Bearkat Bites: Way-Too-Early Game Preview vs. UTEP
PLUS Phil Steele's All-CUSA Teams! How many 'Kats made the cut?
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UTEP Preview
The Bearkats mid-week homestand continues, with UTEP visiting as a part of its final season as a member of Conference USA. With the hype of an energetic head coach and a few new faces, will the Miners make their mark on the conference before departing?
This is a series of team by team way-too-early game previews of the Sam Houston’s football opponents. You can read the previous entries at the underlined links below. If you see a “W” I think that is a Sam Houston win. Conversely, an “L” indicates that I see a loss.
Western Kentucky (L)
UNLV (L)
Hawaii (W)
Texas (L)
New Mexico St. (W)
Jacksonville St. (L)
The Opponent
UTEP Miners
2024 Record
(3-9, 3-5 in CUSA)
The Coach
Scottie Walden (who, ironically, was born exactly twelve days after me!) returns for year 2 out west. A rough first season has not deterred the upbeat sophomore coach, as he expects this to be the payoff year for the team’s hard work and offseason effort. Expectations are as high as they been in quite some time in El Paso.
Along for the ride are new set of young coordinators. After the resignation of OC Jake Brown, in comes first-timer Mark Cala to run the offense. He’s held lower level positions at Florida St., Arkansas, and most recently TCU. It remains to be seen just how much impact Cala will have, as Walden retains playcalling duties and the offense will not be changing from it’s tempo and spread attack from a year ago. Look for him to be more of one of those “quarterback whisperer” types.
Meanwhile, after the departure of JJ Clark to the Dallas Cowboys, Bobby Daly is now here as DC. He had a pretty successful run at Montana St., helping to guide them to giving up just 18.3 points per game to go along with an appearance in the FCS Title Game. However, like the offense, Walden does not want to change the defense from a year ago, opting instead to have the coordinators learn the schemes rather than the players learn new ones. It will be interesting to see how this approach plays out.
The Quarterback
Many UTEP fans are hoping the answer here is Malachi Nelson, and why not? Nelson is the highest rated recruit in UTEP history after transferring in from Boise St. Before that, he was a five star prospect that originally went to USC. He has a good arm and solid QB build, but looked inaccurate and a bit shaky at times during the Miner’s spring game. However, I’m sure he didn’t go to El Paso thinking about a backup role. Keep an eye out as we enter fall camp.
If not Nelson, the next man up would most likely be Skylar Locklear, who took the reigns of the offense last season after an early battle with Cade McConnell. Remember how I said a few paragraphs back that coach Scottie Walden wants consistency from 2024 into 2025? Don’t be surprised if Locklear is the starter at some point because of this.
Offseason Guide
Excitement! Hype! Horses!
I could add a few more adjectives, but you get the picture. UTEP feels it is ready to compete in CUSA after securing the top signing class in the conference; riding a wave of 53 new players, 29 of whom are incoming freshmen. According to Walden, the Miner’s 2025 high school class is the biggest in the state and boasts the most players from Texas.
After leading CUSA in sacks, the defensive line was the hardest hit unit within this team, capped off by defensive end Kyran Duhon transferring to Oklahoma St. after a stellar freshman year in El Paso. Look for guys like sophomore Ashton Coker to help pick up the slack. Edge rusher KD Johnson was granted an additional year of eligibility, so that will help.
During spring, Walden sited linebacker Stratton Shufelt as a guy making good plays. With UTEP running a 3-3-5 defense, expect Shufelt along with mainstay linebacker Nate Dyman to be making guest appearances along the line of scrimmage.
While the D-line will capture most of the attention, there needs to be concern for a secondary that, while tied for 3rd in interceptions in 2024, simply gave up big plays at the wrong times. Sam Houston quarterback Hunter Watson had his second best passing game of 2024 against the Miners. Neil Campbell could be an emerging contributor for this unit.
