2011 UTEP Football Predictions


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The UTEP Miners got off to a tremendous start last season, going 5-1 through their first six games. They would lose five of their last six in the regular season, but still managed to make a bowl game despite that brutal finish. The Miners went on to get embarrassed by BYU in the New Mexico Bowl by a final of 52-24. This is a team that played through injuries on offense last season, and weren’t able to stop anyone on defense.

The Miners have the third-fewest returning starters (11) in all of Conference USA in 2011. They also lose 35.3% of their letterman, meaning this looks like a possible rebuilding year for head coach Mike Price. He enters his 8th year on the job, and has brought in some nice JUCO’s to try and help fill the void left by so many players lost to graduation. Let’s take a look at how the offense and defense shapes up, as well as my prediction on where UTEP will finish in the final CUSA standings.

Offense:

The offense at UTEP ranked near the bottom of the conference last season, averaging 26.0 points and 360 total yards per game. It will be tough to improve upon those stats with just two starters returning. A big reason for the struggles was QB Trevor Vittatoe, who played through an ankle injury throughout the second half of the season. It was a very gutsy effort from him to even suit up, but the problem is that he may have been doing the team more harm than good. Vittatoe threw for 3,000-plus yards in each of his first three seasons, but failed to top that mark last year. Still, the four-year starter leaves as UTEP’s all-time passing leader (12,439 yards). Taking his place under center will be Nick Lamison, who earned JUCO Offensive Player of the Year honors last season. Redshirt freshman Javia Hall is the QB of the future here and will give Lamison a run for his money.

The Miners will welcome back three of their top four running backs, including leading rusher Joe Banyard. The senior rushed for 623 yards and 8 touchdowns last season on a sparkling 5.7 yards/carry. He’ll be backed up by fellow seniors Vernon Frazier (231 yards, 2 TD, 6.1/carry last year) and Leilyon Myers (216, 6, 4.2). At receiver, UTEP loses their top guy in Kris Adams, who had 47 catches for 1,070 yards and 14 touchdowns last season while averaging a jaw-dropping 22.8/reception. Their second-leading receiver was Marlon McClure (30 grabs, 343 yards, 1 TD), but he made only four starts last season. He was academically ineligible in the spring and his return to the team is questionable. Seniors Donovon Kemp and Russell Carr both saw limited action last season, but are expected to start in 2011.

The offensive line is in shambles heading into the new season. They lose all five starters from last season, including three linemen who earned all-conference honors. Only seven career starts return up front, including zero from the OG/OT spots which ranks dead last in FBS. Price did bring in a couple of talented JUCO’s in LT James Martin, RT James Nelson and RG James Robinson. Junior C Eloy Atkinson is the lone lineman with starting experience, making four starts here last season. Redshirt freshman Jerel Watkins is expected to step in right away at left guard. This unit is the biggest concern on the entire team.

Defense:

UTEP’s defense carried them to a 5-1 start last year, allowing 24 points or less in five of their first six games. This unit faltered down the stretch, yielding 58, 31 and 52 points in their final three games, respectively. Their final numbers were 27.5 points/game and 413 total yards/game given up. The defense is certainly going to be asked to carry the team again in 2011 until the offense gets its feet wet. That’s because nine starters return on this side of the ball, including six of seven up front. That should help this unit improve upon the 184 rushing yards/game and 4.9/carry they yielded a year ago. The Miners also had only 14 sacks last season, their fewest number since 2001.

The defensive line returns eight of their top 9 with all eight of those players having previous starting experience. Sophomores Marcus Bagley (28 tackles, 2 for loss) and Germard Reed (31 tackles, 4.5 for loss) return on the interior, while senior DE Bernard Obi (27 tackles, 3.5 for loss) is back on the outside. Sophomore DE Adam Ayala (22 tackles, 2 for loss) will be inserted into the starting lineup opposite Obi. He’ll be taking the place of the departed Robert Soleyjacks (32 tackles, 3.5 for loss), who is their lone loss up front due to graduation.

