UTEP Announces 2011 Football Signees
EL PASO, TEXAS — UTEP?s 2011 football recruiting class increased by 16 on Wednesday with the announcement of the signing of 13 high school standouts and three junior college transfers.
The Miners have signed 21 players total since December, including five junior college imports who will be on the field for the start of spring drills on April 1. They are LB Josh Fely (San Diego Mesa College), QB Nick Lamaison (Mt. SAC), OL James Robinson (City College of San Francisco), LB A.J. Ropati (Los Angeles Harbor College) and DB Darren Woodard (Kilgore College).
Fely posted 156 tackles, including 17.5 for losses, in two seasons in the junior college ranks in earning multiple first team All-Mountain Conference honors. Lamaison garnered All-California and All-American honors in 2010 while throwing for 3,993 yards and 30 touchdowns. Robinson posted 60 pancake blocks while starting every game at guard for the 11-1 Rams during the 2010 season. Ropati tallied 47 tackles in leading L.A. Harbor College to the Central West Conference Championship. Woodard was a first team All-Conference honoree this past season while racking up 10 pass break-ups and three interceptions.
Wednesday?s junior college signees include WR Mike Edwards and OL James Martin, who were teammates of Lamaison?s on the 2010 Mt. SAC squad that finished 13-0 and captured its second straight state and national championship. Also putting pen to paper on Wednesday was DB Derrick Morgan from Cabrillo Junior College.
UTEP?s list of high school signees includes three members of the Texas Top 300 list in Dave Campbell?s Football magazine — LB Tyrone Darling (Arlington, Texas/Juan Seguin HS), WR Ishmael Harrison (Red Oak, Texas HS) and QB Blaire Sullivan (San Antonio, Texas/Central Catholic HS). The Miners also signed WR/DB Cole Freytag, the district co-MVP as a senior at Coronado High School in El Paso, and A.C. Patterson, an All-State selection at Bishop Gorman (Nev.) High School and the son of UTEP defensive coordinator Andre Patterson. Rounding out the list of high school stars are LB Trey Brown (Brownwood, Texas/Lancaster HS), DB Shane Huhn (Cibolo, Texas/Steele HS), OL Trint Jenkins (Tulsa, Okla./Victory Christian HS), OL Ryan Lindblade (Richmond, Texas/Foster HS), DL Roy Robertson (Grand Prairie, Texas/South Grand Prairie HS), TE Kishon Sanders (Pasadena, Calif./La Salle HS), DB Gage Sharp (The Colony, Texas HS) and RB Xay Williams (Carrolton, Texas/Ranchview HS).
Of the 21 players signed, the largest concentration by position is defensive back and offensive line (five each). The Miners added some real size in the O-line with Jenkins (6-8, 325), Lindblade (6-7, 285), Martin (6-6, 285), Patterson (6-1, 305) and Robinson (6-5, 325). UTEP?s lone D-line addition is the 6-6, 240-pound Robertson, who had a monster 2010 campaign in his first year as a starter with 26 tackles for losses and nine sacks.
?The junior college transfers that we signed at mid-year look like they?re all going to play for us and be an important part of our team this fall,? said UTEP coach Mike Price, who led the Miners to their third bowl appearance in seven seasons in 2010. ?They give us a lot of depth. They?re attending classes and they?re fitting into the program well, as are the four grayshirts that we signed last year [RB Laquintus Dowell, WR Davian Harper, OL Blake Snider, WR Malcolm Trail]. That?s nine guys that will all help us next year.
?We filled a need with Blaire Sullivan. He?s probably going to be the face of our program in two to three years. And the big offensive linemen were something we were looking for in the future. The two safeties are going to help us a lot as well,? Price said.
Eighteen of UTEP?s 21 signees hail from either the Lone Star State (11) or California (seven).
