A look at UTEP for the 2012 Season:
QB
#7 Nick Lamaison 6-1/215 QB SR
West Covina, Calif. (Mt. SAC)--9 games played. 130-224 passing for 1718 yards
and 12 TD.
#13 Carson Meger 5-11/200 QB R-JR
Plano, Texas (Plano HS)--12 games played. 71-112 passing for 696 yards and 2
TD.
#1 Jay Hall 6-1/175 QB SO Dallas, Texas (Skyline HS)--3 games played. 20-55
passing for 281 yards.
#12 John Coomer 6-3/205 QB SO Fort Worth, Texas (Lon Morris College)--Incoming
Transfer.
#10 Blaire Sullivan 6-3/210 QB R-FR San Antonio, Texas (Central
Catholic HS)--Redshirted in 2011.
#?? Garrett Simpson QB 6-6 240 The Colony, Texas/The Colony--Incoming
Freshman.
#?? Jacob Larson QB 6-4 200 Coppell, Texas/Coppell--Incoming Freshman.
The starting quarterback job
should be a battle all summer and early fall between Lamaison and Meger as both
attempted over 100 passes in 2011. Jay Hall could make a run but should slide
into the #3 spot for the 2012 season. Coomer, Sullivan, Simpson and Larson
should all be out of the race and future options for UTEP in upcoming seasons.
RB
#25 Nathan Jeffery 5-11/195 RB R-SO
Caddo Mills, Texas (Caddo Mills HS)--12 games played. 26 carries for 166 yards
and 1 TD. 10 catches for 124 yards and 2 TD.
#20 Josh Bell 5-11/215 RB R-SO Sugar Land, Texas (Kempner HS)--2 games
played. 3 carries for 4 yards.
#27 Brandon Polk 5-6/160 RB SO Fort Worth, Texas (Lon Morris College)--No
stats in 2011.
#39 Sam Brown 5-8/175 RB R-FR El Paso, Texas (Coronado HS)--Redshirted
in 2011.
#32 LaQuintus Dowell 5-9/195 RB R-FR Humble, Texas (Humble
HS)--Redshirted in 2011.
#26 Jacob Martinez 5-8/200 RB FR El Paso, Texas (Cathedral HS)--No
stats in 2011.
#?? Paul Franklin RB 6-2 200 Denison, Texas/South Oak Cliff--Incoming
Freshman.
#?? Autrey Golden RB 6-0 190 Willis, Texas/Willis--Incoming Freshman.
With only 2 players having any stats
from the 2011 season, Nathan Jeffrey is leading the pack to get the bulk of the
carries in 2012. In all reality, the job is open for anyone and even the
incoming freshman could come in and get some carries immediately. Easily, this
is one of the most wide open spots on the roster.
TE
#82 Kevin Perry 6-5/255 TE R-JR
Opelousas, La. (Houston Westbury Christian HS)--12 games played in 2011. 1 rush
for 1 yard. 17 catches for 203 yards and 1 TD. 1 kickoff return for 10 yards.
#87 Eric Tomlinson 6-6/260 TE R-SO Klein, Texas (Klein HS)--12 games
played. 6 catches for 83 yards and 2 TD. 2 kickoff returns for 13.5 yard
average. 2 tackles.
#81 Craig Wenrick 6-5/260 TE SO Flower Mound, Texas (Flower Mound HS)--11
games played in 2011. 4 catches for 105 yards and 2 TD.
#18 Katrae Ford 6-4/250 TE SO Houston, Texas (Westfield HS)--No stats
in 2011.
#46 Dominic Matson 6-1/230 TE FR San Antonio, Texas (Warren HS)--No
stats in 2011.
In Kevin Perry, the Miners have a
solid tight end that can catch but is a very good blocker as well. Tomlinson
and Wenrick should also get significant playing time after accounting for2
touchdowns a piece in the 2011 season. Katrae Ford must show significant
improvement to earn playing time behind the trio of players ahead of him on the
depth chart.
