# 2024 UTEP Miners football team

The 2024 UTEP Miners football team represented the University of Texas at El Paso in the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Miners played their home games at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, and competed as members of Conference USA. They were led by first-year head coach Scotty Walden. The Miners averaged 19,388 fans per game.

## Preseason
### C-USA media poll

The Conference USA preseason media poll was released on July 19. The Miners were predicted to finish ninth.
Media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Liberty | 197 (18) |
| 2 | Western Kentucky | 173 (2) |
| 3 | Jacksonville State | 166 |
| 4 | Middle Tennessee | 98 |
| 5 | New Mexico State | 97 |
| 5 | Sam Houston | 97 |
| 7 | Louisiana Tech | 88 |
| 8 | FIU | 81 |
| 9 | UTEP | 76 |
| 10 | Kennesaw State | 27 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 1:30 p.m. | at Nebraska* | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | FOX | L 7–40 | 86,072 |
| September 7 | 7:00 p.m. | Southern Utah* | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | ESPN+ | L 24–27 $^{OT}$ | 41,609 |
| September 14 | 4:00 p.m. | at Liberty | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA | ESPN+ | L 10–28 | 21,805 |
| September 21 | 3:00 p.m. | at Colorado State* | Canvas StadiumFort Collins, CO | TruTV | L 17–27 | 29,151 |
| October 3 | 7:00 p.m. | Sam Houston | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | CBSSN | L 21–41 | 14,454 |
| October 10 | 6:00 p.m. | at Western Kentucky | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | ESPNU | L 17–44 | 12,723 |
| October 16 | 7:00 p.m. | FIU | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | CBSSN | W 30–21 | 11,373 |
| October 22 | 6:00 p.m. | at Louisiana Tech | Joe Aillet StadiumRuston, LA | CBSSN | L 10–14 | 15,168 |
| November 2 | 1:30 p.m. | Middle Tennessee | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | CBSSN | L 13–20 | 14,775 |
| November 9 | 2:00 p.m. | Kennesaw State | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | ESPN+ | W 43–35 $^{OT}$ | 14,728 |
| November 23 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 11 Tennessee* | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | SECN+/ESPN+ | L 0–56 | 101,915 |
| November 30 | 2:00 p.m. | at New Mexico State | Aggie Memorial StadiumLas Cruces, NM (Battle of I-10) | ESPN+ | W 42–35 | 15,358 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 1) - Released prior to gameAll times are in Mountain time |||||||

## Offseason

Positions key :
| C | Center | CB | Cornerback | DB | Defensive back | DE | Defensive end |
| DL | Defensive lineman | DT | Defensive tackle | FB | Fullback | FS | Free safety |
| G | Guard | K | Kicker | KR | Kickoff returner | LB | Linebacker |
| LS | Long snapper | MLB | Middle linebacker | OT | Offensive tackle | OL | Offensive lineman |
| OLB | Outside linebacker | NT | Nose tackle | P | Punter | PR | Punt returner |
| QB | Quarterback | RS | Return specialist | RB | Running back | S | Safety |
| SS | Strong safety | TE | Tight end | WR | Wide receiver |
* 1 2 May sometimes be referred to as an edge rusher (EDGE)
* ↑ Also known as offensive guard (OG)
* ↑ Also known as placekicker (PK)
* ↑ Also known as inside linebacker (ILB)

### Coaching staff changes
#### Outgoing

| Name | Position | Reason |
| Dana Dimel | Head coach | Fired |
| Scotty Ohara | Offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and wide receivers coach | N/A |
| Bradley Dale Peveto | Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach | N/A |
| Aaron Price | Special teams coordinator | N/A |
| Mike Simmonds | Offensive line coach | N/A |
| Barrick Nealy | Assistant head coach and running backs coach | N/A |
| Drew Liddle | Tight ends coach and fullbacks coach | N/A |
| Matt Wallerstedt | Associate head coach and defensive line coach | N/A |
| Dante Barnett | Secondary coach and safeties coach | N/A |

