outing. He completed 19-of-29 passes for 220 yards and threw two touchdown passes, which were UTEP’s only touchdowns of the game.

McConnell had a better outing against Colorado State than Locklear. The redshirt sophomore completed 7-of-15 passes for 56 yards and threw an interception.

Locklear was UTEP’s starter in its first four games of the season. He’s completed more than half of his passes in three of the four contests. He’s racked up 710 passing yards on 66 completions on 104 total attempts and has thrown three touchdown passes and four interceptions.

The comeback effort came short as UTEP fell 27-17 to Colorado State in Fort Collins, but one of the big questions that came out of that game was whether McConnell should be the starting quarterback from here on out?

Well, McConnell is set to get his first start at quarterback of the season. Walden said on Tuesday they’ll start McConnell in the Miners’ next game against Sam Houston at the Sun Bowl on October 3.

“We got two quality guys that I feel like we can win with. We’re going to start Cade McConnell for Sam Houston,” Walden said on Tuesday. “When he came in the game, he was ready, and I thought he gave us a chance to win.”

“I certainly think Cade came in and when you get an opportunity like that, you have to capitalize on it, and he certainly capitalized on it.” Walden said.

“I still fully believe in Skyler Locklear. There are things that he does that are great like extending plays and making plays,” Walden said. “There is a lot of things that in that [Colorado State] game that he learned from and he’s going to grow as a young quarterback…. it’s going to pay dividends down the road.”

If McConnell starts against Sam Houston, that will be his first start of the 2024 season and his first since last season’s regular season finale against Liberty at the Sun Bowl.

UTEP is currently in the midst of its open week. UTEP is back in action next Thursday when it takes on Sam Houston at the Sun Bowl.

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