UTEP NOTES | C-USA NOTES
THE KICKOFF
UTEP (0-2) squares off against an SEC opponent for the first time in three years when it plays at Tennessee (1-1) on Saturday at noon ET/10 a.m. MT. The game will be televised on the SEC Network. The Miners are making their first trip to Knoxville since 1990. In its last game versus an SEC adversary, UTEP opened the 2015 season with a 48-13 loss at No. 18 Arkansas. The Miners are 1-9 against SEC opponents since the formation of the league for the 1932 season. UTEP is 1-1 against Ole Miss, 0-2 versus Arkansas, 0-2 versus Tennessee, 0-1 against Alabama, 0-1 against Kentucky, 0-1 versus LSU and 0-1 against Texas A&M. The Miners downed Ole Miss, 14-7, in the 1967 Sun Bowl. UTEP is 0-9 all-time in road games versus SEC competition. The most points scored by the Miners against an SEC school was 21 at No. 14 Arkansas on Nov. 13, 2010.
SATURDAY'S OPPONENT
Tennessee squared its record at 1-1 with a 59-3 victory over East Tennessee State on Sept. 8 at Neyland Stadium. The Vols rolled out to a 38-0 halftime lead and were up 45-0 before the Pirates finally dented the scoreboard. Tennessee posted 414 yards of offense and converted all three ETSU turnovers into touchdowns. Six Vols recorded their first touchdown in a Tennessee uniform. Sophomore QB Jarrett Guarantano completed 8-of-13 passes for 154 yards for Tennessee. Junior WR Marquez Callaway (five catches-78 yards) and sophomore WR Jordan Murphy (three catches-75 yards) were the Vols' top receivers, while sophomore RB Tim Jordan (15 carries-75 yards) and freshman RB Jeremy Banks (13 carries-63 yards) headed up the ground game. The Vols opened the campaign with a 40-14 loss to No. 17 West Virginia in the Belk College Kickoff at Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 1. Tennessee is averaging 36.5 points and 357.5 yards of offense per game; the Vols yield 21.5 ppg and 370.5 ypg. Jordan averages 91.5 rushing yards per contest. Guarantano has completed 71.1 percent (27-of-38) of his passes for 326 yards (163.0 ypg). Callaway is collecting 70.5 receiving yards per outing. Junior LB Darrin Kirkland Jr. is the team's leading tackler with 14 stops in two games, while junior NT Emmit Gooden has been credited with three tackles for losses. The Vols are turnover-free through two games, while opponents have coughed up the football four times. The second quarter has been big for Tennessee in 2018, as the Vols have outscored foes 35-3 in the frame. Head coach Jeremy Pruitt is in his first season at Tennessee after serving as the defensive coordinator at Florida State (2013), Georgia (2014-15) and Alabama (2016-17). He is a five-time national champion (2009, 2011 & 2012 Alabama, 2013 Florida State, 2017 Alabama). The Vols were 4-8 in 2017 (0-8 SEC East), and have 13 returning starters. Sophomore OL Trey Smith was a second team All-SEC player and an FWAA Freshman All-American in 2017.
THE SERIES
UTEP is 0-2 versus Tennessee with both matchups taking place at Neyland Stadium. The Vols knocked off the Miners during the 1986 (26-16) and 1990 (56-0) seasons.
THE LAST MEETING
Tony Thompson rushed for 82 yards and three touchdowns, and Tennessee gained 323 yards on the ground in a 56-0 victory over UTEP on Sept. 15, 1990, at Neyland Stadium. Thompson was responsible for three of the Vols' first four scores with TD runs of three, five and 18 yards. The other TD came on a blocked punt recovery for a touchdown by Earnest Fields. The score was 35-0 at halftime and Tennessee added three more rushing touchdowns in the second half, finishing with six on the night. Vol quarterbacks Sterling Henton and Andy Kelly combined to complete 13-of-20 passes for 187 yards. The top receiver was Alvin Harper with four catches for 85 yards and a score. The Miners were held to 148 yards of offense, including 103 passing. Mike Perez completed 12-of-26 passes for 103 yards for UTEP. Pete Shufelt was the standout on defense for the Miners, picking up a game-high 13 tackles.
CONNECTIONS
UTEP offensive coordinator Mike Canales makes his return to the Volunteer State after serving as the quarterbacks coach at Tennessee in 2017. UTEP sophomore LB Chris Barnwell was born in Knoxville. UTEP senior TE David Lucero and junior K Brady Viles played previously at Arizona Western College, as did Tennessee sophomore OL Jahmir Johnson, senior LB Jonathan Kongbo and junior TE Dominick Wood-Anderson.
