UTEP Miners

UTEP Notes | C-USA Notes

UTEP AND NORTH TEXAS TO TANGLE IN DENTON
UTEP will take to the road to face North Texas in Denton on Nov. 11. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. MT/4 CT at Apogee Stadium. The contest can be seen on ESPN3. The Miners (0-9, 0-5 Conference USA) are coming off a 30-3 loss at Middle Tennessee while the Mean Green (6-3, 5-1 C-USA) hit bowl-eligible status after squeaking out a 24-23 victory at LA Tech on Nov. 4. A bright spot in Murfreesboro was true freshman Joshua Fields, who broke out with a career-high 87 yards rushing on 17 carries (5.1 avg.). The native of El Paso and Americas High School grad also sprinted for a career-long 27-yard dash against the Blue Raiders. UTEP is looking to win its fourth consecutive game against North Texas, but the Mean Green will present a challenge as it sports the no. 1 offense in C-USA.

SERIES HISTORY
This is the 26th meeting between the programs. North Texas leads the series 14-8-3.  UTEP has won the last three matchups following a seven-game losing skid – a 35-17 triumph in El Paso in 2014, a 20-17 victory at Denton in 2015 and a 52-24 rout in the Sun Bowl in 2016.  UTEP is 2-8-2 all-time when playing in Denton.

THE LAST MEETING
Aaron Jones rushed for 301 yards, the second-top total in UTEP football history, as the Miners closed out the 2016 season with a 52-24 drubbing of North Texas on Nov. 26, 2016 in the Sun Bowl. The 301 rushing yards were the most by a UTEP player since All-American Fred Wendt compiled 326 against New Mexico State on Nov. 25, 1948. North Texas led just once, 7-3 on a 14-yard rushing touchdown by Willy Ivery. After that the Miners scored 28 straight points, and although the Mean Green would creep within 14 (31-17) at halftime, UTEP put it away with a couple more trips to the end zone in the third period. The 52 points matched UTEP's high under then-head coach Sean Kugler and were the most for the Miners in a regulation game since the 2009 season finale versus Marshall. The Miners piled up 555 yards of offense, including 384 on the ground, while holding North Texas to 304 yards in their best all-around performance of the season. Ryan Metz turned in another efficient effort at quarterback for UTEP, completing 12-of-17 passes for 171 yards. The UTEP defense registered three tackles for losses and seven pass break-ups led by Alvin Jones, who was credited with a game-high 12 stops. The defense got into the scoring act in the second quarter when free safety Dashone Smith blocked Eric Keena's punt and Brandon Moss scooped it up for a touchdown. That made the score 31-7. It was 31-17 early in the third quarter, and North Texas appeared to make a big play when Fred Scott picked off Metz's pass and returned it to the Miner 18-yard line. But a face mask penalty on the Mean Green gave UTEP a first down at its own 42-yard line and on the very next play, Jones busted free for the 58-yard TD and a commanding 21-point lead.

