2023 UTEP Miners football team

2023 UTEP Miners football
2023 UTEP Miners football
Conference	Conference USA
Record	3–9 (2–6 C-USA)
Head coach	Dana Dimel (6th season);
Offensive coordinator	Scotty Ohara (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Bradley Dale Peveto (3rd season)
Base defense	4–2–5
Home stadium	Sun Bowl
	Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

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2023 Conference USA football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 25 Liberty y$	8	–	0	13	–	1
New Mexico State y	7	–	1	10	–	5
Jacksonville State*	6	–	2	9	–	4
Western Kentucky	5	–	3	8	–	5
Middle Tennessee	3	–	5	4	–	8
UTEP	2	–	6	3	–	9
Sam Houston*	2	–	6	3	–	9
Louisiana Tech	2	–	6	3	–	9
FIU	1	–	7	4	–	8
Championship: Liberty 49, New Mexico State 35
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 UTEP Miners football team represented the University of Texas at El Paso in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Miners played their home games at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, and competed as members of Conference USA. They were led by sixth-year head coach Dana Dimel. The Miners averaged 24,067 fans per game.

Schedule

UTEP and Conference USA announced the 2023 football schedule on January 10, 2023.^[1]^[2]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 26	3:30 p.m.	at Jacksonville State	Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium Jacksonville, AL	CBSSN	L 14–17	17,982
September 2	7:00 p.m.	No. 7 (FCS) Incarnate Word*	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	ESPN+	W 28–14	30,738
September 9	1:30 p.m.	at Northwestern*	Ryan Field Evanston, IL	BTN	L 7–38	14,851
September 16	9:00 p.m.	at Arizona*	Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ	P12N	L 10–31	44,182
September 23	7:00 p.m.	UNLV*	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	ESPN+	L 28–45	28,042
September 29	7:00 p.m.	Louisiana Tech	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	CBSSN	L 10–24	9,101
October 11	5:30 p.m.	at FIU	Riccardo Silva Stadium Westchester, FL	ESPN2	W 27–14	14,872
October 18	7:00 p.m.	New Mexico State	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX (Battle of I-10)	ESPN2	L 7-28	19,727
October 25	6:00 p.m.	at Sam Houston	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX	ESPN2	W 37–34	6,889
November 4	7:00 p.m.	Western Kentucky	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	ESPN+	L 13–21	11,111
November 18	12:00 p.m.	at Middle Tennessee	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN	ESPN+	L 30–34	9,122
November 25	1:30 p.m.	No. 25 Liberty	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	CBSSN	L 28–42	10,240
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 1) – Released prior to game All times are in Mountain time

Transfers

Incoming

Name	Pos.	Previous school
Dre Spriggs	WR	UTSA
AJ Odums	CB	New Mexico

Outgoing

Name	Pos.	New school
Tyrin Smith	WR	Texas A&M
Verenzo Holmes	CB	Northwest Mississippi Community College
Justin Prince	S	Unknown
Luke Soto	TE	Marshall
Jeremiah Byers	OT	Florida State
Darryl Minor	LB	Indiana

^[3]^[4]

Game summaries

vs Jacksonville State

UTEP Miners (0-0) vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks (0-0)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Miners	0	7	0	7	14
• Gamecocks	3	7	7	0	17

Date: August 26
Location: Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium
Jacksonville, Alabama
Game start: 4:30 p.m. CST/2:30 p.m. PST
Elapsed time: 3 hours and 15 minutes
Game attendance: 17,982
Game weather: Sunny, 97 °F (36 °C)
Referee: Ron Hudson
TV announcers (CBSSN): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst), Amanda Guerra (sideline)

Sources:

Statistics	UTEP	Jacksonville State
First downs	22	15
Plays–yards	72–364	62–277
Rushes–yards	156	210
Passing yards	208	67
Passing: comp–att–int	17–29–2	10–20–0
Time of possession	34:38	25:22

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTEP	Passing	Gavin Hardison	17/29, 208 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Torrance Burgess Jr.	12 carries, 58 yards
	Receiving	Kelly Akharaiyi	4 receptions, 102 yards, 1 TD
Jacksonville State	Passing	Zion Webb	10/20, 67 yards
	Rushing	Malik Jackson	13 carries, 76 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Ron Wiggins	2 receptions, 24 yards

No. 7 (FCS) Incarnate Word

Incarnate Word Cardinals at UTEP Miners

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 7 Cardinals	7	7	0	0	14
Miners	7	7	7	7	28

at Sun Bowl (stadium), El Paso, TX

Date: September 2
Game time: 8:00 p.m.
Game weather: Temperature: 92 • Wind: SW 3 mph • Weather: Sunny
Game attendance: 30,738
Referee: Ed Ardito
TV: ESPN+
Box Score Pregame line: UTEP −7.0

