A senior-laden team saved Mike Price's job in 2010 by returning the popular coach and the downtrodden Miners program to a bowl game for the first time in five years.

With a ton of talent on offense walking out the door, the Miners aren't about to accept a rebuilding season for 2011, which is why, in part, they inked eight junior college players Feb. 2 on national signing day.

"The community college players have a chance to come in and help us with our goal next year, which is to win a conference championship, win a bowl game, fill the stadium up and get us back on track," Price told the El Paso Times.

Finding a way to replace departing senior stars Trevor Vittatoe (quarterback), Kris Adams (wide receiver) and Donald Buckram (running back), not to mention a slew of experienced offensive linemen, will be a tall order for the Miners in 2011.

The good news on the other side of the ball is that the defense probably can't do much of anything but improve. It wasn't good in 2010 (or 2009, 2008, 2007, etc.).

Price and the Miners offense, for the first time in several years, enter spring ball without a mountain of expectations for its big-name offense to produce 40 points per game for the team to have a chance.

In fact, it seems maybe the only one with the expectations for 2011 might be Price himself.

TOP OF THE CLASS

DE Roy Robertson (South Grand Prairie High, Grand Prairie, Texas) -- The Rivals.com and Scout.com three-star prospect could step right into a starting role for the Miners. He was one of the best prep players in Texas, and the Miners don't often land in-state kids as good out of high school as Robertson.

QB Nick Lamaison (Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, Calif.) -- The Miners just lost a four-year starter and the program's passing leader in pretty much all categories. That means a highly regarded junior college performer like the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Lamaison could step right into a starting role if he impresses coach Mike Price in the offseason.

LB Josh Fely (San Diego Mesa College) -- The mid-year enrollee had 156 tackles and 17.5 of those for loss in his two junior college years. He lacks great size or speed, but has a knack for making big plays, and the UTEP defense is in desperate need of that.

Copyright (C) 2011 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.