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UTEP Athletics had released the 2015 football roster a few weeks ago before signing day then added the signed class of 2015 so I took a look at the demographics.
Freshman depth is plenty
UTEP has 41 freshman listed on the 2015 roster, 24 are red-shirts from the freshman class of 2014, and 17 are true freshman.
A huge chunk of the red-shirt freshmen can be found this coming year along the defensive and offensive fronts and also in the secondary vying for depth chart and package spots.
Not included in this group are gray-shirts Trayvon Hughes (RB), Eddie Sinegal (WR), Warren Reddix (WR) or Stephen Forester (DE) which if all four are on the roster come fall, the Miners will have 45 total freshman with a possibility of all four vying for depth chart spots.
UTEP will have 17 sophomores with majority dotting the upcoming depth chart as either starters or key reserves.
The Miners will have 24 juniors including three JUCO transfers in defensive lineman Sky Logan, wide receiver Elliott Oldham, and defensive lineman Demarcus Womack.
15 of UTEP's 24 juniors are two year letter winners, add in tight end Hayden Plinke who transferred before last season, and UTEP has about 19 juniors with legit playing experience.
UTEP will have 22 seniors this coming year headlined by defensive play makers Roy Robertson-Harris, and Trey Brown.
Autrey Golden, M.J. McFarland, and Jeremiah Laufasa will be the only seniors among UTEP's offensive skill positions.
With a lot of starter turnover in the secondary, Ishmael Harrison, Da'Carlos Renfro, and Kelvin Fisher all saw plenty of time last year in the secondary and should be towards the top of the depth chart looking to fill productive holes this coming season as the only seniors out of the defensive back group.
Defections
Just like the coaching staff, the roster has a lot of continuity, but the Miners also saw three players listed on 2014 roster no-show on the 2015 roster.
Nick Jones was a JUCO signee as a tight end in 2014 but is no longer listed, as is defensive end Dewan Edmondson, and punter Mike Ruggles.
Graduate assistant and former UTEP linebacker Jeremy Springer took an official job at Texas A&M working along side former UTEP assistant Jeff Banks. Kugler had said Anthony Puente will join the staff as a graduate assistant, no other coaching movement was reflected on the 2015 roster.
Scholarship estimate
I've accounted/estimated 62 returning scholarship players who are on the roster plus McFarland and the three JUCO mid-year transfers add up to an estimate of 66 scholarship players (Demarcus Womack is not on campus yet) that will be participating in spring ball.
Brad Zaffram has already said he will receive a gray-shirt, and there are quite a few other gray-shirt candidates in the class of 2015. Over the next month or so preferred walk-ons should also be added to the roster adding to the freshman count.
Unless someone has been granted a scholarship, I count 15 seniors who are under scholarship this coming season.
It appears there are no jersey number changes, though one interesting mark is Autrey Golden is listed as a running back and not a wide receiver. No surprise transfers have been added as of yet.
Looking at the roster as a whole, UTEP has some nice starting depth with plenty of proven upperclassmen that will be relied upon for increased or sustained production in 2015.
The most important aspect of the 2015 roster is the 41 freshman who will either gray-shirt, red-shirt, or provide depth at their respective positions in 2015.
Meaning the future has the chance to be groomed behind proven players who have bought into the system, and will lead this young group in their maturation and development towards the future.