LAST GAME
Lexington Thomas and Armani Rogers accounted for 230 of UNLV's 414 rushing yards, as the Rebels handed UTEP a 52-24 setback on Sept. 8 at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Miners trailed just 14-10 entering the second quarter, but the Rebels put 24 points on the board in the next 15 minutes to take a 38-10 lead at the midway point. Then UNLV capitalized on a fumble by the Miners' Quardraiz Wadley deep in UTEP territory to start the third quarter, as Thomas's short touchdown run made it 45-10. Wadley was coming off a big first half for UTEP with two carries for 82 yards, including a career-long 41-yard scamper. The Miners were able to establish the ground game in the first half, running for 151 yards, but couldn't put the clamps on the Rebels' rushing attack as they pounded out 277 yards of their own. Rogers finished 6-for-13 passing for 119 yards with three scores, and rushed 10 times for 103 yards and a TD. Thomas compiled a game-high 127 yards on 17 rushing attempts. Kai Locksley made his first start for the Miners at quarterback. El Paso native Markos Lujan was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time as well, at center. Locksley rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Wadley finished with 96 yards on only seven carries. Locksley and Ryan Metz once again split time at quarterback, combining to complete 11-of-29 passes for 123 yards. UNLV gained 533 yards on the night to UTEP's 388. The temperature at kickoff was 106 degrees, tying it for the hottest game in school history. It was also 106 degrees for the 2000 season opener at Oklahoma.
OFFENSE SHOWS SIGNS
UTEP scored 24 points at UNLV, significant because the Miners averaged a mere 11.8 ppg in 2017. UTEP's season high for points a year ago was 21 twice (at Army, versus LA Tech). The 24 points at UNLV were the most for the Miners since the 2016 finale versus North Texas (52). The 265 rushing yards and 19 first downs were also the most for UTEP since the aforementioned North Texas game (384 rushing yards/19 first downs).
LOCKSLEY'S 100-YARD NIGHT
In rushing for a team-high 119 yards at UNLV, junior QB Kai Locksley became the first UTEP quarterback to eclipse the century mark since Blaire Sullivan gained 104 yards versus FIU on Nov. 16, 2013. The 119 rushing yards are the most by a UTEP quarterback since Shawn Gray had 141 yards versus Fresno State on Nov. 12, 1994. Locksley joins Sullivan, Gray, Kevin Ward and Lorne Sam as the only Miner signal-callers to compile 100 yards rushing in a game since 1980. Locksley scored TDs on runs of one and 20 yards against the Rebels. Locksley is the first UTEP quarterback to rush for two touchdowns in a game since James Thomas II did so versus NM State on Sept. 20, 2008.
LOCKSLEY, THE LEADING RUSHER
Kai Locksley is UTEP's leading rusher with 169 yards, 30 more than his closest pursuer Quardraiz Wadley. While it's very early in the season, Locksley has a chance to become only the third UTEP quarterback to pace the squad in rushing since 1980. The others are Kevin Ward in 1982 (813 yards) and 1983 (608), and Shawn Gray in 1992 (402). Locksley is on pace to rush for 1,014 yards, which would be a UTEP record by a quarterback.
SOMETHING TO WATCH FOR
Only one quarterback in the history of Conference USA has rushed for 1,000 yards in a season. UAB's Joe Webb achieved the feat on a pair of occasions in 2008 (1,021 yards) and 2009 (1,427).
LOCKSLEY, THE BACK-TO-BACK LEADER
Kai Locksley has led the Miners in rushing in each of the first two games, making him the first UTEP quarterback to achieve the feat since Kevin Ward against Texas A&M (64 yards) and Idaho State (80) in 1984. The last UTEP QB to pace the team in rushing in consecutive contests at any point of the season was James Thomas II, who did so at Tulsa (34 yards) and against Rice (43) in 2008. UTEP hasn't had a quarterback lead the team in rushing in three consecutive contests since Shawn Gray did it versus Air Force (72 yards), Colorado State (78) and San Diego State (65) in 1992.
LOCKSLEY RACKING UP THE RUSHING ATTEMPTS
Kai Locksley has 38 of the Miners' 73 rushing attempts (52 percent) for 169 yards this season. That would put him on pace to carry the football 228 times in 2018, a figure which would rate ninth in the UTEP record book. No UTEP quarterback has rushed 200 times in a season. Locksley's 20 rushing attempts at UNLV were the most by a Miner QB since Blaire Sullivan ran 23 times for 74 yards versus UCF on Nov. 10, 2012.
QB RUSHING LEADERS
Kai Locksley rates ninth nationally in rushing yards per game among quarterbacks (84.5). Locksley is 50th in the FBS in rushing. Navy's Malcolm Perry is eighth (137.0 ypg), Georgia Southern's Shai Werts is 17th (123.0), Syracuse's Eric Dungey is 18th (122.0), Nebraska's Adrian Martinez is 20th (117.0), Virginia's Bryce Perkins is 22nd (115.5), UConn's David Pindell is 33rd (98.5), Georgia Tech's Taquon Marshall is 38th (95.0) and UNLV's Armani Rogers is tied for 39th (92.5).