#### Incoming

| Name | Position | Previous position |
| Scotty Walden | Head coach | Austin Peay head coach (2020–2023) |
| Jake Brown | Offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach | Louisiana Tech co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach (2022–2023) |
| J. J. Clark | Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach | Austin Peay defensive coordinator and safeties coach (2023) |
| Kevin Sigler | Co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach | Jacksonville State safeties coach (2022–2023) |
| Ryan Stanchek | Co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach | Tulsa offensive line coach (2023) |
| Joe Pappalardo | Co-special teams coordinator | Austin Peay special teams coordinator (2022–2023) |
| Jajuan Dulaney | Tight ends coach | Austin Peay tight ends coach (2023) |
| Jourdan McNeill | Running backs coach | Austin Peay running backs coach (2021–2023) |
| Seth McDonald | Co-special teams coordinator | Austin Peay co-special teams coordinator and linebackers coach (2023) |
| Chris Jones | Defensive line coach | Austin Peay co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach (2021–2023) |
| Aaron Foster | Cornerbacks coach | Austin Peay cornerbacks coach (2023) |

### Transfers
#### Incoming

| Name | Pos. | Previous school | Year |
| Jevon Jackson | RB | Austin Peay | Redshirt Sophomore |
| Dylan Brown-Turner | LB | Florida State | Freshman |
| Dorian Hopkins | LB | Tulsa | Redshirt Senior |
| Tray Dunson | LB | Gardner–Webb | Senior |
| Dillon Williams | S | North Texas | Sophomore |
| Yessman Green | CB | Jacksonville State | Junior |
| Skyler Locklear | QB | Austin Peay | Redshirt Freshman |
| Trey Goodman | WR | Austin Peay | Junior |
| Jaden Smith | WR | Eastern Kentucky | Junior |
| Marquez Taylor | RB | Austin Peay | Freshman |
| Kory Chapman | S | Austin Peay | Senior |
| Kenny Odom | WR | Austin Peay | Redshirt Freshman |
| Ashton Nickelberry | WR | Austin Peay | Redshirt Junior |
| Kam Thomas | WR | Austin Peay | Junior |
| Brennan Smith | IOL | Austin Peay | Redshirt Sophomore |
| Isaiah Wright | OT | Austin Peay | Senior |
| Devin Goree | EDGE | Missouri State | Junior |
| Quinzavious Warren | DL | Jacksonville State | Junior |
| Chris Carter | OT | Georgia Southern | Junior |
| Kofi Taylor-Barrocks | LB | Colorado | Freshman |

#### Outgoing

| Name | Pos. | New school | Year |
| Latrez Shelton | CB | Texas State | Junior |
| Cartraven Walker | RB | TBD | Redshirt Junior |
| Kelly Akharaiyi | WR | Mississippi State | Redshirt Junior |
| Steven Hubbard | OT | Vanderbilt | Redshirt Senior |
| Joshua Sloan | P | Memphis | Junior |
| Kobe Hylton | CB | Oklahoma State | Redshirt Junior |
| James Neal | LB | Texas State | Junior |
| Torey Richardson | CB | Temple | Redshirt Senior |
| Justin Mayers | IOL | Colorado | Redshirt Junior |
| Marcus Vinson | TE | TBD | Sophomore |
| Torrance Burgess Jr. | RB | Texas State | Junior |
| Jeremiah Ballard | WR | Tulsa | Redshirt Sophomore |
| Tyrin Smith | WR | TBD | Senior |
| Deion Hankins | RB | Texas State | Redshirt Junior |
| Jerome Edwards Jr. | LB | TBD | Redshirt Sophomore |
| Trez Moore | CB | Texas State | Senior |
| Aluma Nkele | IOL | Minnesota | Redshirt Sophomore |
| Mike Franklin | RB | Jacksonville State | Junior |
| Jake McNamara | QB | New Mexico State | Redshirt Freshman |
| Elijah Boyd | TE | Bowling Green | Sophomore |

## Game summaries
### at Nebraska

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Cornhuskers | 7 | 23 | 7 | 3 | 40 |
at Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska
* Date: August 31
* Game time: 2:30 PM
* Game weather: Sunny, 86 degrees, Wind: SW @ 8 mph
* Game attendance: 86,072
* Referee: Chris Coyte
* TV announcers (FOX): Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Brock Huard (analyst) and Allison Williams (sideline reporter)
| Statistics | UTEP | NEB |
| First downs | 12 | 30 |
| Total yards | 205 | 507 |
| Rushes/yards | 24/56 | 47/223 |
| Passing yards | 149 | 284 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–26–2 | 25–36–0 |
| Time of possession | 21:28 | 38:32 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Skyler Locklear | 11/17, 115 yards, TD, INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Jevon Jackson | 10 carries, 32 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Kam Thomas | 7 receptions, 71 yards, TD |
| Nebraska | Passing | Dylan Raiola | 19/28, 238 yards, 2 TD |
| Nebraska | Rushing | Emmett Johnson | 8 carries, 71 yards |
| Nebraska | Receiving | Isaiah Neyor | 6 receptions, 121 yards, TD |

