UTEP Miners 2024 College Football Preview
Posted June 8, 2024
2023 Recap
Record – 3-9
ATS – 6-6
“Pass the barf bag, yo.”
<Random UTEP fan. Or anyone that’s watched a Disney movie in the last ten years.>
The Miners had a disappointing season when you consider that they’d gone 12-13 over the previous two campaigns which gave the fan base some hope. The vomit-inducing campaign meant the end of the Dana Dimel experience (20-49 over six seasons) BUT the good news is that MINER NATION bagged a promising HC in Scotty Walden who led Austin Peay to a pair of Atlantic Sun titles over the last two years.
UTEP deserves good things. Can they take a big step forward in 2024?
UTEP Miners 2024 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Miners significantly underachieved last season when you consider the skill position players that were available. They ranked #83 in the country in total offense (#83 rush, #73 pass) and the hope is that the MASSIVE influx of players from the Austin Peay Colonels (thanks Scotty Walden) can get these guys scoring a lot more points. First the bad news. UTEP will be without their top-three RBs, top-four pass catchers, and top-six OL from the 2023 squad. The good news is that this is a BULK rebuild similar to what Texas St did successfully LY (and Western Kentucky not too long ago). QB Cade McConnell looks like someone who can lead the offense and the RB room will happy to know that Jevon Jackson has joined the team from Austin Peay after rushing for 1,373 yards and 10 TDs in 2023. The Miners lost their most talented offensive player WR Kelly Akharaiyi (1,033, 21.5, 7 TD LY) to Mississippi St (!) but they’ve brought in some talented WR transfers such as Trey Goodman (Austin Peay) who was a yuuuge big play threat LY (721, 21.2, 7 TD), Kam Thomas (Austin Peay) who will play the MINER BACK role (RB/WR) in the new system, and Jaden Smith (Eastern Kentucky). Our primary concern is up front but note that both projected starting tackles did good work with the Colonels.
DEFENSE
UTEP ended last year ranked #75 in total defense which wasn’t horrible but they struggled mightily vs the run (#125) **. There are several key bodies to be replaced on this side of the football including tackling machine LB Tyrice Wright who’s off to the NFL but it’s not all doom and gloom. Star DE Maurice Westmoreland is back to create major havoc (7.5 sacks, 11.5 TFL LY) and they added several useful players thru the transfer portal including Tulsa’s Dorian Hopkins who’s a projected starter at LB. The stop unit looks comparable to what they put on the field last season but there’s definitely potential for improvement vs the run. They’re still looking for CB depth in the transfer portal as we approach press time.
** Exhibit A: 307 yards allowed vs UNLV; Exhibit B: 441 yards allowed vs Liberty
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Miners were #111 on special teams LY according to Phil Steele but there’s reason for optimism given that Scotty Walden is strong in this area and he calls it, wait for it, “WEFENSE”. The complementary piece to offense and defense. It’s a bit catchy, and also slightly creepy, but we like it! Buzz Flabiano is back at PK (10/14 FG, 29/30 XP LY) but they’ll miss PR Torrance Burgess Jr who took one to the HIZZY CRIBBY in 2023.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – RUH ROH. They’ve got to play seven road games including three tough out-of-conference contests (CORN, Colorado St, Tennessee). They miss Jacksonville St in CUSA action but have to face Liberty and Western Kentucky ON THE HIGHWAY.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Colorado St (Sept 21)
This will be a tough trip to Mountain West country and it pops up in a sandwich between a pair of conference foes (Liberty, Sam Houston).
Season Win Total
Market consensus June 8
Over 4.5 +105
Under 4.5 -130
MEGALOCKS says:
No leanage.
Hmm. That looks about right. We’ll revisit this one over the summer as we have a preference for the ‘over’ but it would be great to find a ‘flat 4’. The small handful of automatic losses on the schedule doesn’t give them much margin for error. We might eventually settle for something like “over 4.5 +125” but we’ll keep you posted.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The Miners have lost SEVEN bowl games in a row and haven’t won one since the 1967 (!) Sun Bowl. In fact, UTEP hasn’t won a bowl game other than the Sun Bowl (1949, 1953, 1954, 1965, 1967).
When it comes to mascots it’s almost impossible to beat PAYDIRT PETE.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
The Miners will no longer be using five-TE sets with five offensive linemen to slow things down and control the clock **. New HC Scotty Walden will have them moving FAST and it might take a few games for MINER NATION to realize what’s going on. UTEP will score some points and if the defense comes around you could see them sneak into bowl season. That would be great to see. Don’t forget to cheer on the WEFENSE and PICKS UP!
** FACT CHECK: Slight exaggeration but not far from the truth.