LOCKSLEY TAKING A BITE OUT OF OFFENSE
Kai Locksley has accounted for 83 of the Miners' 133 total offensive plays (62.4 percent) through two games. At his current pace, he would be responsible for 498 plays this season which would be the second-top total in school annals. In 1986, Sammy Garza established the UTEP standard with 503 plays. Locksley has also accounted for 19 of the Miners' 34 first downs this season either with his legs or his arm.
WADLEY MAKING PLAYS
Junior RB Quardraiz Wadley rushed for 96 yards on only seven carries (13.7 ypc) at UNLV. It marked the second-most yards in his college career; he picked up 156 yards versus Army in 2017. Through two games, Wadley is averaging 9.3 yards on 15 rushing attempts. Factor in a 26-yard reception versus Northern Arizona in the season opener, and Wadley is averaging 10.3 yards every time he touches the ball in 2018.
A GROUNDED ATTACK
Of the Miners' 617 yards in 2018, 367 have come via the rush (59.5 percent) and 250 have come via the pass (40.5 percent). UTEP is averaging 125 yards passing per game, which would be its lowest figure since 1984 (115.2 passing ypg).
MORE RUSHING THAN PASSING
It has become more customary in recent years for UTEP to gain more yards on the ground than through the air. This also happened in 2013 (2,216 rush/1,959 pass), 2014 (2,701 rush/1,858 pass) and 2016 (2,226 rush/2,204 pass). Before that, the Miners went 18 consecutive seasons with more passing yards than rushing yards following the 1994 campaign, when they generated 1,980 yards by the run and 1,666 by the pass.
THREE RUSHING TDS
Against UNLV, the Miners scored three rushing touchdowns for the first time since Nov. 26, 2016, versus North Texas (four). Through two games, UTEP has four rushing touchdowns and no passing touchdowns. It marks the first time since 2004 that the Miners have played their first two games of a season without a passing TD.
TRACKING METZ
Senior Ryan Metz, who has split time with Kai Locksley at quarterback in the first two games, ranks No. 10 on the program's all-time completion list with 282. Metz is 16 completions away from the No. 9 spot. Metz has also tossed 23 scores during his career, needing one to crack the program's top 10 list. Metz has also been responsible for 26 touchdowns, needing eight to crack the school's top 10 list. The El Paso native fought off injuries during his junior campaign, but showed the ability to lead as he put up nice numbers his sophomore campaign – he threw for 14 touchdowns and only four interceptions on 130-of-201 passing for 1,375 yards. Metz's 64.7 completion percentage in 2016 ranked second on UTEP's single-season list.
REBUILDING THE LINE
The UTEP offense was dealt a major blow with returning offensive line starters Derron Gatewood (knee) and Greg Long (shoulder) out for the season. Gatewood, a senior center, was on the preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy. Gatewood has made 22 career starts and Long has made six starts at the left tackle, right guard and right tackle positions. The Miners have mixed and matched on the offensive line in the first two games. True freshman Zuri Henry (left tackle), redshirt-freshman Bobby DeHaro (left guard), senior Bijan Hosseini (right guard) and senior Markos Lujan (center) have made their first starts for UTEP during that span.
SEEING RED
The Miners are a perfect 4-for-4 in red zone scoring opportunities this season with two touchdowns and two field goals. Opponents are 7-for-9 (77.8 percent) in the red zone with five TDs, two field goals, a missed field goal and a clock expiration.
HOTCHKINS'S BREAKOUT
Graduate transfer LB A.J. Hotchkins leads the Miners in tackles (21) and is tied for the team lead with one sack. The Oregon import was credited with a career-high 13 tackles in the opener versus Northern Arizona. The 13 tackles were the most by a UTEP player in an opener since Traun Roberson also had 13 stops against New Mexico on Sept. 7, 2013. It marked the most tackles by a Miner making his debut in a season opener since UTEP's all-time leading tackler, Barron Wortham, produced 15 stops against BYU on Sept. 1, 1990. Hotchkins added eight tackles at UNLV, including one for loss, and a sack. It was his first sack since Oct. 8, 2016, versus Washington.
MR & MR. SMITH
Senior LB Jamar Smith and senior DB Kahani Smith (no relation) were the Miners' top two tacklers at UNLV, with both establishing career highs. Kahani had 10 tackles, and Jamar added eight. Jamar also registered his first sack as a Miner against the Rebels. Kahani is second on the team in stops this season (18), and Jamar is tied for third (10). Kahani registered the Miners' lone quarterback hurry this season -- and the first of his career -- versus Northern Arizona. Last year, Kahani was one of four Conference USA players to score a pair of defensive touchdowns. He became the first Miner in 10 years to turn the trick, as he had a 52-yard pick-six at Army and added a 45-yard fumble return for a TD at North Texas.