CONNECTIONS
Twelve players on the UTEP roster hail from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and other suburbs of Dallas: junior OL Jerrod Brooks [Dallas], freshman DL Jerron Brooks [Seagoville], sophomore WR Walter Dawn Jr. [Mesquite], sophomore LB Stephen Forester [Dallas], sophomore LB Treyvon Hughes [Waxahachie], senior LB Johnny Jones [Carrollton], senior WR Dylan Kittrell [Carrollton], senior DB Jesse Montgomery [Dallas], sophomore RB TK Powell [Fort Worth], freshman LB Sione Tupou [Allen], sophomore RB Quardraiz Wadley [Kennedale] and freshman LB Barron Wortham Jr. [Arlington]. 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 10 wins, including an Independence Bowl berth under then-head coach 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 (6-3) became bowl eligible after its 24-23 victory at LA Tech on Nov. 4. North Texas (5-1 Conference USA) remains in first place in the West Division with its one-point triumph. In the back-and-forth battle in Ruston, Jeffery Wilson put his team on the board last when he rushed for a 14-yard touchdown with just over six minutes remaining in the contest. The Bulldogs had an opportunity to take a two-point lead when they attempted a 53-yard field goal, but it went wide left with just over two minutes remaining in the contest. The Mean Green, after a 1-2 start to 2017, has won its last two ballgames and five of its last six contests overall. Jeffery led the league's no. 1 offense with 165 rushing yards and a pair of bookend scores. Jeffery put points on the board first with an eight-yard run in the first quarter. LA Tech led at the half, 17-10, but the Mean Green used a pair of second-half scores that included a QB Mason Fine 22-yard touchdown toss to WR Rico Bussey early in the third quarter. LA Tech could only muster a pair of field goals in the second half. On the season, North Texas averages 476.7 yards of total offense, which ranks no. 18 in the FBS. North Texas ranks second in C-USA and 25th nationally in scoring (35.9 ppg). The Mean Green also ranks second in C-USA in passing (291.7 ypg) and fifth in rushing (185.0 ypg). The passing attack also ranks 20th in the FBS. Wilson is one yard shy of 1,000 and ranks third in C-USA in rushing yards per game (111.0). Wilson's 13 rushing scores rank second and his 8.7 points per game rank tied for third. Fine is tied for the league lead with his 18 passing scores on 200-of-316 passing (64 percent) with nine interceptions. Fine is one of the top passers in the nation as he ranks 16th in the FBS and second in C-USA in passing yards per game (287.9). Fine also ranks second in C-USA with his 145.3 passing efficiency rating. Jalen Guyton leads the team and ranks sixth in C-USA in receptions per game (4.9), as he's hauled in 44 passes for 729 yards (third-most yards in C-USA) and seven scores (tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns). Michael Lawrence (40 rec., 496 yards, two TD) ranks tied for ninth in receptions per game (4.4) and ninth in receiving yards per game (58.8). The defense ranks tied for 12th in C-USA with UTEP in scoring defense (36.2), eighth in rushing defense (179.4 ypg) and last in pass defense (253.7 ypg). The Mean Green has sacked the quarterback 16 times, ranking seventh in C-USA. S Khairi Muhammad (74 tackles) leads the team and ranks ninth in C-USA in tackles per game (8.2). LB E.J. Ejiya leads the team and ranks tied for sixth in the league with 4.5 sacks. Ejiya (73 tackles) also ranks tied for 10th in tackles per game (8.1).

LAST WEEK
True freshman running back and El Paso native Joshua Fields produced a career-high 87 yards on 17 carries (5.1 avg.), but Middle Tennessee halted a two-game skid after getting past UTEP, 30-3, on Nov. 4 at Floyd Stadium. The Miners struggled on offense, gaining 137 yards and six first downs, while the Blue Raiders registered 400 yards of offense and 18 first downs. Brent Stockstill, who was a game-time decision, made his first start since Sept. 9 at Syracuse. The junior threw for 190 yards on 13-of-30 passing and three scores. Nik Needham intercepted one of Stockstill's passes in the end zone, as it was Needham's first pick of 2017 and second in his career. Middle Tennessee got on the board first after Canon Rooker connected on a career-long 51-yard field goal. The Blue Raiders then took a 17-0 lead after a pair of Stockstill touchdown tosses. The first came with 16 second left in the first quarter, a 25-yard hookup to Ty Lee, while the second was a five-yard pass to Jimmy Marshall in the second quarter at the 4:35 mark. After a Tavares Thomas two-yard touchdown run to put MT up 24-0, UTEP walk-on kicker Jason Filley got the Miners on the board with his first career field goal, a 26-yard kick with over six minutes to play in the third quarter. The drive went 67 yards on 15 plays (6:46) as Fields gained 61 of those yards on eight attempts. Fields, on the scoring push, got the Miners past midfield after he gained a career-long 27-yard rush to the Middle Tennessee 48-yard line and hit a first down on a three-yard run on a fourth-and-2 play in the red zone to keep the drive going. Alan Luna gathered a career-high 414 yards on nine boots (46.0 avg.). Defensively, Dante Lovilotte led with seven tackles, while Needham recorded six stops. Terry Juniel ran a kickoff back 49 yards, the third-longest of his career and averaged 29.0 yards on three kickoff returns. Juniel also gained 13 yards on three receptions. Warren Redix led the offense with 19 yards on a trio of catches.

