Nov. 14, 2016
UTEP Notes | Rice Notes
UTEP AND RICE TO SQUARE OFF IN HOUSTON
UTEP [3-7, 1-5 Conference USA] and the program’s all-time leading rusher Aaron Jones will travel to Houston to take on Rice [2-8, 1-6 C-USA] on Nov. 19. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. CT/10 MT at Rice Stadium and will be televised on ESPN3. The Miners are coming off a heartbreaking 35-31 loss at Florida Atlantic on Nov. 12. Jones, C-USA’s leading rusher, surged to the top of the program’s all-time rushing list after he shredded the Owls defense for 229 yards and a pair of scores. The junior will enter this weekend’s contest with 3,738 rushing yards in his career. With the loss, however, the Miners were eliminated from bowl contention. Rice won its second game in 2016, posting a tight 22-21 victory at Charlotte. UTEP will close out the regular season at home on Nov. 26 against North Texas.
SERIES HISTORY
Rice has won eight of the last 10 games between the Texas rivals and leads the series 12-7. The Miners snapped a four-game losing streak to the Owls with a 24-21 victory in El Paso last season. The Owls are 8-2 versus the Miners in Houston with victories in the last five meetings at Rice Stadium. UTEP’s last win in Houston came on Oct. 29, 2005.
THE LAST MEETING
Jay Mattox converted a 24-yard field goal with 48 seconds left, as UTEP kept its bowl hopes alive with a 24-21 win over Rice on Nov. 6, 2015 in the Sun Bowl. Jeremiah Laufasa rushed for 79 of his 92 yards in the second half, including 52 on the game-winning drive, as the Miners beat the Owls for the first time in five years. After Nick Usher blocked Hayden Tobola’s 38-yard field goal attempt that could’ve put Rice into the lead, the Miners took possession with 8:13 remaining in the fourth quarter. They proceeded to milk 7:25 off the clock with a 16-play, 73-yard scoring drive. Mack Leftwich handed the ball off to Laufasa 10 times on the series. At one point Laufasa got the call on seven straight plays, gaining 51 yards while picking up three first downs. Rice’s last-ditch comeback attempt was foiled as time expired when Kelvin Fisher Jr. broke up Driphus Jackson’s pass to Zach Wright in the end zone. The Miners responded in the second half when leading rusher and special teams ace Laquintus Dowell left the game with an injury. The teams played to a 14-14 draw at halftime. Jaquan White had a big first half for the Miners, reeling in three catches for 75 yards and two scores. His 58-yard reception knotted the game at 7, and his two-yard catch right before the break deadlocked the contest at 14. White collected 90 yards on four catches. The Miners gained 392 yards as Leftwich completed 18-of-36 passes for 231 yards. They also rushed for 161 yards on 34 carries. Standouts for the Miners on defense included Alvin Jones (11 tackles), Jimmy Musgrave (six tackles/one tackle for loss) and Roy Robertson-Harris (four tackles/one sack/1.5 tackles for loss).
CONNECTIONS
UTEP DLs Christian Harper [North Shore High School] and Brian Madunezium [Nimitz High School] each played their high school football in Houston. UTEP Head Coach Sean Kugler and Rice tight ends coach David Sloan have crossed paths on multiple occasions. Kugler coached with the Miners during the 1993 and 1994 seasons, while Sloan played at New Mexico during those two years. Kugler was the tight ends coach with the Detroit Lions during the 2001 season where Sloan played tight end and led the Lions with seven touchdown receptions, while being named as a Pro Bowl alternate. UTEP OL John De La Rosa and Rice WR Derek Brown attended Bay City High School. UTEP’s Assistant AD for Football Operations, Nate Poss, is a graduate of Rice University and played for the Owls from 1973-76. Rice Safeties Coach Larry Hoefer had two separate stints as an assistant coach at UTEP, including serving as defensive coordinator during the WAC championship 2000 season. Kugler was also on the UTEP staff in 2000 as the offensive line coach. Rice Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Larry Edmondson was on the 1988 Southern Miss staff as the wide receivers coach. UTEP and Southern Miss faced each other in the Independence Bowl in 1988.
ABOUT RICE
The Owls were eliminated from bowl contention early in the season, but are coming off a solid 22-21 victory at Charlotte on Nov. 12. Rice is 2-2 in its last four contests, which also includes a 65-44 win against Prairie View A&M on Oct. 22 in Houston. Rice is averaging 21.9 points per game, which ranks last in Conference USA, while its scoring defense [38.6 ppg] alsp ranks last. Rice averages 163.3 rushing yards per game [ranks no. 10 in C-USA] led by Darik Dillard’s 380 rushing yards and Samuel Stewart’s 60.3 rushing yards per game. The Owls have also rushed for 19 scores led by QB Tyler Stehling, who has four rushing touchdowns. Stehling has thrown for 2,023 yards on 192-of-314 passing with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Zach Wright [35.9 yards per game] leads the team in receptions [34], while Temi Alaka [40.8 yards per game] leads with 408 yards on 26 receptions [15.7 avg.]. Stewart leads with three receiving scores. Haden Tobola is 6-for-9 on field goals and 26-of-28 on PATs. Emmanuel Ellerbee leads the defense in tackles [94] and sacks [3.5], while Tabari McGaskey paces the squad with 11.0 tackles for loss. The defense has picked off four passes by four different defenders.
