Fall Previews: UTEP

UTEP:

Head Coach: Sean Kugler
2014 Record: (7-6, 5-3 CUSA)
Basic Offense: Pro-Style
Basic Defense: 4-2-5
Starters Returning: 12 (6 Off., 5 Def., 1 Spec.) 76 Will Hernandez OL, 60 Eric Lee OL, 75 Derek Elmendorff OL, 70 Jerome Daniels OL, 29 Aaron Jones RB, 15 Darrin Laufasa FB, 36 Nick Usher DL, 43 Roy Robertson-Harris DL, 63 Gino Bresolin DL, 16 Alvin Jones LB, 27 Devin Cockrell DB, 47 Jay Mattox P/K.
Starters Lost: 11 (5 Off., 6 Def., 0 Spec.)

Offense:

The Miners head into the 2015 season needing to replace a talented quarterback in Jameill Showers, a player that attempts 286 of the 287 pass attempts last fall. While Showers was a very good player for the Miners and will be tough to replace, UTEP is a very run oriented offense and either redshirt sophomore Mack Leftwich or junior Garrett Simpson should be able to ease into the role. Currently, the two are separated by an OR on the depth chart and neither has been able to fully move forward in the battle. We could easily see this battle last into the upcoming season with both quarterbacks seeing action in the season opener with the first team offense. Simpson is a mammoth 6-7, 250 pounds and while Leftwich is a polar opposite at 5-10, 190 pounds making the duo a true quarterback odd couple.

Aaron Jones

If you haven't heard of El Paso native Aaron Jones (242/1,321/11TD), then you better get used to hearing about the 2014 2nd team All-CUSA selection this fall. Jones ran for 811 yards as a freshman and could end up leaving UTEP as the most decorated running back in the school's long and storied history. Jones will get a significant proportion of the carries this fall but a trio of backups are battling hard for the backup role. Senior Jeremiah Laufasa (9/65/1TD) and true freshman Treyvon Hughes should all see some playing time in the backfield on the depth chart behind Jones. Junior Darrin Laufasa (14/41/1TD) made all 13 starts in 2014 and was a major reason for the success of Jones and the entire rushing attack that put up 2,701 yards and 27 touchdowns last fall. Redshirt freshman Sloan Spiller should be the backup.

Autrey Golden

With an offense that ran the ball 66.7% of the time in 2014, the passing game was not a priority for the majority of the season. The Miners have only one player between all of the tight end and wide receivers on the roster with double digit catches in senior Autrey Golden (31/362/2TD). Golden is the projected starter at the Z-Receiver position and should be able to use his multitude of talents to give the Miners offense an extra dimension. The backups for Golden are sophomore Donovan Walker and Brandon Moss with neither of the two making a reception last fall. Tight end Hayden Plinke is currently on the top of the depth chart but sophomore Cole Rogers (2/25/0TD) saw action in 2014. Cedrick Lang is an interesting player as a great player for the Miners basketball team before joining the football team this fall. At 6-9, 290 pounds, he could show an ability to do things on the football field no one else is capable of doing. At the other two receiver spots, Tyler Batson (1/11/0TD) and JaQuan White (4/95/1TD) lead the way as the only other receivers with regular season catches.

Eric Lee

While the Miners need to find new pass catchers and a new quarterback, there is little worry in El Paso about the offensive line. UTEP is led by senior Eric Lee (13 career starts), a 2014 All-CUSA honorable mention honoree and member of the 2015 Rimington Trophy Watch list awarded to the nation's best center. Lee played in and started all 13 games last fall and impressed as the glue in the middle of a strong offensive line. Redshirt freshman Derron Gatewood will be the understudy for Lee. Left tackle Jerome Daniels (14 career starts) was another anchor for the Miners offense last fall in making all 13 starts as a sophomore. The rising junior has the size at 6-3, 305 pounds to be a run grater but also slow down the excellent pass rushers of Conference USA. Junior Chris Thomas will be the backup after seeing action mostly on special teams in 2014. Left guard was a question mark in 2014 but the play of sophomore Will Hernandez (13 career starts) makes the same position a strength heading into the upcoming season. Hernandez made all 13 starts at left guard and was named to the All-CUSA freshman team last fall. Redshirt freshman Chris Jones will be the backup at left guard. In similar fashion to the left guard spot, right guard was a question mark heading into 2014 but rising sophomore Derek Elmendorff (11 career starts) took the position and ran with it last fall. The 6-3, 300 pound guard gives the Miners four offensive linemen with 11+ starts last fall. Redshirt freshman Christopher Misaalefua will be the massive backup for Elmendorff at 6-5, 375 pounds.  Right tackles is the only question mark for the Miners heading into the upcoming season as junior John De La Rosa seems to currently have the lead. The 6-6, 310 pound Texas native has spent the last two seasons as a scout team standout and the UTEP coaching staff expect his time on the scout team to translate to good play this fall. Former Los Angeles Southwest College player Anthony Kyles is the backup and will battle for playing time this fall.