Coach Kugler's roster management grade: A
| Red-Shirt Freshman | Overall Freshman | Sophomores | Juniors | Seniors |
| 24 | 41 | 17 | 24 | 22 |
Roster position group breakdown
***Only person not accounted for below is long snapper Nick Dooley
Quarterbacks:
| Number of QB's | 5 |
| Freshmen (RS) | 3 (2) |
| Sophomore | 1 |
| Juniors | 1 |
| Seniors | 0 |
Running backs (Fullbacks included)
| Number of RB's | 10 |
| Freshmen (RS) | 4 (3) |
| Sophomore | 1 |
| Juniors | 2 |
| Seniors | 3 |
| Number of WR's | 10 |
| Freshmen (RS) | 1 (1) |
| Sophomore | 4 |
| Juniors | 4 |
| Seniors | 1 |
Tight ends
| Number of TE's | 5 |
| Freshmen | 1 |
| Sophomore | 2 |
| Juniors | 1 |
| Seniors | 1 |
Offensive lineman
| Number of OL | 21 |
| Freshmen (RS) | 11 (6) |
| Sophomore | 4 |
| Juniors | 2 |
| Seniors | 4 |
Defensive lineman
| Number of DL | 18 |
| Freshmen (RS) | 5 (3) |
| Sophomore | 1 |
| Juniors | 8 |
| Seniors | 4 |
Linebackers
| Number of LB's | 14 |
| Freshmen (RS) | 5 (3) |
| Sophomore | 3 |
| Juniors | 2 |
| Seniors | 4 |
Defensive backs
| Number of DB's | 16 |
| Freshmen (RS) | 7 (4) |
| Sophomore | 1 |
| Juniors | 3 |
| Seniors | 5 |
Kickers/Punters
| Number of K/P's | 4 |
| Freshmen (RS) | 2 (2) |
| Sophomore | 1 |
| Juniors | 1 |
| Seniors | 0 |
2015 Roster
| 5 | Ziere Banner | WR | 6-1/185 | SO | 1L | Killeen, Texas (Shoemaker HS) |
| Chris Barnwell | ATH | 6-2/190 | FR | HS | El Paso, Texas (Eastlake HS) | |
| 83 | Tyler Batson | WR | 6-0/195 | SO | 1L | Spring, Texas (Westfield HS) |
| Kalon Beverly | DB | 6-1/175 | FR | HS | New Orleans, La. (Edna Karr HS) | |
| Chance Bishop | OL | 6-6/310 | FR | HS | Kennedale, Texas (Kennedale HS) | |
| 63 | Gino Bresolin | DL | 6-2/285 | JR | 2L | Redmond, Washington (Eastlake HS) |
| 72 | Jerrod Brooks | OL | 6-5/305 | FR | RS | Dallas, Texas (Seagoville) |
| Jerrell Brown | DB | 6-1/175 | FR | HS | Perris, Calif. (Citrus Hill HS) | |
| 35 | Trey Brown | LB | 6-0/215 | SR | 3L | Brownwood, Texas (Lancaster HS) |
| 28 | Mookie Carlile | DB | 6-1/200 | FR | RS | Stephenville, Texas (Stephenville HS) |
| 49 | Daniel Carrillo | LB | 5-11/215 | JR | 0L | El Paso, Texas (El Paso HS) |
| 78 | Michael Castle | OL | 6-1/325 | FR | RS | Argyle, Texas (Argyle HS) |
| 99 | Kristopher Christian | LB | 5-11/237 | FR | RS | Lovejoy, GA (Lovejoy HS) |
| Denzel Chukwukelu | DL | 6-4/295 | FR | HS | Rockwall, Texas (Rockwall Heath HS) | |
| 27 | Devin Cockrell | DB | 5-11/190 | JR | 2L | Port Arthur, Texas (Memorial HS) |
| 91 | Vince Czerniewski | DL | 6-0/290 | SR | 0L | Pittsburgh, Pa. (Duquesne) |
| 70 | Jerome Daniels | OL | 6-3/295 | JR | 2L | Little Elm, Texas (Little Elm HS) |
| 74 | John De La Rosa | OL | 6-6/310 | JR | 0L | Bay City, Texas (Bay City HS) |
| Foster Dixson | DL | 6-5/235 | FR | HS | Los Angeles, Calif. (Fairfax HS) | |
| 64 | Nick Dooley | LS | 6-8/310 | SR | 3L | Scottsdale, Ariz. (Scottsdale Christian Academy) |
| 32 | LaQuintus Dowell | DB | 5-10/205 | SR | 3L | Humble, Texas (Humble HS) |
| 75 | Derek Elmendorff | OL | 6-3/310 | SO | 1L | El Paso, Texas (Franklin HS) |
| 50 | Luke Elsner | DL | 6-3/240 | SO | 1L | Seymour, Wis. (Seymour HS) |
| 38 | Jason Filley | K/P | 5-9/160 | FR | RS | EL Paso, Texas (Coronado HS) |
| 54 | Silas Firstley | DL | 6-1/265 | JR | 2L | Mesquite, Texas (Poteet HS) |
