UTEP Football: Five important official visits highlight UTEP’s final recruiting weekend

The final weekend of recruiting is always an important one for all college football programs.

For UTEP, this weekend is no exception with four key visitors from Washington, and a much needed future offensive weapon expected to arrive in El Paso on Friday.

Chris Hunter, Keith Moore, Jared Goldwire, and Tiano Tialavea who are all from Washington have confirmed their official visits for this weekend.

Goldwire (6'7, 280 lbs), Moore (6'4, 285 lbs), and Tialavea (6'4, 330 lbs) are defensive line prospects who figure to have immediate playing opportunities at UTEP.

All three are equally important targets with their size, and potential, but Chris Hunter from Tacoma, Washington is the must-have piece out of all who are visiting this weekend.

UTEP is looking to fill three more linebacker spots with two already committed, and Hunter is a prospect who is the most likely to see the field out of all the 2016 high school commits.

An outside linebacker with rangy length, and great tackling technique, Hunter has offers from Idaho, and South Alabama.  UTEP will need depth at outside linebacker, something Hunter can provide as soon as next season.

UTEP has offered just one JUCO prospect during the recent open recruiting period, meaning they are looking for impact freshmen on the defensive side of the ball like the four Washington prospects could provide if they sign on the dotted line with UTEP.

At this point, it appears UTEP could possibly have three-to-four true freshman that will be fighting for a defensive depth chart spot come fall, along with a number of red-shirt freshmen.

All purpose back Walter Dawn Jr. is also expected and confirmed his visit to UTEP this weekend.

Dawn has offers from Nevada, and New Mexico, and has been showing some UTEP interest on Twitter.  It's safe to officially place Dawn on the Miner Rush commitment watch this weekend.

Other updates

Defensive back Jassir Jordan is still 50/50 on whether he will sign with UTEP.  The 5'11 cornerback has some family currently enrolled at UTEP so that could sway his decision, but it's still very much up in the air.

Another important target is linebacker prospect Sione Tupou from Allen.  Tupou picked up a UTEP offer this week, and could also be a surprise visitor this weekend, but that has not been confirmed.

Tupou has an offer from Army, and recently visited Texas Southern.

Ayo Shogbonyo is another 50/50 offer at this point.  It appears he may have only been offered a financial aid agreement for 2016, meaning a gray shirt spot for 2016.  He too has been offered by Army.

Other names that have come up, but are now in the less than 50% chance of committing category are defensive end Steven Mason, nose guard Jo-Bently Keilani, linebacker Caylin Parker and the Jalen Walker camp have all been quiet on their decisions as of late while mulling over multiple offers.

We'll keep this post updated with any other visits who confirm over the next few hours.