PREVIEW: Q&A with 600 ESPN El Paso’s Adrian Broaddus

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — It did not take long in Middle Tennessee football's weekly press conference to get a handle on how their opponent for the season finale likes to play.

Head Coach Rick Stockstill, just seconds into his opening statement, got right to the point regarding the UTEP Miners, who come into Floyd Stadium this weekend for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday.

"UTEP is a really, really physical, tough, hard-nosed team," Stockstill said at the start. Nearly two minutes later, as he was wrapping up his opening remarks, he came back around to the same point. "We're preparing for a 60-minute dog fight that's going to be highly, highly physical. That's the way the game was last year."

Despite the Miners' 3-7 record in 2023, UTEP has proven to be a stylistic contrast to many of the teams in Conference USA since the arrival of head coach Dana Dimel, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. UTEP enters this weekend ranked fourth in rushing in Conference USA, but of the top four teams in rushing in the CUSA, the Miners are the only one that doesn't heavily feature quarterback runs, whether via scrambles, option plays or designed runs, in their offense.

No, the success of UTEP running backs Deion Hankins and Torrance Burgess Jr. comes from the strength of UTEP's experienced offensive line, something the Blue Raider defense has keyed in on ahead of Senior Day this week.

"We're going to have to stop the run and make them throw the ball," safety Tra Fluellen said. "They've got a great offensive line, very athletic offensive line. We're going to get after those guys, create different emotions for those guys."

Defensively, Dimel's UTEP teams have always been stout on that side of the ball. A product of a run-first offense perhaps? Maybe. But this strength of the Miners is particularly seen in the air, where UTEP enters Saturday with the best pass defense in Conference USA.

MTSU quarterback Nicholas Vattiato says that UTEP's strong performance against Western Kentucky in their last game, holding the Hilltoppers to just 21 points, has the Blue Raiders on high alert to how they might be defended, given the air raid roots of both teams' schemes. But the pass defense for UTEP, Vattiato says, doesn't start in the secondary.

"It starts with their D-Line," Vattiato said. "Like Coach was saying, they're very experienced, they're very fast, they're explosive, they're strong off the ball. I think their energy that they create radiates throughout the rest of the defense."

To learn more about the Miners, GoBlueRaiders.com Staff Writer Sam Doughton sat down with Adrian Broaddus, who covers UTEP for 600 ESPN El Paso KROD-AM. The two chatted about the similar season trajectories for both teams, a unique connection Broaddus and his station have to UTEP QB Cade McConnell, names to know on both sides of the ball and more!

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1) The arcs of both UTEP and MTSU's seasons have seemed pretty similar from afar, with both teams entering Saturday 3-7 with two P5 losses in non-conference play and some frustratingly close performances in CUSA losses. Given the Miners are also out of bowl contention, how has Dana Dimel kept UTEP motivated these last few weeks of the season?

Simply put, motivation and purpose is running dry for this team. This week, senior quarterback Gavin Hardison announced that he received UCL surgery to his right elbow and effectively put himself out for the last two games. Other seniors, or relevant starters, elected to forgo the season to preserve a year of eligibility a long time ago. Time is running out for this group. Or, should I say, most of the team is looking toward the end of the season. Dimel talked this week about younger guys receiving playing time, which I find valuable. But will that value ultimately be pointless if the current regime isn't retained beyond this year? We'll find out soon enough.

2) It was definitely disappointing to see quarterback Gavin Hardison officially ruled out for the season this week, but Cade McConnell has definitely shown flashes in his first action for the Miners while Hardison has been out. How do you assess the redshirt sophomore's play so far? What does he do well when the UTEP offense is clicking?

Before I answer, I must reveal that redshirt sophomore Cade McConnell is a frequent guest on our radio show and has his own segment, "Talkin' under center with Cade McConnell." He is projected to be a spring 2024 intern at our radio station, 600 ESPN El Paso. And he's in a situation where he didn't think he'd be in during the 2023 season. McConnell, who hardly took relevant reps with starters in the offseason, quickly had to acclimate himself to the plays and develop chemistry with the starting offense. McConnell is at his best when there is structure in the play calling and when he's allowed to play in rhythm. Plus, he's won two road conference games this year. Not many UTEP quarterbacks in program history can say the same, which is a testament to the harsh past UTEP fans have endured.

3) It always helps a new quarterback to have a running back tandem like Deion Hankins and Torrance Burgess Jr. to support the offense out of the backfield. How have the pair each been utilized in the offense this season? How would you describe each player's running style?

Deion Hankins is going to be the physical, bruiser-like running back. He's consistent, faster than his 2022 season and scores touchdowns for this team. I truly think at his best, Hankins is UTEP's best player on offense. He can take over games on the ground alone. Torrance Burgess Jr., meanwhile, is UTEP's best x-factor on both sides of the ball. He's impressive in the backfield as a speed back. He's also the best pass-catching running back the team has. Even though he's smaller in size than Hankins, Burgess Jr. has a toughness to his game that shows off his physical traits.

4) Dana Dimel's teams have always been stingy on defense and that's particularly true in the passing game this year, where they enter Saturday with the best pass defense in Conference USA. Who are some of the playmakers Blue Raider fans should know about in the secondary for UTEP?

The secondary is led by safety Kobe Hylton. As a Louisiana transfer. Hylton has anchored the secondary since the 2022 season for the Miners. New Mexico transfer cornerback AJ Odums is also special in the secondary. However, they've experienced significant injuries in their defensive backfield that poses concerns. They've played without starting safety Mckel Broussard and continue to start Kilgore transfer Oscar Moore opposite of Hylton. The strong statistical note for the pass defense could also be a reflection of the defensive line.

5) Both teams will be playing just for personal pride this Saturday, but it seems like both coaching staffs have kept their teams motivated for the final two games of the season. What do you think will be the keys the Miners need to focus on to return to El Paso victorious?

Keep the turnover margin low and the offensive production high. The Miners' struggles have mainly come from the offensive side of the ball. If the Miners can limit their turnovers -- or take some from MTSU -- they will stand a chance.

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Players Mentioned

Tra Fluellen

Nicholas Vattiato

Middle Tennesee State University Athletics