OFFENSE

With 10 starters lost to graduation, UTEP is starting over on offense, and the most obvious priority is replacing durable quarterback Trevor Vittatoe, who started 49 games in his four-year career.

Nick Lamaison, who lost one game in two years as the starter at Mt. San Antonio College, was brought in to win the job but faced a stiff challenge in the spring from Tate Smith, a former transfer who played in four games at New Mexico in 2008, Carson Meger and Javia Hall.

Whichever quarterback wins the job will be taking snaps behind a mostly new offensive line that returns a part-time starter in center Eloy Atkinson and a bunch of question marks. Junior college transfers James Martin at tackle and James Robinson at guard could be opening-day starters, a process greatly helped by their arrival for spring ball.

The receiving corps will also have to be rebuilt. Donavon Kemp, who missed the last half of the 2010 season after blowing out a knee, is the only proven commodity, but UTEP traditionally is successful at developing receivers. Marlon McClure had a breakout season on special teams and was developing into a go-to receiver late last year, but is unlikely to rejoin the team this fall. The tight ends are also inexperienced.

The top running back will be Joe Banyard, who began his career at TCU and had a stopover at Eastern New Mexico. Banyard stepped in last year — when Donald Buckram went down with an injury — and led the Miners in rushing with 623 yards and eight touchdowns. Speedster Vernon Frazier will serve as a change-of-pace option, and Leilyon Myers is a capable goal line back.

DEFENSE

With eight starters returning and most of the top reserves back for coordinator Andre Patterson’s second season, expectations have never been higher on defense during coach Mike Price’s eight seasons. The defense ranked 91st last year, which is actually the first time the unit cracked double digits since 2005.

The Miners’ best defensive player last season, Travaun Nixon, is moving from cornerback to safety, and the other safety, DeShawn Grayson, will be a second-year starter. Cornerback Antwon Blake is also a third-year starter.

UTEP returns a wealth of experience on the defensive line and at linebacker. Linemen Germard Reed and Bernard Obi and linebackers Jamie Irving and Royzell Smith are the leaders of their respective units. Two junior college transfers could make an impact at linebacker as well.

SPECIALISTS

Kicker Dakota Warren (12-of-20 on field goals) and punter Ian Campbell had solid debut seasons with the Miners last fall. McClure was an elite returner who scored twice on special teams last season and will be missed in 2011.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Throughout Price’s first seven seasons at UTEP, the Miners’ formula rarely varied: They hoped that their high-powered offense could compensate for a porous defense.

If UTEP is to break a five-year string of losing seasons and qualify for its second consecutive bowl, it may have to lean on its veteran defense to reverse that formula.

“Wouldn’t that be great?” Price says. “With the players we have, the depth we have, expectations for the defense are much higher than they’ve been in the past.”

The presumption that 2011 is a rebuilding year in El Paso could tip the other way if those expectations become reality.