UTEP has been here before with its quarterbacks and so has coach Scotty Walden .
Less than a month ago, JP Pickles was a true freshman, fourth-team quarterback battling Shay Smith for the third spot on the depth chart, behind starter Cade McConnell and former starter Skyler Locklear .
When UTEP takes the field Saturday against Middle Tennessee as a 3-point favorite, Pickles, one year removed from from leading North Florida Christian High School to a regionals win over John Paul Catholic in the Florida playoffs, is likely to take the first snap.
That’s because McConnell, who was a fourth-teamer last year until he suddenly found himself No. 1 at the midpoint of the season, is out for the year following surgery on his wrist. Locklear is in the final stages of recovery from a concussion and Pickles made himself the next man up with strong performances in practices the last two weeks.
A game after making his playing debut against Louisiana Tech, Pickles will probably make his starting debut in the Sun Bowl for a team playing as a favorite against an FBS team for the first time in more than a year.