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UTEP football: Recruiting Roundup

As always, the coaches hit the road during the bye week handing out a few offers, scouting prospects in person, and showing some interest in a few others.

By Alex Nicolas

UTEP's coaching staff hit the road and the El Paso scene as the staff utilized the bye week to continue molding the class of 2016 and looked at a local 2017 prospect.

Sean Kugler had said UTEP has 14 available scholarships for 2016, but with three scholarship defections the number could be in the 16-17 range now with an expected class of 20 signees for 2016.

One of the biggest and most important offers came from an immediate area of need.

Arlington, Texas running back Peytton Pickett reported a UTEP offer this past week.  Pickett is a 247Sports two-star prospect who has offers from Kansas and SMU.  He ran for 272 yards and three touchdowns last night in a 42-35 win, I can't confirm if any UTEP coaches were in attendance.

UTEP of course hit the local scene, and showed interest in El Paso High 2017 ATH Tre Wolf.

Brian Natkin was spotted by KTSM's Beau Bagley at Franklin High School's practice.

No sources can confirm this, but the staff could be looking at Franklin wide receiver Gunner Romney who has FBS route running and ball skills.  This season he has 454 yards receiving on 31 receptions with 5 touchdowns at 6'2, 180 pounds.

Franklin also has a few good sized lineman and running back Michael Faimalo is another solid player who could also be on the radar.

The Miners also hit Alamogordo, New Mexico to show interest in explosive 2016 wide receiver Julian Segura who has had an all-state year so far for Alamogordo High school.

Coaches from Crosby, Texas (Crosby High), Tyler, Texas (John Tyler), Canoga Park, California (Canoga High) all reported via Twitter that UTEP coaches had stopped by during the week.

Special teams coordinator Brian Natkin was in San Antonio last night to watch Richard McNitzky who is the #3 long snapper in the nation according to 247Sports and has already been offered by UTEP.

The secondary has been an area of concern this season as we all know, and it looks like UTEP is after a few JUCO corners for a much needed quick fix.

UTEP showed interest in 6'3 sophomore cornerback Aaron Ross from Sacramento City College in California this week.

LA Valley College sophomore defensive back  Emmanuel Roker is also being targeted by UTEP.  Roker stands 6'2 and is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida native that tweeted UTEP was supposed to be in to watch him on Thursday.

UTEP appears to be methodical in their approach in terms of handing out offers to fill out the rest of the class of 2016.  Quality and the ability to come in and help out in needed depth areas could be the focus in the remaining available scholarships.

In other 2016 recruiting hits, El Paso Parkland commit Christian Johnson is playing defensive end again after starting the year at linebacker.  He was double-teamed all of last night, but did bat down a pass while being double-teamed and showed he could possibly bypass a red-shirt year if need be.

Defensive back commit Eric Foster ran for 219 yards and two touchdowns last night in El Paso Americas' 38-35 win over Franklin.

Fullback commit Kevin Dove from El Campo, Texas had 92 yards rushing last night and has ran for over 700 yards this season. ATH commit Luke Termin caught a touchdown pass for Rockwall last night as well.

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