WR
#6 Michael Edwards 5-11/190 WR
SR Glendora, Calif. (Mt. SAC)--12 games played. 3 carries for 17 yards. 50
catches for 657 yards and 3 TD. 8 punt returns for 8.2 yard average. 2 kickoff
returns for 18.5 yard average. 6 tackles.
#9 Jordan Leslie 6-2/210 WR R-SO
Houston, Texas (Tomball HS)--12 games played. 30 catches for 430 yards and 2
TD.
#15 Devin Patterson 6-0/205 WR R-SO Mesquite, Texas (North Mesquite HS)--9
games played. 1 catch for 12 yards.
#11 Malcolm Trail 6-1/185 WR SO Dallas, Texas (Life School Oak Cliff
HS)--7 games played. 3 catches for 16 yards.
#3 Jim Jones 6-0/170 WR R-SO Redlands, Calif. (Aquinas HS)--No stats in
2011.
#88 Anthony Scallion 6-3/160 WR FR El Paso, Texas (Andress HS)--No
stats in 2011.
#84 Cole Freytag 6-2/190 WR FR El Paso, Texas (Coronado HS)--No stats
in 2011.
#36 Norberto Solis 6-1/185 WR R-FR El Paso, Texas (Horizon
HS)--Redshirted in 2011.
#28 Felix Neboh 5-8/160 WR R-FR Odessa, Texas (Permian HS)--Redshirted
in 2011.
#83 Kyle Morin 6-0/170 WR R-FR El Paso, Texas (Eastwood HS)--Redshirted
in 2011.
#5 Davian Harper 6-3/215 WR R-FR Mesquite, Texas (Mesquite
HS)--Redshirted in 2011.
#86 Ishmael Harrison 5-11/190 WR R-FR Red Oak, Texas (Red Oak HS)--Redshirted
in 2011.
#80 Jacob Garcia 5-10/170 WR R-FR El Paso, Texas (Riverside
HS)--Redshirted in 2011.
#85 Peter Carreon 5-10/195 WR FR
El Paso, Texas (Riverside HS)--No stats in 2011.
#?? Brandon Moss WR 6-3 185 El Paso, Texas/Chapin--Incoming Freshman.
#?? Corey Callicutt WR6-3 200 Dallas, Texas/South Oak Cliff--Incoming
Freshman.
Edwards and Leslie should easily get the starting nods for the Miners after combining for 80 catches and over 1000 yards in 2011. Patterson and Trail look to get a fair amount of playing time in relief of the starters. There are a multitude of incoming and redshirt freshmen that could work themselves up the depth chart and claim some playing time.
OL
#58 Brander Craighead 6-6/280 LT
R-JR Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (Fork Union Military Academy)--Projected starter
at LT.
#69 Jerel Watkins 6-3/285 LG R-SO
Channelview, Texas (Channelview HS)--Projected starter at LG.
#63 Eloy Atkinson 6-3/305 C R-SR
Los Fresnos, Texas (Los Fresnos HS)--Projected starter at C.
#55 James Robinson 6-5/325 RG SR
Richmond, Calif. (City College Of San Francisco)--Projected starter at RG.
#68 James Nelson 6-7/350 RT SR
Ventura, Calf. (Ventura JC)--Projected starter at RT.
#62 Kyle Brown 6-2/280 C R-SO Conroe, Texas (Conroe HS)--Projected
backup at C.
#75 James Martin 6-6/280 LT SR Chino Hills, Calif. (Mt. SAC)--Projected
backup at LT.
#77 Paul Santillan 6-4/305 LG R-SR Crosby, Texas (Crosby HS)--Projected
backup at LG.
#65 Mike Amdall 6-4/300 OL SO Plano, Texas (Plano East HS)--Backup
lineman.
#79 Corin Brooks 6-4/315 OL R-SO Riverside, Calif. (Arlington HS)--Backup
lineman.
