UTEP Miners Football 2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks, Odds
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2010 Record: 6-7 C-USA Record: 3-5 (T-4th, West) 2011 Returning Starters: 12: 2 offense, 8 defense, klcker, punter
Coach: Mike Price, 40-45 (7 years)
Offensive Coordinators: Bob Connelly, Aaron Price Defensive Coordinators: Andre Patterson
2011 UTEP Players to Watch: RB Joe Banyard, WR Marlon McClure, WR Donavon Kemp, SS Travaun Nixon, K Dakota Warren
2011 UTEP Strengths:
Price has a rich history of tutoring quarterbacks, and he went out and got a junior college transfer he felt worthy of stepping in to replace a four-year starter. The special teams will be the team’s strength with all-league potential at various spots.
2011 UTEP Weaknesses:
The Miners return basically nobody from a good offense and almost everybody from a poor defense. At UTEP every year, the offense needs to score a lot of points to stay in C-USA shootouts because the defense never seems to have the talent or depth to compete. This year, the offense might not have that either.
2011 UTEP Offense:
With 10 starters lost to graduation, UTEP is starting over on offense, and the most obvious priority is replacing durable quarterback Trevor Vittatoe, who started 49 games in his four-year career. Nick Lamaison, who lost one game in two years as the starter at Mt. San Antonio College, was brought in to win the job but faced a stiff challenge in the spring from Tate Smith, a former transfer who played in four games at New Mexico in 2008, Carson Meger and Javia Hall. Whichever quarterback wins the job will be taking snaps behind a mostly new offensive line that returns a part-time starter in center Eloy Atkinson and a bunch of question marks. Junior college transfers James Martin at tackle and James Robinson at guard could be opening-day starters, a process greatly helped by their arrival for spring ball. The receiving corps will also have to be rebuilt. Donavon Kemp, who missed the last half of the 2010 season after blowing out a knee, is the only proven commodity, but UTEP traditionally is successful at developing receivers. Marlon McClure had a breakout season on special teams and was developing into a go-to receiver late last year, but is unlikely to rejoin the team this fall. The tight ends are also inexperienced. The top running back will be Joe Banyard, who began his career at TCU and had a stopover at Eastern New Mexico. Banyard stepped in last year when Donald Buckram went down with an injury and led the Miners in rushing with 623 yards and eight touchdowns. Speedster Vernon Frazier will serve as a change-of-pace option, and Leilyon Myers is a capable goal line back.
2011 UTEP Defense:
With eight starters returning and most of the top reserves back for coordinator Andre Patterson’s second season, expectations have never been higher on defense during coach Mike Price’s eight seasons. The defense ranked 91st last year, which is actually the first time the unit cracked double digits since 2005. The Miners’ best defensive player last season, Travaun Nixon, is moving from cornerback to safety, and the other safety, DeShawn Grayson, will be a second-year starter. Cornerback Antwon Blake is also a third-year starter. UTEP returns a wealth of experience on the defensive line and at linebacker. Linemen Germard Reed and Bernard Obi and linebackers Jamie Irving and Royzell Smith are the leaders of their respective units. Two junior college transfers could make an impact at linebacker as well.
2011 UTEP Special Teams:
Coaches preach special teams are one-third of the game. Price wishes it were more. UTEP has all-league potential at kicker (Dakota Warren), punter (Ian Campbell) and return man (McClure). Warren hit three field goals beyond 50 yards in 2010 with a long of 57. Campbell’s 45.1-yard punting average was second best in the league. McClure averaged 31.0 yards per kick return, including a pair of touchdowns.
| 2011 UTEP Football Schedule | UTEP Football Sportsbooks |
2011 UTEP Predictions:
Throughout Price’s first seven seasons at UTEP, the Miners’ formula rarely varied: They hoped that their high-powered offense could compensate for a porous defense. If UTEP is to break a five-year string of losing seasons and qualify for its second consecutive bowl, it may have to lean on its veteran defense to reverse that formula. The presumption that 2011 is a rebuilding year in El Paso could tip the other way if those expectations become reality.
2011 UTEP Betting Odds:
UTEP Current odds to win a National Championship: +5000
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