EL PASO, Texas – Things are looking up in the Sun City as the UTEP football team has their first win streak of the season. As for basketball, Coach Floyd and his staff are hard at work preparing for the upcoming 2011-2012 season. Miner Illustrated is also doing their best to bring some more recruiting news to the loyal UTEP fans.  So without further adieu we bring you some recruiting nuggets from the past week.

In football recruiting news…

A win must have helped the Miners get their latest verbal commit as RB Leon Hayes (5’10 180 pounds 40/4.68s) from Las Vegas, NV (Desert Pines HS) committed to UTEP. Hayes is a downhill runner who looks to get north quickly and can create some yards on his own.

As per scout.com: “The first thing that stands out when you watch film is his toughness. Runs hard, lowers the shoulder and it takes more than one tackler to bring him down. Doesn’t have great speed, but that is not his game, he is a brusier. Not an every down back in college but could transition to safety, it actually better suits him. Plays with the same aggression on defense as he does on O. Takes good angles, is a sure tackler and has some pop when he tackles”.

Hayes also played defense as a safety.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhFgowBfHhk

Ratings:

• 2 stars by rivals.com
• 1 star by espn.com with a 65 grade as safety

According to Dave Schuman at NationalUnderclassmen.com, the Miners recently offered a scholarship to DE/OLB Marvin Gross from Baltimore, MD (Dunbar HS) for the 2013 class.  At 6-feet 4 inches, 220 lbs, Gross has D-1 size and will only get stronger and bigger with time. An excellent pass rusher and hasn’t disappointed this year as he has 12.5 sacks on the season.  Still early on in his recruitment and besides UTEP’s offer, Gross is receiving some attention from Maryland among other schools.

On the basketball front…

JUCO PF Matt Korcheck (6’9 215 lbs) from Douglas, AZ (Cochise C.C.) is getting some interest from UTEP. He committed to UTEP out of HS (Tony Barbee) two years ago and was released from letter of intent when Coach Floyd replaced Barbee last season. Korcheck averaged 8.3 ppg and 6 rpg in his freshman year at Cochise and should improve those numbers in his sophomore campaign. He is considering Marquette, Pisttburgh, Oklahoma, Washington State and Western Kentucky among others.

UTEP verbal commitments performance: Week 9

Name/Pos: Garrett Simpson QB
Ht/Wt: 6 feet 5 inches 230 lbs
Hometown/School: The Colony, TX (The Colony)
Results: The Colony lost Wichita Falls 59-35
Notes: Simpson threw for 203 yards, 1 TD, 3 ints and scored 3TDs on the ground.
Next Game: 11/4 vs. Denton

Name/Pos: JaQuan White WR
Ht/Wt: 5 feet 10 inches 160 lbs
Hometown/School: Lancaster, TX (Lancaster HS)
Results: Lancaster lost to Waxahachie 34-13
Notes: White had two catches for 42 yards.
Next game: 10/28 vs. Terrell

Name/Pos: Autrey Golden RB
Ht/Wt: 5 feet 10 inches 190 lbs
Hometown/School: Willis, TX (Willis HS)
Results: Willis defeated Porter 53-7
Notes: Golden ran for 12 yards on 5 carries as the other running backs carried the load.    
Next Game: 10/28 @ Humble

Name/Pos: Daniel Shaul DL
Ht/Wt: 6 feet 2 inches 265 lbs
Hometown/School: Spring, Texas (Klein Oak HS)
Results: Klein Oak defeated Tomball 45-21
Notes: Shaul had 5 tackles (3 solo) in the win.
Next Game: 10/27 @ Spring

Name/Pos: Glen Antoine DL
Ht/Wt: 6 feet 1 inches 280 lbs
Hometown/School: Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock HS)
Results: Round Rock defeated Stony Point 44-28
Notes: N/A
Next Game: 10/28 @ Pflugerville

Name/Pos: Silas Firstley DL
Ht/Wt: 6 foot 225 lbs
Hometown/School: Mesquite, Texas (Mesquite Poteet HS)
Results: Poteet defeated Ennis 56-43
Notes: N/A
Next Game: 11/04 @ Waxahachie

Name/Pos: Copper Foster LB
Ht/Wt: 6 feet 1 inch 190 lbs
Hometown/School: Cedar Park, Texas (Vista Ridge HS)
Results: Vista Ridge defeated Vandergrift 28-10
Notes: Foster records 4 tackles (3 solo) and a sack in the win.
Next Game: 11/4 @ Rouse

Name/Pos: Blair Brown LB
Ht/Wt: 6 foot 210 lbs
Hometown/School: Moreno Valley, CA (Rancho Verde HS)
Results: Rancho Verde defeated Vista del Lago 63-0
Notes: Defense has their way with Vista del Lago, shutting down the Ravens offense.
Next Game: 10/28 @ Ramona

Name/Pos: Devontae Richardson DL
Ht/Wt: 6 feet 2 inches 290 lbs
Hometown/School: Arlington, TX (Arlington Juan Seguin HS)
Results: Arlington Seguin defeated Burleson 28-20
Notes: N/A
Next Game: 10/28 @ Mansfield Summit

Name/Pos: MeKale McKay WR
Ht/Wt: 6 feet 6 inches 195 lbs
Hometown/School: Louisville, KY (Moore HS)
Results: Moore defeated Waggener 41-14
Notes: N/A
Next game: 10/28 vs. DuPont Manual