FIELDS HITTING THE TURF
True freshman RB Joshua Fields, after hitting a season-high 44 yards on Oct. 28 against UTSA, established his career high for a second week in a row after gaining 87 yards on a career-most 17 carries at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 4. Fields averaged 5.1 yards per carry as one went for a career-long 27 yards. Fields finished with 90 yards of total offense against the Blue Raiders. Fields scored his first collegiate touchdown against the Roadrunners and has rushed for 156 yards on the season. Fields has also registered five receptions for 25 yards, including a long catch of 18 yards.

FIELDING THE LOAD
The Miners' lone scoring drive at Middle Tennessee went 67 yards on 15 plays as Joshua Fields gained 61 of those yards on eight attempts. One of the carries went 27 yards (career high), while Fields also produced runs of 14 and six yards.

WADLEY'S RETURN
Sophomore RB Quardraiz Wadley made his first start since Oct. 14 at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 4. Wadley, who's been battling injuries all season, only gained six yards against the Blue Raiders, but has been a bright spot on offense overall when healthy. Wadley currently leads the team with 277 rushing yards on 58 attempts (4.8 avg.) and is averaging 69.2 yards per game in four contests played.

BIG GAMES FROM QUARDRAIZ
Quardraiz Wadley has produced a pair of solid performances in 2017 and has given Miner fans a glimpse of his full potential. Wadley made his season debut against NM State on Sept. 23, in which he rushed for 77 yards on 19 carries. Wadley followed with his first career start and produced a career-best 156 yards at Army on Sept. 30, his first career 100-yard game, while also finding the end zone for his first career score.

QB RUSHING SCORES
All three UTEP quarterbacks have rushed for at least one touchdown in 2017. Junior Ryan Metz has scored two – a one-yard score against Rice and a five-yard dash at NM State. Freshman Mark Torrez found the end zone on a six-yard rush against Arizona and senior Zack Greenlee, most recently, ran for a six-yard score against UTSA, while his first came against WKU.  It's the first time since at least 1990 that three UTEP quarterbacks have found the end zone with their legs during a single season.

JUNIEL'S VERSATILITY
Junior WR/KR Terry Juniel not only returns kickoffs, but he catches passes too, ranking tied for first on the team with 17 receptions after hauling in a trio of passes at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 4. Juniel has totaled 177 yard receiving, ranking second on the team. Juniel leads the Miners in all-purpose yards (638) and is ranked second in all-purpose yards per game (70.9).

BROWN DELIVERS
Junior transfer WR Erik Brown, who just recently joined the program, established career highs in receptions (three), receiving yards (52) and long catch (38 yards) against UTSA on Oct. 28. Brown made his first start against WKU on Oct. 7. Brown delivered with a pair of receptions for 32 yards. The first was an eight-yard catch for a first down on a third-and-4 in the third quarter. The second was a 24-yard reception during the fourth quarter. Brown, in his second start, posted 34 yards on a pair of catches at Southern Miss on Oct. 14. After tallying a pair of receptions for 13 yards at Middle Tennessee, Brown has caught nine passes for 135 yards (16.9 avg.) in six games played this season.

BATSON RETURNS
Senior WR Tyler Batson registered a season-high 80 yards on a career-best five receptions at Army on Sept. 30. In fact, Batson's 80 yards were the second-most in his career for a single game. Batson's career high was a 143-yard output against Florida Atlantic in 2015. Including a season-long 36-yard grab versus UTSA, Batson is ranked third on the team in receptions (16) and leads the team in receiving yards (214), while scoring a touchdown against Arizona on Sept. 15 – his first since 2015.

SCORING MULTIPLE WAYS
Junior WR Kavika Johnson recorded his first career touchdown catch against WKU on Oct. 7 as he now joins a rare club of Miners who have scored a touchdown rushing, receiving and throwing. Johnson has thrown for four scores and has rushed for one (2015 at North Texas) during his career. Johnson joins Aaron Jones, Lorne Sam, Marcus Thomas and Omar Duarte as Miners who have accounted for a touchdown three ways since the 1998 season.

