Think of UTEP’s first year coach, Scotty Walden, as a younger version of Matt Rhule as he moves up a level of competition to kickstart another program. Accepting the position at UTEP made him the youngest coach in the FBS ranks. He comes to El Paso after leading Austin Peay to a 9-3 record and an FCS playoff in 2023. He brings a youthful exuberance to El Paso that should get both coaches and players fired up. He’s hungry, out to win, and he’ll bring a team to Lincoln locked and loaded. If you doubt that, let me remind you that Walden’s Austin Peay team was tied with Tennessee 6-6 at halftime last season.
UTEP finished last season with a 3-9 record and looks to be in a rebuilding year under Walden. With only 5 returning starters coming back, one of those being a kicker, 75 % of the roster will be new. But if you have any questions about Scotty Walden, just consider the 11 players who followed him from Austin Peay. He added another 6 through the portal. Like Rhule, players want to play for him.
But it isn’t just players. Walden brought his full staff with him from Austin Peay, including defensive coordinator J.J. Clark. Coaching continuity will give UTEP a good start.
What We’ll See on Offense
Being an offensive minded coach, Walden’s team averaged 426.8 yards and 34.1 points a game last year at Austin Peay. He will continue to try to put up those kinds of numbers with an up-tempo offense looking to run a play every 14 seconds and getting off between 80 and 90 snaps. Nebraska’s defense will be tested as will Tony White’s ability to sub players.
Redshirt sophomore Cade McConnell looks be the starter at QB, but don’t count out Skylar Locklear, a dual threat guy who has already spent two years in Walden’s system. Walden has yet to name a starter, which means Nebraska had better be ready to see both quarterbacks.
According to Walden, the receiver position is the strong point of the team. Walden was quoted as saying, “We have a lot of speed and a lot of depth. We don’t have one guy, there’s five to seven guys we feel strongly about. That’s the fun part. We have all ranges: tall, long, speedsters, and shorter twitch guys. All of those guys have had their day. That’s a strong point for us with all their playmaking ability and the speed we have out there.”
Two of the three starting wide receivers should be Trey Goodman and Kam Thomas. However, like Nebraska, there is depth at receiver and several players could get in the rotation.
Trey Goodman is a 5’11” 175lb senior transfer and was the leading receiver at Austin Peay last season with 721 yards. He is considered a strong team leader, both verbally and with his play.
Walden has created a new position called the “Miner Back” at UTEP. The position will focus on getting the ball to 5’7” 175lb Cam Thomas as often as possible. Thomas was Goodman’s running mate last season at Austin Peay and was second on the team with 629 yards. He was also Austin Peay’s star punt and kickoff returner last season.
After Goodman and Thomas, I’ll start with Javoni Gardere. The 6’0” 194lb redshirt sophomore earned UTEP’s coveted # 2 jersey. The number is awarded in honor of Luke Laufenberg who died of leukemia in 2019. Laufenberg played TE and was known for his toughness as he continued to practice while going through treatments. Not only will Gardere wear the number 2, but the jersey will also include Laufenberg’s nameplate. It’s a great tradition.
The rest of the WR room is as follows:
Jaden Smith – a 5’10” 195lb senior who transferred from Eastern Kentucky and tallied 781 receiving yards last season. Throughout practices he’s been at his best in big moments.
Ashton Nickleberry – a 5’10” 181lb redshirt junior who was a junior college transfer. He was out with an injury all last season, but he is someone who Walden has praised several times since arriving at UTEP.
Kenny Odom – a 5’8” 163lb redshirt sophomore who also came from Austin Peay. He played in all twelve games and had three starts. He recorded 301 receiving yards and 28 catches last season. He knows the offense.
Emari White – a 6’0” 185lb redshirt junior who played in 11 games for UTEP last season and has been in the rotation throughout fall camp.
That’s seven receivers whose names have been mentioned by Walden throughout fall. Matt Rhule may change his thoughts about what UTEP’s strong suit is after seeing them. Nebraska’s secondary will be tested.
And if that isn’t enough, add impressive RB transfer Jevon Jackson who comes from Austin Peay having averaged 142.3 yards and 10 TDs in his last nine games. Of all the players who followed Walden, the 5’8” 200lb Jackson may be the biggest piece of the puzzle.
