The 2024 UTEP Miners football team represented the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) as a member of Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Scotty Walden, the Miners compiled an overall record of 3–9 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for sixth place in C-USA. The team played home games at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
Schedule
Preseason C-USA media poll The Conference USA preseason media poll was released on July 19. The Miners were predicted to finish ninth.
Game summaries at Nebraska
Statistics UTEPNEB 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 StatisticsUTEP Passing Skyler Locklear 11/17, 115 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jevon Jackson 10 carries, 32 yards Receiving Kam Thomas 7 receptions, 71 yards, TDNebraska Passing Dylan Raiola 19/28, 238 yards, 2 TD Rushing Emmett Johnson 8 carries, 71 yards Receiving Isaiah Neyor 6 receptions, 121 yards, TD
vs. Southern Utah (FCS)
Statistics SUUUTEP First downs 21 17 Total yards 383 423 Rushing yards 268 124 Passing yards 115 299 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11-18-0 23-30-0 Time of possession 31:24 28:36 Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Utah Passing Jackson Berry 10/17, 75 yards Rushing Targhee Lambson 20 carries, 183 yards, 2 TD Receiving Zach Mitchell 3 receptions, 62 yards, 1 TDUTEP Passing Skyler Locklear 22/29, 295 yards, 1 TD Rushing Jevon Jackson 20 carries, 80 yards Receiving Kam Thomas 5 receptions, 99 yards
at Liberty
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 StatisticsUTEP Passing Skyler Locklear 26/43, 244 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jevon Jackson 15 carries, 67 yards Receiving Kam Thomas 8 receptions, 68 yardsLiberty Passing Kaidon Salter 15/19, 228 yards, TD Rushing Billy Lucas 21 carries, 104 yards, 3 TD Receiving Treon Sibley 4 receptions, 77 yards
at Colorado State
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 StatisticsUTEP Passing Cade McConnell 19/29, 220 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jevon Jackson 10 carries, 35 yards Receiving Kenny Odom 7 receptions, 128 yards, 2 TDColorado State Passing Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi 14/22, 132 yards, TD, INT Rushing Avery Morrow 21 carries, 156 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jordan Ross 1 reception, 36 yards
vs. Sam Houston
Statistics SHSUUTEP 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 StatisticsSam Houston Passing Hunter Watson 19/29, 224 yards, 2 TD Rushing DJ McKinney 14 carries, 138 yards, 2 TD Receiving Qua'Vez Humphreys 2 receptions, 47 yards, TDUTEP Passing Cade McConnell 15/28, 204 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ezell Jolly 17 carries, 76 yards, TD Receiving Kenny Odom 4 receptions, 70 yards
at Western Kentucky
Statistics UTEPWKU 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 StatisticsUTEP Passing Cade McConnell 3/7, 96 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ezell Jolly 27 carries, 119 yards Receiving Kenny Odom 1 reception, 76 yards, TDWestern Kentucky Passing Caden Veltkamp 18/27, 264 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Elijah Young 16 carries, 60 yards Receiving Easton Messer 6 receptions, 106 yards
vs. FIU
Statistics FIUUTEP First downs 14 20 Total yards 287 372 Rushing yards 85 211 Passing yards 202 161 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 29:56 30:04
Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Amari Jones 6/11, 92 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kejon Owens 9 carries, 36 yards, TD Receiving Eric Rivers 5 receptions, 91 yards, TDUTEP Passing Skyler Locklear 14/23, 161 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jevon Jackson 26 carries, 148 yards, TD Receiving Kenny Odom 3 receptions, 75 yards
at Louisiana Tech
Statistics UTEPLT 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 StatisticsUTEP Passing Skyler Locklear 7/11, 76 yards, TD Rushing Jevon Jackson 22 carries, 112 yards Receiving Kam Thomas 5 receptions, 67 yards, TDLouisiana Tech Passing Evan Bullock 22/30, 248 yards, TD Rushing Jimmy Holiday 6 carries, 18 yards Receiving Jimmy Holiday 6 receptions, 93 yards