Defense: 

Roy Robertson-Harris

For a team running a 4-2-5 base offense, the defensive line returns three starters and should be able to give the Miners one of the better defenses in CUSA. Defensive end Nick Usher (41 tkl, 5.5 tfl, 3 sacks) leads the way as the leading tackler in the trenches but opposite end starter Roy Robertson-Harris (36 tkl, 9.5 tfl, 3.5 sacks) is the leading returner in tackles for loss and sacks. The 6-7, 255 pound senior made all 13 starts for the Miners and has 21 career starts heading into the upcoming season. Sophomore Luke Elsner (5 tkl) and junior Silas Firstley (19 tkl, 2 tfl, 1 sack) will be the backups for the starting duo. Nose tackle Gino Bresolin (27 tkl, 2.5 tfl) made 11 starts in the trenches last fall and has 13 career starts for UTEP. Fellow junior Christian Harper will be the backup after seeing action in 12 games last fall but not making any tackles. Rounding out the quartet of starters is senior Alex Villarreal (11 tkl). The former backup is finally getting the shot to take a step forward and make an impact for the Miners after waiting his turn. Junior Brian Madunezim makes the step into the two-deep after playing as a scout team player in each of the two previous seasons.

Alvin Jones

Weakside linebacker Alvin Jones (55 tkl, 9 tfl, 1.5 sacks) was an excellent player for the Miners defense last fall and ranked second on the defense with 55 tackles. The 2014 CUSA all freshman team member's athletic ability is hard to replace and Jones should be in store for a great 2015 season. Senior Trey Brown (33 tkl, 5 tfl, 2 sacks) will also get his share of playing time on the UTEP defense. At the middle linebacker spot, senior Jimmy Musgrave (36 tkl, 4.5 tfl, 3 sacks) has a year in the program after coming from the JUCO ranks and should be able to make the linebacker duo one of the better on the Miners defense. Cooper Foster (1 tkl) and Justin Tatum have very little experience so it is imperative for Musgrave to stay healthy.

Devin Cockrell

The Miners have very little overall experience in the secondary but are led by Devin Cockrell (52 tkl, 7 tfl, 2 sacks). The nickelback/linebacker/all-purpose defender made all 13 starts in 2014 and was an Honorable mention All-CUSA player last fall. Cockrell will be key to the Miners slowing down the strong passing games of CUSA and should be in store for a great season. At cornerbacks, seniors Traun Roberson (9 tkl, 3 pbu) and Ishmael Harrison (11 tkl, 1 tfl, 3 pbu) lead the way despite only making a combined 18 tackles last fall. Trent Trammell, Da’Carlos Renfro, (5 tkl, 1 INT), and Nik Needham will give much needed depth but only Renfro has much in game experience. At the two safety spots, senior strong safety LaQuintus Dowell  (7 tkl, 2 fr, 1 ff) and junior free safety Dashone Smith (35 tkl, 2 tfl, 1 sack) lead the way with both showing big play ability last season. Smith was a five game starter last fall and has the ability to move around and play at the line of scrimmage versus the run as well as a deep centerfield in zone defense schemes. Adrian Hynson, Nathan Stukes, and Kelvin Fisher Jr. (6 tkl, 1 fr) are all part of the Miner secondary reserves at safety.

Special Teams: 

The Miners kicking game is the Jay Mattox show for the third straight season. The junior kicker was 13-16 on field goal attempts with a long of 42, 43-44 on PAT attempts while punting 41 times, a 41.1 avg., a long of 68, and 9 landing inside the 20. The kicker also boomed 70 kickoffs with 47 touchbacks. Mattox is on the 2015 Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicker Watch List for the upcoming season. Mattox is 75-76 on PATs attempts and 20-31 on field goal attempts for his career.

Overall: 

The Miners are coming off of a 7-6 season and loss in the New Mexico Bowl but look like they have a very manageable schedule for the upcoming season. UTEP starts the season with a matchup versus Arkansas in a very run heavy game. Arkansas is just too talented and deep for the Miners and should pull away and put the Miners in a 0-1 hole after one game. A week two trip to Texas Tech is a winnable game for UTEP after nearly pulling off the upset last season. Playing on the road will be tough and too much for the Miners to overcome in falling to Texas Tech and starting the season 0-2.

From that point on, the Miners have the chance to get on a roll as they will be favored in each of their next five contests. New Mexico State and Incarnate Word will be easy UTEP wins to even the record to 2-2 and a beginning to Conference USA play. The Miners start versus in state foe UTSA and as long as they are able to control the line of scrimmage on offense and defense, they should finally see a winning record for the first time all season at 3-2. Wins over FAU and FIU, two always underachieving teams, will put UTEP at 5-2 and one game away from bowl eligibility. That win will come versus a much improved Southern Miss squad before the Miners fall in a close loss to Rice to move to 6-3 on the season.

Splitting Old Dominion and Louisiana Tech to get to 7-4, the Miners should defeat North Texas on the road to end the season at 8-4 and another bowl berth. This time they win their bowl game. Prediction: 9-4.