The UTEP Miners are an unassuming team entering 2023 after finishing with five wins last year. However, they have the chance to produce several 2024 NFL Draft prospects. We’re diving into the Miners’ roster changes, depth chart, schedule, and prospects.
UTEP Miners Roster and Depth Chart Changes
The Miners weren’t precisely dripping with apparent NFL talent last year as they slid back from a 7-6 finish to 5-7. They had players hopeful to be drafted, including Reynaldo Flores, Ronald Awatt, Jadrian Taylor, Gavin Baechle, and Walter Dawn Jr. None were selected, but Awatt notably landed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent.
Miners head coach Dana Dimel took to the transfer portal to help bolster a roster that lost its leading rusher, second-best receiver, and leading sacker. But the focus is on the proven returning talent. And the Miners have enough to be a more efficient and effective team on both sides of the ball.
UTEP NFL Draft Prospects
Gavin Hardison, QB
The top prospect on the Miners is senior quarterback Gavin Hardison. The 6’1″, 214-pounder doesn’t have the statistics that back his talent, but he’s an example of why traits matter more than numbers. Hardison completed only 52.1% of passes for 2,044 yards, 11 touchdowns, and eight interceptions last year.
However, the context around Hardison’s production is essential. The Miners run a vertical passing attack that almost exclusively features screens or deep attempts. The scheme and his quality of surrounding talent along the line and at receiver have played into his alarming production.
Hardison has a strong arm that produces excellent bucket throws, effortlessly generating velocity and distance on a rope even when his lower body isn’t aligned with his upper body. He’s mobile enough to roll out and strong enough to deliver far-field throws. Though he’s not a major running threat, Hardison can do enough for defenses to respect his movement.
His accuracy is solid but could improve through mechanical consistency with his lower body. Hardison will dance too much in the pocket and fades back on throws unnecessarily. Cleaning those issues up, and getting more exposure to an NFL playbook, can give Hardison value as a potential backup with good traits to improve.
Praise Amaewhule, EDGE
A productive pass rusher until suffering a down season in 2022, Praise Amaewhule has to bounce back this fall. He had 12.5 sacks between 2020 and 2021, then struggled to get two this past season.
Listed at 6’3″, 245 pounds, Amaewhule is a high-effort player who embraces the run game and has the strength and hand usage to hold at the point of attack. However, his lack of quickness and agility shows in the passing game.
Amaewhule has potential late-round aspirations if he can return to his more effective form of previous years. He’ll have to show a quicker burst off the line and better contact strength as he rounds the apex corner of the pocket to reach quarterbacks.
Tyrice Knight, LB
Tied for the team’s lead in tackles last year, linebacker Tyrice Knight has been one of the better finishers across the country since stepping onto the field in 2020. With 250 career tackles, there’s no question Knight knows how to fly to the ball. He’s at his best while in space, dropping into coverage and attacking downhill.
Despite Knight’s 240-pound frame, he’s not a typical box linebacker who scrapes over the top of blockers and then makes a hard-nosed tackle. Knight struggles to break off the blockers’ grip and advance toward the ball carrier. Because of this, Knight isn’t a real asset in the run game and gets too many empty-calorie tackles.
Still, it’s worth watching Knight because he’s not a bad player, and he has the right instincts to be an NFL contributor. Improved hand work and strength and the point of attack can vault his stock.
UTEP Miners Schedule
- Week 1
Aug. 26: at Jacksonville State Gamecocks - Week 2
Sept. 2: vs. UIW Cardinals - Week 3
Sept. 9: at Northwestern Wildcats - Week 4
Sept. 16: at Arizona Wildcats - Week 5
Sept. 23: vs. UNLV Rebels - Week 6
Sept. 29: vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs - Week 7
BYE - Week 8
Oct. 11: at FIU Panthers - Week 9
Oct. 18: vs. New Mexico State Aggies - Week 10
Oct. 25: at Sam Houston Bearkats - Week 11
Nov. 4: vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers - Week 12
BYE - Week 13
Nov. 18: at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders - Week 14
Nov. 25: vs. Liberty Flames - Week 15
BYE