UTEP Miners

UTEP NOTES
UTEP TO HOST NORTH TEXAS ON SENIOR DAY
UTEP will close out the 2016 season as it hosts North Texas on Nov. 26. The Senior Day contest will kickoff at 2 p.m. in the Sun Bowl. The Miners' 20 seniors will be honored prior to the game, while a video honoring the seniors will be shown following the season finale. UTEP [3-8, 1-6 Conference USA] is coming off a 44-24 loss at Rice, while North Texas [5-6, 3-4 C-USA] kept its bowl hopes alive after defeating Southern Miss, 29-23, in Denton on Nov. 19. UTEP is 5-3 in its last eight home finales. Aaron Jones, UTEP's all-time leading rusher, will go up against a North Texas rush defense which ranks 11th in conference, allowing 204.5 rushing yards per contest. The Miners and Mean Green will conclude against each other for a second year in a row. The Miners are 3-13 in their last 16 regular-season  finales with triumphs coming against North Texas last season, Middle Tennessee on Nov. 29, 2014 and Marshall on Nov. 28, 2009.

SENIOR SENDOFF
On Saturday afternoon, 20 seniors will be honored in the final contest of 2016. The seniors include: DL Gino Bresolin [Redmond, Wash.], OL Jerome Daniels [Little Elm, Texas], John De La Rosa [Bay City, Texas], LB Silas Firstly [Mesquite, Texas], LB Cooper Foster [Cedar Park, Texas], WR Cole Freytag [El Paso], DL Christian Harper [Houston, Texas], DB Leon Hayes [Las Vegas, Nev.], OL Anthony Kyles [Los Angeles, Calif.], FB Darrin Laufasa [Seattle, Wash.], DL Brian Madunezim [Houston, Texas], K/P Jay Mattox [Las Vegas, Nev.], TE Hayden Plinke [Hillsboro, Ore.], DB Brendan Royal [Oakland, Calif.], LB Devin Simmons [El Paso], DB Dashone Smith [Spring, Texas], TE Kent Taylor [Tampa, Fla.], OL Chris Thomas [Lancaster, Texas], LB Nick Usher [Los Angeles, Calif.] and WR Jaquan White [Dallas, Texas].

SERIES HISTORY
This is the 25th meeting between the programs. North Texas leads the all-time series 14-7-3.  UTEP has won the last two matchups following a seven-game losing skid – a 35-17 triumph in El Paso in 2014, and a 20-17 victory in Denton in 2015. UTEP is 5-6-1 all-time against North Texas in the Sun City, including a 3-3 mark in the Sun Bowl.

THE LAST MEETING
Freshman Warren Redix's first career touchdown – a 32-yard reception – and Dashone Smith's 65-yard pick-six helped UTEP surge to a 20-17 victory over North Texas on Nov. 28, 2015 in Denton. Redix's go-ahead score came with 7:51 remaining in the contest. Trailing 17-13, the Miners used a jet sweep to the right as Kavika Johnson pitched the ball to Redix who cleared the edge and took it to the house. UTEP gained only 84 first half yards, but more than doubled that number (172) after the break. UTEP opened the second half with an eight-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in Johnson's first career rushing score – a five-yard run.  That put the Miners ahead 6-3.  Smith's interception lifted the Miners into a 13-10 lead at the 5:32 mark of the period. Johnson led the Miner rushing attack with 75 yards and a score, while Jeremiah Laufasa grinded out 62 yards.  Redix led the team with 42 yards on three catches and a score.  The UTEP defense yielded season-lows in total yards (205) and first downs (10). Trey Brown led the defense with seven tackles, while Jimmy Musgrave, who knocked out starting quarterback Andrew McNulty with a rib injury, tallied five stops.

CONNECTIONS
UTEP OL Chance Bishop, UTEP RB Quadraiz Wadley and North Texas LB Fred Scott all attended Kennedale High School in Kennedale, Texas. UTEP Assistant Head Coach Spencer Leftwich was the offensive line coach at North Texas from 1994-2002 and again from 2007-09. North Texas Assistant Head Coach/Co-defensive Coordinator Troy Reffett spent 14 seasons at UTEP including 2002 and 2003 as the Miners' defensive coordinator under then head coach Gary Nord. Reffett came to UTEP in 1985 as a walk-on and two years later, as a junior he helped the Miners to a 10-2 record, including an Independence Bowl berth under then head coach and current UTEP Athletic Director Bob Stull during the 1988 campaign. Reffett was also recognized as the team's Defensive Back of the Year in 1988.