@SHOWTYME_29 IS THE G.O.A.T.
Aaron Jones will go down as UTEP’s greatest running back of all time after the junior became UTEP’s all-time leading rusher at Florida Atlantic on Nov. 12. During the second quarter of the contest, Jones ran for a nine-yard dash that put the El Paso native over the mark. He was at 66 yards rushing at that point of the contest. John Harvey [3,576 yards] held the no. 1 spot for 28 years. Harvey played for the Orange and Blue during the 1985-88 seasons.
AARON'S HISTORIC SEASON
Aaron Jones leads Conference USA with a career-high 1,397 rushing yards, while his 139.7 yards per contest is also a league best. Jones’s 2016 total is currently the program’s third-best single-season output. Jones ran for 1,321 yards in 2014, the program’s fifth-best single-season performance. Jones is on pace for around 1,676 yards, which would set the program’s single-season record. Donald Buckram ran for 1,594 yards in 2009 while Fred Wendt gained 1,546 yards in 1948. In C-USA only contests, Jones has rushed for 730 yards in six games [121.7 yards per game], also a league best.
OTHER C-USA NOTES
Aaron Jones is tied for second with four other Conference USA rushers with 13 rushing touchdowns, as WKU’s Anthony Wales leads the pack with 18 scores. Jones’s yards per rush [7.3 avg.] rates second behind LA Tech’s Boston Scott [8.35 avg.]. Jones’s 191 rushing attempts rank second behind Southern Miss’ Ito Smith [196]. Jones is tied with Middle Tennessee’s I’Tavius Mathers with six 100-yard performances, while Jones is the only C-USA rusher to produce multiple [three] 200-plus yard games in 2016. Jones’s 249-yard season-opening showing against NM State ranks second behind Florida Atlantic’s Devin Singletary’s 252 yards in a single game in C-USA.
SINGLE-SEASON TOUCHDOWNS
Aaron Jones has also tallied 15 total touchdowns in 2016 [13 rush, 2 rec.]. Donald Buckram accounted for 21 total scores in 2009, while Fred Wendt scored 20 touchdowns in 1948. John Harvey [1987] and Marcus Thomas [2007] each scored 18 touchdowns during their respective campaigns, while Harvey [1986], Lee Mays [2000] and Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. [2006] each found the end zone 15 times each.
SINGLE-SEASON POINTS
Aaron Jones has tallied 90 points in 2016, tying with John Harvey [1986], Lee Mays [2000] and Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. [2006] for the fifth-best single-season performance in school history. Harvey [1987] and Marcus Thomas [2007] each registered 108 points, while Donald Buckram scored 126 points in 2009. Fred Wendt scored 152 points which also includes his 32 extra-point attempts in 1948.
CARRYING THE LOAD
Aaron Jones rushed 27 times at Florida Atlantic and now has 620 attempts in his career. He ranks third on the program’s all-time list behind Howard Jackson [667] and John Harvey [678].
AARON'S NATIONAL PRESENCE
Aaron Jones is the fourth-leading rusher in the FBS with 1,397 yards, ranking behind Wyoming’s Brian Hill [1,417 yards], Texas’ D’Onta Foreman [1,613 yards] and the national leader San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey [1,779 yards]. Jones also ranks fourth in rushing yards per game [139.7] and rates tied for ninth with nine other players with 13 rushing touchdowns.
BACK-TO-BACK 200-YARD GAMES
Aaron Jones ripped the Florida Atlantic defense for 229 yards, making it his second consecutive 200-yard performance. Jones rushed for 228 yards against Houston Baptist on Nov. 5. Jones is only the third Miner to reach such a milestone as Donald Buckram rushed for 234 yards at Tulane on Nov. 7, 2009 and another 241 yards at SMU on Nov. 14. John Harvey was the first to accomplish the feat when he ran for 209 yards against New Mexico on Oct. 31, 1987 and gained 202 yards at Utah on Nov. 7.
#ANOTHER ONE
Aaron Jones registered another 200-yard game, his fourth-such performance, this past weekend at Florida Atlantic. Jones is tied with Fred Wendt for the school record after he surpassed Donald Buckram and John Harvey on the list. They each tallied a trio of 200-yard rushing performances. Jones opened his junior campaign by rushing for a career-high 249 yards in the season opener against NM State. Jones commenced the 2014 season with a 237-yard output at New Mexico.
