Preview: Q&A with 600 ESPN El Paso's Adrian Broaddus

football
11/01/2024 10:00:00 am

Sam Doughton, MTSU Athletic Communications

MTSU travels to the Mountain Time Zone for its first weekend game since September

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Derek Mason is always straightforward in its weekly media availability. So it came as no surprise when he was asked how he would rate his squad heading into the final month of the season. Middle Tennessee's head coach admitted what he would focus on in the Blue Raiders' final four games of the 2024 regular season.

“The rules have changed with regards to things like bowl games and stuff like that,” Mason said of redshirting rules in football. “I'm not worried about that. I’m just worried that these guys have the opportunity in the next four games to show what their abilities are now and what they can be in the future.”

With MTSU at 2-6 and 1-3 in Conference USA heading into the trip to El Paso, Texas, to face UTEP (1-7, 1-4 CUSA) this weekend, the options for the Blue Raiders are endless Uses They improve in the final month of the season, from a more consistent running game and finishing on offense to tackling and leadership on defense. But with redshirt rules that allow players to appear in up to four regular-season games and retain their redshirt status for one year, Mason views his final CUSA contests of his freshman year in Murfreesboro as an opportunity to truly know what he can do with the roster.

“I’m not going to wait until spring ball to find out if someone is talented or skilled enough to help this football team,” Mason said. “I want to see what they can do. I’ll see what they can do… Without redshirting, they’ll get plenty of opportunity to play for this football team.”

With a little more midweek recovery time following last week's loss to Jax State, a road game against the Miners could be the perfect opportunity to test many of the Blue Raiders who have been waiting on the sidelines. Similar to MTSU, Mason said, UTEP is a coach-led team in the program's first year and is still establishing its identity under new leadership. Mason already sees that identity on tape on both sides of the ball.

“I look at this football team as a football team that wants to move up,” Mason said of UTEP. “They have an identity on offense. They know who they need to be, just offensively… We're facing a team that has really made a lot of progress defensively in the last few weeks as far as their run defense and how they want to play football there.”

In October's midweek game, the Miners improved significantly defensively, picking up their first win of the season at home against FIU while holding the Panthers to just 21 points. The following week at LA Tech, the defense was again strong, holding the Bulldogs to just 14 points. Unfortunately, the Miners' offense only managed 10 points on the day, marking UTEP's sixth loss in seven tries.

To learn more about the Miners, GoBlueRaiders.com staff writer welcomed back Adrian Broaddus, who in addition to his role at 600 ESPN El Paso also hosts the Miner Talk podcast. The pair discussed Scott Walden's first year at UTEP, the quarterback uncertainty ahead of Saturday's Miners game and some of the standouts from a defensive unit that has made major strides in CUSA play.

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1. Scotty Walden is a coach many of us in Middle Tennessee know from his time a few hours away at Austin Peay, where he had a lot of success at the FCS level with the Governors. What energy has Walden brought to the UTEP program in its first year and what do you think of the work he has done to rebuild so far?

Scotty Walden brought incredible energy to the program – and it's all real. He speaks his words and backs them up with the same energy behind closed doors. He's as authentic as it gets. In the first year, the expectations of victory were low. However, the disappointment comes from the offensive side. They are one of the most dangerous offenses in the league.

2. Walden mentioned that quarterback Skyler Locklear may not be released from the concussion protocol in time for Saturday's game, which would result in the Miners relying on two true freshmen, Shay Smith and JP Pickles, as signal callers. What, if anything, have you seen so far from the two freshmen in El Paso? And if Locklear can leave, what impressed you about the Austin Peay transfer's game?

All signs point to the two rookies playing for both JP Pickles and Shay Smith. Pickles will get the nod to start Saturday provided Locklear is still in the concussion protocol. Pickles is a run-oriented quarterback and Smith exhibits similar traits. Both are inexperienced at the position, so it will be interesting to see how they plan to use them in the passing game.

3. Speaking of the Austin Peay transfer, Walden undoubtedly brought a lot to the table when he took the UTEP job this offseason, particularly on offense, which was up to seven starters a season ago in Clarksville. On paper, running back Jevon Jackson appears to have been the one to have the most success in his new home. What does the Decatur, Alabama native do well in the backfield and how has he broken out with over 100 yards rushing in back-to-back CUSA games over the past two weeks?

I think when you talk to Jevon Jackson behind the scenes, he has to overcome injuries and adversity that hit him early on. Now he has found his way in the running game. Likewise, the offensive line had to contend with a lot of changing parts. Greater consistency on offense has paved the way for Jackson, who has developed into a solid defender for the team.

4. Derek Mason described the Miner defense as a “hunt and search” unit. Perhaps no two players do that better than Dorian Hopkins and Kory Chapman, who both racked up TFLs while playing largely in the second tier of defense. What should Blue Raider fans know about the linebacker and the “lane’s” abilities on the defensive side of the ball?

Hopkins is a playmaker. He can sack the quarterback, intercept a pass and recover a fumble – something he did in the last home game against Florida International. He also took over leadership of the team and mentored younger linebackers like Stratton Shufelt. Chapman missed two games due to a concussion. However, his first game at LA Tech was outstanding. He hopes to transfer his ball-throwing and open-field tackling skills to the MTSU game.

5. It was a Year 1 under new head coaches. Both programs wanted to get better, but Saturday offers both teams an opportunity to gain some momentum toward the end of the season. What do you think will be the key to the Miners' game in defending their home opener in the Sun Bowl on Saturday afternoon?

Score points and play consistent defense. It sounds simple, but this game could be a low-scoring affair knowing how difficult it is for both teams to score points. UTEP's defense played nearly perfect at LA Tech and still lost. This week they need an inexperienced quarterback to score points for them. At the same time, they need the defense to avoid turnovers. Is it too much to ask the defense to score points? Maybe they can help win the game with a turnover or two.