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What to know: Cade McConnell wins starting quarterback job back for UTEP football
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- What to know: Cade McConnell wins starting quarterback job back for UTEP football
UTEP quarterback Cade McConnell is savvy enough to know the question before it was posed, but his answer begins to show why once again, he has risen up though the depth chart to become the Miners new starter.
A few days after coming off the bench to lead a second-half rally against Colorado State that ultimately fell short, McConnell was named the starting quarterback for UTEP's Thursday Sun Bowl game against Sam Houston, the team the Miners beat in late October last year when McConnell was under center.
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That still stands as the Miners' last victory as they now have a seven-game losing streak that McConnell is tasked with breaking.
UTEP Miners quarterback Cade McConnell (11) looks over towards the sideline before facing the Nebraska Cornhuskers defense during the first half at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, Saturday, August 31, 2024.
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What Cade McConnell said
"Preparation-wise nothing has changed, that's always going to be the same," McConnell said, the same way he began quotes the past month when he was a backup. "Getting named the starter is awesome. It's fantastic. It's something I take with a lot of honor.
"I love this city, I love the people, I love the fans, the coaches, the players, my teammates, the support staff; every single person connected to this program is important."
UTEP quarterback Cade McConnell (center) along with Skyler Locklear (left) and Shay Smith practice Wednesday at Glory Field
Why the change to Cade McConnell from Skyler Locklear was made
The change seemed obvious. After a tight battle all the way through camp, Austin Peay transfer Skyler Locklear, a sophomore, was named the starter over the returning incumbent McConnell.
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McConnell, a junior, did play two series in the opener against Nebraska, but mostly watched from the bench through the 0-3 start that was turning into 0-4 by halftime of the Colorado State game.
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Coach Scotty Walden felt the team, down 14-3 at the half and soon to be down 24-3, needed a spark. UTEP was held to two touchdowns in the previous eight quarters at that point.
McConnell came off the bench and threw touchdown passes on UTEP's third and fourth possessions of the second half. He finished the game 19-of-29 for 220 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. In the first half Locklear was 7-of-15 for 56 yards and an interception.
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"Cade came in and did a great job," Walden said. He'll get the start against Sam Houston. Skyler, I love him to death, I just felt like we need a spark. Cade came in and gave us a chance to win. He played clean. I like the way the guys responded to him.
"He's a great example of a guy who, things didn't go his way early but he didn't give up and pout. He climbed back and fought through it. When his name was called, he was ready to play."
UTEP's Cade McConnell throws the ball down the field against WKU on Nov. 4, 2023 at the Sun Bowl.
How last year helped Cade McConnell
That was similar to last year, when McConnell began the season as a fourth-team quarterback. Then at the midpoint of the season, the three quarterbacks ahead of him all went down in short order and McConnell came in to lead a pair of victories late in the season when he started the last six games.
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"Experience goes a long way," McConnell said. "Getting to start half the season last year goes a long way. You don't have to do too much, you just have to find the open guy and manage an offense. You have to be in control of everything that's out on the field.
"When I went out there I didn't feel too nervous. We have great playmakers around us, the o-line played great and the receivers were making plays. It's about finding the right guys in the right position, getting them the ball and giving them the chance to be playmakers in space. When we were able to do that we made explosive plays."
Walden saw that experience pay off.
"There's a certain feel, there's a command level and a comfort level that they have that you can feel as a coach," he said. "When he came in you could tell from the first throw he was comfortable. There was nothing erratic, nothing nervous, it was very clean. He looked comfortable, he moved the ball, Kenny made some big plays and the offense got in a rhythm."
Skyler Locklear (9) walks off the field after not being able to convert on a fourth down in the fourth quarter against Southern Utah.
What does this mean for Skyler Locklear?
Walden has been with Locklear for three years now. Locklear played in two games at Austin Peay last year after redshirting in a 2022 season, where he also entered two games. Walden still believes in Locklear and says he has a bright future with UTEP.
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"Skyler has his best football ahead of him," Walden said. "I have full belief in Skyler Locklear. I want to make that clear. There's a lot of factors that go into this but I think Skyler has an extremely bright future as a playmaker. Who knows?
"Depending on how things go, you never know, there are eight games left, but for right now Cade is going to start against Sam Houston."
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Cade McConnell returns as UTEP Miners' starting QB for Sam Houston game