3,000-YARD CLUB
Aaron Jones [3,738 yards], John Harvey [3,576 yards] and Howard Jackson [3,466 yards] are the only running backs in UTEP history to surpass 3,000 rushing yards during their respective careers.
MUTIPLE 1,000-YARD CAMPAIGNS
Aaron Jones has rushed for a career-best 1,397 yards in 2016, marking the second 1,000-yard campaign of his career. Jones is only the third Miner ever, and first since Howard Jackson, to produce multiple 1,000-yard seasons. Jones rushed for 1,321 yards in 2014. Jackson produced 1,146 yards in 2003 and followed with 1,187 yards in 2004. Toraino Singleton rushed for 1,277 yards in 1994 and another 1,358 yards in 1995.
TD JONES
Aaron Jones has posted 29 rushing scores during his career after running for a pair of touchdowns at Florida Atlantic. Jones is ranked no. 2 on the program’s all-time list behind John Harvey’s 42 rushing touchdowns.
RACKING UP THE TD'S
Aaron Jones has scored 35 total touchdowns in his career – 29 on the ground and six in the air. Jones now has 210 career points, tied for no. 2 in school history with Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. [35 TDs] and behind John Harvey’s 306 points [51 TDs].
JONES LIKES THE END ZONE
Aaron Jones, after scoring a pair of touchdowns at Florida Atlantic, now has scored multiple touchdowns in 13 career games. Jones opened the 2016 season with a pair of rushing scores against NM State, scored two more against FIU on Oct. 8 and found the end zone a trio of times at UTSA on Oct. 22.
DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORES
Aaron Jones is the first Miner since Kris Adams to produce multiple seasons of double-digit touchdowns. Jones has 15 total touchdowns in 2016, while he tallied 14 total scores in 2014. Adams produced 14 touchdowns in 2008 and 14 more in 2010.
100-YARD PERFORMANCES
Aaron Jones went over 100 yards for the 16th time in his career at Florida Atlantic to tie John Harvey’s school record. He has gone over the century mark on six occasions in 2016, including three of the last four games.
MOVING UP THE C-USA RUSHING LIST
Aaron Jones moved up five spots to no. 7 on the Conference USA all-time rushing list with 3,738 yards after rushing for 229 yards at Florida Atlantic. Jones needs 448 yards to move past SMU’s Zach Line [4,185 yards]. Memphis’ DeAngelo Williams leads the all-time list with 6,026 yards. Jones ranks tied for 22nd with 29 career rushing scores, while his 35 total touchdowns are tied for no. 21. LA Tech’s Kenneth Dixon, Williams and Rice’s Jarrett Dillard lead the C-USA all-time list with 60 total touchdowns. Williams leads the C-USA all-time rushing touchdowns list with 55. Jones’s 1,397 yards in 2016 is currently the 20th best single-season performance in C-USA history. Kevin Smith of UCF rushed for 2,567 yards in 2007, ranking no. 1 for a single season. Jones has 4,322 yards of total offense which ranks no. 10 on the all-time list. Jones needs 235 yards to pass Houston’s Patrick Edwards [4,556 all-purpose yards].
LONG RUNS BY AARON
Aaron Jones’s 62-yard touchdown rush against Houston Baptist marked the ninth rushing play of 50-plus yards in his career. He has had four in 2016 that includes a 75-yard score against NM State on Sept. 3, a 51-yard sprint at Texas and a 68-yard touchdown rush against Southern Miss on Sept. 24. Jones tallied an 81-yard run and a 65-yard rush as a freshman [2013], a 73-yard dash and 54-yard run as a sophomore [2014], and one in his injury-shortened 2015, a program-best 91-yard sprint at Texas Tech. He also added a 72-yard reception, to go along with a 54-yard catch in 2014. Jones ranks tied for first nationally with seven runs of 40-plus yards, tied for third nationally with four runs of 50-plus yards, and tied for second with three 60-plus yard rushes. Jones also ranks tied for fourth with 37 runs of 10-plus yards and ranks tied for third with 15 runs of 20-plus yards.
100-YARD HALVES
Aaron Jones rambled off 145 yards in the second half at Florida Atlantic, making it the 12th career game in which he’s gained over 100 yards in a half. Jones also recorded 181 yards in the first half against Houston Baptist. Jones grinded out 161 yards in the second half against NM State to open the 2016 season, gained 114 yards in the first half at Texas on Sept. 10 and recorded 117 yards in the first half against Southern Miss on Sept. 24. His compiled 158 yards at New Mexico in the first half in 2014.
100-YARD QUARTERS
Aaron Jones registered 119 rushing yards in the first quarter against Houston Baptist, making it the fifth time in his career that he hit 100-plus rushing yards in a single quarter. Jones had 104 yards rushing during the second quarter at Texas. Jones compiled 140 yards in the fourth quarter against NM State. Jones racked up 111 yards in the second quarter at Texas Tech last season before sustaining a season-ending injury.
