UTEP football lays out expectations at C-USA media days

The motto for the upcoming football season at UTEP is ‘Orange Revival,’ and that’s just what the Miners are hoping to prove to everyone, not just UTEP fans.

On Wednesday, UTEP head coach Dana Dimel, along with defensive back Justin Rogers, and offensive lineman Derron Gatewood, were in Frisco, TX for C-USA media days.

All 13 teams in the conference are invited to give the media a preview of how the offseason is going, and the goals each team has set for themselves for the upcoming season.

UTEP is coming off a 1-11 record a season ago, one more win than the Miners obtained in 2017, when UTEP finished the season 0-12.

The Miners are projected to finish last in the west division of C-USA in 2019.

Dana Dimel wasn’t the head coach during that 0-12 season, but now entering his second season, he’s ready to take the Miners to the next level.

“The first year was not the type of result we wanted to have, but of course you want to win every game you play in,” Dimel said. “We did play very competitive in a lot of games, and we just set the standard for the kind of work ethic we wanted to have and I think the guys have done a great job in continuing to work at a high level.”

Dimel went on to say that last season was plagued with inuries, 27 in total, but even with all the injuries Dimel says his team continued to compete.

“I was just so proud at the way the kids competed, and now we just got to learn to get to the end and finish wins,” Dimel said.

The one big question mark headed into this season is who will be the starting quarterback for the Miners.

Last season’s starter Kai Locksley was projected to be the starter once again, but in early June Locksley found himself in some legal trouble.

Locksley was arrested for a number of offenses, including gun charges and making terroristic threats.

He is currently suspended from the team as the case proceeds through the courts.

Dimel was never asked about Locksley’s status with the team, or about Locksley’s arrest during the interview, and instead Dimel spoke about the strides Locksley made throughout last season before he went down with an injury late in the season.

When asked about running backs, Dimel praised last year’s starter Quardraiz Wadley and backup Treyvon Hughes.

Wadley is on the watchlist for the Doak Walker Award, which is giving to the best college running back at the end of the season.

The 6-0, 205 pound Wadley finished with 627 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns last season, and averaged 5.1 yards a carry.

Dimel also mentioned freshman running back Deion Hankins and how he’s hoping to utilize the El Pasoan and Parkland grad in the offensive scheme.

Dimel is also glad to have center, Derron Gatewood back from injury.

Gatewood was a force on the offensive line, but missed all of last season because of an injury.

Now entering his final season at UTEP, Gatewood is hoping to go out with a winning season.

“We’re going to bring a lot of energy,” Gatewood said. “Like I told the guys, this is our year, especially with this being my last year, I feel like we need to go out with a bang and just end it on a great note.”

The season gets underway August 31st when UTEP takes on Houston Baptist at the Sun Bowl.