Hunter Nix grayshirted before hitting the field for the Miners and has burst onto the scene since. (Photo: Brian Kanof)

EL PASO, Texas – A year ago Hunter Nix was taking classes, lifting weights and working toward his dream of playing on the UTEP football team.

He was recruited by Mike Price and his staff but was told that he’d need to grayshirt his first year, meaning paying his own way for school and not being able to work out with his teammates.

The small holdup prior to the beginning of his UTEP football career was trying for Nix, but he’ll be the first to admit that the experience has made the overall result well worth the wait.

“Honestly, I just got bigger,” Nix said. “I was 200 pounds coming out of high school and now I’m 225. That helped.”

Nix’s change occurred due to his position switch. Prior to his arrival at UTEP, the freshman linebacker had played quarterback at Prosper High School in Prosper, Texas. He threw for more than 1,800 yards in his senior season, while also recording 22 touchdowns.

Despite having those successful numbers, which followed a more than 2,100 yard, 18 touchdown season, Nix said he had to work hard individually to get into linebacker shape.

“I worked out and ran every day with the coaches, on my own, got bigger, faster and stronger,” Nix said. “I got acclimated to the college and the workouts.”

Not only that, but Nix was also able to adjust to the academic portion of the college experience.

“I got six hours under my belt last semester,” Nix said. “I was able to start out slow and ease into it.”

It was the way Nix wanted to start his career because he knew he’d be changing positions when he spoke to colleges during his recruiting process a year ago.

“That was definitely a big point,” Nix said of developing prior to playing at UTEP. “It also helped because all I played in high school was quarterback.”

Academics and athletics are huge aspects of Nix’s career up until this point but he admitted there was a larger reason for him to bulk up.

“When they told me I was coming here, they also said, ‘You’re going to play linebacker, so it could be a big change’,” Nix said.

That’s a bit of an understatement but fortunately Nix had support from WC Nix III, his father, who was a great lineman in his own right for TCU, earning All-Southwest lineman honors in 85’ and 86’ for the Horned Frogs.

“My dad was all for it,” Nix said with a smile. “He was like, ‘Yeah you need to do that’.”

The feeling wasn’t mutual from Hunter at first, but he realized that the coaching staff was looking in his best interest.

“I wasn’t happy about it at first but it was the best thing for me, for sure,” Nix said.

He may not have been happy but, if anything, he was fortunate in that he could lean on teammate Jeremy Springer for advice. The junior linebacker was also converted from quarterback because he wanted to get on the field and has been able to give him guidance.

“He’s taught me the little things like not trying to think like a quarterback,” Nix said.

It also helps that he’s able to learn from one of the greatest linebackers in the history of the UTEP football program.

“It was honestly the greatest thing that could have happened to us (the linebackers),” Nix said of Rodriguez being named the linebackers’ coach. “Coach Rod cares so much about us and you know he cares. He’s just a great coach and a great guy so it makes you want to play that much harder for him. It’s just a great deal.”

And it’s an even better deal for the Miners who have unearthed an unselfish player that is ready on a moment’s notice and accepts his current role.

“I just want to learn the defense and better myself as a player,” Nix said. “I don’t really have any goals on trying to start and everything. I’m just trying to get the defense and helping the team anyway I can.”