ABOUT NORTH TEXAS
The Mean Green are coming off a 29-23 victory over Southern Miss in Denton to keep their bowl hopes alive. With the win, North Texas stopped a three-game losing skid in which each loss was by an average of 24.3 points per game. After finishing 1-11 in 2015 and 4-8 in 2014, North Texas is looking for its first non-losing season since the 2013 campaign [9-4 overall record]. The hopes for a bowl bid began when the Mean Green staved off a Golden Eagles rally. North Texas got out to a 20-0 lead, but Southern Miss followed with 23 unanswered points. But the Mean Green rallied back with nine unanswered points of its own, as Willy Ivery ran for an 11-yard touchdown at the 7:34 mark in the fourth and the defense forced a safety with just over three minutes left in the contest. Ivery led the way with 111 rushing yards, while Alec Morris threw for a pair of scores with 267 yards on 14-of-29 passing with an interception. Turner Smiley was all smiles after a seven-catch, 162-yard, two-touchdown performance. North Texas ranks tenth [above UTEP] in scoring offense [24.3], while its scoring defense [30.4] ranks fifth in Conference USA. North Texas ranks last in total offense [339.1], while its total defense ranks sixth [420.8]. Jeffery Wilson, who has missed the last few games, leads the team and ranks sixth in C-USA in rushing yards per game [92.6], while he's ran for 833 yards on 142 attempts [5.9 avg.] and 13 scores. Ivery has gained 392 yards on 76 attempts [5.2 avg.] and five touchdowns. Freshman QB Mason Fine is the team leader in passing yards [1,572] and touchdowns [six], while Morris has thrown for 625 yards and four scores along with six interceptions. Terian Goree leads the team in receptions [36], while Thaddeous Thompson leads in receiving yards [450] on 33 catches. Kishawn McClain leads the defense with 79 tackles and has picked off three passes, while Joshua Wheeler leads with 5.5 sacks. Nate Brooks leads the team with four interceptions.

LAST WEEK: UTEP 24, RICE 44
UTEP scored the game's first three points on a Jay Mattox 37-yard field goal. But Rice followed with 34 unanswered points in the first half on its way to a 44-24 victory at Rice Stadium on Nov. 19. The Owls outgained the Miners, 482 yards to 232 during the dominant afternoon, as UTEP had only gained 42 yards in the first half. It started well for UTEP, as Mattox gave the Miners 3-0 lead on the field goal at the 9:10 mark of the first quarter. The points followed after a Gene Hopkins sack-and-strip of backup quarterback Jackson Tyner on Rice's first offensive series. The fumble was recovered by Sky Logan and returned 26 yards to the Rice 25-yard line. But the Owls answered with five scoring drives in the first half, including an 84-yard push on four plays that resulted in a Tyner scoring reception from wide receiver Temi Alaka. UTEP's bright performance came from Alvin Jones, as the junior racked up 16 tackles, tying his career high from earlier this season [vs. FIU on Oct. 8]. Jones chipped in with a sack as well. His brother, Aaron Jones, ran for 75 yards and hauled in a touchdown on a 42-yard reception. UTEP scored its first touchdown on a nine-play, 75-yard drive during the third quarter that ended with a Warren Redix 11-yard scoring pass from Ryan Metz [5-for-6 on the drive]. Jones recorded his third receiving touchdown and 16th overall in 2016 after he out jumped the defender in the end zone and scored on a 42-yard reception to make the score 44-17. Kalon Beverly put the Miners on the board again when a Haden Tobola field goal attempt was blocked. Beverly dashed 80 yards to the end zone, but it was a little too late with Rice up 44-24 with 1:47 remaining in the contest. Rice's starting quarterback Tyler Stehling left the contest with an injury during the first series, as Tyner threw for 196 yards [18-25] with a pair of scores and an interception. Jowan Davis led the Owls with 84 rushing yards with a score and Kylen Granson led the way with five receptions [45 yards], while Cameron Decell led the Owls with 53 yards on four receptions. Metz threw for 169 yards on 19-of-34 passing and a pair of scores with an interception that was taken back by Destri White for a 23-yard pick-six. Kavika Johnson and Hayden Plinke each tallied a trio of receptions for 32 yards, while Cole Freytag caught three passes for 26 yards. Eddie Sinegal added 20 yards on three receptions. Defensively, Dante Lovilette added nine stops and Hopkins, a freshman, recorded his first career sack. The Owls gained 27 first downs, as they were only forced to punt twice. Alan Luna averaged 39.9 yards on seven boots [279 yards], with a long of 49 yards.