NEEDHAM WHEN YOU NEED HIM
Senior CB Nik Needham is the leader of the UTEP secondary. He is tied for third on the team in tackles (10) and matched his career high with two tackles for losses against Northern Arizona. Needham has 24 pass break-ups in his career and needs two to surpass Jahmal Fenner (25) and become UTEP's all-time leader.
MR. SPECIAL TEAMS
WR Terry Juniel has had an exceptional start to his senior year at UTEP, as he has accumulated 207 all-purpose yards (139 kickoff returns, 52 punt returns, 16 receiving). He had 124 all-purpose yards against Northern Arizona, the second most in his career (he tallied 142 against NM State on Sept. 3, 2016). Juniel now has 1,466 all-purpose yards (one rushing, 323 receiving, 306 punt returns, 836 kickoff returns) in his UTEP career.
AMONG THE LEADERS
Behind Terry Juniel, UTEP is averaging 27.8 yards on kickoff returns to rank 15th in the nation. The Miners are second in Conference USA in kickoff returns behind North Texas (37.5 avg.). The UTEP record for kickoff return average is 27.3 ypr by the 1996 squad. Individually, Juniel rates 13th in the FBS in kickoff return average, and fourth in C-USA behind UAB's Andre Wilson (31.0), Old Dominion's Isaiah Harper (29.2) and Rice's Austin Walter (28.0). Juniel is also eighth in the country in combined kick returns with 191.
NEW FACES IN THE KICKING GAME
UTEP has gotten good production out of a pair of special teams newcomers, Aussie punter Mitchell Crawford and true freshman kicker Gavin Baechle. Crawford had a season-long 51-yard punt at UNLV and rates 50th nationally with a 40.1 average. The Miners are tied for 42nd in the country in net punting average (40.0). Crawford was the leading goal kicker in the Black Diamond AFL (Australian Football League) while a member of the Newcastle City Blues in 2016. Baechle has handled kickoffs and booted five of seven into the end zone.
FILLING IT UP
Senior Jason Filley has been money since taking over as the Miners' kicker five games into the 2017 season. The El Paso native and Coronado High School graduate is 4-for-5 on field goals and a perfect 11-for-11 on PATs since. He has scored a total of 23 points. Filley kicked a career-long 33-yard field goal at UNLV.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
There are nine programs in the FBS, including UTEP, that have sons playing for their fathers. UTEP first-year head coach Dana Dimel has his son, Winston, at fullback. The other eight programs include UAB (head coach Bill Clark and son Jacob), Colorado (head coach Mike Macintyre and son Jay), Tulsa (head coach Philip Montgomery and son Cannon), Navy (head coach Ken Niumatalolo and son Ali'i), TCU (head coach Gary Patterson and son Blake), Middle Tennessee (head coach Rick Stockstill and son Brent), Clemson (head coach Dabo Swinney and son Will) and Old Dominion (head coach Bobby Wilder and son Derek). Winston previously played at Kansas State (2015-17) where his father was the offensive coordinator. The younger Dimel earned a spot on the 2018-19 Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List after garnering All-Big 12 honors each of the last three years.
THE GRADUATES
Eight players on the 2018 roster are graduate students. They are OL Jerrod Brooks, FB Winston Dimel, OL Derron Gatewood, LB A.J. Hotchkins, QB Ryan Metz, DL C.J. Reese, DL Michael Sota and TE Josh Weeks.
GETTING IT DONE IN THE CLASSROOM
Twenty players on the 2018 roster were named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll this spring for sporting grade point averages of 3.0 or better. They are RB Ronald Awatt, DL Christian Buckingham, QB Alex Fernandes, K/P Jason Filley, RB Reynaldo Flores, LB Stephen Forester, WR Keynan Foster, OL Derron Gatewood, LB Kalaii Griffin, DL Christian Johnson, OL Robert Lazarin, FB Forest McKee, QB Ryan Metz, FB Jonathan Millan, DL Jimmy Quemado, LS Jake Sammut, DB Kahani Smith, LB Sione Tupou, LB Anthony Ulmer and K Brady Viles. Fernandes and Flores were recipients of C-USA Academic Medals for logging GPAs of 3.75 or higher.
NEXT UP
The Miners will host long-time rival NM State in the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Battle of I-10 on Sept. 22 at 5:30 p.m. MT. UTEP downed the Aggies in eight straight seasons before NM State came up with a 41-14 victory a year ago in Las Cruces. UTEP's 16th Athletics Hall of Fame induction class, including the Miners' all-time leading tackler Barron Wortham, will be honored at halftime of the game.
