2023 UTEP Football Camp Report: Tight Ends & Fullbacks

8/22/2023 12:29:00 PM

It takes a uniquely talented individual to play fullback or tight end for UTEP. One play they are key components to the blocking game, the next they could be tasked to making a big catch to move the chains.

No one understands that challenge greater than UTEP tight ends/fullback coach Drew Liddle.

"The tight end and fullback positions in our offense are special because we ask them to do so much," Liddle said. "Every guy is cross trained. It doesn't matter whether they look like a fullback or a tight end. They're going to be trained to do either. It's important that they can do both. We count on those guys to be able to put their hands on the ground and be physical and then to be athletic and catch the ball in space. It's really important that they lead the charge for our offense."

One of the individuals the Miners will be counting on in that role this year is hybrid fullback/tight end junior Julian Lopez, who relies heavily on Liddle to balance in his preparation.

"Coach Liddle helps us get ready every practice with run blocking," Lopez said. "Then he's able to also help us with the pass game, getting us on our routes and catching the ball. That really helps gives us a good feel."

That work put in during training camp is even more important this year with the departure of two key cogs from a year ago in TE Trent Thompson and FB James Tupou.

"Trent and James had been here since I first got here, so it's kind of weird with them not being here," Lopez said. "I feel like me and Zach (Fryar) can step up and really take on those roles that we need to for us to have a good season."

Filling the void Thompson and Tupou will difficult, but Liddle is confident his group can step up.

"Zach Fryar and Julian Lopez, those guys have done a really good job in camp of trying to fill that hole," Liddle said. "Zach has a lot of experience coming back, he's played a lot of football. Julian is such a football savvy guy. He can do it all. If you wanted him to play center, he could probably do it and target everything right. He's just that smart. I'm really looking for those two guys to set the tone for the group. Marcus Vinson can step in and have a role and Judah Ezinwa is a really athletic guy that can do multiple things. From an experience standpoint it hurts losing James and Trent, but I think we're in a good spot with our leadership and knowledge of the game that we're not going to skip any beats from last year."

Being in a position where a block can spring someone for a touchdown or also able to make a touchdown catch of his own, Lopez has changed his views over what would give him more satisfaction in 2023.

"The younger me would want the catch down the field," Lopez said. "Me right now, I'd want the big hit (on a block) to get Deion (Hankins), Mike (Franklin) or one of the other running backs out in space."

That unselfish mentality by Lopez gives Liddle tremendous pride.

"I don't know that I could be any more proud," Liddle said. "Especially guys like Julian and Zach, they care so much about their jobs play in and play out. If it's springing a big block for a touchdown, they're going to be just as happy as anybody."

Another aspect that can be a challenge for the positions is that they often fly under the radar, something which doesn't bother Lopez in the least.

"Tight ends and fullbacks, we don't get all of the glory that comes with football like the receivers, running backs and quarterbacks do," Lopez said. "We know our family is watching us, and that we are a very important part of this offense. Everything starts up front with the offensive line, and we're in the trenches fighting alongside them."

Playing in unison with the offensive line requires timing, but also matching their style of play.

"All of our guys our big, physical and athletic," Lopez said. "We can do it in the box or out of space. We're all down to bang."

With the multiple looks that the Miners' offense can take on, Lopez and others like Fryar, Marcus Vinson and Judah Ezinwa enjoy being able to be used wherever the coaching staff wants them.

"It's fun with all of us being interchangeable parts, myself, Marcus, Zach and Judah," Lopez said. "We can all line up at tight end or in the backfield. We can all split out wide. We can just do anything (the coaching staff wants)."

Lopez is a Chapin HS graduate, and having the chance to do thrive in front of his hometown makes it even more special.

"It just means the world being able to stay home and play in front of my family," Lopez said. "They come out to every home game, and they even go to some of the closer away games. Growing up, I always wanted to come and play here at UTEP. Coming to the games was so much fun, now it's fun to be able to live it."

It's no small task to succeed at a multi-faceted position, but facing a front seven like the Miners' defense sports daily in practice helps with that preparation.

"They get us ready," Lopez said. "Some days we beat them, some days they beat us, but we're just getting each other better day in and day out."

Liddle is quick to echo that sentiment.

"I can't even really put into words how important that preparation is in being able to face a front seven like ours," Liddle said. "Those guys are giving us a lot of good work day in and day out, and it's making us both better. A lot of guys on both sides of the ball are making strides in terms of physicality and technique.

There are a lot of veteran players on the roster, and Lopez improving his role as a leader by emulating them.

"As a leader it's fun with a lot of older guys returning," Lopez said. "The whole offensive line has a lot of games under their belt. It's fun being able to come in (to the game) with them, getting their calls and going based off the (offensive) rules."

Having a battle-tested roster allows Lopez and the squad to set their goals high for the 2023 campaign.

"We want to get to a bowl game and get to the conference championship," Lopez said. "We want to actually win the bowl game this year."

Another theme throughout the locker room has been unselfish players.

"This is not one person's locker room that's about themselves," Lopez said. "Everyone is about the team, loves the team and gets along. It's just a fun team to be a part of."

A way for the position groups to play their part in the Miners reaching their goals are to be reliable targets for QB Gavin Hardison once called upon.

"Gavin has really meshed well with a lot of the guys," Liddle said. "I tell the guys all the time that you've got to be sure-fire inside. When that ball comes your way, you've got to be able to catch it, gain some more yards and move the chains. We're doing a good job of that right now. We've just got to keep improving in that aspect."

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