MIDSEASON ALL-AMERICAN STATUS
Senior OL Will Hernandez was named to the AP Midseason All-America team, chosen by a panel of 16 Top-25 poll voters, on Oct. 17. The guard garnered second team honors through seven games and has racked up 46 starts in four seasons for the Miners. Hernandez is not new to the spotlight, having earned 2017 AP Preseason All-America second team recognition. Last season, the Las Vegas native was the first Miner offensive lineman to receive AP All-American second team and FOX Sports All-American honors. The senior was also the first UTEP offensive lineman since 2009 to earn All-Conference USA first team recognition. Hernandez's national recognition didn't stop there, as he garnered Pro Football Focus Pass Protector of the Year. Hernandez is the only Conference USA student-athlete to earn recognition.

WILL'S PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Will Hernandez was selected to the 2017 AP All-America second team on Aug. 22 as the senior racked up multiple preseason honors. Hernandez was announced to the 2017 Outland Trophy Watch List and earned a spot on the 2017 Preseason Conference USA team. Multiple football publications, including Dave Campbell's Texas Football, Phil Steele's College Football Preview and Athlon Sports had Hernandez on their preseason teams.

THE CENTURY MARK
Senior LB Alvin Jones has a team-leading 73 tackles this season and with three games left, has the opportunity to hit the 100-tackle mark. The last Miner to post 100+ tackles was Josh Fely in 2012 with 112 stops. From 1986 till 2009, at least one UTEP defensive player registered 100 or more stops.

FORCING THE ISSUE
Heading into 2017, Alvin Jones had not recorded a forced fumble. The senior has forced a pair in the last three games. Jones forced a fumble against UTSA on Oct. 28 and his first career forced fumble came at Southern Miss on Oct. 14. Jones ranks tied for third in Conference USA in forced fumbles.

LEADING TACKLER
Alvin Jones registered three tackles at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 4. Jones currently leads the team in tackles (73) and tackles per game (8.1). Jones ranks tied for 10th in tackles per game (8.1) and tied for seventh in total tackles (73) in Conference USA. Jones's 6.5 tackles for loss lead the team and rank tied for 16th in C-USA. Jones has led the Miners in tackles in each of the last two seasons, recording 93 stops during each campaign.

KEEPING UP WITH ALVIN'S CAREER
Alvin Jones has 314 career tackles, the second-most at UTEP since the 2000 season behind Robert Rodriguez's 443 stops (2001-04), after tallying three stops at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 4. Jones has 12.5 career sacks, ranking tied for ninth with Menson Holloway on the program's top-10 list.  Jones's 36.0 career tackles for loss are the most since 2000 and rank third on the program's all-time list as Barron Wortham leads the all-time list with 45.0 tackles for loss and Gonzalo Floyd ranks second (41.0 TFL). Jones's 14.5 tackles for loss in 2015 rank tied for ninth on the single-season list, while his 5.0 tackles for loss at NM State on Sept. 19, 2015 were the most by a UTEP player since the 2000 season. Jones has led the Miners in tackles the past two seasons, tallying 93 stops in each campaign, while in 2014 Jones ranked second with 55 takedowns.

BACK-TO-BACK DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLES
Alvin Jones registered back-to-back games of double-digit tackles after reaching 12 against WKU on Oct. 7 and 10 more at Southern Miss on Oct. 14. It's his first back-to-back effort since racking up 16 at Rice on Nov. 19 and 12 tackles against North Texas to close out the 2016 season. Back in 2015, Jones recorded 11 stops three games in a row (vs. Rice, at Old Dominion, vs. LA Tech).