@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 after a 229-yard output at Florida Atlantic on Nov. 12. Jones added to his total after rushing for 75 yards at Rice, giving the El Paso native 3,813 career yards. 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 1,472 rushing yards, while his 133.8 yards per contest is also a league best. Jones's 2016 total is currently the program's third-best single-season performance. Jones ran for 1,321 yards in 2014, the program's fifth-best single-season performance. Jones is on pace for around 1,605 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 805 yards in seven game and has averaged 115.0 yards in those contests, which are both league bests.

OTHER C-USA NOTES
Aaron Jones is tied for third with two other Conference USA rushers with 13 rushing touchdowns, as WKU's Anthony Wales leads the pack with 18 scores. Jones's yards per rush [7.2 avg.] rates second behind LA Tech's Boston Scott [8.35 avg.]. Jones's 205 rushing attempts rank second behind Southern Miss' Ito Smith [215]. Jones is tied second with Smith 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 257 yards in a single game in C-USA.

SINGLE-SEASON TOUCHDOWNS
Aaron Jones has also tallied 16 total touchdowns in 2016 [13 rush, 3 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. Jones racked up 14 total touchdowns [11 rush, 3 rec.] in 2014.  

SINGLE-SEASON POINTS
Aaron Jones has tallied 96 points in 2016 after he hauled in a 42-yard receiving score at Rice. Jones's 96 points are the fifth-best single-season performance in school history. John Harvey [1987] and Marcus Thomas [2007] each registered 108 points, while Donald Buckram scored 126 points in 2009. Fred Wendt scored the most points [152] which also includes his 32 extra-point attempts in 1948.

TD JONES
Aaron Jones has posted 29 rushing scores during his career after running for a pair of touchdowns at Florida Atlantic on Nov. 12. 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 36 total touchdowns in his career – 29 on the ground and seven in the air. Jones now has 216 career points, which passes Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. [35 TDs] for no. 2 on the school's all-time list [non-kickers]. John Harvey's 306 points [51 TDs] ranks first.

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 16 total touchdowns in 2016, while he tallied 14 total scores in 2014. Adams produced 14 touchdowns in 2008 and 14 more in 2010.

CARRYING THE LOAD
Aaron Jones rushed 14 times at Rice and now has 634 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 fifth-leading rusher in the FBS with 1,472 yards, ranking behind Wyoming's Brian Hill [1,548 yards], Boise State's Jeremy McNichols [1,575], San Diego State's Donnel Pumphrey [1,855 yards] and the national leader Texas' D'Onta Foreman [1,863 yards]. Jones also ranks sixth in rushing yards per game [133.8] and rates tied for 16th 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 [3,813 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.

MULTIPLE 1,000-YARD CAMPAIGNS
Aaron Jones has rushed for a career-best 1,472 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.

100-YARD PERFORMANCES
Aaron Jones went over 100 yards for the 16th time in his career at Florida Atlantic on Nov. 12 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 after rushing for 229 yards at Florida Atlantic Nov. 12. Jones followed with 75 yards at Rice and needs 373 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 36 total touchdowns are tied for no. 20. 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 1,472 yards in 2016 is currently the 15th 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 4,448 yards of total offense which ranks no. 10 on the all-time list. Jones needs 109 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 fourth nationally with four runs of 50-plus yards, and tied for third with three 60-plus yard rushes. Jones also ranks seventh with 39 runs of 10-plus yards and ranks tied for second with 16 runs of 20-plus yards.

100-YARD HALVES
Aaron Jones rambled off 145 yards in the first 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 126 all-purpose yards at Rice, now has 4,448 all-purpose yards in his career and is ranked no. 3 on the program's all-time list. 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 10 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, Boise State's QB Brett Rypien, 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.