The real question for UTEP offensively may be their offensive line. They will have five new starters, and like much of Walden’s offense, he brought both starting tackles with him from Austin Peay. Brennen Smith, at 6’3” 300lbs will start at RT while 6’3” 307lb Isaiah Wright moved to LG. Azizi Henry, at 6’4” 300lbs will start at LT. Ivan Escobar, at 6’2” 289lbs will start at center and Otis Pitts, a 6’3” 340lber will play RG. After the starters, there is little experience or depth on the offensive line.
What We’ll See on Defense
Running a 3-3-5, defensive coordinator J.J. Clark will look for his secondary to keep Nebraska’s receivers under wraps. But size may be a concern. At 5’10” 178lb Cory Chapman will play FS. 5’10” 179lb Josiah Allen will play SS. 5’11” 175lb AJ Odoms and 6’2” 190lb Jaylon Shelton will start at the two CB positions. Xavier Smith also came from Austin Peay and had 75 tackles and 7 pass breakups last season as a freshman. He will see time at safety.
The best part of UTEP’s defense starts up front. Sione Tonga’uiha at 6’0” 290lbs won Walden’s ‘Trench Warrior Award’ and will wear the #3 jersey. The award is given to the most dominant defensive lineman. Tackle Tevita Tafuna, 6’1” 277lbs will start at the other tackle. The pair will be asked to keep offensive lineman off the linebackers so they can make plays.
As to Matt Rhule’s point during his Monday presser, the top player on defense is Maurice Westmoreland. Playing the ‘Bandit’ position, the 6’2” 250lb edge rusher put up 7.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss last year and can be a game wrecker. Opposite of Westmoreland is talented defensive end Devin Goree, at 6’3” 245lb transfer from Missouri State. He’s equally quick off the ball and has had an excellent fall. Nebraska’s offensive tackles will be tested.
The starting linebackers should be 6’0” 225lb Dorian Hopkins at WLB, 6’1” 210lb Dylan Brown-Turner at MLB, and 6’1” 208lb Oscar Moore will play the ‘SPUR’ position (Jack). A year ago, he came up with two interceptions in addition to 22 tackles and two passes defended.
While UTEP is in a rebuilding year, like Nebraska they have a good group of young players. Under Walden, UTEP had possibly their best recruiting class ever. But with it being their first year of college ball, they are young and inexperienced.
Final Thoughts
Every game is won or lost in the trenches. This game is no different. Offensively, Nebraska needs to show they can run the ball early and force UTEP up in the box. That will put extra pressure on the secondary to defend the pass. While Walden and Clark like their secondary, the UTEP players will be undersized against WR’s like Banks, Neyor and Coleman. Fidone could also be a load for the Miner’s LB’s. Nebraska will need to take advantage of those match ups.
Other than Odoms, UTEP’s secondary is small. Nebraska needs to turn Ervin or Dowdell loose and make the smaller DB’s come up and try to tackle them.
I’d like to say UTEP running the 3-3-5 bodes well for Nebraska’s QB’s as they are well versed in moving the ball against their own 3-3-5 defense in practice. But that’s the great thing about the 3-3-5, you can give offenses so many different looks, and I’m sure UTEP will show Nebraska some things they haven’t seen before.
Once again, defensively it starts on the line. If the Huskers can put pressure on the QB without blitzes, and play base coverage, they can make it a long night for UTEP. Nebraska needs between 40 and 50 sacks this season to match the success of Rhule’s last Temple team which had 40 sacks, and his last Baylor team which had 46. Jimari Butler and Cam Lenhardt need to get the 40+ sacks party started.
Some strip sacks would be nice as it wouldn’t hurt for Nebraska to get on top of the turnover ratio. Plus 2 against UTEP would be a nice start to reaching at least plus 12 by the end of the season.
If the front four can’t get to the QB, and with UTEP having three receivers with more than 500 yards last season and a couple more having over 200 yards, Nebraska will have to get creative with blitzes. That’s when the defense will need to be on its toe’s, as busted plays are possible with this group of small speedy receivers.
Overall, UTEP will be a good test for Nebraska out of the gate. But Scotty Walden is just getting started and I’d be much more nervous if this game was three years down the road. While Nebraska is a 27.5-point favorite, I think Rhule rotates a ton of players if he gets a three-touchdown lead. Plus, after working with Walden at the satellite recruiting camps in Texas, I believe this staff respects Walden too much to allow it to get lopsided.
Good things are about to happen. Nebraska wins this one 31 -10.
-Lyle Harmon
