UTEP Football Feature - Gavin Hardison

Gavin Hardison

By Mark Brunner Strategic Communications

Throughout his life, UTEP signal caller Gavin Hardison has known that he wanted to be a quarter back. Even though he spent his first season at wide receiver at around the age of seven, he was drawn to the position.

“I love competing, being a competitor and playing the quarterback position is a real challenge,” Hardison said. “It’s also fun. I’ve always wanted to take my talents and compete at this level.”

The Hobbs, N.M., native hasn’t looked back since he started lining up under center. He went on to play at New Mexico Military Institute before being recruited to UTEP by head coach Dana Dimel. Once he assumed the starting position toward the latter half of the 2020 season, he’s gotten better and better.

Playing division I football for Hardison is the culmination of a lifelong dream. “I just kind of believed in myself and that was my dream,” Hardison said. “I was going to work and put in every effort I could to get this point. Now that I’m here, I’m going to try to do the same thing and get myself better every day.”

Hardison, who became the first 3,000 yard passer at UTEP in 13 years last year, is also climbing the career charts in several categories. He is fifth all time at the school with more than 5,500 passing yards and sixth in program history with 380 completions. His primary focus, though, remains the team’s success.

“For me that’s kind of a team thing,” Hardison said. “I wouldn’t have those yards if it weren’t for everyone around me making players. It’s cool (to be in the record books), but at the same time I understand that team is more important to myself. My team’s success is more important than my individual success.”

Even with the departure of his top target from a year ago (Jacob Cowing), he has already established good chemistry with the now No. 1 receiver in Tryrin Smith. He connected with him seven times for 127 yards in the opener against North Texas on Aug. 27. That was followed up by Smith making a career-best eight snags at No. 9 Oklahoma.

Smith is quick to acknowledge how well the two work together. “I feel like just over the summer we were working in the hot sun with countless days of running routes,” Smith said. “That’s how we built the chemistry, and it has now translated over into the fall. To me, it’s expected.”

Hardison also agrees with Smith that there’s a good connection between the pair. “It’s happened over time with a lot of reps,” Hardison said. “We’ve just built up a bond and a friendship, understanding each other and spending a lot of time with each other off the field.” Overall there are signs that his game is evolving. After being picked off 13 times in 13 contests a year ago, he’s opened the 2022 season by attempting 91 passes without an interception. Most recently he completely a career-best 26 passes at Oklahoma.

One of the qualities that allows Hardison to continually play well is his even-keel approach, no matter how good or bad things are going. “I just don’t get too high or get too low,” Hardison said. “I understand situations and how to react. I keep myself in a good state of mind, and it helps me stay even keeled.” When he’s not starring on the gridiron, Hardison can be found on the golf course. It’s a much needed break from the rigors of playing quarterback, but even there he takes a competitive mentality.

“Golf is extremely challenging and I feel like no one is ever going to be perfect at golf,” Hardison said. “It’s something that I enjoy and I challenge myself with (to be the best).” As far as what type of golfer he is, it’s pretty simple.

“I like to swing hard and see where it goes,” Hardison said. “It just depends on how I’m feeling that day.” If you’ve never seen Hardison play, don’t expect the humble quarterback to toot his own horn about what type of player he is. He simply states that he’s a ‘good teammate.’ Smith, on the other hand, is happy to fill in the blanks about Hardison.

“He has a strong arm and is confident in his throws,” Smith said. “He goes through his reads (well), and I feel like we’re going to bounce back.” UTEP is 0-2 on the year, but Hardison knows that the team can still experience success in 2022. “Everything is still on the table,” Hardison said. “We just have to execute, compete and win games. We’re going to take it one play at a time and see what happens.