UTEP 2021 Season in Review: Hot start allows Miners to reach bowl game for first time since 2014

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2021 record: 7-6 (+4 wins from 2020)

Texas Power Poll ranking: 7 of 12

THE GOOD

UTEP started 6-1 on the season and qualified for a bowl game for the first time since 2014 and the third time since 2005. The Miners started 2-0 with wins over New Mexico State and Bethune-Cookman. The Miners lost in Week 3 at Boise State before rebounding to win four in a row with victories over New Mexico, Old Dominion, Southern Miss, and Louisiana Tech. Dana Dimel’s program, which had won five games total in the previous four seasons, outscored opponents by an average of 28.42 to 15.57 in the six wins. 

The star of the program was wide receiver Jacob Cowing. The Arizona native caught 69 passes for 1,354 (19.62 yards a catch) and seven touchdowns. Cowing, who transferred to Arizona after the season to return home and play Power Five football, averaged 104.15 yards receiving per game. His quarterback, Gavin Hardison, broke school records with 3,218 yards and 18 touchdowns. He threw 13 interceptions. 

Cowing wasn’t the only star at wide receiver. Justin Garrett caught 50 passes for 685 yards and four scores. Tyrin Smith added 33 more receptions for 570 yards and four touchdowns. Tight end Trent Thompson hauled in nine receptions for 133 yards and four touchdowns. As a team, UTEP averaged 25.08 points per game and 252.15 passing yards an outing. 

The defense, which allowed 25.23 points per game, was led by the linebacker pair of Breon Hayward and Tyrice Knight. Hayward tallied 108 tackles, including 7.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also broke up three passes and forced a fumble. Knight registered 102 tackles with nine for loss and a pair of sacks. He also recorded an interception, a fumble recovery, and forced a fumble. 

The pass rush was headlined by Praise Amaewhule and Jadrian Taylor. Amaewhule finished the year with 13 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. Taylor led UTEP with 6.5 sacks. Nickel back Dennis Barnes led the team with two interceptions. The JUCO transfer also accounted for 59 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.  

THE BAD

The run offense was never consistent for UTEP with running backs Ronald Awatt and Deion Hankins dealing with nagging injuries at different times of the season. The Miners averaged 3.8 yards a rush and only 140.1 yards a game on the ground. The team scored 18 rushing touchdowns in 13 games. Awatt led the program with 844 yards and six touchdowns on 159 carries. Hankins added 458 yards and six scores on 121 carries. No other player carried the ball more than 35 times. 

The lack of a consistent running game cost UTEP on third down and in the red zone. The Miners converted 31.84 percent of their third down attempts and scored touchdowns on 26 of 47 trips to the red zone. UTEP kicked 14 field goals inside the red zone. Those deficiencies cost UTEP on the road and late in the season. The Miners were 2-4 away from El Paso compared to 5-1 at the Sun Bowl. 

THE UGLY

UTEP came crashing back to earth after a 6-1 start by losing five of its last six contests. The 38-28 win over Rice on Nov. 20 was the team’s only win after Oct. 16. The Miners gave up 15.57 points in its six wins. The defense allowed 36.5 points in the five losses. The offense also struggled in losses, averaging more than seven points fewer in losses than the unit did in wins. UTEP lost twice by three points on the road in conference play. The other four losses were by an average of 21.5 points. The Miners lost by seven in the New Mexico Bowl against Fresno State. 

TEAM GRADES

Quarterback: B-

Running back: C+

Wide receiver/tight end: A

Offensive line: C+

Defensive line: B

Linebacker: B+

Cornerback: B-

Safety: C+

BIGGEST OFFSEASON QUESTION

Was 2021 an exception or the new normal? 

Dimel knows how to turnaround football programs. That is why he was hired by UTEP in 2017 after a winless season. UTEP won one game in 2018 and 2019. That number grew to three in 2020. The Miners took a step forward again in 2021 by winning seven games and reaching a bowl game for the first time since 2014. The hard part is keeping that consistency going. The Miners should return most of their best players on offense and defense, though the loss of Cowing to the transfer portal will hurt the big-play ability of the offense. UTEP was 4-4 in Conference USA and a similar record is required to reach a bowl game for the second consecutive season, which is something the Miners have only accomplished one time (2004 and 2005) since the 1950s.  

WAY TOO EARLY 2022 OUTLOOK

Reaching the six-win threshold again in 2022 will require similar results in conference play. UTEP won three out-of-conference contests in 2021, but that number should shrink to two with Oklahoma and Boise State on the schedule. Games against New Mexico State and New Mexico should propel the Miners to a 2-2 record by the time C-USA play begins on Oct. 1. The offense might not be as explosive without Cowing, but it should be more consistent with Hardison increasing his completion percentage and the running game fairing better. The defense should once again lead the program, and Dimel and his staff are likely to add a handful of transfers to fill gaps in the roster by the time summer rolls around. Six wins should be the expectation in El Paso. 

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