Game information

First Quarter

UIW – 10:46 Brandon Porter 34 yard pass from Zach Calzada, Mason Lawler kick
UIW 7–0 Drive: 4 plays, 44 yards, 1:24
UTEP – 6:52 Torrance Burgess Jr. 40 yard run, Buzz Flabiano kick
Tied 7–7 Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:54

Second Quarter

UIW – 10:42 Tre Siggers 5 yard run, Mason Lawler kick
UIW 14–7 Drive: 7 plays, 92 yards, 2:29
UTEP – 4:52 Jostein Clarke 13 yard pass from Gavin Hardison, Buzz Flabiano kick
Tied 14–14 Drive: 10 plays, 78 yards, 5:43

Third Quarter

UTEP – 6:40 Tyrin Smith 24 yard pass from Gavin Hardison, Buzz Flabiano kick
UTEP 21–14 Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 8:20

Fourth Quarter

UTEP – 8:47 Mike Franklin 3 yard run, Buzz Flabiano kick
UTEP 28–14 Drive: 12 plays, 96 yards, 7:08

Statistics	UIW	UTEP
First downs	19	25
Plays–yards	58–308	63–423
Rushes–yards	27–63	50–329
Passing yards	245	94
Passing: comp–att–int	18–31–1	10–13–0
Time of possession	24:28	35:32

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Incarnate Word	Passing	Zach Calzada	18/31, 245 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Tre Siggers	12 carries, 39 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Brandon Porter	6 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TD
UTEP	Passing	Gavin Hardison	10/13, 94 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Deion Hankins	24 carries, 174 yards
	Receiving	Tyrin Smith	4 receptions, 49 yards, 1 TD

at Northwestern

	1	2	3	4	Total
Miners	7	0	0	0	7
Wildcats	7	0	21	10	38

Statistics	UTEP	NU
First downs	18	17
Total yards	319	391
Rushing yards	104	184
Passing yards	215	207
Turnovers	3	0
Time of possession	31:21	28:39

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTEP	Passing	Gavin Hardison	17/25, 192 yards, TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Torrance Burgess Jr.	7 rushes, 34 yards
	Receiving	Jeremiah Ballard	4 receptions, 92 yards
Northwestern	Passing	Ben Bryant	11/17, 116 yards, TD
	Rushing	Cam Porter	17 rushes, 90 yards
	Receiving	Joseph Himon II	1 reception, 85 yards, TD

at Arizona

UTEP Miners (1–2) vs Arizona Wildcats (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Miners	0	3	0	7	10
Wildcats	0	14	10	7	31

at Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZ

Date: September 16, 2023
Game time: 8:00 p.m.
Game weather: Sunny, 89 °F (32 °C)
Game attendance: 44,182
Referee: Mark Duddy
TV announcers (Pac-12 Network): Jordan Kent (play-by-play), Bob Davie (analyst)

Game information

First quarter

None

Second quarter

(14:53) ARIZ – Tetairoa McMillan 18-yard pass from Jayden de Laura, Tyler Loop kick (Drive: 7 plays, 92 yards, 2:38; Arizona 7–0)
(5:13) UTEP – Buzz Flabiano 25-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 3:40; Arizona 7–3)
(1:23) ARIZ – Michael Wiley 3-yard run, Tyler Loop kick (Drive: 10 plays, 74 yards, 3:44; Arizona 14–3)

Third quarter

(8:59) ARIZ – Tyler Loop 38-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 54 yards, 4:33; Arizona 17–3)
(2:42) ARIZ – Jacob Cowing 2-yard pass from Jayden de Laura, Tyler Loop kick (Drive: 6 plays, 82 yards, 3:13; Arizona 24–3)

Fourth quarter

(9:19) ARIZ – Montana Lemonious-Craig 4-yard pass from Jayden de Laura, Tyler Loop kick (Drive: 3 plays, 26 yards, 1:26; Arizona 31–3)
(1:32) UTEP – Javoni Gardere 25-yard pass from Kevin Hurley, Buzz Flabiano kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:12; Arizona 31–10)

Statistics	UTEP	ARIZ
First downs	13	26
Total yards	332	544
Rushing yards	26–49	32–244
Passing yards	283	300
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	18–35–0	25–32–0
Time of possession	29:43	30:17

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTEP	Passing	Gavin Hardison	15/31, 228 yards
	Rushing	Deion Hankins	9 carries, 34 yards
	Receiving	Torrance Burgess Jr.	3 receptions, 78 yards
Arizona	Passing	Jayden de Laura	23/29, 285 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Michael Wiley	17 carries, 87 yards, TD
	Receiving	Tetairoa McMillan	6 receptions, 89 yards, TD