ALL-PURPOSE JONES
Aaron Jones, after gaining 267 all-purpose yards at Florida Atlantic, now has 4,322 all-purpose yards in his career and is ranked no. 4 on the program’s all-time list. John Harvey ranks no. 3 with 4,351 all-purpose yards, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. ranks no. 2 with 4,745 all-purpose yards, while Howard Jackson leads the chart with 6,153 all-purpose yards. Jones tallied a career-high 292 all-purpose yards versus NM State to open the 2016 season. Jones’s all-purpose performance against the Aggies is tied with Southern Miss’ Allenzae Staggers for the second-most gained in a single game this season in Conference USA.
MULTIPLE WAYS TO SCORE
Aaron Jones is one of nine FBS players who have at least one rushing touchdown, one receiving touchdown and one passing score in 2016. Jones has rushed for 13 touchdowns along with two receiving scores and a passing touchdown. Arizona State’s RB Kalen Ballage, East Carolina’s RB James Summers and QB Philip Nelson, Indiana’s WR Mitchell Paige and QB Richard Lagow, Rice’s QB Tyler Stehling, Texas State’s QB Tyler Jones and Wyoming’s QB Josh Allen are the other players to do so.
THIRD-MOST RUSHING YARDS
Aaron Jones’s career-high 249 yards against rival NM State on Sept. 3 ranks as the third-best single-game performance in school history. Donald Buckram went for 262 yards against Houston in 2009, while Fred Wendt holds the single-season high with 326 versus NMSU in 1948.
RUSHING ATTACK
UTEP has moved up the Conference USA rankings the last few weeks, moving to no. 6 with its 177.9 yards rushing per game. The Miners rank no. 7 with 1,779 yards and rank no. 4 averaging 5.1 yards per carry. UTEP’s 16 rushing scores rank ninth. LA Tech leads the way with 2,018 yards and 25 rushing scores. Charlotte leads the league with 194.2 yards per game.
SUN CITY SENSATIONS
UTEP’s leading rusher [Aaron Jones], passer [Ryan Metz], receiver [Cole Freytag] and punter [Alan Luna] are all from El Paso. Jones [leads team with 1,397 yards] attended Burges High School, Metz [1,035 passing yards and 10 touchdown throws] played at Andress High School, Freytag [leads the team with 449 receiving yards] went to Coronado High School, and Luna [leads with a 41.7 average] is from Franklin High School. Other Sun City notables include Alvin Jones [65 tackles rank third on team] from Burgess, Eddie Sinegal [285 yards on 24 receptions] of Andress, Warren Redix [two touchdown receptions, including the game-winning score at UTSA], a Montwood High School alum and Greg Long [four starts on the offensive line], an Eastwood High School graduate.
THE HAT TRICK FOR THE DYNAMIC DUO
Walter Dawn and Aaron Jones became the first-ever Miners to score three touchdowns during a single contest. The pair accounted for 36 of UTEP’s 52 points at UTSA on Oct. 22. However, the two are not the first to each score 18 points in the same contest. In 2008, Kris Adams and Jose Martinez tallied 18 points apiece during a win against SMU. In 2005, Reagan Schneider and Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. each recorded 18 points in a victory over Houston.
MORE ON THE DYNAMIC EFFORTS
Walter Dawn, after his performance at UTSA, was the first Miner to tally at least two rushing scores and a receiving score since Donald Buckram did so at Tulane on Nov. 7, 2009. Buckram recorded three rushing scores and a receiving touchdown. As far as Aaron Jones’s two receiving scores and rushing touchdown at UTSA, he’s the first to have such numbers by a UTEP player in the modern era.
FRESHMEN TD'S
Walter Dawn is the first UTEP freshman to score a trio of touchdowns in a game since John Harvey did so at Colorado State on Sept. 14, 1985. Dawn was also the third freshman to have multiple trips to the end zone during Sean Kugler’s time at the helm. Aaron Jones opened his UTEP career with a pair of rushing scores against New Mexico [2013], while Darrin Laufasa tallied two rushing touchdowns at NM State [2013]. It’s the fifth time since 2014 that a single player has scored three touchdowns in a game. Jones scored three at New Mexico [2014], Josh Bell scored a trio against Old Dominion [2014] and Nathan Jeffery tallied three scores against North Texas [2014].
MR. METZ
Ryan Metz tossed a pair touchdowns at Florida Atlantic as the sophomore signal caller found Sterling Napier on a four-yard score and hooked up with Hayden Plinke on an 11-yard catch. Metz is ranked sixth in Conference USA with his 142.0 passing efficiency. Metz surpassed his seven touchdown throws in 2015 with 10 passing scores in 2016. Metz has thrown for 1,035 yards on 99-of-150 passing. Metz’s 66.0 passing percentage ranks third in C-USA. WKU’s Mike White [68.0 percent] and LA Tech’s Ryan Higgins [67.5] rank one and two, respectively.