#66 Wayne Frazier 6-4/320 OL R-JR Refugio, Texas (Refugio HS)--Backup
lineman.
#78 David Grubaugh 6-4/300 OL JR Westlake Village, Calif. (Pierce
College)--Backup lineman.
#71 Trint Jenkins 6-9/335 OL FR Tulsa, Okla. (Victory Christian HS)--Backup
lineman.
#74 Patrick Landry 6-1/290 OL SO Carthage, Ill. (Army)--Transfer from
Army, sat out in 2011.
#59 Paulo Melendez 6-2/310 OL R-FR El Paso, Texas (Horizon HS)--Redshirted
in 2011.
#73 A.C. Patterson 6-0/310 OL R-FR Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman HS)--Redshirted
in 2011.
#?? Gino Bresolin OL 6-3 265 Redmond, Wash./Eastlake--Incoming
Freshman.
#?? Jerome Daniels OL6-3 300 Little Elm, Texas/Little Elm--Incoming
Freshman.
#?? Christian Harper OL 6-4 265 Galena Park, Texas/North
Shore--Incoming Freshman.
#?? John De La Rosa OL6-6 295 Bay City, Texas/Bay City--Incoming
Freshman.
With 3 of the projected 5
starters being seniors, this is a very experienced and strong offensive line
for the Miners. Jerel Watkins is the youngster of the group as a redshirt
sophomore but has the size to play guard in Conference USA. The Miners also
have a couple of seniors in backup positions with Martin and Santillan ready to
play if the need arises. There are a multitude of players that will be ready to
step up and play in 2012 if needed.
DL
#92 Adam Ayala 6-5/280 DE JR
Huntsville, Texas (Huntsville HS)--9 games played. 5 tackles, 1 for loss. 1
sack, 1 forced fumble.
#33 Horace Miller 6-1/240 DE JR
Baltimore, Md. (Louisville)--12 games played. 36 tackles, 8 for loss. 5 sacks,
2 pbu, 1 forced fumble.
#61 Germard Reed 6-1/285 DT JR
Lufkin, Texas (Lufkin HS)--10 games played. 31 tackles, 7.5 for loss. 4 sacks.
1 pbu.
#76 Ruben Munoz 6-0/275 NT SR El
Paso, Texas (Eastwood HS)--12 games played. 9 tackles, 0.5 for loss.
#44 Greg Watkins 6-5/220 DE SR Katy, Texas (Cypress Springs HS)--12
games played. 31 tackles, 5 for loss. 3 sacks, 1 pbu, 1 fumble recovery.
#99 Marcus Bagley 6-1/320 NT JR Mesquite, Texas (North Mesquite HS)--12
games played. 21 tackles. 3 pbu.
#40 Cooper Brock 6-3/240 DL SO Copperas Cove, Texas (Copperas Cove HS)--No
stats in 2011.
#93 Justin Cordova 6-2/285 DL SR McKinney, Texas (SE Oklahoma State)--No
stats in 2011.
#18 James Davidson 6-3/240 DL JR Huntsville, Texas (Huntsville HS)--11
games played. 17 tackles, 3 for loss. 2 sacks, 1 pbu.
#90 Herbert Gonzales 6-0/295 DL FR San Antonio, Texas (Southwest HS)--No
stats in 2011.
#89 Jermaine Hicks 6-1/270 DL SO El Paso, Texas (Andress HS)--No stats
in 2011.
#43 Roy Robertson 6-6/240 DL FR Grand Prairie, Texas (South Grand
Prairie HS)--No stats in 2011.
#91 Isaac Tauaefa 6-0/285 DL SR Lake Dallas, Texas (Air Force Prep)--No
stats in 2011.
#?? Silas Firstley DE 6-1 255 Mesquite, Texas/Poteet--Incoming
Freshman.
#?? Devante Richardson DL 6-3 280 Ft. Worth, Texas/Juan
Seguin--Incoming Freshman.
#?? Daniel Shaul DL 6-2 255 Klein, Texas./Klein Oak--Incoming Freshman.