| 8 | Kelvin Fisher Jr. | DB | 5-11/195 | SR | 1L | Gilbert, Ariz. (Arkansas) |
| Cole Ford | TE | 6-4/235 | FR | HS | Bothell, Wash. (Bothel HS) | |
| 44 | Cooper Foster | LB | 6-1/210 | JR | 2L | Cedar Park, Texas (Vista Ridge HS) |
| 84 | Cole Freytag | WR | 6-2/195 | JR | 2L | El Paso, Texas (Coronado HS) |
| 45 | Brooks Friedman | K/P | 5-10/160 | FR | RS | Colleyville, Texas (Covenant Christian Academy) |
| 65 | Derron Gatewood | OL | 6-3/310 | FR | RS | Odessa, Texas (Permian HS) |
| 8 | Autrey Golden | RB | 5-11/180 | SR | 3L | Willis, Texas (Willis HS) |
| Josiah Gray | OL | 6-4/290 | FR | HS | Rancho, Calif. (Rancho Cucamonga) | |
| Ruben Guerra | OL | 6-4/290 | FR | HS | Bakersfield, Calif. (Liberty HS) | |
| 24 | David Hamm | RB | 6-0/220 | SO | 1L | Klein, Texas (Klein HS) |
| 66 | Christian Harper | DL | 6-4/285 | JR | 2L | Galena Park, Texas (North Shore HS) |
| 2 | Ishmael Harrison | DB | 6-0/195 | SR | 3L | Red Oak, Texas (Red Oak HS) |
| 5 | Leon Hayes | DB | 5-10/200 | JR | 2L | Las Vegas, Nev. (Desert Pines HS) |
| 93 | Matthew Heard | LB | 6-3/225 | SR | 1L | El Paso, Texas (NM State) |
| 76 | Will Hernandez | OL | 6-3/320 | SO | 1L | Las Vegas, Nev. (Chaparral HS) |
| Gene Hopkins | DL | 6-3/245 | FR | HS | Elgin, Texas (Elgin HS) | |
| 19 | Adrian Hynson | DB | 5-10/185 | FR | RS | Corpus Christi, Texas (Flour Bluff) |
| Kavika Johnson | QB | 6-1/205 | FR | HS | Las Cruces, N.M. (Mayfield HS) | |
| 29 | Aaron Jones | RB | 5-10/185 | JR | 2L | El Paso, Texas (Burges HS) |
| 16 | Alvin Jones | LB | 5-11/215 | SO | 1L | El Paso, Texas (Burges HS) |
| 58 | Chris Jones | OL | 6-1/300 | FR | RS | Corsicana, Texas (Corsicana HS) |
| Terry Juniel | WR | 5-10/170 | SO | TR | Surprise, Ariz. (Glendale Community College) | |
| 94 | Joseph Kraemer | DL | 6-3/245 | FR | RS | Kettering, Ohio (Archbishop Alter HS) |
| 67 | Anthony Kyles | OL | 6-3/300 | SR | TR | Los Angeles, Calif. (Los Angeles Southwest College) |
| 30 | Darrin Laufasa | RB | 6-1/235 | JR | 2L | Bothell, Wash. (Bothell HS) |
| 15 | Jeremiah Laufasa | RB | 6-0/215 | SR | 1L | Seattle, Wash. (Washington State) |
| 60 | Eric Lee | OL | 6-1/295 | SR | 1L | Riverside, Calif. (Riverside City College) |
| 16 | Mack Leftwich | QB | 5-10/190 | SO | RS | Wexford, Penn. (North Allegheny HS) |
| Michael Lewis | DB | 5-11/170 | FR | HS | Trinity, Texas (Trinity HS) | |
| Sky Logan | DL | 6-2/285 | Natchez, Miss. (Hinds Community College) | |||
| Greg Long | OL | 6-4/290 | FR | HS | El Paso, Texas (Eastwood HS) | |
| Markos Lujan | OL | 6-3/325 | FR | HS | El Paso, Texas (Americas HS) | |
| 97 | Brian Madunezim | DL | 6-3/275 | JR | 0L | Houston, Texas (Nimitz HS) |
| 47 | Jay Mattox | K/P | 6-0/185 | JR | 2L | Las Vegas, Nev. (Las Vegas HS) |
| 13 | Hunter McEachern | QB | 6-2/200 | FR | RS | Keller, Texas (Keller HS) |
| M.J. McFarland | TE | 6-5/250 | SR | TR | (Texas) | |
| 12 | Ryan Metz | QB | 6-4/205 | FR | RS | El Paso, Texas (Andress HS) |
| 79 | Christopher Misaalefua | OL | 6-5/355 | FR | RS | Lindsay, Calif. (Lindsay HS) |
| 33 | Lawrence Montegut | LB | 6-1/220 | SO | 1L | La Marque, Texas (La Marque HS) |
| 6 | Brandon Moss | WR | 6-3/190 | JR | 2L | El Paso, Texas (Chapin HS) |
| 10 | Jimmy Musgrave | LB | 6-0/240 | SR | 1L | Victorville, Calif. (Victor Valley College) |
