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If there was a big defensive need for the class of 2016, it was a run stopping plug in the middle of UTEP's new 3-4 defense, and depth at the 5-technique defensive end.
Washington natives Tiano Tialavea, and Jared Goldwire filled those needs as they officially committed to UTEP Sunday morning.
Tialavea was apart of the large group of visitors over the weekend, and committed to UTEP after an intense past couple weeks of contact with UTEP and Pac-12 schools.
Sean Kugler, Brian Natkin, and Andrew Browning hit the Pacific-Northwest hard the past few weeks courting Goldwire, Tialavea, Keith Moore, and Chris Hunter.
The 6'4, 325 pound defensive tackle piled up 20 sacks his junior year, but missed six games this past season with a foot injury and only appeared in four games in his senior year. He selected to play in the prestigious Blue-Grey All-American Game, and is the 31st rated 2016 prospect from Washington according to 247Sports.
He had been receiving heavy interest from Washington, Washington State, and Oregon over the past couple of weeks.
The value that both Goldwire and Tialavea bring will be vital for UTEP's new 3-4 defense.
Both are movable and athletic pieces that can play the 0-technique as a natural size fit in the middle, but can also play the 5-technique in certain run stopping packages.
Goldwire was also in El Paso over the weekend, and is a perfect immediate replacement for graduating senior Roy Robertson-Harris.
A 2015 All-SPSL 4A First Team defensive lineman selection, Goldwire had been hearing from Hawaii, New Mexico, and Missouri as of late, but had been contacted by numerous Power 5 schools during his recruiting process.
UTEP was his lone FBS offer after the coaching change at Hawaii pulled his other FBS offer. Goldwire had said if all went well over the weekend visit he would commit and sign with UTEP on Wednesday.
Both figure to have a legit shot at seeing the field early given their size and enormous upside, and the current need for defensive depth.
UTEP's recruiting steam chugs along with five commitments over the weekend, bringing the total to 20 total commits for 2016.
Feels good to be committed to playing the next 4 yrs of college football @ University of Texas El Paso #Miners @TT_Tialavea @tha1creator
— Brother_King_Jared (@Baby_Goldwire) January 31, 2016
First I want to thank GOD for this opportunity. I'm proud to announce I've committed to UTEP! #GoMiners ⛏ pic.twitter.com/prPV5fj12Z
— Tiano Tialavea (TT) (@TT_Tialavea) January 31, 2016