# UTEP Miners

Mountain West · Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX
Head coach: Scotty Walden · year 3 · 5-19 at UTEP · 6-22 career over 4 seasons
Offense: Spread · Defense: 4-3

## 2026 outlook

- 2025 record: 2-10 (1-7 in conference)
- National title odds: +125000 (#53 on the futures board)
- Season win total: 3.5 (over priced +104)
- Returning starter games: 22%
- Schedule difficulty: 105th-hardest of 138 FBS teams

## Returning production by unit

| Unit | Returning games | Games back | Depth back |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Skill offense | 0% | 0/62 | 6/17 |
| Offensive line | 0% | 0/58 | 3/13 |
| Defensive front | 28% | 23/81 | 8/18 |
| Secondary | 62% | 34/55 | 8/16 |

## Roster movement

- Key returning: Justin Content (CB), Xavier Smith (SAF), Juan Camacho Jr. (OL), Shakaun Bowser (DL), Jayden Wilson (LB)
- Key departures (with destination): Solo Barnes (SAF), Skyler Locklear (QB) – MOSU, Udoka Ezeani (DL) – UNT, KD Johnson (DT), Malachi Nelson (QB) – SYR
- Key arrivals (with previous school): Lamar Sperling (RB) – BUFF, Royal Capell (WR) – OKST, Tavorus Jones (RB) – MIZZ, LaTristan Thompson (LB) – UTAH, Jaymon Lamb (OL) – UNT

## Depth chart

### Offense

- WR-X: Carver Cheeks, Jeremiah Nash, Mason Ferguson, CJ Simon
- WR-Z: Jaylan Brown, Rafeald Campbell, Carmelo Taylor
- WR-SL: Jaden Smith, Royal Capell, Marcus Torres, Nik Henry
- LT: Jaymon Lamb, Isaiah Maumalanga
- LG: Jackson Bradley, Rashad Smith
- C: Brian Williams Jr., Jayden Trapp
- RG: Omoruyi Aliu-Otokiti, Diego De La Cruz
- RT: Tyler Roberts, Johan Camacho
- TE: Judah Ezinwa, Cash Cheeks, Chance Bell, Benny Okwura
- QB: EJ Colson Jr., Raymond Moore III, Chad Warner, Bodey Weaver
- RB: Tavorus Jones, Kam Thomas, Elijah McCoy, Lamar Sperling

### Defense

- DE: Shakaun Bowser, Leander Parrish, Jaxon Smith
- NT: Ashton Coker, Jerrell Brasher
- DT: Preston Hickey, Elijah Fields
- BAN: Sterling Miles, Ekow Taylor
- WLB: Jayden Wilson, Vashon Brunswick II
- MLB: Isaiah Bogerty, Shay Smith
- SPUR: Money Thompson, Dylan Brown-Turner, Grant Stewart
- LCB: Justin Content, Kaleb Miles, Decorian Thompson
- SS: Kode Lowe, Esteban Guillory, Darnell Williams, Jaime Guerrero
- FS: Xavier Smith, Donavan Howard, Allen Gant, Chace Biddle
- RCB: TJ Tillman, Darien Fantroy

### Special Teams

- PT: Brady Braun, Parker Cushing
- PK: Carlos Arreola, Cade Hechter
- KO: Carlos Arreola, Cade Hechter
- LS: Carson Loeb, Ian Hall
- H: Brady Braun, Parker Cushing
- PR: Nik Henry, Marcus Torres
- KR: Nik Henry, Marcus Torres

## 2026 schedule

| Week | Opponent | Site | TV | Spread |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Oklahoma | Away | SEC Network+ | UTEP +41.5 |
| 2 | Texas Southern Tigers (FCS) | Home | MW+ | – |
| 3 | Michigan | Away | BTN | – |
| 4 | Oregon State | Home | MW+ | – |
| 5 | New Mexico | Away | MW+ | – |
| 6 | Nevada | Home | FOX | – |
| 7 | San Jose State | Home | MW+ | – |
| 9 | North Dakota State | Away | MW+ | – |
| 10 | Hawai'i | Home | FOX | – |
| 11 | Wyoming | Home | FOX | – |
| 12 | Air Force | Away | The CW | – |
| 13 | Northern Illinois | Away | MW+ | – |

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Source: SharpData OS – https://www.sharpdataos.com/cfb/teams/utep
Depth chart updated 2026-08-11. Odds shown are point-in-time snapshots.