UNLV

UNLV Rebels (2–1) at UTEP Miners (1–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rebels	14	14	0	17	45
Miners	7	7	7	7	28

at Sun Bowl • El Paso, TX

Date: September 23, 2023
Game time: 7:00 p.m. MST
Game weather: Sunny, 92 °F (33 °C)
Game attendance: 28,042
Referee: Ron Hudson
TV announcers (ESPN+): Duke Keith, Jacob Boggs

Game information

First quarter

(9:27) UNLV – Jai'Den Thomas 12-yard run, Jose Pizano kick (Drive: 1 play, 12 yards, 0:07; UNLV 7–0)
(3:20) UTEP – Gavin Hardison 1-yard run, Buzz Flabiano kick (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 6:07; Tied 7–7)
(2:14) UNLV – Jai'Den Thomas 17-yard run, Jose Pizano kick (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:06; UNLV 14–7)

Second quarter

(5:11) UTEP – Gavin Hardison 1-yard run, Buzz Flabiano kick (Drive: 10 plays, 57 yards, 5:35; Tied 14–14)
(3:18) UNLV – Lester Donavyn 1-yard run, Jose Pizano kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:53; UNLV 21–14)
(1:01) UNLV – Jai'Den Thomas 5-yard run, Jose Pizano kick (Drive: 6 plays, 32 yards, 1:17; UNLV 28–14)

Third quarter

(11:12) UTEP – Torrance Burgess Jr. 11-yard run, Buzz Flabiano kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:48; UNLV 28–21)

Fourth quarter

(14:30) UNLV – Jai'Den Thomas 1-yard run, Jose Pizano kick (Drive: 6 plays, 77 yards, 1:47; UNLV 35–21)
(5:28) UTEP – Jeremiah Ballard 27-yard pass from Gavin Hardison, Buzz Flabiano kick (Drive: 6 plays, 77 yards, 3:16; UNLV 35–28)
(7:39) UNLV – Courtney Reese 32-yard run, Jose Pizano kick (Drive: 9 plays, 66 yards, 3:22; UNLV 42–28)
(1:56) UNLV – Jose Pizano 30-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 23 yards, 2:24; UNLV 45–28)

Statistics	UNLV	UTEP
First downs	23	21
Total yards	497	316
Rushing yards	48–307	34–91
Passing yards	190	225
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	15–27–1	14–31–3
Time of possession	29:51	30:09

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UNLV	Passing	Jayden Maiava	15/27, 190 yards, INT
	Rushing	Jai'Den Thomas	13 carries, 100 yards, 4 TD
	Receiving	Ricky White	2 receptions, 62 yards
UTEP	Passing	Gavin Hardison	14/31, 225 yards, TD, 3 INT
	Rushing	Torrance Burgess Jr.	19 carries, 99 yards, TD
	Receiving	Kelly Akharaiyi	4 receptions, 92 yards

Louisiana Tech

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	14	3	0	7	24
Miners	0	7	3	0	10

Statistics	LT	UTEP
First downs	14	17
Total yards	294	321
Rushing yards	142	220
Passing yards	152	101
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	27:08	32:52

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Louisiana Tech	Passing	Jack Turner	9/20, 152 yards, TD
	Rushing	Tyre Shelton	16 rushes, 104 yards, TD
	Receiving	Cyrus Allen	1 reception, 85 yards
UTEP	Passing	Cade McConnell	4/11, 48 yards
	Rushing	Deion Hankins	15 rushes, 83 yards
	Receiving	Jeremiah Ballard	3 receptions, 39 yards

at FIU

UTEP Miners (1-5) at FIU Panthers (3-3) – Game Summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Miners	0	0	0	0	0
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0

at Riccardo Silva Stadium • Westchester, Florida

Date: October 11th
Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST/4:30 p.m. PST
Game attendance: 14,872
TV announcers (ESPN2): TBD

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

Statistics	UTEP	Florida International
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTEP	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Florida International	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

New Mexico State

New Mexico State Aggies at UTEP Miners – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Aggies	7	0	14	7	28
Miners	0	7	0	0	7

at Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas

Date: October 18
Game time: 7:00 p.m. MDT
Game weather: Sunny, 81 °F (27 °C)
Game attendance: 19,727
Referee: Rory Bernard
TV announcers (ESPN2): John Schriffen, Cole Cubelic, and Taylor Davis
Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

NMSU – Diego Pavia 10-yard run (Ethan Albertson kick), 1:18. Aggies 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 74 yards, 4:49.