AMAZIN' METZ
Ryan Metz has been part of two 50-plus point games the last two seasons. On Oct. 22, Metz tied his career best with three touchdown passes, as he led the Miners to a 52-49 win in five overtimes at UTSA. The sophomore also led his squad during last season’s 50-47 overtime victory at NM State where he threw for a trio of touchdowns. Metz has also engineered UTEP’s longest two scoring drives the last two seasons. The first was a 98-yard, eight-play drive during the overtime win at NM State, while the second was a 97-yard, seven-play drive at UTSA. Metz was one of eight quarterbacks to be recognized as a Manning Award Star of the Week after his performance at UTSA.
MINER ARMS
UTEP had multiple players throw for touchdowns against UTSA [Oct. 22] and Old Dominion [Oct. 29] in consecutive weeks. At UTSA on Oct. 22, Ryan Metz and Kavika Johnson each threw for touchdowns, while Metz and Aaron Jones each tallied touchdown tosses against ODU. Four Miners have thrown for touchdowns in 2016 –Metz leads the way with eight passing scores, Zach Greenlee has five, while Johnson and Jones have each tossed a score. In 2012, Nick Lamaison [12], Carson Meger [one], Blaire Sullivan [two] and Jim Jones [one] all threw for touchdowns.
PAYDIRT PLINKE
Hayden Plinke tallied his seventh touchdown reception at Florida Atlantic after he produced a career-high two touchdown catches. Plinke’s seven scores this season are the most for a UTEP tight end in the modern era. Plinke leads the Miners in touchdown receptions and total receptions [32] and ranks second in yards [340]. At LA Tech on Oct. 1, Plinke recorded 66 yards on a season-high eight catches with a 10-yard touchdown. Plinke’s eight receptions in a single game are the most by a UTEP pass catcher in 2016. Plinke ranks second on the team with 38 points, as he added a two-point conversion at UTSA. Plinke earned John Mackey Tight End of the Week honorable mention on Oct. 25 following his performance against the Roadrunners.
PLINKE'S C-USA NOTES
Hayden Plinke’s seven touchdown receptions are the most by a Conference USA tight end in 2016. His scores also rank tied for no. 6 in the conference. Plinke’s 32 receptions rank second behind FIU’s Jonnu Smith [39 receptions] among C-USA tight ends and ranks tied for 20th overall in C-USA. Plinke’s 340 yards are second-most by a C-USA tight end. Smith has recorded 441 yards.
PLINKE ON A NATIONAL SCALE
Hayden Plinke ranks tied for 40th nationally with seven touchdown receptions. As far as tight ends on a national scale, Plinke is tied for no. 2 with Old Miss’ Evan Engram and UMass’ Adam Breneman. Toledo’s Michael Roberts leads all tight end nationally with 12 receiving scores.
A STERLING EFFORT
Sterling Napier recorded his first career touchdown at Florida Atlantic – a four-yard reception during the second quarter. The junior tight end only has two catches for eight yards in 2016 and three catches for 10 yards in his career, but has contributed in blocking schemes for UTEP’s rushing attack, which is averaging 177.9 yards per game.
COLE'S CATCHES
Cole Freytag recorded a career-high seven receptions for 84 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown reception against Old Dominion. Freytag followed with an 18-yard score against Houston Baptist and a five-catch, 53-yard performance at Florida Atlantic. Freytag currently ranks second on the team in receptions [30] and touchdown catches [four], while he leads the team in receiving yards [449] and yards per game [44.9]. Freytag ranks 19th in Conference USA in yards per game and yards, while ranking tied for 26th in receptions. Freytag’s yards per reception [15.0] ranks no. 12.
100 YARDS IN THE KUGLER ERA
After Eddie Sinegal’s 102-yard performance at LA Tech on Oct. 1, head coach Sean Kugler has seen ten 100-yard performances by receivers since his first season in 2013. Jordan Leslie recorded five such performances in 2013, while Ian Hamilton registered a 108-yard performance in 2013. Hamilton tallied a pair of 100-yard games in 2014, while Tyler Batson had one in 2015. Batson’s 143 yards against Florida Atlantic were the most during the Kugler era. Sinegal was the first Miner to hit 100-yards receiving since Batson.
PROTECTING THE FIELD GENERAL
The Miners’ offensive line has yielded 19 sacks in 2016. After giving up five at Texas on Sept. 10, the Miners have allowed 13 sacks the past eight games. On the season, UTEP ranks fourth in C-USA in sacks against [19]. Over the last three campaigns, UTEP has given up 44 sacks in 35 games. The sacks allowed have decreased since the arrival of former UTEP offensive lineman and head coach Sean Kugler. During Kugler’s four seasons at the helm, UTEP signal callers have been sacked 71 times in 47 games [1.5 per game]. The previous three seasons [37 games] prior to Kugler’s arrival, Miner quarterbacks went down 84 times [2.3 per game].
