| The UTEP Miners enter their 7th season under | | | | 250 pounds. The offensive line has to replace two |
| former Washington State head coach Mike Price | | | | all conference performers, but do return three |
| with a goal of returning to bowl play for the first | | | | starters and produce similar results. |
| time since 2005. The 2010 version of the Miners | | | | The defensive side of the ball was one of the |
| are extremely talented offensively, but have a | | | | worst in the nation last season, giving up 447 |
| hard time stopping anyone on defense. UTEP will | | | | yards/game. The 33 points/game allowed is a bit |
| try to improve on the four wins they collected | | | | skewed after giving up 64 points to Texas in |
| last year. Odds are listed at +14000 for UTEP to | | | | their fourth game. Run defense was a major |
| win the national title. View the full conference | | | | issue for the front seven as opposing offenses |
| breakdown in our 2010 Conference USA football | | | | managed over 200 yards a contest vs. the |
| predictions article. | | | | Miners. The linebacker unit will be strong with two |
| The first thing opposing defenses have to game | | | | returning starters who finished third and fourth in |
| plan for when they play UTEP is somehow finding | | | | total tackles. Royzell Smith excelled as a |
| a way to contain RB Donald Buckram. His 1,594 | | | | sophomore with 68 tackles and should produce |
| yards broke a single season school rushing record | | | | even better numbers with the experience he |
| previously held by Fred Wendt. He averaged over | | | | gained last year. Jeremy Springer and DeShawn |
| 6 yards/carry and hit the end zone on 21 | | | | Grayson will fill the other two starting slots as |
| different occasions (three came receiving). The | | | | UTEP switches back to a 4-3 alignment under |
| durable back should see a similar workload in his | | | | new defensive coordinator Andrew Patterson. |
| senior season after having the ball in his hands | | | | The front four are going to be overwhelmed by |
| nearly 300 times in 2009. QB Trevor Vittatoe is | | | | above average offensive lines and might not |
| more than capable of throwing over the top of | | | | improve much against the run. Good news came |
| defenses if they decide to stack the box and | | | | through recently though as SS Braxton Amy was |
| stop the run. He eclipsed the 3,000 yard mark for | | | | granted a 6th year of eligibility and is UTEP's best |
| the third time in his career by throwing for 3308 | | | | defensive player. |
| yards last year. The td/int ratio must improve | | | | Reaching a bowl game is a relative possibility this |
| this season, however, as he was fairly close to 1:1 | | | | season, but the Miners are going to have to earn |
| in that department. WR Kris Adams is the top | | | | it. Road conference games against Houston and |
| returning receiver with 42 catches and 580 yards. | | | | Tulsa offer a stern challenge. Houston will try to |
| Vittatoe likes to spread it around to a variety of | | | | avenge a 17 point loss. Arkansas shows up on the |
| targets, but expect Adams to be the first option. | | | | schedule this season in November and the |
| Donavon Kemp and Evan Davis will likely be the | | | | Razorbacks are ranked in the Top 15 by many |
| other two starters in the three wide receiver | | | | preseason publications. I believe the offense is |
| system. These two combined for 30 catches and | | | | going to score points in bunches once again, but |
| two scores. TE Jonny Moore is used mainly for | | | | the defense is going to give them up just as |
| running blocking purposes and has good size at 6'5 | | | | easily. A 6-6 record is in store for UTEP. |
