When UTEP’s August football camp began three weeks ago, the wide receiver position was one of the team’s biggest question marks.

In particular, how could a position full of transfers be transferred from the second-tier Football Championship Subdivision to the top league of the Football Bowl Subdivision?

If the play against the UTEP defense is any good indicator, the Miners have reason to be optimistic. Three transfers from Austin Peay and another from Eastern Kentucky were a bright spot for a position that has been a bright spot all camp. UTEP’s biggest question mark so far has been an exclamation point.

Moving up to the next level will be easier if those players can run, and UTEP is faster at that position than it has been in a decade.

“That’s a strength of the team,” coach Scotty Walden said. “We’re very fast and we have a lot of depth. What’s special about us is that we don’t have a player who says, ‘We need this guy to have a good day.’

“There are five to seven guys we’re after. That’s the fun part. We have all levels of play: big, long, fast guys, we have shorter-twitch guys. All of those guys have had their time. That’s a strength for us with all of their playmaking ability and the speed we have out there.”

“It’s a situation where anyone can lose on the other side,” said Trey Goodman, who quickly became a figurehead for the team after transferring from Peay. He was the offensive lineman representing UTEP at CUSA media days. “We have guys outside, inside, in the slots, guys that can do a lot of things, whether it’s chasing people, taking people out of bounds in open space, going up and catching jump balls.

“We have a very diverse space. That’s a blessing. We are very dangerous and when you are very dangerous on offense, it’s hard to defend against us.”

Here’s a look at some of the key players at the wide out position.

Trey Goodman, senior transfer from Austin Peay

Goodman said he hasn’t thought about it, but he appears to be the favorite for the No. 2 jersey, which honors the late Luke Laufenberg. He was a first-team All-Conference receiver last year at Peay when he had 721 receiving yards, and is also a team leader through his words and actions.

Whenever UTEP has trouble with a practice, he’s the one who stops everything and gives the pep talk.

His role with the Miners will be the same as it was last year at Austin Peay: be a star.

“As someone who played three years of college football and played in four FBS (opponents of Peay) games before coming here, the biggest difference between the FBS and the FCS has nothing to do with the skill positions,” Goodman said.

“There are ballers everywhere, guys with speed, guys who are long and lanky, but the biggest difference is in the box (the offensive and defensive lines). Since I’ve been here, there are some areas where I’ve learned and developed as a receiver. I’ve had to improve my game to play at this level, but it’s not a huge step up. It’s not a critical difference.”

Kam Thomas, junior transfer from Austin Peay

Thomas was Goodman’s running mate at Peay last year when he finished second in most receiving stats, including yards with 629. He was also the Governors’ star punt returner, a position UTEP has struggled at in recent years, and kickoff returner. He will be the Miners’ primary returner and the hope is he will become the No. 2 receiver.

“The biggest transition from FCS to FBS is the players,” Thomas said. “The players are a lot bigger, faster, stronger. In FCS, you’re not going to see No. 0 (edge ​​rusher) Mo Westmoreland, you’re not going to see that kind of exceptional athlete.”

“The cornerbacks are faster and more physical. Guys like (safety) Oscar Moore, who I play against every day, make me a better player. That’s the only difference for me, the size difference.”

Ashton Nickelberry, junior transfer from Austin Peay

He came to Peay last year as a junior college transfer when his season ended due to an injury in fall training camp. Before that, he was a star at Jones College in Mississippi, where his eight touchdown catches ranked seventh in the NJCAA in 2022.

Walden specifically praised him after UTEP’s second practice game on Saturday.

“One player that stood out in practice was Ashton Nickelberry,” Walden said. “Last year at Austin Peay, he broke his arm in the second practice and didn’t play. Now he’s back in the game and is having a great training camp.”

Nickelberry said that although UTEP represents greater competition for him, he can handle it.

“The game has picked up speed,” Nickelberry said. “Our offense was fast in the FBS, but in the FBS there are more talented players on defense. Speed ​​is the most important thing.”

Jaden Smith, senior transfer from Eastern Kentucky

Smith’s 781 receiving yards last year were a lot, but his timeliness helped him on his way to El Paso. Against Austin Peay, he caught 11 balls for 130 yards, and that was enough for Walden to pounce when he saw Smith in the transfer portal.

He caught three touchdown passes from three different quarterbacks in the first practice game and scored another touchdown on Saturday. He has been at his best for UTEP when the moments matter most.

“The biggest difference between FCS and FBS is not the skill positions, it’s the frontcourt,” Nickelberry said. “That’s the common theme. In FBS, you have bigger guys up front because they have more resources to build a player. Skill-wise, everything is relatively equal.”

Emari White, junior returnee from UTEP

He was the Miners’ fifth-leading receiver last year, catching eight passes for 137 yards, making him the best returning receiver at a position that has otherwise been almost completely shuffled. He is currently working with the second team.

Kenny Odom, sophomore transfer from Austin Peay

Four of UTEP’s 11 Austin Peay transfers are receivers. Odom had 301 receiving yards and 28 catches last year. He has been working with the second team this fall.

Reach Bret Bloomquist at [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.

This article originally appeared in the El Paso Times: UTEP’s new wide receiver corps has made waves in fall camp