Scouting UTEP Special Teams

Return man Vernon Frazier leads the UTEP special teams.

Always our favorite unit to scout, the special teams unit. Special teams have been solid for USF, both on coverage and getting the ball with great field position. The Bulls will have to do the same in this game as they prepare for Big East conference play next week. Here are the players to watch for on the UTEP side.

Junior Ian Campbell is the starting punter (5-11 170-pounds). He has punted the ball 11 times this season averaging 46.4 yards per kick, getting a lot of air under them. This will make getting Terrence Mitchell free for big returns harder. He has downed 4 balls inside the 20, 3 for a touchback, so field position will be another key in this game.

Junior Dakota Warren (5-10 190-pounds) is the place kicker for UTEP. Steven Valdez (freshman) is the reserve place kicker. He is just 5 of 10 on the season on field goals, hitting a long of 47 yards and had one blocked. UTEP will try to keep the game low scoring, control the clock and will look for points any way they can get them.

Freshman Steven Valdez (5-11 175-pounds) is the kick-off specialist for UTEP. He has 9 touchbacks on the season, including one kick out of bounds, averaging 69.2 yards per kick. He will make it hard for Lamar to bring the ball out of the endzone and will try to force USF to drive the length of the field.

Senior running back Vernon Frazier (5-6 175-pounds) is the speedy kick-off return specialist. He has 9 returns for 287 yards, including along of 50 yards so the special teams unit will have to keep him locked down. Freshman running back Nathan Jeffrey (5-10 195-pounds), one return for 27 yards, and junior wide receiver Mike Edwards (5-10 190-pounds), one return for 14 yards, are the other return men for the Miners.

Senior cornerback Travaun Nixon (6-0 200-pounds) is the leading punt returner. He has 2 returns for 17 yards on the season. Mike Edwards and freshman wide receiver Anthony McGee (5-11 175-pounds), 4 returns for 41 yards including a long of 12 yards, are the back-up punt returners.

UTEP has a solid special teams unit. Both kickers are veterans and have fairly strong legs. The return specialist have a nice combination of experience and speed that they bring to the field and will pose a challenge to the Bulls in this game.

This is the last game before the start of conference play, so the special teams need to get everything figured out and corrected (more big returns please) and will need to come up big for Holtz and staff.