The 2017 UTEP Miners football team represented the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) as a member of the West Division in Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Miners compiled an overall record of 0–12 with a mark of 0–8 in conference play, placing last out of seven teams in C-USA's West Division. UTEP was led by fifth-year head coach Sean Kugler until his resignation on October 2, and then by interim head coach Mike Price, who had previously served at UTEP's head coach from 2004 to 2012. The team played home games at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
UTEP went winless for the first time since the 1973 season. The Miners averaged 19,548 fans per game.
Senior offensive guard Will Hernandez was named first-team All-C-USA, and was a second-round draft pick in the 2018 NFL draft, selected 34th overall by the New York Giants. Hernandez was the second guard taken in his draft class, after only Quenton Nelson of Notre Dame.
Schedule UTEP announced its 2017 football schedule on January 26, 2017. The 2017 schedule consists of five home and seven away games.
Game summaries At No. 7 Oklahoma
Statistics UTEPOKLA First downs 11 35 Total yards 167 676 Rushing yards 73 180 Passing yards 94 496 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 25:24 34:36
Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Ryan Metz 10/18, 56 yards Rushing Walter Dawn Jr. 7 rushes, 56 yards, TD Receiving Eddie Sinegal 3 receptions, 20 yardsOklahoma Passing Baker Mayfield 19/20, 329 yards, 3 TD Rushing Abdul Adams 7 rushes, 53 yards Receiving Mark Andrews 7 receptions, 134 yards, TD
Rice
Statistics RICEUTEP First downs 22 12 Total yards 437 229 Rushing yards 306 26 Passing yards 131 203 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 34:22 25:38
Team Category Player StatisticsRice Passing Sam Glaesmann 10/18, 131 yards, TD Rushing Samuel Stewart 16 rushes, 89 yards Receiving Aaron Cephus 1 reception, 52 yards, TDUTEP Passing Ryan Metz 18/33, 203 yards, TD Rushing Walter Dawn Jr. 9 rushes, 24 yards Receiving Kavika Johnson 6 receptions, 67 yards
Arizona
Statistics ARIZUTEP First downs 29 12 Total yards 501 218 Rushing yards 326 17 Passing yards 175 201 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 36:02 23:58
Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Brandon Dawkins 18/21, 155 yards, 3 TD Rushing Brandon Dawkins 14 rushes, 133 yards, 3 TD Receiving Tyrell Johnson 4 receptions, 45 yardsUTEP Passing Zack Greenlee 11/17, 104 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kevin Dove 5 rushes, 17 yards Receiving Terry Juniel 4 receptions, 82 yards
At New Mexico State
Statistics UTEPNMSU First downs 15 21 Total yards 227 462 Rushing yards 135 179 Passing yards 92 283 Turnovers 5 2 Time of possession 30:25 29:35
Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Ryan Metz 6/18, 54 yards, 3 INT Rushing Quardraiz Wadley 19 rushes, 77 yards Receiving David Lucero 2 receptions, 29 yardsNew Mexico State Passing Tyler Rogers 26/43, 283 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Larry Rose III 17 rushes, 144 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jaleel Scott 4 receptions, 74 yards
At Army
Statistics UTEPARMY First downs 16 22 Total yards 262 433 Rushing yards 152 353 Passing yards 110 80 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 28:27 31:33
Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Zack Greenlee 7/13, 88 yards, TD Rushing Quardraiz Wadley 28 rushes, 156 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Batson 5 receptions, 80 yardsArmy Passing Ahmad Bradshaw 3/5, 80 yards, TD Rushing Andy Davidson 14 rushes, 100 yards, TD Receiving Jordan Asberry 1 reception, 42 yards, TD
Western Kentucky
Statistics WKUUTEP First downs 18 15 Total yards 282 287 Rushing yards 74 163 Passing yards 208 124 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 26:58 33:02
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Mike White 24/37, 208 yards Rushing Jakairi Moses 19 rushes, 50 yards Receiving Lucky Jackson 3 receptions, 56 yardsUTEP Passing Zack Greenlee 12/22, 124 yards, TD Rushing Kevin Dove 15 rushes, 69 yards Receiving Erik Brown 2 receptions, 32 yards
At Southern Miss
Statistics UTEPUSM First downs 6 20 Total yards 147 423 Rushing yards 17 202 Passing yards 130 221 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 24:48 35:12
Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Ryan Metz 9/17, 67 yards, INT Rushing Joshua Fields 6 rushes, 13 yards Receiving Terry Juniel 5 receptions, 46 yardsSouthern Miss Passing Keon Howard 16/27, 221 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Ito Smith 28 rushes, 120 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jaylond Adams 2 receptions, 104 yards, TD
UTSA
Statistics UTSAUTEP First downs 22 10 Total yards 393 243 Rushing yards 205 110 Passing yards 188 133 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 34:25 25:35
Team Category Player StatisticsUTSA Passing Dalton Sturm 18/30, 188 yards, TD, INT Rushing Tyrell Clay 15 rushes, 71 yards Receiving Kerry Thomas Jr. 2 receptions, 49 yards, TDUTEP Passing Zack Greenlee 8/29, 133 yards, 2 INT Rushing Kevin Dove 9 rushes, 46 yards Receiving Erik Brown 3 receptions, 52 yards
At Middle Tennessee
Statistics UTEPMTSU First downs 6 18 Total yards 137 400 Rushing yards 89 210 Passing yards 48 190 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 30:07 29:53
Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Ryan Metz 10/23, 48 yards Rushing Joshua Fields 17 rushes, 87 yards Receiving Warren Redix 3 receptions, 19 yardsMiddle Tennessee Passing Brent Stockstill 13/30, 190 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Tavares Thomas 9 rushes, 68 yards, TD Receiving Ty Lee 6 receptions, 80 yards, TD
At North Texas
Statistics UTEPUNT First downs 15 27 Total yards 231 472 Rushing yards 100 259 Passing yards 131 213 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 31:38 28:22
Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Zack Greenlee 13/25, 109 yards, INT Rushing Joshua Fields 16 rushes, 45 yards Receiving Terry Juniel 4 receptions, 38 yardsNorth Texas Passing Mason Fine 23/35, 213 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jeff Wilson 20 rushes, 144 yards, TD Receiving Rico Bussey 3 receptions, 65 yards, TD
Louisiana Tech
Statistics LTUTEP First downs 28 18 Total yards 546 410 Rushing yards 343 164 Passing yards 203 246 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 32:24 27:36
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing J'Mar Smith 15/28, 203 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jaqwis Dancy 14 rushes, 135 yards, TD Receiving Teddy Veal 6 receptions, 66 yards, TDUTEP Passing Ryan Metz 8/16, 187 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Joshua Fields 23 rushes, 137 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Batson 2 receptions, 94 yards, TD
At UAB
Statistics UTEPUAB First downs 10 23 Total yards 208 334 Rushing yards 101 175 Passing yards 107 159 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 26:49 33:11
Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Zack Greenlee 8/18, 107 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Kevin Dove 11 rushes, 36 yards Receiving Tyler Batson 2 receptions, 54 yardsUAB Passing A. J. Erdely 15/25, 159 yards, 2 TD Rushing Spencer Brown 22 rushes, 98 yards Receiving Collin Lisa 7 receptions, 76 yards, TD
References