MORE DOUBLE-DIGIT STOPS
Alvin Jones has reached double digits in tackles 12 times during his career after his 10-tackle output on Oct. 14 at Southern Miss. Jones's first double-digit performance came against UTSA on Oct. 3, 2015 with a 10-tackle outing. Jones racked up 11 tackles in four other contests in 2015 (at NM State; vs. Rice; at Old Dominion; vs. LA Tech). In 2016, Jones registered double-digit tackles, including his career high of 16 stops, in four contests (12 vs. NM State; 16 vs. FIU; 16 at Rice; 12 vs. North Texas). Jones registered a season-high 15 tackles against Arizona on Sept. 15, his first double-digit effort in 2017 and 12 stops against WKU on Oct. 7.

300+ TACKLES
Alvin Jones became the 14th player to tally over 300 tackles in a career at UTEP after being credited with 10 stops at Southern Miss on Oct. 14. Jones joins Barron Wortham, the all-time leader with 566 tackles, Doug Morgan (523), Tony Perea (459), Raymond Morris (458), Robert Rodriguez (443), Michael Comer (437), Fred Carr (410), Hal Barnett (407) Pete Shufelt (385 tackles), Fred Williams (375), Dale Kirry (335), Seth Joyner (325) and Brian Young (322).

ALVIN THE BALL HAWK
Alvin Jones amassed 15 tackles, a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss against Arizona on Sept. 15, the second-most stops in his career. Jones' career high is 16 tackles twice. The first came against FIU on Oct. 8, 2016 in the Sun Bowl, and Jones followed with another 16-tackle performance at Rice on Nov. 19, 2016.

LOVE FOR LOVILOTTE
Since transferring to UTEP, senior LB Dante Lovilotte has produced tackles for the Miners. Lovilotte ranked second on the team in tackles (89) last season and currently ranks second in 2017 with 52 stops after registering a team-leading seven tackles at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 4. Lovilotte registered his first full sack at no. 7 Oklahoma to open the season. Lovilotte tied his career best with a season-high 11 tackles against Rice on Sept. 9. At NM State, Lovilotte registered a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup.

ACTION JACKSON
Graduate student LB Julian Jackson tallied a career-high eight tackles against WKU on Oct. 7. Jackson's eight stops against the Hilltoppers is also tied for his college career high. Jackson, a transfer from Wake Forest, recorded seven tackles in each of his first three games in a UTEP uniform. Jackson added a five-tackle effort at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 4. Jackson's 50 total tackles rank third on the UTEP defense. Jackson recorded his first pass breakup against Arizona, recorded half a tackle for loss at no. 7 OU and has registered a pair of quarterback hurries.

TREYVON MAKING THE ADJUSTMENT TO LB
In only his second game at the LB position, sophomore Treyvon Hughes tied for the team lead with a career-high 11 tackles against Rice on Sept. 9. Hughes registered three stops in his defensive debut at no. 7 Oklahoma in week one. Hughes made his first career start on either side of the ball at Army on Sept. 30. Hughes responded with eight tackles to tie for the team lead against the Black Knights. Hughes came to UTEP as a running back and missed last season due to injury. He was switched to linebacker prior to the Annual Spring Game this past year. Hughes has 33 tackles on the season, ranking eighth on the team.

SKY'S RECOVERY
Senior DL Sky Logan recovered a fumble against UTSA on Oct. 28. It was his second of 2017 after recovering one at Southern Miss on Oct. 14, and his third career recovery as he tallied his first one at Rice on Nov. 19, 2016. Logan leads the team in fumble recoveries and ranks first in Conference USA and 11th nationally in that department.

BIRTHDAY PICK FOR NIK
Junior DB Nik Needham intercepted a pass in the end zone at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 4, his birthday. It was Needham's first interception of 2017 and second of his career. Needham picked off his first pass during his freshman season in 2015 against Florida Atlantic in the Sun Bowl.

IN THE NIK OF TIME
Junior DB Nik Needham registered a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss at Southern Miss on Oct. 14. Needham chipped in with four tackles and recorded his seventh pass breakup of the season. Needham, after registering six stops at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 4, has tallied 45 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss (seven yards), a sack (three yards) and a fumble recovery. Needham ranks second on the team in tackles for loss.