OTHER O-LINE NOTES
Transfer Tanner Stallings made his fifth consecutive start in a UTEP uniform at the center position at Florida Atlantic, while Darren Gatewood also made his fifth straight start at the right guard position at FAU after starting the previous five contests at the center position. True freshman Greg Long started his first career game against Southern Miss at the right guard position on Sept. 24. The Eastwood High School graduate also got the nod the last three contests following the start against the Golden Eagles. Long started at the left tackle position at LA Tech, versus FIU and at UTSA. Left guard Will Hernandez started his 35th game in 35 career contests at UTEP. John De La Rosa, who had been fighting an injury, made his way back to the starting lineup. De La Rose got the nod at the right tackle position for the third straight game at FAU. De La Rosa started the first three contests of 2016 at the right guard position, missed the Southern Miss contest and then started against FIU at right tackle. Jerome Daniels, after starting the first four contests at left tackle, made his way back as the starting left tackle against ODU. Daniels had missed two games [at LA Tech, vs. FIU] before making a start at right tackle at UTSA. Daniels got the nod at left tackle against HBU and at FAU.
17 POINTS OFF TURNOVERS
UTEP converted three turnovers into 17 points at Florida Atlantic. The first seven points came off a Brendan Royal interception during the first quarter that led to the offense taking the ball 47 yards on six plays and resulted in an Aaron Jones two-yard rushing score. The next seven points came off a Kolbi McGary pick, in which the Miners followed with an eight-play, 40-yard drive ending in a Sterling Napier four-yard scoring reception. The final three points came off a special teams fumble recovery by Lawrence Montegut in the second quarter. Jay Mattox then converted a 20-yard field goal. It’s the most points off turnovers since the Miners tallied 21 against Southern Miss on Nov. 1, 2014.
FRESH STARTS
UTEP has had three true freshmen make their first career starts in 2016. Those players include OL Greg Long [four starts], WR Eddie Sinegal [four starts] and DB Justin Rogers [four starts]. A pair of redshirt freshmen have also made their way to the starting lineup as LB Jayson VanHook [eight starts] and DL Gene Hopkins [three starts] have been inserted at some point during the season. South Carolina leads the nation with seven true freshmen making starts, while Bowling Green, Maryland, Miami [Fla.], Texas and Texas State have each started five true freshmen.
LESS PENALTIES
After committing a season-high 13 penalties at UTSA, UTEP committed two penalties against Old Dominion and followed with a season-low one penalty against Houston Baptist. It marked the first time the Miners had one penalty in a game since Tulsa in 2013. It was the first time since the 2012 season [Nov. 17 at Southern Miss & Nov. 24 vs. Rice] in which UTEP committed two or less penalties in back-to-back contests. The Miners rank first in Conference USA in least penalty yards [463], penalty yards per game [46.3], and sixth in total penalties [59] and penalties per game [5.9].
FIRST DOWN MINERS
UTEP tallied 21 first downs at Florida Atlantic. The week prior, UTEP converted 27 first downs against Houston Baptist, its second-most this season, as the Miners recorded a season-high 28 in the opener against NM State. The first downs have increased since only converting 30 the next three contests [10 at Texas, 10 vs. Army, 10 vs. Southern Miss] following the season opener. The Miners have averaged 21.7 first downs the last six games [130 total first downs]. UTEP ranks no. 12 in Conference USA in total first downs [188] and first downs per game [18.8].
FIRST PICKS
True freshman DB Kolbi McGary and transfer DB Brendan Royal each tallied their first career interceptions at Florida Atlantic. Both interceptions led to scores for the UTEP offense. On the season, McGary has tallied four tackles and a pass breakup. Royal has recorded 27 stops, 1.5 tackles for loss and three pass breakups.
TURNOVERS
UTEP forced three turnovers for the first time in 2016 at Florida Atlantic. The Miners forced a trio against Incarnate Word on Sept. 26, 2015. The Miners’ two interceptions in a single contest was also the first such game since taking on UIW last year.
PLAYMAKING SMITH
Dashone Smith intercepted his second pass in as many weeks against Old Dominion. The senior starting free safety registered an interception at UTSA on Oct. 22 and leads the Miners in that department. Smith is the first Miner to pick off a pass in consecutive games since Shane Huhn did so in 2012. Huhn intercepted a pass against East Carolina [9/29] and SMU [10/6]. Smith ranks fifth on the team in tackles [41] and has broken up three passes. Smith, during his career, has picked off five passes.
