UTEP brings back all four starters (Praise Amaewhule, Kelton Moss, Keenan Stewart and Jadrian Taylor) in addition to other members of its two deep on the defensive line from a year ago, giving the Miners a formidable presence up front in 2022.
Two-time All-Conference USA performer Amaewhule (5.5 sacks in 2021) and 2021 team sack leader Taylor (6.5 sacks in 2021) garner most of the attention, but interior linemen Moss and Stewart also play an important role in the success of the unit. The duo combined for 35 tackles last year, including eight tackles for loss.
The unit performed well a year ago, and the group now wants to build on that in 2022.
"We just want to stack off of last year and keep getting better and better," Moss said. "It's our second year in the defense (scheme) so now going through fall camp we know the plays (better) and are playing way faster and more physical. We want way more sacks, to learn how to cover each other up in the pass rush and also to just be physical on every play."
Head coach Dana Dimel understands the importance of having all four d-line starters back in the fold.
"They're really, really important to what we're doing," Dimel said. "I'm excited about the way Kelton (Moss) and Keenan (Stewart) have prepared for this season inside. Praise (Amaewhule) and Jadrian (Taylor) are having really good camps, taking their preparation to a different level. All four of those guys are doing a great job."
UTEP also was active in recruiting, giving the Miners plenty of depth at the position.
"We've got everybody back other than Josh Ortega and had three great gets in Joshua Palu, Maurice Westmoreland and Bryton Thompson," UTEP Associate Head Coach/Defensive Run Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach Matt Wallerstedt said. "We're deeper than we were last year. It's a really good and fun group to coach. We're working hard, have good energy and leadership is rising up. There's a lot of good things going on."
With that depth developed, the Miners can rotate throughout the contest and keep everybody fresh.
"If we can keep the total reps count down with our starters, it lets those guys play fast," Wallerstedt said. "We'll line change everybody out with the twos and the threes, and we keep everybody fresh and play between the whistles. As the game wears on, we should be in great shape in the fourth quarter."
That's a sentiment that is echoed by Dimel.
"One of our secret sauces is that our next group there doesn't drop off too much with Westmoreland and Deylon Williams," Dimel said. "Bryton Thompson really has had a great camp at defensive end. Tevita Tafuna, Blake Thompson, Sione Tonga'uiha and Jalen Rudolph are backing up inside for us too. There are 11 guys that are really vital players for us, so we're excited about what they bring to the table."
The veteran quartet up front can be disruptive for the opposition, perhaps even more so when the opposition tries to limit the impact of one specific player.
"With all four of them (Amaewhule, Moss, Stewart and Taylor), it's going to be a deal where they can't zero in on one guy," Wallerstedt said. "Last year Praise (Amaewhule) started getting a lot of attention, so then Jadrian (Taylor) started showing up and had some big games. They start paying all of their attention to him, and then inside pieces started working their magic."
The chemistry is there too, as Moss points out in a unique way.
"It's just like having a home-cooked meal," Moss said. "You know what you're going to get from your players."