"Digging" their way into the #6 spot in our CUSA countdown are the Miners of UTEP. I apologize that our puns continue to worsen by the day.
Wealth of Experience
In what will become a general theme in the rest of our preview rankings. UTEP returns a wealth of experience off of a team that finished 5-7 in 2015. Last season the Miners had the task of replacing a large portion of their starting unit including 5 of the top 7 defensive backs. When you mix that with injuries to key personnel you get the regression that you saw last season. Like we have said in previous write ups in this countdown though. If you get a rash of injuries one season. It usually leads to increased depth the following season by allowing more players the chance to step up and earn valuable playing time.
Aaron Jones is back from injury. The senior running back had torched Texas Tech for 139 yards on just 17 carries in the 2nd game of the 2015, before injuring his ankle late in the second quarter and missing the rest of the season. Jones was arrested on DWI charges early in February and will enter a diversion program. By entering the program, Jones agreed to follow several conditions similar to that of probation include reporting to a probation officer, taking alcohol and drug tests, and attending a few DWI-related classes. UTEP coach Sean Kugler said Jones would not be disciplined further as it has been dealt with internally. Jones figures to be a key piece for the Miners season.
The QB position will be up for battle in fall camp with Ryan Metz, Kavika Johnson, and Fresno State transfer Zack Greenlee. Metz completed 82 passes on 140 attempts in 2015 for 900 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Johnson saw some action as well completing 27 of his 53 attempts for 218 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Miners also have a ton of play makers at running back, wide receiver, and tight end that saw a lot of action in 2015. Five of the top six receivers are back from a year ago. To go along with 6 lineman who have started at least 4 games.
New Coaches Join Staff
Head coach Sean Kugler decided to change things up a bit and brought in 4 new coaches to join his staff to change the identity of the Miners team.
Brent Pease is the new offensive coordinator. Pease is well known throughout coaching circles having been the head offensive coach on some good teams in the past including Kentucky, Baylor, Boise St, and Florida. Pease was Guy Morriss' offensive coordinator at UK in 2001-2002 before following him to Baylor. Pease later became the coordinator for Chris Peterson's Boise St team in 2011 with Kellen Moore at QB in route to a 12-1 season. He later joined Muschamp at Florida before things in Gainesville took a turn for the worse. Pease then rejoined Chris Peterson's staff in Washington as the WR coach for that past 2 seasons before making the move to El Paso to join Kugler.
New defensive coordinator Tom Mason also has a wealth of experience. Managing the defensive units at Nevada, SMU, and Hawaii. Prior to Hawaii in 2015, Mason spent 7 seasons as the defensive coordinator at SMU. Transforming that unit into one of the nations best while working under former Houston head coach June Jones.
Also on the offensive side of the ball, Theron Aych will serve as the wide receivers coach for the Miners. Aych spent the last five seasons at Angelo State as the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
New linebackers coach and assistant special teams coordinator Don Yanowsky joins the Miners staff after spending the last 2 seasons as a special teams coordinator in the Canadian Football League for the Ottowa Redblacks
Defense A Mixed Bag
Losing five of your top 7 defensive backs from a year ago is never a recipe for success. Compound that by losing your best safety to injury and you get the results of 2015 where opponents passed at will on the Miners. Three freshman ended up starting in the secondary for the miners and the defensive front had trouble getting much of a pass rush to ease the pressure off the backs. As the season progress the defensive unit started to gel a little more and improve.
What a difference a year makes. What was a weakness last season for the Miners could be a relative strength in 2016. With injured safety Devin Cockrell returning and a host of sophomores with experience, the Miners secondary has some continuity this season. The top 5 tacklers in the secondary all return for 2016.
Run defense was a relative strength for UTEP in 2015. For as bad as UTEP was against the pass last season they were equally efficient against the run. The defensive front 7 returns pretty much intact, minus 2 of the 3 starting linebackers and a disruptive DE in Roy Robertson-Harris. However, 5 of the top 6 along the defensive line will be back. As well as stand out junior linebacker Alvin Jones who led the Miners in tackles in 2015 with 70.5 including 14.5 tackles for a loss. Jones will help to anchor a new defensive scheme as coordinator Tom Mason employs more of a bend but don't break style.
Back to Winning Ways?
UTEP has a very manageable and easy schedule in 2016. Even with all the injury troubles and depth issues the Miners struggled with in 2015 they still managed to be in the hunt for bowl eligibility while falling just short. Factoring in all they return for upcoming season. UTEP very well could be a dark horse in CUSA West.
All of the pieces are there for UTEP to make a serious run and get back to bowl eligibility in 2016. The Miners could easily go 6-6 this season barring any unforeseen injuries.
Schedule & Prediction:
Sept. 3 New Mexico State
Sept. 10 @Texas
Sept. 17 Army
Sept. 24 Southern Miss
Oct. 1 @La Tech
Oct. 8 Florida International
Oct. 22 @UTSA
Oct. 29 Old Dominion
Nov. 5 Houston Baptist
Nov. 12 @Florida Atlantic
Nov. 19 @Rice
Nov. 26 North Texas
Prediction: 7-5 with wins over New Mexico State, Army, FIU, UTSA, Houston Baptist, Rice, North Texas.