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 1,472 yards] attended Burges High School, Metz [1,204 passing yards and 12 touchdown throws] played at Andress High School, Freytag [leads the team with 475 receiving yards] went to Coronado High School, and Luna [leads with a 41.5 average] is from Franklin High School. Other Sun City notables include Alvin Jones [81 tackles rank second on team] from Burgess, Eddie Sinegal [305 yards on 27 receptions] of Andress, Warren Redix [three 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 Rice as the sophomore signal caller found Warren Redix on an 11-yard score and hooked up with Aaron Jones on a 42-yard catch. Metz is ranked eighth in Conference USA with his 136.3 passing efficiency. Metz surpassed his seven touchdown throws in 2015 with 12 passing scores in 2016. Metz has thrown for 1,204 yards on 118-of-184 passing. Metz's 64.1 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 during the Nov. 12 contest. Plinke's seven scores this season are the most for a UTEP tight end in school history. Plinke leads the Miners in touchdown receptions and total receptions [35] and ranks second in yards [372]. 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 tied second on the team with 44 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. 7 in the conference. Plinke's 35 receptions rank second behind FIU's Jonnu Smith [40 receptions] among C-USA tight ends and ranks tied for 19th overall in C-USA. Plinke's 372 yards are second-most by a C-USA tight end. Smith has recorded 456 yards.

PLINKE ON A NATIONAL SCALE
Hayden Plinke ranks tied for 46th nationally with seven touchdown receptions. As far as tight ends on a national scale, Plinke is tied for no. 3 with UMass' Adam Breneman. Toledo's Michael Roberts leads all tight ends nationally with 12 receiving scores, while Old Miss' Evan Engram has hauled in eight scores.   

A STERLING EFFORT
Sterling Napier recorded his first career touchdown at Florida Atlantic on Nov. 12 – 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 167.5 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 [33] and touchdown catches [four], while he leads the team in receiving yards [475] and yards per game [43.2]. Freytag ranks 20th in Conference USA in yards per game and yards, while ranking tied for 24th in receptions. Freytag's yards per reception [14.4] 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 21 sacks in 2016. After giving up five at Texas on Sept. 10, the Miners have allowed 15 sacks the past nine games. On the season, UTEP ranks fifth in C-USA in sacks against [21]. Over the last three campaigns, UTEP has given up 46 sacks in 36 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 73 times in 48 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 sixth consecutive start in a UTEP uniform at the center position at Rice, while Darren Gatewood also made his sixth straight start at the right guard position at Rice 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 36th game in 36 career contests at UTEP. John De La Rosa, who had been fighting an injury, made his way back to the starting lineup. De La Rosa got the nod at the right tackle position for the fourth straight game at Rice. 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, at FAU and at Rice.

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 third in Conference USA in least penalty yards [514], penalty yards per game [46.7], and tied fifth in total penalties [64] and penalties per game [5.8].

16 FOR 16...AGAIN
Alvin Jones tied a career high by amassing 16 tackles at Rice. Jones initially set his personal best on Oct. 8 against FIU. Jones's performance is tied for second-most in a single game in Conference USA this season. His tackles on Oct. 8 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 his performance at Rice was the eighth 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, after missing a pair of games earlier in the season, is ranked second on the Miners with 81 tackles after racking up 16 at Rice. Jones ranks 15th in Conference USA in tackles, while his 9.0 tackles per contest ranks sixth in C-USA. Jones has also tallied 4.5 tackles for loss, giving the junior 27.5 in his career. He needs 3.0 tackles for loss to crack the program's top-10 list. Jones registered his first full sack of the season at Rice [9.5 career sacks] and needs 2.5 sacks to etch his name on the program's all-time list.

KALON'S BIG GAME
Kalon Beverly put up nice numbers at Rice, as the sophomore picked off his second career interception and scored his second career touchdown. At Rice, Beverly intercepted a pass during the third quarter, while Beverly scored on an 80-yard dash after the Miners had blocked a Rice field goal attempt. In fact, Beverly tallied his first interception and touchdown in the same game as he tallied a pick-six against Incarnate Word last year. On the year, Beverly has recorded 39 tackles and five pass breakups.

THE RETURN OF LUKE
Luke Elsner made his return to the gridiron at Florida Atlantic on Nov. 12, while he tallied his first two tackles of the season at Rice. The junior had missed most of the 2015 and 2016 seasons due to injury. Elsner opened the 2015 campaign at Arkansas with a four-tackle day.

