EL PASO, Texas – For this special Independence Day edition of the Scouting Mine, faithful follower UTEP66 authors todays recap of recruiting info. It’s pretty in depth, so sit back, crack open a cold beverage and enjoy the insight and the holiday!

The Miner coaching staff have completed their summer camps and are full bore into the recruiting process. I’ve listed a few of the Miners currently offered and two more who are rumored to be close to Miner offers.

The Miner staff has offered linebacker Emmanuel Omoegble (Alief Taylor, Houston). Omoegble is a 6 foot 220 pound linebacker/defensive end with 4.7 speed with exceptional strength for a high school athlete (bench 365 and squat 520). His 2009 season was excellent with 86 tackles, including 15 for losses and five sacks.

Scout.com reports Omoegble is a very good pass rusher, has good backside pursuit and plays with great intensity and effort. He is undersized at defensive end without a little added size, but should be potentially a good linebacker. At this juncture in the recruiting process UTEP is his only reported offer.

Linebacker Antonio McCray (6-1/212/4.7) is one of two players offered from A. Maceo Smith High School inDallas. Antonio is a bit of a sleeper from a 3A school, but has good speed and athletic ability. McCray sports a 3.2 GPA.

Keithen English (6-4/315/5.0) is a DL/OL with excellent speed for a big man. He currently benches 300 pounds and carries a 2.5 GPA. Keithen, with a little time in the weight room, has a very high upside. Recruiting for English is intense at this point with Kansas, LA Tech, both New Mexico schools and Oklahoma State offering along with the Miners.

South Grand Prairie High School defensive lineman Roy Roberson has reportedly been offered by the Miners. Roy is 6’5 and carries a solid 240 pounds to go with his excellent 4.7 speed. Roy has limited playing time, but Dave Campbell reports he has excellent athletic ability and potential. He currently has offers fromMinnesota, Arkansas and Texas Tech in addition to the Miners.

Sommerset, Texas has two athletes drawing serious attention from the Miner’s reports Gerry Hamilton in his June 10 recruiting blog. Hamilton reports QB Stevie Joe Doorman and wide out Jacob Hillyer are closing in on their first offers.

Hamiltion says Dorman attended the UTEP Austin camp and the Miners are showing serious interest. Doorman (6-4/210/4.8) is a Dave Campbell top 20 quarterback with good strength for a QB with a 235 bench and 415 squat. Last year he threw for over 2800 yards with 28 touchdowns. Dorman has no current offers, but the Colorado website reports they are very interested.

Scout.com’s evaluation of Doorman is that he is a polished recruit with a great touch on short and medium passes. They further add, he has great upside and could start as a freshman at some schools, if needed.

Jacob Hillyer, as reported on MinerRush, is a  6’4 and 185 pound wide receiver with excellent 4.5 speed. He also has been projected as a tight end with his height and some added bulk. Jacob had a stellar 2009 with 77 catches for 1053 yards and seven touchdowns. He benches over 225 and squats 400 plus pounds.

Recruiting Updates and Information

Several players who were on the Miner’s recruiting list have signed with other schools. The highly touted WR/TE Junior Pomee (UCLA), seventh ranked QB Chad Jefferies (SDSU), offensive lineman Jordan Smith (Iowa State), linebacker Emil Smith (Boise State), defensive lineman Cameron Smith (SMU), defensive lineman Jarrett Spencer (SMU) and defensive lineman Rishaad Wimbley (SMU) are among the players who recently gave verbal commitments.

As reported by MinerRush, Dave Campbell Top 20 QB Jonovan Griffin has been offered by the Miners. Griffin is projected as a wide receiver or defensive back, but with his 4.4 speed & his arm, he put up some eye popping numbers last season. He rushed for 1200 yards with 12 touchdowns and threw for 2420 yards, including 14 touchdowns. At the April Nike Dallas combine, Brian Stumpt, in his EPSN Rise column, reports Jonovan ran 4.38 shuttle and had a 36.2 inch vertical leap.

MI broke the news of the recent verbal commitment of RB Xavier (Xay) Williams on the July 1 edition of Pete’s Quarry Podcast. MI gave an excellent evaluation on the speedy ( timed 4.3 at the Miner Camp) and gifted running back. Last year Williams averaged 7.5 yards per carry rushing with 11 touchdowns and caught 24 passes (15.6 average), including five touchdowns. Again, Brian Stumpt in his column reports Xavier could be a big-time steal in a state loaded with running backs.

MI also reported the fourth verbal commitment of the year in LB Brandon Durant, Copperas Cove (6’1/185/4.5), The tough and speedy Durant is a Dave Campbell Top 300 player who had a sensational 2009 season with 143 tackles and two interceptions.

Angel Verdejo and Alex Byington report in their February 4th column, ” Killeen’s Michael Cummings and Copperas Cove’s Brandon Durant, are juniors who have already made their mark on class rankings and have internet message boards buzzing. Brandon is a big time addition, and coupled with verbal commit Wardell Crothfield, give the Miner two potential impact linebackers.

As a long time Miner fan and big time recruiting junkie, I encourage all Miner fans to listen to MI’s Pete’s Quarry Podcasts. If you want an insight you won’t get elsewhere, I highly recommend you give it try.

Thanks to UTEP66 for today’s article. If you would like to get in touch with UTEP66, email him at show@minerillustrated.com.