HIGH 5
Nik Needham turned in a record-breaking performance against WKU on Oct. 7 with a career-high five pass breakups against the Hilltoppers. Needham's performance is tied for most all-time at UTEP with Wesley Miller, who recorded five pass breakups at Rice on Oct. 26, 2013.

NEEDHAM'S CAREER BREAKUPS
Nik Needham, after registering a career-high five pass breakups versus WKU and another at Southern Miss, now has seven in 2017. Needham's 23 career breakups rank tied for seventh on the program's all-time list with Darius Ellison and Weldon Cooks. Jahmal Fenner leads the all-time list with 25 in his career, while five other Miners have tallied 24 during their respective careers.

THE BREAKUP
UTEP DB's Nik Needham and Kalon Beverly have each recorded seven pass breakups. The pair of Miners rank tied for fourth in Conference USA in passes broken up, while Needham also ranks tied for sixth in passes defended after picking off a pass at Middle Tennessee.

BEVERLY & LEWIS PRODUCING SOLID NUMBERS
Junior DB Kalon Beverly and sophomore DB Michael Lewis are turning in solid performances in 2017. Lewis ranks second among all UTEP defensive backs with 42 tackles, while contributing a pair of breakups and a quarterback hurry. Beverly is tied for the team lead with seven pass breakups and has registered 39 tackles with a forced fumble in the process.

MR. ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD
Sophomore DB Justin Rogers intercepted his second pass of the season against UTSA on Oct. 28. It was Rogers' third career interception and second in the Sun Bowl. He picked off a pass against FIU last season in the Sun City. Rogers is tied for the team lead with two INTs in 2017. He's also chipped in with 27 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry.

JUSTIN-TIME ROGERS
For the second year in a row, sophomore DB Justin Rogers intercepted the first pass of the season for the UTEP defense. Rogers picked off a pass at NM State in the first quarter on Sept. 23. It was Rogers' second career pick. Rogers' first interception came against FIU in the Sun Bowl last season, which was also the first for the Miners' defense in 2016. Rogers tied his career best with five tackles (four solo) and half a tackle for loss against the Aggies. Rogers has recorded 21 stops with half a tackle for loss and a pair of pass breakups (three passes defended).   

DC'S IMPACT
Senior DB Devin Cockrell recorded his first interception at Southern Miss in the first quarter on Oct. 14. It was his first of 2017 and first since picking off a pass at Rice on Nov. 24, 2014. Cockrell has three interceptions in his career as his first pick came at Middle Tennessee in the 2013 season finale.

MORE ON COCKRELL
Devin Cockrell missed all of 2015 due to a season-ending injury. Since his return to the gridiron, Cockrell led all UTEP defensive back in tackles (58) in 2016, while chipping in with 3.0 tackles for loss, a breakup, a quarterback hurry and a fumble recovery. In 2017, Cockrell ranks sixth on the team in tackles (41). Cockrell has also registered 4.0 tackles for loss, a sack, a pair of breakups, two hurries and an interception.

BACK-2-BACK GAMES WITH A DEFENSIVE TD
In back-to-back weeks, the UTEP defense scored a touchdown. The first came from Trace Mascorro at NM State on Sept. 23 on a scoop-and-score for 26 yards. Kahani Smith followed with a pick-six at Army on Sept. 30. The last time the Miners went back-to-back games with a defensive score was in 2014 – a Jimmy Musgrave 19-yard pick-six at UTSA on Oct. 25, and two scores against Southern Miss on Nov. 1 in El Paso when Trey Brown went 51 yards on an interception and a Nick Gathrite 59-yard fumble return. Prior to 2014, the 2008 season was the last time the Miners scored defensive touchdowns in consecutive games. Anthony Morrow took an interception 27 yards to the end zone and Robert Soleyjacks returned a fumble 24 yards for a score against NM State (9/20/08). The next week, Josh Ferguson scored on a 45-yard fumble return and Dane O'Neil recovered a fumble in the end zone against UCF (9/27/08).

ACTIVE SAMMUT
Junior LS Jake Sammut was active at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 4 as he tallied his first career tackles (two) and downed a punt inside the 20-yard line. Sammut, a transfer from College of Canyons, is listed at 5-foot-8, 170 pounds but has shown the ability to play big.

