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UTEP Miners

UTEP Miners

2025 Football Roster

8 Shay Smith

  • Position Quarterback
  • Height 6-2
  • Weight 215
  • Class Redshirt Freshman
  • Hometown El Paso, Texas
  • High School Franklin HS
  • Major Kinesiology
  • Letters 0

Biography

Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll (2025)
Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medalist (2025)

2024 (FRESHMAN)
  • Played in four games. 
  • Threw for 20 yards on a 3-of-3 passing and found the end zone on a rushing touchdown.
  • Went 2-of-2 for 14 yards at Nebraska.
  • Saw action at Liberty with a rush attempt.
  • Played on special teams at WKU.
  • Tallied a six-yard completion on only pass attempt and scored a TD on a three-yard rush in a win over Kennesaw State.

PRIOR TO UTEP
  • Three-star QB according to 247Sports.com who thrived at multiple positions during his prep career at Franklin HS.
  • Named the District 1-6A Offensive Athlete of the Year in 2023.
  • Dual-threat player who as a senior passed for 1,750 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 1,195 yards and 20 touchdowns.
  • Was 14-24 for 255 yards and three TDs in a 29-17 win against Centennial.
  • Followed that up by racking up 248 passing yards and three more TDs in a 50-8 drubbing of Andress.
  • Also threw for multiple touchdown passes against Montwood and Eastlake.
  • Torched Eastlake for 220 rushing yards on 20 carries and a TD.
  • Ran for at least 130 yards in the final six games of the season.
  • Efforts helped keep his squad in the playoff race down the stretch in spite of injuries to several key offensive players.
  • Compiled 2,569 passing yards for 31 TDs and only eight interceptions as a junior.
  • Completed 202-309 (65.3 percent) attempts.
  • Enjoyed a trio of 300-yard passing games that season, including going 32-52 for 338 yards and three touchdowns against Centennial.
  • Connected on 21-28 passes for 307 yards and five scores vs. Coronado.
  • Recorded 316 passing yards while hitting 20-32 against Eastlake.
  • Registered three or more touchdown passes in seven tilts.
  • Also ran for 1,076 yards and 11 TDs.
  • Gained 223 yards and scored three TDs on only 14 attempts against Eastwood.
  • Registered two other 100-yard rushing contests on the season.
  • Hard-nosed player who competed as a linebacker in 2021, registering 77 tackles (40 solo), three sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
  • Credited with a career-high 14 tackles (six solo) vs. Eastwood.
  • The ensuing week, posted 11 tackles (nine solo stops) against Eastlake.
  • Notched 13 tackles (six solo) in the season finale vs. Americas.
  • Served as a punter in multiple seasons as well.
  • Also competed in track & field, doing the 200m and long jump.
  • Honorable-Mention Academic All-State honoree.
  • Father, Paul, played four years at UTEP (1996-99) … rushed for more than 1,200 yards while scoring 12 touchdowns in 1999 before spending eight years (2000-07) in the NFL.

Statistics

Season:
2025

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 7

    2024Freshman

    Quarterback
    6'2" 215 lbs
    7
  • 8

    2025Redshirt Freshman

    Quarterback
    6'2" 215 lbs
    8