Middle Tennessee
Statistics MTSUUTEP First downs 17 20 Total yards 333 305 Rushing yards 94 160 Passing yards 239 145 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 31:26 28:34 Team Category Player StatisticsMiddle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 21/35, 239 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jaiden Credle 10 carries, 40 yards Receiving Myles Butler 5 receptions, 101 yards, TDUTEP Passing JP Pickles 18/33, 145 yards, INT Rushing Jevon Jackson 21 carries, 83 yards Receiving Jevon Jackson 5 receptions, 33 yards
Kennesaw State
Statistics KENNUTEP 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 StatisticsKennesaw State Passing Davis Bryson 14/25, 183 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Davis Bryson 16 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD Receiving Christian Moss 1 reception, 60 yards, 1 TDUTEP Passing Skyler Locklear 28/33, 327 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jevon Jackson 26 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD Receiving Trey Goodman 12 receptions, 150 yards
at No. 11 Tennessee
Statistics UTEPTENN 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 StatisticsUTEP Passing JP Pickles 10/15, 72 yards Rushing Skyler Locklear 8 carries, 37 yards Receiving Kenny Odom 8 receptions, 70 yardsTennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 17/23, 209 yards, 4 TD Rushing Dylan Sampson 11 carries, 77 yards, TD Receiving Bru McCoy 4 receptions, 37 yards, 2 TD
at New Mexico State (Battle of I-10)
Statistics UTEPNMSU 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 StatisticsUTEP Passing Skyler Locklear 12/26, 177 yards, TD Rushing Jevon Jackson 18 carries, 79 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kam Thomas 4 receptions, 90 yardsNew Mexico State Passing Parker Awad 22/51, 340 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Mike Washington 26 carries, 130 yards, TD Receiving P. J. Johnson III 3 receptions, 90 yards, TD
Personnel Coaching staff changes Outgoing Dana Dimel Head coachFired Scotty Ohara Offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and wide receivers coachN/A Bradley Dale Peveto Defensive coordinator and linebackers coachN/A Aaron Price Special teams coordinatorN/A Mike Simmonds Offensive line coachN/A Barrick Nealy Assistant head coach and running backs coachN/A Drew Liddle Tight ends coach and fullbacks coachN/A Matt Wallerstedt Associate head coach and defensive line coachN/A Dante Barnett Secondary coach and safeties coachN/A
Incoming Scotty Walden Head coach Austin Peay head coach (2020–2023) Jake Brown Offensive coordinator and wide receivers coachLouisiana 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 Sophomore Dylan Brown-Turner LB Florida StateFreshman Dorian Hopkins LB Tulsa Senior Tray Dunson LB Gardner–WebbSeniorDillon WilliamsSNorth TexasSophomore Yessman Green CB Jacksonville StateJunior Skyler Locklear QB Austin Peay Freshman Trey Goodman WR Austin PeayJunior Jaden Smith WR Eastern KentuckyJunior Marquez Taylor RB Austin PeayFreshman Kory Chapman S Austin PeaySenior Kenny Odom WR Austin Peay Freshman Ashton Nickelberry WR Austin Peay Junior Kam Thomas WR Austin PeayJunior Brennan Smith IOL Austin Peay Sophomore Isaiah Wright OT Austin PeaySenior Devin Goree EDGE Missouri StateJunior Quinzavious Warren DL Jacksonville StateJunior Chris Carter OT Georgia SouthernJunior Kofi Taylor-Barrocks LB ColoradoFreshman
Outgoing Name Pos. New school Year Latrez Shelton CB Texas StateJunior Cartraven Walker RB TBD Junior Kelly Akharaiyi WR Mississippi State Junior Steven Hubbard OT Vanderbilt Senior Joshua Sloan P MemphisJunior Kobe Hylton CB Oklahoma State Junior James Neal LB Texas StateJunior Torey Richardson CB Temple Senior Justin Mayers IOL Colorado Junior Marcus Vinson TE TBDSophomore Torrance Burgess Jr. RB Texas StateJunior Jeremiah Ballard WR Tulsa Sophomore Tyrin Smith WR TBDSenior Deion Hankins RB Texas State Junior Jerome Edwards Jr. LB TBD Sophomore Trez Moore CB Texas StateSenior Aluma Nkele IOL Minnesota Sophomore Mike Franklin RB Jacksonville StateJunior Jake McNamara QB New Mexico State Freshman Elijah Boyd TE Bowling GreenSophomore
References