Five questions as spring practice begins

UTEP coach Scotty Walden excited to recruit El Paso High alum Jayden Williams

UTEP coach Scotty Walden excited to recruit El Paso High alum Jayden Williams

For teams with a returning head coach, there are two different kinds of college football spring practices: Those with a settled quarterback situation, and those without.

UTEP falls into the “without” category.

The Miners hit Scotty Walden’s second spring, which begins with the first of 15 workouts on Monday, March 17, with three healthy quarterbacks who played last year, plus the potentially huge addition of Malachi Nelson, a transfer from Boise State and a former five-star prospect who is the highest-rated recruit in UTEP history.

There are also two new coordinators in Bobby Daly (defense) and Mark Cala (offense) and 35 new players, part of the highest rated recruiting class in program history.

The Miners are turning over the defensive line, but have a nucleus of returners back across most positions.

The timetable is condensed this year, as after the first week UTEP will have four practices per week instead of the normal three, trimming a week off the normal schedule. That all angles toward an April 12 spring game.

Here are five questions UTEP is sorting out.

1. Who’s the quarterback?

With Cade McConnell still out after wrist surgery, Skyler Locklear is the incumbent and begins the spring as the No. 1.

Obviously, all eyes will be on Nelson. Every position is a competition, etc., Nelson won’t begin on the top line, he wasn’t promised a starting job when he signed, but a player with plenty of options chose UTEP and he probably didn’t chose it thinking he’d be a backup.

Early returns are positive.

“I’ve been super impressed with his ability to relate to the team and adapt to our culture,” Walden said. “When you recruit a guy as high profile as him, we did extensive research. I…

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Publish date : 2025-03-16 14:38:00

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