UTEP enters a new era in 2026 when the Miners join the Mountain West, which will renew old WAC rivalries from earlier in the century and eventually add money to the coffers in El Paso. Third-year head coach Scotty Walden sees opportunity in his program’s new landscape, even if UTEP won’t be near the top of spending any time soon. 

“It is going to put us in a better position on the field because if you can compete in and win this league, you have a chance to reach the playoff,” Walden said of the move to the MWC. “It is a prestigious league. Yes, they’ll have more resources, and that’s fine. I’m excited to compete against the best.”

Walden & Co. spent the first few recruiting cycles stocking the pond with young talent and he feels like those efforts will pay off in 2026 because the Miners are older and more experienced than they’ve been since he’s arrived. Over 50 percent of the roster are Year 2 or Year 3 players and 80 percent of his first two recruiting classes have played. 

But Walden knows he needs to win more games. UTEP is 5-19 overall and 4-12 in conference play since the start of 2024. 

“I came here to win games, and we haven’t done that yet,” Walden acknowledged. “But I didn’t come to El Paso, Texas and forget how to coach. And neither has my coaching staff. We have a formula and we’ve played a lot of young bucks, a lot of young kids over the first two years. Those puppies are growing up now.”

Here are some notes after meeting with Walden and new defensive coordinator Kyler Beyer for the 2026 summer magazine. 

Offense 

• Walden was searching for two things when identifying the next UTEP QB – an alpha leader and someone with a track record of taking care of the football. The Miners found both in UIW transfer EJ Colson. He only threw four interceptions last year at the FCS level and has already established himself as one of the leaders at UTEP. He’s QB1 in El Paso and the quarterback room threw half as many interceptions this spring than last spring. 
• Morgan State transfer Raymond Moore III appears to be the backup coming out of spring with freshman Chad Warner and Bodey Weaver in the mix. 
• The lack of a consistent run game was partially responsible for the interceptions thrown because it's allowed opposing defenses to umbrella coverage the Miners and force them into mistakes. UTEP averaged 3.7 yards per carry in 2025 and 3.31 yards per carry in 2024. That has to improve in 2026. 
• Adding Missouri transfer, and hometown hero, Tavorus Jones should help. He’s up to 205-210 pounds and is a twitchy, talented running back. Buffalo transfer Lamar Sperling is another new face on campus that should help the run game. Sophomore Elijah McCoy is a physical, downhill runner who provides a third option at the position. 
• Star wide receivers Jaden Smith and Kam Thomas were two of the 17 UTEP players in the two-deep last season that were lost to season-ending injuries. They both missed the spring as they rehabbed back from those injuries, but each is expected to be fine by the fall and having those guys back will upgrade the pass game. Carver Cheeks, Royal Capell, and Jeremiah Nash are other names to know. Capell can play inside or outside. 
• Tight ends Cash Cheeks and Judah Ezinwa were also part of that 17-member group that was lost to injury last season and both are expected to be 100 percent healthy for fall camp. Behind the quarterback, tight end might be the most important position in Walden’s offense because of how much they ask that group to do. 
• UTEP was dedicated to revamping the offensive line. Jaymon Lamb came over from North Texas and is in line to start at one of the tackle spots. He’ll be really good if he can gain weight and get closer to 300 pounds. Juan Camacho Jr. is a former walk-on now on scholarship with a chance to crack the two-deep at tackle. Tyler Roberts, Maddox Huber, and Ryder Slaton are other tackles in the mix.
• Jackson State transfer Brian Williams Jr. and Livingstone College transfer Omoruyi Aliu-Otokiti were the first two names mentioned at guard. Both of those guys are experienced at the Non-FBS level. Preston Perkins returned from injury and had a heck of a spring. Diego De La Cruz, who is at 340 pounds, and Jackson Bradley are other options at guard. 
• Texas A&M-Kingsville transfer Jayden Trapp is the expected starter at center; De La Cruz is also an option at center. 

Defense 

• Don’t expect many structural changes to the UTEP defense despite Beyer taking the reins. Walden wants his defense to base out of a 3-3-5 and he hires defensive coordinators accordingly. Beyer last called a defense in 2023 at Indiana Wesleyan. He just turned 30. 
• Junior Ashton Coker is the anchor at the nose guard spot. He was one of the first players to take an official visit to UTEP when Walden arrived and he’s grown into one of the best defensive players for the Miners. Preston Hickey is a Northwestern State transfer who has production and is the strongest defensive lineman on campus, repping 405 on the bench press. 
• SFA transfer Elijah Fields isn’t tall, but he’s a playmaker and should help the Miners replace the production lost from KD Johnson at defensive tackle. Leander Parish and Jimmy Leon are redshirt freshmen who can also help in the interior of the UTEP defensive line. 
• Shakaun Bowser was the first name mentioned at defensive end. Oryend Fisher is a former West Virginia transfer who is a long, physical playmaker who is now big enough to hold his own up front. Derek Burns is another name to watch. He was lost in fall camp last year and missed the spring as he continues to rehab from injury.
• Ekow Taylor could become the every-down starter at Bandit, which is UTEP’s hybrid pass rushing position. He was part of the original recruiting class for Walden at UTEP and he’s improved each season. Sterling Miles is an elite pass rusher and Royce Wilson is a redshirt freshman with a lot of promise. 
• Linebacker is stacked. Beyer says his front seven is the strength of the defense and he feels great about a four-man rotation at linebacker with Jayden Wilson as the alpha dog coming off a strong 2025. Garrett Hawkins played at Austin Peay for Walden and arrived ahead of 2025 but suffered a season-ending injury against Texas. He might start next to Wilson. Isaiah Bogerty is also pushing for starting snaps. He’s the biggest linebacker on campus and had over 250 tackles in his career at Texas Southern. The wildcard is former quarterback Shay Smith, who impressed everyone with how quickly he’s picked up linebacker. 
• Kode Lowe is a returner that UTEP was excited about keeping on campus. He’ll start at the Spur position, which is a hybrid safety/nickel type spot in the defense. Xavier Smith and Donavan Howard, a two-year all-conference selection at Virginia State, are potential starters at the deep safety positions. Allen Gant is a former high-profile recruit who is expected healthy by the start of fall camp. 
• Cornerback is another highly competitive room. East Texas A&M transfer Kaleb Miles is a physical corner. Justin Content is back after a productive sophomore season in 2025. TJ Tillman started four games as a true freshman and is back competing for snaps. The Thompson brothers – LaTristan and Deuce – are other names to know. Deuce, a true freshman early enrollee, led the Miner secondary in turnovers forced in the spring.