The UTEP Miners will only bring back four members of its starting defense from last season. The defense has made some strides, giving up fewer points and improving from being the worst defense in college football the previous year. The team’s top four tacklers are gone. Unfortunately, its most significant loss will be second team All-Conference linebacker A. J. Hotchkins who could very well be playing in the NFL next season.
The Miners also lost their starting cornerback duo of the past four seasons in Nik Needham and Kalon Beverly. Needham is also considered a solid sleeper candidate for the NFL.