UTEP Football Adds Four Junior College Transfers
Head Coach Mike Price announced on Wednesday that four junior college transfers will be joining the UTEP football team for the second semester. They are linebacker Josh Fely (San Diego Mesa College), offensive lineman James Robinson (City College of San Francisco), linebacker A.J. Ropati (Los Angeles Harbor College) and cornerback Darren Woodard (Kilgore College).
All four players will go through spring ball and will have two years of eligibility with the Miners starting with the 2011 season.
The 6-0, 220-pound Fely was a two-time first team All-Mountain Conference selection at San Diego Mesa College. In two seasons with the Olympians, he tallied 156 tackles, including 17.5 for losses. Fely was the team’s leading tackler each of the last two years and earned first team All-State honors in 2009. He previously played at Oceanside (Calif.) High School and was an All-County choice as a prep senior. Fely was selected to play in the Alex Spanos All-Star Classic following his senior year.
The 6-5, 325-pound Robinson blossomed after moving from defensive line to offensive line this season. He started at guard, leading City College of San Francisco to an 11-1 record, Northern California championship and state runner-up finish. Robinson posted 60 pancake blocks while starting every game. He played for Salesian High School in Richmond, Calif., initially signing with Fresno State before going the junior college route.
The 6-2, 230-pound Ropati helped Los Angeles Harbor College to the Central West Conference championship this season. He posted 47 tackles, five tackles for losses, two sacks and two pass break-ups in nine games, garnering second team All-West Conference honors. Ropati recorded 54 stops, including seven for losses, in 2009 while adding a sack, five pass break-ups and three fumble recoveries. He was an All-Area player at Carson (Calif.) High School.
The 5-11, 170-pound Woodard was a first team All-Conference choice at Kilgore College, accumulating 10 pass break-ups and three interceptions this season. He spent his prep career at Brazosport High School in Freeport, Texas, averaging 10 tackles per game as a senior.