### vs. Southern Utah (FCS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Thunderbirds (FCS) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Miners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Sun Bowl • El Paso, TX
* Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Andy Morgan, Ed Stansbury
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Southern Utah | Passing |
| Southern Utah | Rushing |
| Southern Utah | Receiving |
| UTEP | Passing |
| UTEP | Rushing |
| UTEP | Receiving |

### at Liberty

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Flames | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Williams Stadium • Lynchburg, Virginia
* Date: September 14, 2024
* Game time: 4:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 78 °F (26 °C) • Wind: NE 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)
* Game attendance: 21,805
* Referee: Garrett Dickerson
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Matt Warner (play-by-play), Joe Jauch (analyst) and Emily Austen (sideline)
| Statistics | UTEP | LIB |
| First downs | 18 | 19 |
| Total yards | 335 | 415 |
| Rushing yards | 91 | 187 |
| Passing yards | 244 | 228 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 26–43–2 | 15–19–0 |
| Time of possession | 29:14 | 30:46 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Skyler Locklear | 26/43, 244 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Jevon Jackson | 15 carries, 67 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Kam Thomas | 8 receptions, 68 yards |
| Liberty | Passing | Kaidon Salter | 15/19, 228 yards, TD |
| Liberty | Rushing | Billy Lucas | 21 carries, 104 yards, 3 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | Treon Sibley | 4 receptions, 77 yards |

### at Colorado State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Rams | 7 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 27 |
at Canvas Stadium • Fort Collins, CO
* Date: September 21, 2024
* Game time: 3:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 70 °F (21 °C)
* Game attendance: 29,151
* Referee: Douglas Mercer
* TV announcers (TruTV): J. B. Long (play-by-play) and Mike Golic Jr. (analyst)
| Statistics | UTEP | CSU |
| First downs | 15 | 14 |
| Total yards | 324 | 356 |
| Rushing yards | 48 | 224 |
| Passing yards | 276 | 132 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 26–44–1 | 14–22–1 |
| Time of possession | 26:42 | 33:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Cade McConnell | 19/29, 220 yards, 2 TD |
| UTEP | Rushing | Jevon Jackson | 10 carries, 35 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Kenny Odom | 7 receptions, 128 yards, 2 TD |
| Colorado State | Passing | Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi | 14/22, 132 yards, TD, INT |
| Colorado State | Rushing | Avery Morrow | 21 carries, 156 yards, 2 TD |
| Colorado State | Receiving | Jordan Ross | 1 reception, 36 yards |

### vs. Sam Houston

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bearkats | 7 | 10 | 21 | 3 | 41 |
| Miners | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas
* Date: October 3, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C) • Wind: NE 3 miles per hour (4.8 km/h)
* Game attendance: 14,454
* Referee: Douglas Mercer
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Alex Del Barrio (play-by-play) and Taylor McHargue (analyst)
| Statistics | SHSU | UTEP |
| First downs | 26 | 15 |
| Total yards | 517 | 323 |
| Rushing yards | 293 | 119 |
| Passing yards | 224 | 204 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 35:17 | 24:43 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Sam Houston | Passing | Hunter Watson | 19/29, 224 yards, 2 TD |
| Sam Houston | Rushing | DJ McKinney | 14 carries, 138 yards, 2 TD |
| Sam Houston | Receiving | Qua'Vez Humphreys | 2 receptions, 47 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Passing | Cade McConnell | 15/28, 204 yards, TD, INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Ezell Jolly | 17 carries, 76 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Receiving | Kenny Odom | 4 receptions, 70 yards |

### at Western Kentucky

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
| Hilltoppers | 14 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 44 |
at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky
* Date: October 10, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 12,723
* Referee: Reed Brotherton
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Mike Corey (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst)
| Statistics | UTEP | WKU |
| First downs | 18 | 20 |
| Total yards | 330 | 482 |
| Rushing yards | 152 | 218 |
| Passing yards | 178 | 264 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 14–24–1 | 18–27–1 |
| Time of possession | 30:23 | 29:37 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Cade McConnell | 3/7, 96 yards, TD, INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Ezell Jolly | 27 carries, 119 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Kenny Odom | 1 reception, 76 yards, TD |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Caden Veltkamp | 18/27, 264 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Elijah Young | 16 carries, 60 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Easton Messer | 6 receptions, 106 yards |