LOVE FOR LOVILETTE
Dante Lovilette has been a key contributor on defense, as the junior transfer has started all 10 games in 2016 at the BUCK LB position. Lovilette tallied eight more tackles and a .5 tackle for loss against Houston Baptist. Lovilette leads the team with 68 tackles, while ranking tied for no. 12 in Conference USA. Lovilette has also recorded 6.5 tackles for loss [tied for team lead], two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
USHER THE CRUSHER
Nick Usher tallied six tackles and a sack at Florida Atlantic. Usher ranks second on the defense with 69 tackles in 2016, while ranking tied for 19th in Conference USA in tackles per game [6.9]. Usher leads the UTEP defense in sacks [5.5] and tackles for loss [7.5], while in C-USA, Usher ranks tied for fifth in sacks. Usher has 12.0 sacks during his career, needing 1.0 to crack the program’s all-time list.
16 FOR 16
Alvin Jones recorded a career-high 16 tackles against FIU on Oct. 8. Jones’s performance is tied for second-most in a single game in Conference USA this season. His tackles were also the most by a UTEP defender since Richard Spencer’s 17-tackle performance versus LA Tech on Oct. 5, 2013. Jones made his return to the gridiron on Oct. 1 after the junior linebacker missed the previous two contests due to injury. Jones surpassed his previous personal best of 12 tackles, while it was the seventh multi-tackle performance of his career. Jones registered 12 stops in the season opener against NM State, while in 2015 he registered five multi-tackle contests. At one point last year, Jones tallied 11 tackles in three consecutive games.
WELCOME BACK, ALVIN
Alvin Jones is ranked third on the Miners with 65 tackles after producing eight at Florida Atlantic. Jones ranks tied for 22nd in Conference USA in tackles. Jones is averaging 8.1 tackles per contest, ranking ninth in C-USA. Jones has also tallied 3.5 tackles for loss, giving the junior 26.5 in his career. He needs 4.0 tackles for loss to crack the program’s top-10 list. Jones registered his first sack of the season, a shared quarterback take down with Foster Dixson against Old Dominion. Jones [8.5 career sacks] needs 3.5 sacks to etch his name on the program’s all-time list.
VANHOOK COMING ON STRONG
Freshman strong outside LB Jayson VanHook tallied a career-high eight tackles, while tying his career best with 1.5 tackles against FIU on Oct. 8. VanHook tallied three tackles at UTSA, while coming up with a big tackle for loss [three-yard loss on a second-and-eight play] that helped force a UTSA field goal in the first overtime. VanHook saw his first action at Texas on Sept. 10 and registered seven tackles to go along with his first career sack. Since the Texas performance, VanHook has started the last seven games at the SAM linebacker position. He ranks eighth on the UTEP defense with 32 tackles, while adding 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
IN THE NIK OF TIME
Nik Needham tallied eight tackles at Florida Atlantic, while he registered a career-best nine tackles at UTSA on Oct. 22. Besides making key tackles, Needham leads the Miners and ranks tied for fifth in Conference USA with eight pass breakups, while ranking tied for 44th nationally. Indiana’s Rashard Fant leads the nation with 16 pass breakups, while Marshall’s Rodney Allen leads C-USA with 11. Needham opened the season by breaking up three passes [tying for third-most in school history] against NM State and broke up two more against Southern Miss on Sept. 24. Darius Ellison set the single-season program record by breaking up 14 passes in 1998. Needham has 13 career breakups, needing seven to crack the program’s all-time top-10 list. Needham ranks fifth on the defense with 44 tackles while chipping in with 2.0 tackles for loss.
JUSTIN TIME
UTEP had gone the first five games without recording an interception for the first time in the modern era of football. But true freshman Justin Rogers finally notched UTEP’s first elusive pick when he intercepted an Alex McGough pass in the fourth quarter versus FIU on Oct. 8. The turnover resulted in a UTEP touchdown. Rogers has made an impact on the UTEP defense as a true freshman. Rogers broke up a pass against Old Dominion, and is ranked second on the team and tied for 13th in Conference USA with six pass breakups, while ranking tied for 13th with seven passes defended. Rogers, after tallying a trio of tackles against ODU, has 15 tackles on the season. Rogers recorded a career-high two pass breakups at LA Tech on Oct. 1, while forcing and recovering a fumble against Southern Miss on Sept. 24.
PASS DEFENSE RANKS HIGH
The UTEP pass defense ranks no. 2 in Conference USA and 38th nationally, allowing 206.5 yards per game. A notable claim to fame came on Oct. 1 at LA Tech, when the Miners only allowed 191 yards passing, the lowest total for LA Tech in 2016. LA Tech currently ranks no. 5 in the nation with its 357.3 yards passing per game.
THE BREAKUP
UTEP registered three pass breakups against Houston Baptist. UTEP opened the 2016 campaign with 10 pass breakups against NM State on Sept. 3. It was the most pass breakups since registering 10 against NM State on Sept. 15, 2012. The Miners have tallied double-digit breakups two other times since 2001 – 12 vs. Tulsa on Oct. 14, 2005 and 10 vs. San Jose State on Oct. 20, 2001. UTEP ranks no. 7 in Conference USA with 36 pass breakups. Middle Tennessee [53] and WKU [53] lead the way in C-USA.
