Best Case/Worst Case in 2016: UTEP Miners

[caption id="attachment_23318" align="alignright" width="350"]Alvin-Jones-UTEP-Athletics Photo courtesy UTEP Athletics[/caption] Will this season be a dream or a nightmare for your favorite FBS program in the state of Texas? In this series, we take a look at the best and worst case scenarios for all 12 teams. UTEP 2015 Record: 5-7Best Case The Miners picked away at last season without its sharpest tool. That changes in 2016 with the return of running back Aaron Jones. The junior can break the school’s all-time rushing record with a big year after returning from injury. He rushed for 2,341 yards in his first two seasons and was hurt after starting the first two games of the year in 2015. For the Miners to compete in Conference USA, the offense must find a few more options and stabilize the quarterback position. The offensive line and defense should be on-par with the rest of the conference. UTEP went 7-6 the last time Jones was leading the offense and the best case scenario for the Miners in 2016 is eight or nine wins. A date with Texas in the second game of the season is a tough chore, as are consecutive conference games against Louisiana Tech and Southern Miss. The best case, in a realistic world, for the Miners is an eight or nine-win season combined with dominance over in-state conference rivals like North Texas, UTSA and Rice. Worst Case UTEP’s worst case happened in 2015 when Jones went down with an injury. Despite being injured before completing eight quarters, Jones finished the season tied with UTEP’s third-leading rusher. Even with a healthy Jones, UTEP needs more diversity on offense. Sophomores Ryan Metz and Kavika Johnson are battling it out for the quarterback position and one of them must give opposing defenses something to worry about down the field. Without it, good teams can load the box against UTEP and attempt to lessen the production of the UTEP running game. No offensive production causes a solid UTEP defense to be on the field too much, and the Miners fall prey to the same pitfalls as 2015. Another season without a bowl game eliminates all remaining momentum head coach Sean Kugler built in 2013 and UTEP fades further down the board inside recruiting trails in Texas.

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