FILLEY'S FOOT
Junior walk-on K/P Jason Filley connected on his first career field goal at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 4. Filley, a native of El Paso and Coronado High School graduate, made a 26-yard attempt against the Blue Raiders. This comes after getting his first collegiate action against UTSA on Oct. 28, in which Filley was good on a pair of extra points.  

DAS BOOT
El Paso native Alan Luna is the national leader in punt yards (2,758) after the senior punted nine times for a career-high 414 yards (46.0) with a career-tying trio of kicks placed inside the 20-yard line at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 4. Luna opened 2017 with eight punts for 352 yards for an average of 44.0 yards at Oklahoma. The senior punter placed three inside the 20-yard line against the Sooners to tie his career high. Luna also placed three inside the 20 at LA Tech on Oct. 1, 2016. Luna's 43.8-yard average ranks 25th in the FBS and second in Conference USA. Luna is ranked second in total punts (63) and first in punt yards (2,758) in C-USA. Nationally, Luna ranks second in punt yards per game (306.4) and is tied for second in total punts.

LUNA CAREER NOTES
Senior Alan Luna is fourth on the program's all-time list in career punt yards (8,185) and in career punts (190). Lance Brownlee ranks no. 3 in career punts (204), while the overall leader is Jerry Walker (298). Brownlee also ranks no. 3 in career yards (8,295), while the overall leader is Walker (12,193). Luna's career high for yards is 414 at Middle Tennessee (Nov. 4). His longest is a 69-yard boot, while his career-best average is 51.0 yards on six punts (306) against Southern Miss (Sept. 24, 2016). In week two against Rice this season, Luna registered a 63-yard boot, the second-longest of his career, while his third-longest went 61 yards at Old Dominion in 2015.

TERRY'S SPECIAL EFFORT
Junior WR/KR Terry Juniel resumed returning kickoffs after an injury to Keynan Foster and responded with a career-long 59-yard return at Southern Miss on Oct. 14, a 49-yard return (second-longest of career) at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 4, a 41-yard dash against UTSA on Oct. 28 and career highs in kickoff return yards (105) and returns (six) at Army, including a game long of 35 yards on Sept. 30. Juniel's previous highs were four returns for 76 yards at no. 11 Texas in 2016. After returning a trio of kickoffs for 87 yards (29.0 avg.) at Middle Tennessee, Juniel is averaging 25.4 yards on 16 returns (406 yards) in 2017. Juniel averaged just over 18 yards per return last season. Juniel ranks third in Conference USA in kickoff return average and kickoff yards.

VILES' FIRST KICK WAS A LONG ONE
Brady Viles' first field goal was a 53-yarder. It's the longest first made field goal by a Miner since at least 1960. Viles is one of three Miners to hit a 50-plus yard field goal on their first try since 1960. Bronko Belichesky's first career field attempt was a made 52-yarder against Pacific on Sept. 15, 1973. Jose Martinez connected on a 51-yarder on Sept. 1, 2007 against New Mexico. Viles' field goal was the longest for the Miners since Dakota Warren connected on a 57-yard kick against NM State on Sept. 18, 2010. Viles played his first year of college football at Arizona Western College, where he connected on 3-of-3 PATs and was used primarily as a kickoff specialist last season.  

FUMBLES LOST & FUMBLES RECOVERED
UTEP has fumbled only five times this season, ranking tied for third in Conference USA and ranking tied for 49th in FBS. The Miners have recovered six fumbles in 2017, ranking tied for sixth with three other programs in C-USA and tied for 66th in the FBS.

FEWER YELLOW FLAGS
UTEP ranks in the top half of Conference USA and FBS in fewest penalties and penalty yards. The Miners have been penalized 47 times (tied for fourth in C-USA, tied for 31st in FBS) and average 5.2 penalties per game (tied for fourth in C-USA, tied for 31st in FBS). The Miners have tallied only 441 penalty yards (sixth in C-USA, 48th in FBS) and average 49.0 yards in fewest penalty yards per game (sixth in C-USA, 49th in FBS).  

