UTEP Football 2016 Position Group Preview: Wide Receivers

Z-Wide Receiver Depth Chart

• Cole Freytag, 6'1, 200 lbs, Senior, 2015 stats: 14 catches, 257 yards, 3 TD's, 31 targets, 45.2% catch rate
• Eddie Sinegal, 6'1, 180 lbs, Freshman

Two guys who had solid camps will be manning the Z-wideout spot in 2016 for UTEP.

Freytag's only issue going back to 2015 was totally out of his control.

He averaged 18.4 yards per catch, but only had the six most targets out of the Miners passing game targets in 2015, and that should drastically change in 2016.

Freytag is one of the Miners top down field threats, and has shown the skill to go up and get a 50/50 ball. The big play ability is something his defensive teammates are used too, but will Freytag get his proper targets needed to be effective once games start?

One of the young studs from camp was Eddie Sinegal.

This is bold to say, but watching Sinegal move reminds me of a young Johnny Lee Higgins.

He has the ability to make circus catches, and should be a consistent redzone threat, but also shows he can get you that third-and-seven "gotta have" play to move the chains.

Both will be interchanged based on the situation, and should be fun to watch this year.

X-Receiver Depth Chart

• Warren Redix, 5'9, 175 lbs, Sophomore, 29 catches, 202 yards, 1 TD, 42 targets, 50% catch rate
• Tyler Batson, 6'2, 205 lbs, Junior, 21 catches, 390 yards, 42 targets, 47.6% catch rate

Consistency is something both Redix and Batson bring, and showed all last year.

Batson became Ryan Metz's favorite target, and it's not crazy to think he can also become Greenlee's as the season wears on. Batson can stretch the field, and is a big target in over the middle, or hitch plays down field that keep things moving.

Redix could be moved all over the field, so don't expect Batson's overall snaps to decrease because Redix is on top of the depth chart at the moment. He will be a main motion man, and possible decoy or receiver on jet sweeps and misdirection calls.

Versatility and depth should be a theme of UTEP's skill guys, and Batson and Redix are poster boys for the Miners gallery of weapons.

Slot Receiver Depth Chart

• Terry Juniel, 5'9, 175 lbs, Sophomore
• Jaquan White, 5'10, 200 lbs, Senior, 41 catches, 494 yards, 7 TD's, 65 targets, 63.1% catch rate

When the initial depth chart was released, some were surprised that Terry Juniel passed up Jaquan White in the slot.

But there was no drop off from White, Terry Juniel is that good.

One of the best routes I've seen him run from the spring to fall is a seven yard out that seems to put him space and gives him the option of turning it up, or grabbing necessary yards to get out of bounds.

White showed he can do it all last season, and had the second best catch rate on the team last season.

Finding the end zone became a strength White improved upon last season, so topping his touchdown number is not something farfetched.

UTEP has plenty of options at wide receiver, who consistently steps up and produces could give UTEP a must account for passing game, finally.