The linebackers are the strength of the defense heading into 2011. That’s because they return a trio of senior starters who finished #2, #4 and #5 on the team in tackles a year ago. MLB Jamie Irving (79 tackles, 4.5 for loss) is the best of the group. Outside of him will be SLB Royzell Smith (72 tackles, 3 for loss) and WLB Isaiah Carter (75 tackles, 3 for loss). Adding depth is veteran Jeremy Springer, Louisville transfer Horace Miller, and JUCO transfer Josh Fely.

The secondary has room for improvement after yielding 229 passing yards/game on 62.0% completions. The Miners lose their #1 tackler in SS Wiston Jeune (89 tackles, 4 passes defense), but their other three starters return intact. They have an excellent safety tandem in senior SS Travaun Nixon (75 tackles, 12 passes defensed, 2nd-team All-CUSA) and junior FS DeShawn Grayson (69 tackles, 5 passes defensed, honorable mention All-CUSA). Senior CB Antwon Black (60 tackles, 11 passes defensed) is their top cover corner. Junior CB Drew Thomas (42 tackles, 6 passes defensed) will be opposite him after making four starts last year.

Conference USA Prediction: 6th Place West Division – How much production Price gets out of his JUCO’s will go a long way in determining where the Miners will finish in 2011. I just see too many question marks on this team, especially offensively, to see UTEP finishing out of the cellar in the West division. They break in a new QB, have minimal experience at WR even if McClure is eligible, and have to replace all five starters along the offensive line to boot. The schedule is a daunting one as well with UTEP drawing East powers Southern Miss, UCF and East Carolina.

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4 Responses to “2011 UTEP Football Predictions”

  1. jesus corral on July 29th, 2011 3:35 PM

    for a campus of this size. your landscaping is really lacking, especially on the south side of the campus.I was disapointed to see that your lacking the tallest palm trees on the corners of your buildings to make them more attractive. You could also use some waterfalls to give it the feel of a desert oasis. Also some blue and orange flowers would be nice. The colors of your college.

  2. Paul Picasso on August 3rd, 2011 5:22 PM

    YES of the UNIVERSITY CAMPUS on how its LACKING lots of creativity, and ECT… WELL here is the deal UTEP FOOTBALL SUCKS REALLY BAD!!! They need a Miracle THE PEOPLE of EL PASO, need to raise HELL on that CAMPUS the news PAPERS ESPN, THE city needs to raise complete exposure on UTEP football and basketball period!!! UTEP has no respect anywhere in the USA SPORTS WORLD??? NOT good? BESIDES maybe THE STATE of TEXAS itself BUT thats TEXAS? And 1/2 of TEXAS can care less of UTEP, NO body wants to play in getto EL PASO, its true unless i do not know whats up? EL PASO is right next to mexico??? NOT exsactly where the POWER house players would go play at. IT hearts to tell the truth but its true. MIKE PRICE needs to recriut in other states besides texas and california? AND them JUCO transfers DOES not cut it to much. its a team effort not just a few parts of the team, THE ENTIRE TEAM needs to get there heads out of there ASS and start playing rough and tough smart fast INTENSE blood in blood out TOP 25 college football. IN a PROLIFIC style of play. THIS INCLUDES the ENTIRE COACHING STAFF? There is no entertainment in the sun city FOR shit. no major big BUISNESSES in EL PASO i know use to live there for 7 YRS. WHICH is why i left. ITS to boring. AND C-USA is a good CONFERENCE they need to get all the teams from the MWEST and bring them all to C-USA THATS why they have the PAC 12 now for the west coast area. c-usa has more national tv revinue than MWEST does?? THIS is Paul Picasso NOW LIVIN IN Seattle, WA 7 YRS NOW SINCE 2004

  3. Paul Picasso on August 3rd, 2011 5:28 PM

    UTEP WILL be HORRIBLE agian this yr 3-9 record 2011 season There defence will win those 3 games thats it. BUT i hope i get proven wrong well see???

  4. Paul Picasso on August 3rd, 2011 5:29 PM

    AS FOR TEXAS BIG 12 8-4 0R 9-3

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