| 81 | Sterling Napier | TE | 6-4/245 | SO | 1L | Rio Rancho, N.M. (Cleveland HS) |
| 20 | Nik Needham | DB | 5-11/185 | FR | RS | Buena Park, Calif (Buena Park HS) |
| Tyrone Nelson | RB | 5-11/180 | FR | HS | Los Angeles, Calif. (University HS) | |
| Elliott Oldham | WR | 6-3/195 | Detroit, Mich. (Minnesota West Community & Technical College) | |||
| 53 | Douglas Omoegbele | LB | 6-0/220 | FR | RS | Sugarland, Texas (Kempner HS) |
| 85 | Hayden Plinke | TE | 6-4/255 | JR | TR | Hollsboro, Ore. (Portland State) |
| 71 | Erik Ramirez | OL | 6-3/285 | SO | 1L | El Paso, Texas (Del Valle HS) |
| 26 | Da'Carlos Renfro | DB | 5-10/175 | SR | 2L | Orange, Texas (West Orange-Stark HS) |
| 95 | Devante Richardson | DL | 6-2/290 | JR | 1L | Fort Worth, Texas (Juan Seguin HS) |
| 12 | Kionce Roberts | DB | 5-9/165 | FR | RS | Corona, Calif. (Roosevelt HS) |
| 43 | Roy Robertson-Harris | DL | 6-7/255 | SR | 3L | Grand Prairie, Texas (South Grand Prairie HS) |
| 38 | Natanael Rodriguez | DB | 6-1/200 | SR | 0L | EL Paso, Texas (Jefferson HS) |
| 89 | Cole Rogers | TE | 6-4/225 | SO | 1L | Dripping Springs, Texas (Dripping Springs HS) |
| 22 | Noah Siegrist | RB | 5-9/185 | FR | RS | Hudson, Fla. (Hudson HS) |
| 86 | Daniel Siller | WR | 6-1/200 | SR | 1L | Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico (Universidad de las Americas Puebla) |
| 68 | Josh Silvas | OL | 6-4/350 | SR | 1L | El Paso, Texas (New Mexico Military Institute) |
| 56 | Devin Simmons | LB | 6-0/215 | SO | TR | El Paso, Texas (Adams State College) |
| 17 | Garrett Simpson | QB | 6-7/250 | JR | 2L | The Colony, Texas (The Colony HS) |
| 21 | Dashone Smith | DB | 6-0/200 | JR | 2L | Spring, Texas (Klein Oak HS) |
| 55 | Mike Sota | DL | 6-4/270 | FR | RS | Placentia, Calif. (Valencia) |
| 39 | Sloan Spiller | RB | 6-0/225 | FR | RS | Katy, Texas (Katy HS) |
| 37 | Mikael Sroka | K/P | 5-10/185 | SO | 1L | Argyle, Texas (Liberty Christian HS) |
| 41 | Cole Staudt | RB | 6-0/235 | SR | TR | Pearland, Texas (Tyler JC) |
| 88 | Damian Stevenson | WR | 5-10/150 | FR | RS | Euless, Texas (Trinity HS) |
| 39 | Nathan Stukes | LB | 5-11/200 | SR | 1L | Anderson, S.C. (Charleston Southern) |
| 57 | Justen Tatum | LB | 6-1/240 | FR | RS | Dallas, Texas (First Baptist Academy) |
| 77 | Chris Thomas | OL | 6-4/315 | SR | 1L | Lancaster, Texas (Cisco College) |
| 73 | Chris Thummel | OL | 6-4/280 | SO | 1L | El Paso, Texas (Hanks HS) |
| 88 | Augie Touris | DL | 6-4/235 | FR | RS | Buffalo, N.Y. (Canisius HS) |
| 48 | Patrick Trinidad | FB | 5-8/230 | FR | RS | San Antonio, Texas (Antonian College Prep) |
| 36 | Nick Usher | DL | 6-3/235 | JR | 2L | Los Angeles, Calif. (Serra HS) |
| 51 | Josh Valdez | OL | 6-1/275 | FR | RS | El Paso, Texas (Jefferson HS) |
| Jayson VanHook | LB | 6-3/200 | FR | HS | Perris, Calif. (Citrus Hill HS) | |
| 92 | Alex Villarreal | DL | 6-4/300 | SR | 1L | Hidalgo, Texas (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College) |
| 7 | Donovan Walker | WR | 6-0/175 | SO | 1L | Chino Hills,Calif. (Chino Hills HS) |
| 9 | Jaquan White | WR | 5-11/190 | JR | 1L | Dallas, Texas (Lancaster HS) |
| Demarcus Womack | DL | 6-3/335 | New York, N.Y. (Globe Institute of Tech) | |||
| Brad Zaffram | FB/LB | 6-1/225 | FR | HS | Buffalo, N.Y. (Canisius HS) |