Okay, now let’s find some non-Malachi Nelson storylines about the UTEP offense. Their leading pass-catchers from a year ago (Kenny Odom and slot receiver Kam Thomas) are back for another go-round, so that should help whoever is named the starting QB. Also helping the signal-caller will be nice-ish offensive line, despite the loss of tackle Isaiah Wright. Mark Robinson, an NAIA transfer, will be expected to fill in the absence of Wright. He will have help, as the Miners return three starters along the O-line that does boast decent size with veteran experience.
While UTEP operates out of more of a spread attack, it wouldn’t hurt to give their ground game some juice to help balance things out and keep defenses on their toes. It won’t be easy, given that the top two rushers transferred in the offseason. Redshirt freshman Ashton Emery has been working with the first team during spring ball, but keep an eye on Charlotte transfer Hahsaun Wilson (and his 6.1 yards per carry in 2024) as well.
Who Will Beat Who?
This will be the final go-round for Sam Houston and UTEP as conference mates, as the in-state conference rivals have all but shriveled up for the Bearkats. The Miners will be coming off of a tough game against Liberty in the Sun Bowl, while this will be Sam Houston’s last leg of a two game homestand.
Both teams will have solid offenses to pair with questions on defense, although UTEP’s defenders will be more aggressive and solid.
I have said all offseason that Sam Houston is a 5-6 win team, and if that is the case, then that journey has to make a stop at a victory over the Miners. It’s at home for Sam Houston (or as home as playing in downtown Houston can be) and the ‘Kats have played UTEP close over the past two seasons. This is a tossup game, but the lucky bounces will go to the Bearkats as they grab a win before hitting the road.
Phil Steele’s All-CUSA Teams Feature A Handful of Bearkats
I won’t lie to you, reader, with the heat and randoms out and about because they are off of work and school, I do not particularly like the summer. However, one thing I do look forward to during the hot months are the bevy of football preview magazines we get; with Phil Steele’s College Football Preview being a leader among them.
Steele released his All-CUSA teams, a few ‘Kats make appearances, and I have thoughts:
FIRST TEAM
Rhett Larson (RT), James Dawn II (RG)
The Sam Houston offensive line will be among the strongest position groups on the roster thanks to this pair of longtime starters. The presence of these guys opening up holes means Bearkat fans can expect a solid run game this season.
SECOND TEAM
Elijah Green (RB), Keelan Cox (DE)
These are a pair of intriguing guys from both sides of the ball. Green had 6.9 yards per carry while a part of a CFP team in Indiana, while Cox and his six sacks per game were a lone bright spots on an otherwise dismal Texas Southern defense. Green should anchor a solid ground attack for Sam Houston while Cox will need to do all he can to overcome the ‘Kats’ lack of depth along the defensive line.
THIRD TEAM
Antavious Fish (LB), Carson Whitington (LS)
Along with JaMair Diaz, Fish helps to form perhaps the most wild-card unit on the defense. Can a the small college DPOY (Diaz) along with a field-roving Akron transfer (Fish) combine to boost the Sam Houston LBs? Meanwhile Whitington, was a solid longsnapper for two seasons a Blinn College. Conference USA will have a LOT of tight games, meaning some of them will come down to special teams not making mistakes. That’s why you’ll need a good year from Whitington, with no bad snaps that go over the putner’s head.
FOURTH TEAM
Kolt Dieterich (LT), Emon Allen (CB), CJ Brown (S)
All three returning starters along the Sam Houston offensive line make All-CUSA teams with the addition of Dieterich. I’d like to see Phil Longo toss the ball around more, using quick passes to limit the amount of time the line has to block. This will make them even more viable, if he choses to do so. Meanwhile, Bowling Green transfer Emon Allen looks to be forming a serviceable cornerback combo along with Wisconsin transfer Jace Arnold. Allen’s season was a bit lost in the shuffle as Jaylon Jimmerson, Isiah Cash, and David Fisher (rightfully) stole the defensive back headlines. He will have every opportunity to make his mark on a defense that will need his skill. CJ Brown will be there to help them in the secondary. He can cover fairly well, but I want to know can he drop down and help with run support.