### vs. FIU

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Miners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas
* Date: October 16, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Dave Ryan (play-by-play) and Brock Vereen (analyst)
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| FIU | Passing |
| FIU | Rushing |
| FIU | Receiving |
| UTEP | Passing |
| UTEP | Rushing |
| UTEP | Receiving |

### at Louisiana Tech

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston, Louisiana
* Date: October 22, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 74 °F (23 °C)
* Game attendance: 15,168
* Referee: Rory Bernard
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Alex Del Barrio (play-by-play) and Donte Whitner (analyst)
| Statistics | UTEP | LT |
| First downs | 14 | 12 |
| Total yards | 251 | 255 |
| Rushing yards | 166 | 7 |
| Passing yards | 85 | 248 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 28:48 | 31:12 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Skyler Locklear | 7/11, 76 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Rushing | Jevon Jackson | 22 carries, 112 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Kam Thomas | 5 receptions, 67 yards, TD |
| Louisiana Tech | Passing | Evan Bullock | 22/30, 248 yards, TD |
| Louisiana Tech | Rushing | Jimmy Holiday | 6 carries, 18 yards |
| Louisiana Tech | Receiving | Jimmy Holiday | 6 receptions, 93 yards |

### Middle Tennessee

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Raiders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Miners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas
* Date: November 2, 2024
* Game time: 1:30 p.m. MDT
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Alex Del Barrio (play-by-play) and Adam Breneman (analyst)
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving |
| UTEP | Passing |
| UTEP | Rushing |
| UTEP | Receiving |

### Kennesaw State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | Total |
| Owls | 7 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 35 |
| Miners | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 43 |
at Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas
* Date: November 9, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 62 °F (17 °C)
* Game attendance: 14,728
* Referee: Ron Hudson
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Andy Morgan (play-by-play) and Ed Stansbury (analyst)
| Statistics | KENN | UTEP |
| First downs | 14 | 22 |
| Total yards | 300 | 453 |
| Rushing yards | 117 | 120 |
| Passing yards | 183 | 333 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 14–25–2 | 29–34–0 |
| Time of possession | 27:18 | 32:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Kennesaw State | Passing | Davis Bryson | 14/25, 183 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Kennesaw State | Rushing | Davis Bryson | 16 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD |
| Kennesaw State | Receiving | Christian Moss | 1 reception, 60 yards, 1 TD |
| UTEP | Passing | Skyler Locklear | 28/33, 327 yards, 4 TD |
| UTEP | Rushing | Jevon Jackson | 26 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD |
| UTEP | Receiving | Trey Goodman | 12 receptions, 150 yards |

### at No. 11 Tennessee

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 11 Volunteers | 0 | 28 | 21 | 7 | 56 |
at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: November 23, 2024
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. MDT
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 47 °F (8 °C) • Wind: NW 3 miles per hour (4.8 km/h)
* Game attendance: 101,915
* Referee: Kyle Olson
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Lowell Galindo, Fozzy Whittaker, and Marilyn Payne
| Statistics | UTEP | TENN |
| First downs | 15 | 26 |
| Total yards | 230 | 460 |
| Rushing yards | 81 | 241 |
| Passing yards | 149 | 219 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 33:49 | 26:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | JP Pickles | 10/15, 72 yards |
| UTEP | Rushing | Skyler Locklear | 8 carries, 37 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Kenny Odom | 8 receptions, 70 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | Nico Iamaleava | 17/23, 209 yards, 4 TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Dylan Sampson | 11 carries, 77 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Bru McCoy | 4 receptions, 37 yards, 2 TD |

### at New Mexico State (Battle of I-10)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 7 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
| Aggies | 17 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 35 |
at Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, New Mexico
* Date: November 30, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 64 °F (18 °C)
* Game attendance: 15,358
* Referee: Garrett Dickerson
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Adam Young (play-by-play) and Danny Knee (analyst)
| Statistics | UTEP | NMSU |
| First downs | 14 | 33 |
| Total yards | 298 | 543 |
| Rushing yards | 121 | 203 |
| Passing yards | 177 | 340 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 20:28 | 39:32 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Skyler Locklear | 12/26, 177 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Rushing | Jevon Jackson | 18 carries, 79 yards, 2 TD |
| UTEP | Receiving | Kam Thomas | 4 receptions, 90 yards |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Parker Awad | 22/51, 340 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Mike Washington | 26 carries, 130 yards, TD |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | P. J. Johnson III | 3 receptions, 90 yards, TD |