Scouting report for UTEP football vs. Nebraska on FOX: Offense, defense, players to watch

The UTEP football team is set to start a new era under coach Scotty Walden at Nebrsaka, which is expecting its 397th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

Nebraska is a 27.5-point favorite as it begins a second season of huge expectations under coach Matt Rhule.

Both teams are coming off losing seasons and looking to snap a bowl drought.

UTEP’s Maurice Westmoreland is a senior bandit for the football team

UTEP Miners

Where: El Paso

2023 Record: 3-9

Streak: Lost 3

Coach: Scotty Walden, first season (34-20 career)

Returning starters: 1 offense, 2 defense, kicker

2023 Scoring offense: 19.9 (116th)

2023 scoring defense: 28.5 (85th)

Miners overview

UTEP is starting over this season, perhaps more than most teams with a new coach and staff.

The Miners hired Scotty Walden from Austin Peay as their 27th coach in December, after a mass exodus of players from last year’s 3-9 team that started when Dana Dimel was let go. Walden, in turn, brought most of his staff with him from Peay as well as 11 players, starting a transformation of the roster.

UTEP returns 31 lettermen and 50 roster members, while bringing in 65 new players, including the top-rated recruiting class in program history.

There is excitement around the program, which comes with change, and curiosity to see how a roster full of stars from the Football Championship Subdivision can adjust to the step up in levels to the FBS.

Miners offense

UTEP’s quarterback battle between incumbent Cade McConnell and Skyler Locklear went to the wire before Locklear was announced as the starter, but there is a possibility both could play. The Peay transfer Locklear (a backup last year) represents more of a run-pass option threat, while the incumbent starter McConnell is the classic drop-back passer.

The receiving corps for the “Blue Blaze” is mostly FCS transfers, with Kam Thomas, Trey…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/scouting-report-utep-football-vs-192539119.html

Author : The El Paso Times

Publish date : 2024-08-30 19:25:39

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.