El Paso talent benefits UTEP

Throughout my four years playing football at the University of Texas at El Paso, I have seen a lot of players go in and out of the program.

I saw these changes when the new coaching staff came in. Some players were from out of town and did not appreciate El Paso and Disrespected the coaches and fellow players and were removed from the team, leaving the depth on the team very thin.

Unlike the previous coach, the new coach, Sean Kugler, made a point to recruit more El Paso players to the Miners football team. The players that I chose are very close to me.

Alan Luna, a Franklin graduate, who walked on the football team and started the 2015 season as punter and holder and Ryan Metz, an Andres High school graduate, played a few games for the Miners as a scholarship athlete. Both of these athletes have had an impact on the UTEP Miners football team and the community.

In the spring of 2015, I met Alan Luna. He joined the team during the spring football practices and started shining immediately. Luna was born in El Paso and moved to Mexico when he was very young. He lived in Mexico for 15 years, residing in Monterrey and Juarez.

Luna grew up playing soccer, playing since the age of four. Luna played center-back for a club team that had an outstanding winning record. When he got to high-school, he moved back to America and started attending Franklin High School.

After his sophomore year of school, Luna quit soccer and began playing football for the Cougars his junior year. His first season playing he was on the junior varsity team and his senior year he played varsity. At Franklin, Luna did mostly the field goal kicks and well as a few punts.

After High School, Luna wanted to continue his football career and decided to go to Baker University located in Baldwin City, Kansas where he red-shirted for 1 year but did not enjoy it. After his first year there, Luna left Baker University and returned home to El Paso. Luna then tried out for the UTEP football team in the Spring of 2014 and did not have a good try out.

The coaches told him to work on his kicking and try out the next year and thats exactly what Luna did. In his year off of football, Luna attended school at UTEP as well as improve his kicking and lose over 50 pounds. A year later he was given the opportunity to walk on again and this time, in the spring of 2015, Luna made the team.

Through fall camp, Luna competed with one other punter in camp and won the starting spot. Luna has started every snap at punter this year and towards the season began to be the holder for field goals.

When asked about his season, Luna said, “I am happy with what I accomplished and am looking forward to improving in the off season and helping the team the best I can.”

In Luna’s 2015 season, had 65 punts for a 44.38 yard average, which is towards the top of the conference. Luna has been a great addition to the UTEP Miners football team, representing his hometown proudly.

Ryan Metz has had a great season for only being a freshman. The Andres high school graduate. Unlike Luna, Ryan Metz has been playing football his whole life. Before playing quarterback, Metz played tight end in his first years of football in 3rd grade.

When asked how he enjoyed playing in his home town, Metz stated, “…UTEP was actually my only offer to play football but I actually really like playing in my home town. Growing up, I would always watch the miners play so having an opportunity to play for the team I always watched as a kid was something I always wanted to do.”

Metz was thrown into a tough situation against NMSU this season. When starting quarterback Mack Leftwich went out of the game with an injury, Ryan Metz had to step up and take charge.

Metz came into the game and began to shine. In the matter of 1 quarter of football, Metz threw 15/19 catches/attempts for 218 yards 4 passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, finishing the game with a 98 QBR.

Metz continued to start for the miners for 3 more games throughout the rest of the season.

When asked what he loves about UTEP and what he looks forward to next season Metz replied, “I Love playing here at UTEP, my favorite thing is one, being from here and two, being around my teammates, they make it worth the endless ours of practice, meetings and film and especially the hard work. Next year I am looking forward to possible going to a conference championship. That and just having fun with what I do.”

Metz has a 3 more years and the physical and mental capability to hopefully make that happen for the Miners.