True freshman QB and former NFC star makes 1st career start for UTEP

November 3, 2024 Vaseline blog 0

True freshman QB and former NFC star makes 1st career start for UTEP

So much can happen in a month in college football.

Just ask JP Pickles.

Less than a month ago, the former North Florida Christian star quarterback and true freshman at the University of Texas at El Paso was fourth string.

On Saturday against visiting Middle Tennessee State (3-6), Pickles made his first career start for the UTEP Miners (1-8).

“I’m pumped,” Pickles told the El Paso Times earlier this week.

“We have a great opportunity ahead of us and I’m excited to see what this team does. “We always have to be ready, you never know when your name is going to be called.”

Former NFC star JP Pickles plays well in 1st college start for UTEP

It wasn’t a storybook ending, but Pickles played well in the 20-13 Conference USA defeat in El Paso, Texas.

The athletic quarterback completed 18 of 33 passes for 145 yards with an interception. He also rushed 17 times for 77 yards and a touchdown on a 17-yard scamper that pushed UTEP in front 10-3 in the second quarter.

Trailing by a touchdown with 1:54 left in the game, Pickles drove the Miners 56 yards in 10 plays to the MTSU 19.

With two seconds remaining, his pass attempt near the goal line was knocked away, however.

Pickles saw his first collegiate action against Louisiana Tech on Oct. 22, when UTEP starting quarterback Skyler Locklear was injured on a targeting call.

Pickles finished with 53 rushing yards and completed 2-of-5 passes in the 14-10 defeat.

Cade McConnell opened the season as UTEP’s starter but he was lost for the season following surgery on his wrist.

Locklear stepped in but he was in concussion protocol this week. Pickles, credited with strong practices the past two weeks, and fellow true freshman Shay Smith have seen their snaps increase.

UTEP coach Scott Walden told the El Paso Times Pickles is a “great leader.”

He pointed to a moment in practice last week when the offense didn’t do a proper breakdown before leaving the field. Pickles called players back to do it right, according to the newspaper.

Pickles, who enrolled last January at UTEP, threw for 9,513 career yards at NFC while rushing for 2,037 as a three-year starter for the Eagles.