UTEP heads back to Ruidoso for start of training camp
Playing college football these days is a year-round commitment, so there really aren’t many lines of demarcation separating one year from the next.
You could argue Monday was about the closest thing to an “official” start to the season for UTEP that you’ll find.
The Miners boarded three buses to take them to training camp in Ruidoso Monday afternoon.
The team will begin practice on Tuesday and spend nearly two weeks coming together as a team at high elevation before returning to El Paso on Sunday, Aug. 20.
For some players the season can’t get here quickly enough.
“We’re no longer around the corner. We’re looking straight ahead at [the season]. I’m really excited for it,” said quarterback Ryan Metz. “I’ve been watching the NFL teams. They’re at their training camps and it’s like it’s about time for ours to start.”
During the camp the Miners will hold two scrimmages – one on Sunday, Aug. 13 and one on the last day of camp.
Linebacker Alvin Jones, brother of former UTEP running back Aaron Jones, says he hopes to see significant improvement in the defense from now until the final scrimmage.
“Just defensively we’ve just got to get a lot better in all phases – run defense, getting to the quarterback, and all that type of stuff,” said Jones.
Last season the UTEP defense surrendered 30 or more points in eight of the team’s 12 contests. Army, whom UTEP meets again this season, put up 66 points on the Miners last year.
The UTEP defense will surely be tested in the team’s 2017 opener on Sept. 2 at Oklahoma, which begins the season ranked 8th in the coaches poll.
Offensively, the Miners believe they have found their starting quarterback in Ryan Metz. They’ve also got one of the most highly-touted offensive lines in Conference USA, anchored by left guard Will Hernandez, whom many have called the best lineman in the country.
That line, however, will be responsible for opening holes for a new running back. With Jones in the NFL and last year’s backup, Quardraiz Wadley, sidelined with a shoulder injury, the competition at running back is expected to be fierce.
While the heat is on at the running back position, Hernandez says he’s perhaps most looking forward to the cool weather.
“Oh, yeah. I’m excited about the temperature, and also they get a lot of rain there, too, so that’s always awesome,” said the preseason All-American lineman.
