clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

UTEP Football: Spring Roster Update

By Alex Nicolas and Bryan J. Stein

Ahead of next Monday's start of spring practices, UTEP updated their official roster for the first time since the end of the 2016 season.

Starting with a look at some freshman, 2015 signees Dedrick Simpson (LB), Ronald Awatt (RB), Richie Rodriguez (WR), Josh Ortega (DL), Bobby DeHaro (OL) all gray shirted and have made the spring roster.

Now it appears UTEP lost a defensive end as Foster Dixson is no longer listed on the roster. Dixson saw some action late last season, and is also no longer listed on the UTEP Student directory either.

Also, Kobi McGary is nowhere to be found on the updated roster as well. McGary was a key special teamer, and a package safety in the Miners dime and nickel looks last season.

Long Snapper Chance Bishop is also no longer listed on the updated spring roster.

At tight end, former BYU tight end Josh Weeks who has been enrolled at UTEP since last semester is now on the roster and wear number 86.

David Lucero will wear #18 as him and Weeks will battle to set themselves as UTEP's tight end rotation.

A local El Paso running back, Jonathan Milan is also on the roster. Milan was a three year starter at El Paso-Coronado, and the power back is listed as a sophomore.

Michael Lewis, who missed last season with an academic issue, TK Powell who Sean Kugler said was dealing with an academic eligibility issue last season, and Treyvon Hughes who missed last season with injury are listed as juniors meaning they lost a year which figures to be something they could apply for later on in their UTEP careers.

Of note, Kavika Johnson is still listed as a quarterback, and Brandon Moss is still listed as a defensive back though both are expected to be with the wide receiver group when spring practices start next week.

Place kicking is a huge question and UTEP returns Alan Luna, and Jason Filley, but also added El Pasoan Andrew Zubia who had been kicking at Benedictine College.

JUCO transfer Kahani Smith will wear #24, and Kalaii Griffin will wear #7.

UTEP starts spring practice on Monday March 6th, and the spring game is slated for Friday April 14th.