KICKOFF RETURNS & KO RETURN DEFENSE
UTEP ranks second in Conference USA and 47th in the FBS in kickoff return average (22.1). In kickoff return defense (14.5), the Miners rank no. 1 in C-USA and second in FBS.

CATCHING UP WITH COACH PRICE
UTEP Interim Head Coach Mike Price made his 2017 debut against WKU in the 86th Homecoming Game. Price has 48 wins with the Miners, the second most in program history behind Mack Saxon (66 wins). Price led UTEP to back-to-back eigtht-win seasons (2004 & 2005) and a trio of bowl appearances (2004 Ev1.net Houston Bowl, 2005 GMAC Bowl & 2010 New Mexico Bowl).  Price ranks fifth among active FBS coaches in wins.

LOCAL FLAVOR
The 2017 roster features 30 players from the El Pas0/Las Cruces area -- DB Deaumonjae Banks (Chapin), LB Chris Barnwell (Eastlake), WR Brannon Bullitt (Chapin), OL Bobby DeHaro (Montwood), OL Derek Elmendorff (Franklin), RB Joshua Fields (Americas), K/P Jason Filley (Coronado), LB Sergio Gonzalez (El Dorado), FB David Jackson (Parkland), DL Christian Johnson (Parkland), WR Kavika Johnson (Mayfield [Las Cruces]), LB Alvin Jones (Burges), OL Greg Long (Eastwood), LB Erick Lopez (Canutillo), OL Markos Lujan (Americas), P/K Alan Luna (Franklin), OL Rey Mendez (Socorro), QB Ryan Metz (Andress), FB Forest McKee (Onate [Las Cruces]), RB Jonathon Millan (Coronado), WR Brandon Moss (Chapin), DL Josh Ortega (Montwood), DB Elijah Perales (Chapin), OL Jaime Perales (Cathedral), WR Warren Redix (Montwood), TE Jorge Rodriguez (Montwood), WR Richie Rodriguez (Eastwood), WR Eddie Sinegal (Andress), QB Keith Tarango-Lopez (Eastlake) and QB Mark Torrez (Eastwood).

SUN CITY SENSATIONS
Eleven players from El Paso grace the two-deep heading into the North Texas game. RG Derek Elmendorff, TB Joshua Fields, K/P Jason Filley, FB David Jackson, MIKE Alvin Jones, RG Markos Lujan, K/P Alan Luna, QB Ryan Metz, NT Josh Ortega, WR (X)/KR/PR Warren Redix, and QB Mark Torrez are listed on the two-deep chart. Of the 11, four of the players (Elmendorff, Jones, Filley and Luna) are listed no. 1 at their respective positions.

GRADUATE STUDENT-ATHLETES
The UTEP football program has eight student-athletes with degrees for the 2017 season. QB Zack Greenlee, LB Julian Jackson, DL Sky Logan, DB Jesse Montgomery, WR Brandon Moss, TE Sterling Napier, WR Nesley Ovincy and OL Logan Tuley-Tillman are pursuing their Masters of Arts in Leadership Studies. Northwestern has 18 student-athletes with degrees, while Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina and East Carolina each have 14. Toledo has 13; TCU, Alabama, Oregon and Virginia each have 12; Georgia State, Kansas State, Maryland, UCF and USF each have 11; Kent State, Nevada, New Mexico, South Alabama, Texas Tech and West Virginia each have 10; Houston, Iowa State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Rutgers and Temple each have nine; and joining UTEP with eight student-athletes are Auburn, Clemson, Iowa, Kentucky, NC State, Northern Illinois, Ole Miss, Penn State, SMU Syracuse, UAB and WKU.

UP NEXT
UTEP will close out the home portion of the 2017 schedule on 'Senior Day' as LA Tech will make its way to the Sun Bowl for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Nov. 18. The Miners are on a four-game losing skid against the Bulldogs, as the last victory came in 2004 when both programs were affiliated with the Western Athletic Conference. UTEP will wrap up the 2017 campaign on Nov. 25 at UAB.