#?? Brian Madunezim DL 6-3 240 Houston, Texas/Nimitz--Incoming
Freshman.
A trio of juniors in Ayala,
Miller, and Reed lead the defensive line projected starters in 2012. Senior
Ruben Munoz will be playing the NT position. Watkins, Bagley, and Davidson will
also get major playing time for the Miners and could even become starters by
the fall. The rest of the players do not seem to be quite ready for major
playing time.
LB
#56 Josh Fely 5-11/225 WLB SR
Oceanside, Calif. (San Diego Mesa College)--12 games played. 61 tackles, 5.5
for loss. 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery.
#53 DeAndre Little 6-1/230 MLB
SO Ft. Huachuca, Ariz. (Buena HS)--7 games played. 6 tackles, 0.5 for loss. 1
forced fumble.
#48 Aubrey Alexius 5-11/225 SLB SR
Cypress, Texas (Cy Springs HS)--10 games played. 18 tackles, 1 for loss. 1 pbu.
#34 Anthony Puente 5-11/220 LB SO San Antonio, Texas (Marshall HS)--10
games played. 4 tackles.
#35 Trey Brown 5-11/225
LB FR Brownwood, Texas (Lancaster HS)--No stats in 2011.
#4 Jamie Irving 6-0/235 LB SR Perris, Calif. (Citrus Hill HS)--No stats
in 2011.
#50 Micheal Kelley 6-1/215 LB FR Los Angeles, Calif. (Grand Blanc HS)--No
stats in 2011.
#41 David Logston 6-2/235 LB JR Tempe, Arizona (Corona del Sol HS)--No
stats in 2011.
#51 Darnell Murray 6-0/210 LB FR Perris, Calif. (Citrus Hill HS)--No
stats in 2011.
#55 Hunter Nix 6-0/240 LB SO Prosper, Texas (Prosper HS)--No stats in
2011.
#11 A.J. Ropati 6-0/235 LB JR Carson, Calif. (Los Angeles Harbor
College)--No stats in 2011.
#?? Cooper Foster LB6-1 200 Cedar Park, Texas/Vista Ridge--Incoming
Freshman
#?? Chester Egbim LB6-1 200 Rowlett, Texas/Rowlett--Incoming Freshman.
#?? Ernest Hawkins LB 6-2 225 Baltimore, Md./Dunbar--Incoming Freshman.
#?? Darnell Murray LB 6-2 20 Perris, Calif./Citrus Hill--Incoming
Freshman.
Senior Josh Fely is the leading
linebacker returning to the UTEP defense from 2011. His 61 tackles and 3 sacks
were among team leaders. Little and Alexius expect to step in and become
serviceable if not very good players for the defense. With so little returning
experience, This summer and fall could be an open competition for the MLB and
SLB spots.
DB
#13 Wesley Miller 5-9/190 SS
Fresno, Calif. (San Joaquin Memorial HS)--12 games played. 47 tackles. 1 pbu, 2
fumble recoveries.
#2 DeShawn Grayson 6-0/205 FS SR
Riverside, Calif. (Rancho Verde HS)--12 games played. 67 tackles, 1 for loss. 2
interceptions, 5 pbu, 1 forced fumble.
#1 Adrian James 5-11/180 CB JR
Dallas, Texas (Skyline HS)--12 games played. 19 tackles. 1 interception, 3 pbu.
#10 Drew Thomas 5-10/180 CB SR
Chicago, Ill. (Ottawa Township HS)--12 games played. 49 tackles, 2 for loss. 6
pbu.
#24 Richard Spencer 6-2/210 DB SR Moreno Valley, Calif. (Rancho Verde
HS)--12 games played. 47 tackles, 3.5 for loss. 2 sacks, 1 interception, 1 pbu,
1 forced fumble.
#21 Derrick Morgan 6-1/210 FS SR
Germantown, Md. (Cabrillo JC)--12 games played. 20 tackles, 1 for loss. 2 pbu, 1
fumble recovery.