YOUNG COACHING
Head Coach Sean Kugler sealed his coaching staff in February with the addition of Derrius Bell as the cornerbacks coach. Bell is the fourth-youngest coach in college football at the age of 27. Assistant Coach Sean Duggan from Hawai’i is the youngest coach at 22, followed by Patrick Toney from UTSA [26] and Brett Ekkens from Akron [27]. Bell played under defensive coordinator Tom Mason before serving on his coaching staff for three seasons.
JUNIEL'S SPECIALTY
Terry Juniel has made a solid impression returning punts for UTEP in 2016. The junior transfer, who missed all of 2015 due to injury, is averaging 11.8 yards per punt return [200 yards on 17 returns]. Juniel’s longest was a return of 43 yards in the season opener and against Houston Baptist. Juniel leads Conference USA in punt return yards and ranks second in return average. Juniel’s 104 punt return yards in the season opener against NM State is the single-game high in C-USA thus far. Juniel’s season-opening performance also ranks eighth-best in a single-game at UTEP and marks the most yards by a Miner since Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. tallied 101 yards on a pair of returns versus Tulane on Oct. 14, 2006. Juniel’s six returns against the Aggies are tied for fifth-most with three other Miners. Juniel has added 83 yards on nine receptions, including a 42-yard catch at LA Tech on Oct. 1. He’s returned seven kickoffs for 133 yards [19.0 avg.] with a long return of 26 yards. Juniel is averaging 45.5 all-purpose yards.
DAS BOOT
Alan Luna is ranked third in Conference USA and 43rd nationally in punting average [41.7]. Luna punted four times at LA Tech on Oct. 1. Of the four, three were kicked inside the 20-yard line, while two were inside the 10-yard line. The last time Luna kicked a trio of punts inside the 20 came against LA Tech in 2015. Luna has matched his 2015 total with 15 punts kicked inside the 20-yard line. On Sept. 24, Luna booted a career-long 69-yard punt against Southern Miss during the third quarter. Luna kicked six punts for 306 yards for a career-best 51-yard average versus the Golden Eagles. Luna, after tallying 146 yards on four punts, now has 5,093 career punting yards, and ranks no. 10 on the program’s all-time list. Fred Wendt ranks ninth with 5,127 yards.
JUST KICKIN' IT
Jay Mattox registered seven points at Florida Atlantic. Mattox now has 241 points in his career. Mattox ranks no. 2 on the all-time points list [kickers]. Mattox has kicked 127 PATs and is 10 PATs away from tying the school record held by Reagan Schneider [137 PATs]. Schneider [287 points] ranks no. 1 on the all-time list.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
The Miners’ 105-man roster includes 20 seniors, 25 juniors, 19 sophomores and 41 freshmen (28 true/13 redshirt). UTEP has 47 lettermen returning (24 offense/21 defense/two special teams) and 17 returning starters (eight offense/six defense/three special teams).
DEPTH CHART
The two-deep for the Rice game features eight projected senior starters [four offense/four defense], eight junior starters [three offense/five defense] and five sophomore starters [three offense/two defense]. Of the 29 players listed in the offensive two-deep, 19 are upperclassmen [nine seniors/10 juniors]. Of the 22 players listed in the defensive two-deep, 14 are upperclassmen [seven seniors/seven juniors]. Nine freshmen are in the depth chart [five offense/five defense], featuring, Walter Dawn [WR], Kevin Dove [RB], Gene Hopkins [DE], Greg Long [LT], Kolbi McGary [DB], Christian Richardson [NG], Justin Rogers [CB], Eddie Sinegal [WR], Jayson VanHook [LB] and Quadraiz Wadley [RB].
HOMETOWN TALENT
Since Sean Kugler was hired as UTEP’s head coach, he vowed to suit up El Paso’s best players. He kept his word as seven El Paso high school standouts signed letters of intent in 2016. Overall the 2016 roster is composed of 26 Sun City players.
LOCAL PLAYERS ON DEPTH CHART
Thirteen area players will grace the two-deep for the Rice game. They are OL Derek Elmendorff [Franklin HS], WR Cole Freytag [Coronado HS], FB David Jackson [Parkland HS], RB Aaron Jones [Burges HS], LB Alvin Jones [Burges HS], QB Kavika Johnson [Mayfield HS (Las Cruces, N.M.)], OL Greg Long [Eastwood HS], K/P Alan Luna [Franklin HS], QB Ryan Metz [Andress HS], WR Brandon Moss [Chapin HS], OL Eric Ramirez [Del Valle HS], WR Warren Redix [Montwood HS] and WR Eddie Sinegal [Andress HS].
UP NEXT
UTEP will close out the 2016 season when it hosts North Texas on Nov. 26. Kickoff is slated 2 p.m. in the Sun Bowl. The Miners defeated the Mean Green 20-17 in Denton to close out the 2015 season despite turning the ball over five times.