FIRST PICKS
True freshman DB Kolbi McGary and transfer DB Brendan Royal each tallied their first career interceptions at Florida Atlantic on Nov. 12. Both interceptions led to scores for the UTEP offense. On the season, McGary has tallied seven tackles and a pass breakup. Royal has recorded 29 stops, 1.5 tackles for loss and three pass breakups.  

PLAYMAKING SMITH
Dashone Smith intercepted his second pass in as many weeks against Old Dominion on Oct. 29. 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 [49] 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 leads UTEP in tackles [82], while starting all 11 games in 2016 at the BUCK LB position. Lovilette tallied nine more tackles at Rice and ranks no. 14 in Conference USA in that department. Lovilette has also recorded 6.5 tackles for loss [ranked second on the team], two pass breakups, four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

USHER THE CRUSHER
Nick Usher tallied four tackles and blocked a field goal attempt [returned for a touchdown by Kalon Beverly] at Rice. Usher ranks third on the defense with 73 tackles in 2016, while ranking tied for 20th in Conference USA. Usher leads the UTEP defense in sacks [5.5] and tackles for loss [7.5], while in C-USA, Usher ranks tied for sixth in sacks. Usher has 12.0 sacks during his career, which is tied with five other Miners [Joe Terry, Ross Puritty, Ricky Massey, Barron Wortham & Horace Miller] for no. 10 on the all-time sack's 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 eight games at the SAM linebacker position. He ranks ninth on the UTEP defense with 34 tackles, while adding 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

IN THE NIK OF TIME
Nik Needham recorded his ninth pass breakup at Rice and registered a pair of tackles. The sophomore also tallied eight tackles at Florida Atlantic on Nov. 12, 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 fourth in Conference USA in pass breakups, while ranking tied for 42nd 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 sixth on the defense with 46 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 15th in Conference USA with six pass breakups, while ranking tied for 17th with seven passes defended. Rogers, after tallying a pair of tackles at Rice, has 17 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 43rd nationally, allowing 210.1 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. 4 in the nation with its 357.3 yards passing per game.

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.

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. 10 in Conference USA in pass breakups [37] and passes defended [43]. Middle Tennessee [64, 71] and WKU [53, 63] lead the way in passes broken up and passes defended in C-USA.

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 10.6 yards per punt return [202 yards on 19 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, punt returns 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 nine kickoffs for 164 yards [18.2 avg.] with a long return of 26 yards. Juniel is averaging 40.5 all-purpose yards.

DAS BOOT
Alan Luna is ranked seventh in Conference USA in punting average [41.5]. 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 279 yards on seven punts, now has 5,372 career punting yards, and ranks no. 9 on the program's all-time list. Jon Olsen ranks ninth with 5,452 yards.

JUST KICKIN' IT
Jay Mattox registered six points at Rice [one FG and three PATs. Mattox now has 247 points in his career. Mattox ranks no. 2 on the all-time points list [kickers]. Mattox has kicked 130 PATs and is seven PATs away from tying the school record held by Reagan Schneider [137 PATs]. Schneider [287 points] ranks no. 1 on the all-time list. Mattox has also connected on 39 field goals during his career, which ranks no. 3 behind Ricky Bishop [42 FGs]. Schneider leads the list with 50 field goals.

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 North Texas game features seven projected senior starters [five offense/two defense], seven junior starters [three offense/four defense] and five sophomore starters [three offense/two defense]. Of the 31 players listed in the offensive two-deep, 18 are upperclassmen [eight seniors/10 juniors]. Of the 25 players listed in the defensive two-deep, 14 are upperclassmen [five seniors/nine juniors]. Thirteen freshmen are on the depth chart [five offense/eight defense], featuring Jerrell Brown [FS], Denzel Chukwukelu [NG], Walter Dawn [WR], Kevin Dove [RB], Gene Hopkins [DE], Greg Long [LT, RG], Kolbi McGary [DB], Christian Richardson [NG], Justin Rogers [CB], Eddie Sinegal [WR], Jayson VanHook [LB], Quadraiz Wadley [RB] and Curtez Woods [DB].

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 North Texas 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], WR Eddie Sinegal [Andress HS] and Curtez Woods [El Paso native].