UTEP football recruits impressed

Darren Hunt
El Paso TImes

Linda Stelter / El Paso Times
Montwood High School running back Edward Britton made his official visit to UTEP this weekend and came away impressed.


Price


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UTEP first-year coach Mike Price's impressive 4-2 start has won over El Paso.

But can he convince the city's top recruit to stay home and play for the Miners?

Montwood High School running back Edward Britton completed his official visit to UTEP on Sunday, along with several out-of-town recruits, all of whom watched the Miners handle Hawaii 51-20 on Saturday night in front of 44,381 at the Sun Bowl.

"It was pretty nice," said Britton, who visited Nebraska earlier this month and is scheduled to make a final visit to Texas Tech next weekend. "I'm still going to go to Texas Tech, because I promised them I would. But UTEP has made a big impression."

The 6-foot, 180-pound Britton, who is averaging 238 yards rushing and three touchdowns per game this season, is expected to make his final decision after visiting Tech. He finished his UTEP visit with brunch at Price's West Side home.

"We've enjoyed ourselves," said Britton's father, Edward Sr., as he arrived with his son at Price's home late Sunday morning. "Coach Price and (recruiting coordinator) Jeff Banks have a personal touch. It's a little different than the Nebraska visit, which was all on campus. (Price) really gets the most out of it."

In addition to Britton, UTEP coaches took aim at some of Arizona's top high school players last weekend.

Three recruits who made official visits hailed from the Grand Canyon state, including Richie Brockel, a 6-3, 230-pound tight end/linebacker out of Phoenix's Greenway High School.

"Pretty tight," Brockel said as he watched the Miners make their entrance behind a pick- toting Price on Saturday night. Brockel, second-team all-state as a linebacker last season, said he has a long list of schools, including Boise State. "Lots of Pac-10 schools are recruiting me and most of the WAC schools."

According to Insiders.com, Brockel, a 4.0 GPA student ranked in the top five percent of his senior class, has offers from Harvard and Wyoming.

The three-year starter on both the football and basketball team also is receiving interest from Stanford, California, Arizona and Nevada.

Brockel, who has 4.68 speed in the 40-yard dash, took up track this year and qualified for state in the 400-meter relay and the discus. He's led the football team in tackles the past two seasons.

"In nineteen years of teaching physics and AP physics and coaching football, track, and wrestling, I have had some great ones pass through my door, both academically and athletically," Greenway coach Mike Brown told the Arizona Republic. "I can honestly say that (Brockel) is the best I have had in both categories. Richie is the true epitome of the term 'student athlete.' "

Other Arizona recruits who made official visits last weekend were Peoria High 6-6, 225-pound defensive end Jake Robinson and Phoenix Westview High 6-4, 265-pound defensive end/offensive tackle Shelly Smith. PrepAz.com lists both as 5A preseason all-state selections.

I hope we get those guys..they would make great additions to our future UTEP Roster

Here is another UTEP recruiting article on Brandis Dew QB from Hemet High in California.

Quote:UTEP, LSU chase high school star

Father claims Miners could be QB's choice

Darren Hunt
El Paso Times

UTEP's rebuilding process under Mike Price may not be far enough along to compete with defending national champion LSU on the football field.

But off of it, UTEP's staff already has attracted enough attention with its quick start to hold its own recruiting against some of the nation's top schools.

The Miners are involved in a head-to-head battle with Nick Saban's staff at LSU for a 6-foot-6, 250-pound California quarterback who leads the state in touchdown passes this year.

Hemet High's Brandis Dew, who made an official visit to UTEP last month, also has received interest from UCLA, USC, Colorado and Duke. He told Rivals.com this week that UTEP and LSU are his top two.

"That is indeed his top two at this point," Dew's father, Richard, confirmed Wednesday. "I understand why some might have a hard time understanding that. But the thinking there is --this about Mike Price and the possibility of what his program can do for you as a player. Things are changing in El Paso."

Dew said his son, who also plays defensive end, has an official visit to LSU scheduled for Dec. 11. Interest from Pac-10 schools has fallen off some since Dew made it clear he wants to play quarterback in college.

"I was stoked, the national champions wanted me to come to their school," said Dew, who noted a late push from Florida State. "(LSU) wants me pretty bad and can't wait for my visit."

NCAA rules prohibit coaches from speaking to the media about prospects until they sign a letter of intent. Dew's father believes that despite the impressive company, UTEP is the favorite.

"I'd be surprised if he doesn't end up choosing UTEP," he said. "LSU is so far away. UTEP is eight hours down the road from us in Hemet (30 miles west of Palm Springs). When he took his trip to El Paso, it wasn't very different from the way it is here."

At the midpoint in his senior season, Dew has thrown for 1,668 yards, completing 60 percent of his passes with just four interceptions. He set a county record three weeks ago by throwing eight touchdowns passes in a game. Dew recently was selected to participate in the California-Florida Bowl, pitting the best high school players in those states against one another Dec. 30 in Los Angeles.

I love seeing t his.

YOu now see UTEP going up against the likes of Nebraska, LSU, USC instaead of Idaho, NMSU, North Texas.

We are on our way up!

Damn, I'm excited!!! I can't wait until we start hearing about the recruits who are going to sign with UTEP. Next year will be so cool when we kick the crap out of both the Faggies and the Loblowjobs and win the CUSA West...

GO MINERS!