Second quarter

UTEP – Kevin Hurley 1-yard run (Buzz Flabiano kick), 12:26. Tied 7–7. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:52.

Third quarter

NMSU – Thomaz Whitford 6-yard pass from Diego Pavia (Ethan Albertson kick), 12:29. Aggies 14–7. Drive: 5 plays, 69 yards, 2:24.
NMSU – Diego Pavia 41-yard run (Ethan Albertson kick), 6:44. Aggies 21–7. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 3:59.

Fourth quarter

NMSU – Thomaz Whitford 16-yard pass from Diego Pavia (Ethan Albertson kick), 13:31. Aggies 28–7. Drive: 7 plays, 53 yards, 3:53.

Statistics	NMSU	UTEP
First downs	23	16
Total yards	439	304
Rushing yards	253	125
Passing yards	186	179
Turnovers	0	0
Time of possession	30:17	29:43

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
New Mexico State	Passing	Diego Pavia	15/25, 186 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Monte Watkins	10 rushes, 109 yards
	Receiving	Eli Stowers	5 receptions, 80 yards
UTEP	Passing	Cade McConnell	15/32, 179 yards
	Rushing	Deion Hankins	16 rushes, 120 yards
	Receiving	Jeremiah Ballard	5 receptions, 75 yards

at Sam Houston

UTEP Miners at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Miners	0	13	7	17	37
Bearkats	7	14	6	7	34

at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas

Date: October 25
Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
TV: ESPN2
First quarter
- SHSU – John Gentry 28-yard run (Colby Sessums kick), 6:24. Bearkats 7–0.
Second quarter
- UTEP – Delon Hankins 2-yard run (Buzz Flabiano kick), 12:26. Tied 7–7.
- SHSU – John Gentry 18-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 9:52. Bearkats 14-7
- UTEP – Buzz Flabiano 23-yard field goal, 2:45. Bearkats 14-10
- SHSU – Malik Phillips 6-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 0:44. Bearkats 21-10
- UTEP – Buzz Flabiano 43-yard field goal, 0:00. Bearkats 21-13
Third quarter
- SHSU – Colby Sessums 22-yard field goal, 10:45. Bearkats 24-13
- SHSU – Colby Sessums 31-yard field goal, 6:14. Bearkats 27-13
- UTEP – Mike Franklin 3-yard run (Buzz Flabiano kick), 1:07. Bearkats 27–20.
Fourth quarter
- UTEP – Kelly Akharaiyi 25-yard pass from Cade McConnell (Buzz Flabiano kick), 11:25. Tied 27–27.
- UTEP – Kevin Hurley 1-yard run (Buzz Flabiano kick), 9:57. Miners 34–27.
- SHSU – Noah Smith 4-yard run (Colby Sessums kick), 6:02. Tied 34-34
- UTEP – Buzz Flabiano 32-yard field goal, 0:03. Miners 37-34

Statistics	UTEP	SHSU
First downs	17	22
Total yards	428	354
Rushing yards	222	129
Passing yards	206	225
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	31:58	28:02

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTEP	Passing	Cade McConnell	12/22, 206 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Deion Hankins	15 carries, 117 yards, TD
	Receiving	Kelly Akharaiyi	6 receptions, 126 yards, TD
Sam Houston State	Passing	Keegan Shoemaker	22/39, 202 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	John Gentry	16 carries, 71 yards, TD
	Receiving	Noah Smith	7 receptions, 67 yards

Western Kentucky

at Middle Tennessee

No. 25 Liberty

NFL Draft

The NFL draft was held at Campus Martius Park in Detroit, Michigan, on April 25–27, 2024. Additionally Gavin Hardison, Andrew Meyer and Zuri Henry were signed as undrafted free agents.

Miners who were picked in the 2024 NFL Draft:

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL Team
4	118	Tyrice Knight	LB	Seattle Seahawks
6	220	Elijah Klein	OG	Tampa Bay Buccaneers

References

^ "UTEP Football 2023 Schedule Released with 3 Wednesday Games". KROD. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
^ UTEP Athletics (January 10, 2023). "UTEP football announces full 2023 football schedule ahead of new season". KTSM-TV. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
^ "2023 UTEP Miners Football Transfers". on3.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
^ "2023 UTEP Miners Football Transfers". 247sports.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.

[1] "UTEP Football 2023 Schedule Released with 3 Wednesday Games". KROD. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2023.

[2] UTEP Athletics (January 10, 2023). "UTEP football announces full 2023 football schedule ahead of new season". KTSM-TV. Retrieved January 12, 2023.

[3] "2023 UTEP Miners Football Transfers". on3.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.

[4] "2023 UTEP Miners Football Transfers". 247sports.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.

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