EL PASO, Texas (KFOX 14, CBS 4) — As UTEP enters its’ first season in the Mountain West, the Miners will rely heavily on a veteran defense. At the heart of that unit is the linebacker tandem of Jayden Wilson and Garrett Hawkins.

“They are the bash brothers,” UTEP head coach Scotty Walden said. “They make this defense go. Those two guys are the engine that really start the whole thing and they complement each other so well.”

On the field, it doesn’t take long to find No. 10 and No. 4. Where one goes, the other is usually right there, with Wilson and Hawkins constantly competing with and against each other in every drill. However, their connection and bond goes well beyond football.

“That is my best friend right there,” Hawkins said. “We’re together all the time.”

“We are together 24/7,” Wilson said. “He’s over at my house all the time and I go over to his place. He’s like a brother to me.”

Wilson starts at MIKE linebacker for the Miners, while Hawkins starts at SAM linebacker. The chemistry between UTEP’s “Bash Brothers” carries right onto the field, where the two have emerged as leaders of the Miners defense.

“When you have that bond off of the field, you are going to have an even better bond on the field,” Hawkins said. “We are the heartbeat of the defense. He’s getting the d-line ready and I’m getting the back end ready. We are constantly feeding off each other and the energy permeates.”

Wilson is entering his second year with the program. Last season he racked up 92 total tackles with an interception and three forced fumbles. After his breakout 2025 season, the El Paso native has become one of the most important voices in the UTEP locker room.

“The biggest step [Wilson] has taken is those leadership qualities,” UTEP defensive coordinator Kyle Beyer said. “Whether its a standard on defense or whole programmatically, he is going to take control of it. He will vocally address it and then find a solution.

Hawkins, meanwhile, is preparing for his return after missing the majority of the 2025 season with a torn ACL. Having the veteran linebacker back in the middle of the defense provides a major boost for the Miners as they prepare to face a top-10 opponent in Week 1.

“[Hawkins] brings a different level to the linebacker room in terms of speed, athleticism and striking ability,” Beyer said. “He’s an extremely physical player and another leader out there that gets us going. It’s great to have him back.”

UTEP kicks off their 2026 season on the road at No. 10 Oklahoma on September 4th.