UTEP Football: 2017 El Paso OLB Josh Wells commits to UTEP

District 2-5A's defensive MVP from Parkland High School and outside linebacker Josh Wells will stay home as he announced his commitment to UTEP ahead of next Wednesday's National Signing Day.

Wells, 6'2, 225 pounds, had a monster senior year piling up 25 sacks which ranked tops among pass rushers in the entire state this past season. He was also used as a blocking tight end at times, and also caught four passes for 35 yards.

He ended his senior season with 132 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and blocked two punts off the edge this past season, showing his athletic ability, and explosiveness off the ball.

Wells had offers from Incarnate Word, Western New Mexico, and UTPB, and is expected to gray shirt at UTEP which has been a solid path for local El Paso players since Sean Kugler has made a point to recruit the El Paso area.

He was a solid three-year contributor at Parkland, making a huge production jump his senior year after eight sacks, and 59 total tackles his junior year. UTEP has options with Wells, either converting him over to a full time rush end, or continue his growth at outside linebacker.

UTEP has now signed a player from El Paso-Parkland for the second straight class, growing the class of 2017 to eight high school commits, and three JUCO signings.