2017 Spring Roster

NO NAME POS HT/WT CL EXP HOMETOWN (LAST SCHOOL)
22 Ronald Awatt RB 5-11/195 FR HS Wolfforth, Texas (Frenship HS)
73 Bobby DeHaro OL 6-4/270 FR HS El Paso, Texas (Montwood HS)
97 Josh Ortega DL 6-2/275 FR HS El Paso, Texas (Montwood HS)
14 Richie Rodriguez WR 5-9/175 FR HS El Paso, Texas (Eastwood HS)
59 Dedrick Simpson LB 6-2/260 FR HS Houston, Texas (Dobie HS)
52 Sergio Gonzalez LB 6-0/210 FR El Paso, Texas (UTPB)
90 Christian Johnson DL 6-2/255 RS FR RS El Paso, Texas (Parkland HS)
64 Tiano Tialavea DL 6-3/335 RS FR RS Seattle, Wash. (O'Dea HS)
30 Broderick Harrell DB 5-11/200 RS FR RS Wolfforth, Texas (Frenship HS)
82 Brannon Bullitt WR 6-0/210 RS FR RS El Paso, Texas (Chapin HS)
9 Sione Tupou LB 5-11/240 RS FR RS Allen, Texas (Allen HS)
63 Josiah Gray OL 6-4/315 RS FR RS Rancho, Calif. (Rancho Cucamonga)
14 Mark Torrez QB 6-0/185 RS FR RS El Paso, Texas (Eastwood HS)
40 Randy Thomas DB 5-10/170 RS FR RS El Paso, Texas (Hanks High School)
51 Chris Barnwell LB 6-2/220 RS FR RS El Paso, Texas (Eastlake HS)
57 Barron Wortham Jr. LB 5-11/240 RS FR RS Arlington, Texas (The Oakridge School)
26 Walter Dawn WR 5-6/170 SO 1L Mesquite, Texas (Poteet HS)
48 Andrew Zubia K 5-11/190 SO TR El Paso, Texas (Benedictine College)
87 Jorge Rodriguez TE 6-1/230 SO 0L El Paso, Texas (Montwood HS)
52 Dylan Parsee LB 6-2/210 SO 1L San Angelo, Texas (San Angelo Central HS)
91 Jimmy Quemado DL 5-11/250 SO 0L Honolulu, Hawai'i (St. Louis HS)
95 Denzel Chukwukelu DL 6-4/295 SO 1L Rockwall, Texas (Rockwall Heath HS)
18 Jerrell Brown DB 6-1/190 SO RS Perris, Calif. (Citrus Hill HS)
59 Greg Long OL 6-4/305 SO 1L El Paso, Texas (Eastwood HS)
86 Sani Buckingham TE 6-4/275 SO 1L El Paso, Texas (Home School)
30 Kevin Dove RB 6-0/250 SO 1L El Campo, Texas (El Campo HS)
23 Justin Rogers DB 5-11/190 SO 1L Los Angeles, Calif. (Los Angeles HS)
7 Kalaii Griffin LB 6-1/220 SO TR Bethesda, Md. (Ventura CC)
21 Eddie Sinegal WR 6-1/170 SO 1L El Paso, Texas (Andress HS)
42 Jonathan Millan RB 5-9/210 SO 0L El Paso, Texas (Coronado High School)
4 Quadraiz Wadley RB 6-0/180 SO 1L Kennedale, Texas (Kennedale HS)
34 Stephen Forester LB 6-1/230 RS SO RS Dallas, Texas (Dallas Christian HS)
51 Fowler Freund LS 5-8/200 RS SO 0L El Paso, Texas (El Paso HS)
3 Jayson VanHook LB 6-2/210 RS SO 1L Perris, Calif. (Citrus Hill HS)
99 Chris Richardson DL 6-3/300 RS SO 1L Oak Hills, Calif. (Oak Hills HS)
17 Keynan Foster WR 5-9/180 RS SO TR Mill Creek, Wash. (Florida A&M)
61 Ruben Guerra OL 6-4/290 RS SO 0L Bakersfield, Calif. (Liberty HS)
49 Gene Hopkins DL 6-3/265 RS SO 1L Elgin, Texas (Elgin HS)
69 Markos Lujan OL 6-3/325 RS SO 0L El Paso, Texas (Americas HS)
66 Robert Pufahl OL 5-11/275 RS SO RS Westlake Village, Calif. (Oaks Christian HS)
84 Luke Elsner LB 6-3/260 JR 2L Seymour, Wis. (Seymour HS)
24 Kahani Smith DB 6-1/185 JR TR (Riverside CC)
12 Adrian Hynson DB 5-10/185 JR 2L Corpus Christi, Texas (Flour Bluff)
10 Warren Redix WR 5-10/175 JR 2L El Paso, Texas (Montwood HS)
20 Nik Needham DB 6-0/200 JR 2L Buena Park, Calif (Buena Park HS)
2 Michael Lewis DB 6-0/190 JR 1L Trinity, Texas (Trinity HS)
88 Augie Touris TE 6-4/250 JR 0L Buffalo, N.Y. (Canisius HS)
86 Josh Weeks TE 6-3/255 JR TR Show Low, Ariz. (BYU)
55 Mike Sota DL 6-5/285 JR 1L Placentia, Calif. (Valencia)
92 Christian Buckingham DL 6-3/250 JR TR El Paso, Texas (Hawaii)
3 Treyvon Hughes RB 6-1/225 JR 1L Waxahachie, Texas (Hebron HS)
7 Kavika Johnson QB 6-1/205 JR 2L Las Cruces, N.M. (Mayfield HS)
12 Ryan Metz QB 6-3/210 JR 2L El Paso, Texas (Andress HS)
72 Jerrod Brooks OL 6-6/330 JR 2L Dallas, Texas (Seagoville)
37 Kristopher Christian FB 5-11/240 JR 1L Lovejoy, Ga. (Lovejoy HS)
20 TK Powell RB 5-11/190 JR 1L Fort Worth, Texas (Chisum HS)
1 Kalon Beverly DB 6-1/190 JR 2L New Orleans, La. (Edna Karr HS)
65 Derron Gatewood OL 6-2/310 JR 2L Odessa, Texas (Permian HS)
18 David Lucero TE 6-5/230 JR TR Holtville, Calif. (Arizona Western College)
41 Devin Gillotte LB 5-9/225 RS JR RS Greenacres, Fla. (Stetson University)
49 Jason Filley K/P 5-9/160 RS JR 0L El Paso, Texas (Coronado HS)
2 Terry Juniel WR 5-10/180 RS JR 1L Surprise, Ariz. (Glendale Community College)
38 Elijah Perales DB 5-9/190 RS JR 0L El Paso, Texas (Chapin HS)
33 Lawrence Montegut LB 6-2/230 SR 3L La Marque, Texas (La Marque HS)
45 Dante Lovilette LB 5-11/225 SR 1L Port Arthur, Texas (Kilgore College)
27 Devin Cockrell DB 6-0/200 SR 3L Port Arthur, Texas (Memorial HS)
43 Makana Fraser LB 6-2/225 SR 1L Keaau, HI (Phoenix College)
16 Alvin Jones LB 5-11/225 SR 3L El Paso, Texas (Burges HS)
8 Zack Greenlee QB 6-1/215 SR 1L Stockton, Calif. (Fresno State)
81 Sterling Napier TE 6-4/260 SR 3L Rio Rancho, N.M. (Cleveland HS)
83 Tyler Batson WR 6-2/205 SR 3L Spring, Texas (Westfield HS)
71 Erik Ramirez OL 6-3/285 SR 1L El Paso, Texas (Del Valle HS)
46 Alan Luna K/P 6-0/190 SR 2L El Paso, Texas (Baker University)
75 Derek Elmendorff OL 6-3/325 SR 3L El Paso, Texas (Franklin HS)
58 Tanner Stallings OL 6-1/300 SR 1L Sterling, Kan. (Hutchinson CC)
56 Sky Logan DL 6-1/285 SR 2L Natchez, Miss. (Hinds Community College)
76 Will Hernandez OL 6-3/330 SR 3L Las Vegas, Nev. (Chaparral HS)
14 Alex Jean Charles DB 6-0/175 SR 1L Winter Haven, Fla. (Phoenix College)
6 Jean-Andre Moore WR 5-11/190 SR 0L Aloha, Ore. (Cabrillo College)
35 David Jackson FB 6-0/240 RS SR 1L El Paso, Texas (Parkland HS)
8 Johnny Jones LB 6-1/210 RS SR 1L Carrollton, Texas (Jacksonville University)
84 Dylan Kittrell WR 5-11/190 RS SR 0L Carrollton, Texas (Bethany CC)
6 Brandon Moss DB 6-3/190 RS SR 3L El Paso, Texas (Chapin HS)
35 Cam Martin DB 5-10/215 RS SR 0L Keller, Texas (Texas A&M-Commerce)