#5 Darren Woodard 5-11/170 CB SR Freeport, Texas (Kilgore College)--9
games played. 12 tackles. 2 interceptions, 1 returned for TD. 1 pbu.
#14 C.J. Haley 5-10/180 DB JR Dallas, Texas (Jesuit Prep HS)--5 games
played. 3 tackles.
#42 Leon Hayes 5-9/185 DB FR Las Vegas, Nev. (Desert Pines HS)--No
stats in 2011.
#22 Shane Huhn 5-11/195 DB FR Cibolo, Texas (Steele HS)--No stats in
2011.
#23 Terr'l Mark 5-11/170 DB SR Lufkin, Texas (Lufkin HS)--No stats in 2011.
#3 Traun Roberson 6-0/175 DB SO DeSoto, Texas (DeSoto HS)--No stats in
2011.
#38 Nathaniel Rodriguez 6-0/180 DB FR EL Paso, Texas (Jefferson HS)--No
stats in 2011.
#30 Gage Sharp 5-11/215
DB FR The Colony, Texas (The Colony HS)--No
stats in 2011.
#31 Robert Spencer 6-0/185 DB FR Tyler, Texas (John Tyler HS)--No stats
in 2011.
#30 Trey Young 5-10/160 DB FR Irving,
Texas (Ranchview HS)--No stats in 2011.
#?? Terrance Williams DB 5-11 185 Dunbar, MD./Dunbar--Incoming
Freshman.
#?? Dashone Smith DB 6-2 00 Spring, Texas./Klein Oak--Incoming
Freshman.
#?? Leon Hayes DB 5-11 190 Las Vegas, Nev./Desert Pines--Incoming
Freshman.
#?? Da'Carlos Renfro DB 5-10 185 Orange, Texas/West Orange
Stark--Incoming Freshman.
The Miners have 7 returning
players with experience that will step in and make some plays for the Miners in
2012. The biggest enigma for the secondary is cornerback Darren Woodard who
only made 12 tackles in 9 games for had 2 interceptions including 1 for a
touchdown in 2011. Among the 4 incoming freshmen, expect them all to be
redshirted and saved for the future. The secondary should be the strength of
the Miner defense in 2012.
K
#8 Dakota Warren 5-10/195 K SR Austin, Texas (Ventura College)--13-22
field goals. 32-34 PAT. 1 kick blocked.
#37 Steven Valadez 5-10/200 K/P SO Arlington, Texas (Air Force Prep)--12
games played. 1-2 field goals. 64 kickoffs with 21 touchbacks.
Senior Dakota Warren took the
majority of the kicks in 2011 although he struggled from 30+ yards. Steven
Valadez has the stronger leg and is the kickoff specialist and could end up
getting more field goal attempts if he can improve his accuracy.
P
#7 Ian Campbell 5-11/175
P SR Duarte, Calif. (Mt. SAC College)--12 games played. 1 rush for 19 yards. 48
punts with 46.1 yard average. 16 inside the 20 yard line. 1 tackle.
#37 Steven Valadez 5-10/200 K/P SO Arlington, Texas (Air Force Prep)--No
punting stats in 2011.
Ian Campbell took all of the
punts in 2011 averaging 46.1 yards per kick and pinning 16 inside the 20 yard
line. Campbell also had one rush for 19 yards on a fake punt last season.
Campbell should not be challenged for the starting job as Valadez is needed
more for kickoffs.
Overall, UTEP see the gauntlet of
college football with two winnable games and two games versus the best of
college football. After a rare home game versus Oklahoma, games at Ole Miss and
New Mexico State, and a trip to Wisconsin, the Miners should be 2-2 going into
the conference season. With trips to ECU, Tulsa and Southern Miss, the
conference slate will be very difficult. 7-5 or 8-4 with a trip to a bowl game
seems to be the most likeliest of scenarios for the Miners in 2012.
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