2011 UTEP Football Recruiting Class
Name Pos Ht Wt 40 Time Hometown (High School/Previous School) Trey Brown LB 6-0 210 4.60 Brownwood, Texas (Lancaster) Tyrone Darling LB 5-11 200 4.41 Arlington, Texas (Juan Seguin) Mike Edwards WR 5-10 185 4.55 Glendora, Calif. (Glendora/Mt. SAC) Josh Fely* LB 6-0 220 4.60 Oceanside, Calif. (Oceanside/San Diego Mesa College) Cole Freytag WR/DB 6-1 180 4.60 El Paso, Texas (Coronado) Ishmael Harrison WR 6-0 190 4.50 Red Oak, Texas (Red Oak) Shane Huhn DB 6-0 190 4.43 Cibolo, Texas (Steele) Trint Jenkins OL 6-8 325 5.25 Tulsa, Okla. (Victory Christian) Nick Lamaison^ QB 6-1 210 4.60 West Covina, Calif. (South Hills/Mt. SAC) Ryan Lindblade OL 6-7 285 5.15 Richmond, Texas (Foster) James Martin OL 6-6 285 5.05 Chino Hills, Calif. (Ayala/Mt. SAC) Derrick Morgan DB 6-1 210 4.55 Germantown, Md. (Clarksburg/Cabrillo Junior College) A.C. Patterson OL 6-1 305 5.25 Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman) Roy Robertson DL 6-6 240 4.65 Grand Prairie, Texas (South Grand Prairie) James Robinson* OL 6-5 325 5.25 Richmond, Calif. (Salesian/City College of San Francisco) A.J. Ropati* LB 6-2 230 4.60 Carson, Calif. (Carson/Los Angeles Harbor College) Kishon Sanders TE 6-2 230 4.65 Pasadena, Calif. (La Salle) Gage Sharp DB 6-0 190 4.49 The Colony, Texas (The Colony) Blaire Sullivan QB 6-3 195 4.55 San Antonio, Texas (Central Catholic) Xay Williams RB 6-0 200 4.32 Carrolton, Texas (Ranchview) Darren Woodard* DB 5-11 170 4.45 Freeport, Texas (Brazosport/Kilgore College)
* Signed with UTEP in December ^ Signed with UTEP in January
2011 UTEP Football Signing Day Bios
Trey Brown LB, 6-0, 210 4.60 Brownwood, Texas (Lancaster) Rated a three-star recruit and the No. 52 inside linebacker nationally by Scouts, Inc. ? started from the second game of his freshman year through the conclusion of his career at Lancaster HS ? three-time All-District 15-4A choice, garnering first team honors as a senior and sophomore ? accounted for roughly 10 tackles per game on average during his final three years ? registered eight sacks and three interceptions (including two for touchdowns) while forcing several fumbles in 2010 ? has been involved with the Future Farmers of America (FFA) program for a year ? also participated in the junior ROTC program for two years ? son of Joseph and Vickie Brown ? has two brothers and three sisters ? uncle, Jan Brown, played football at Abilene Christian and was a member of the school?s 1973 national championship team ? born 1/24/93 (Brownwood, Texas).
Tyrone Darling LB, 5-11, 200 4.41 Arlington, Texas (Juan Seguin) Texas Top-300 Player by Dave Campbell?s magazine ? rated the no. 83 inside linebacker in the nation by Scouts, Inc. ? registered 97 tackles as a senior, including 19 against Carter HS en route to earning honorable mention player of the week honors by the Dallas Morning News on Sept. 14 ? two-year starter ? second team All-District and All-Area player ? son of Lytia McGee and the late Tyrone Darling Sr. ? stepfather is Michael McGee Sr. ? has two brothers and a sister ? born 1/19/92 (San Antonio, Texas).
Mike Edwards WR, 5-10, 185 4.55 Glendora, Calif. (Glendora/Mt. SAC) Garnered All-California honors as a member of Mt. San Antonio College?s 2010 state and national championship team ? the Mounties finished 13-0 ? named Offensive MVP of the state championship game by reeling in six catches for 67 yards and a touchdown and the So Cal championship game ? led the team with 69 receptions for a school-record 1,267 yards (18.4 avg.) and 13 scores ? averaged 97.5 receiving yards per game ? in his first season playing for Mt. SAC (2008) he registered 28 catches for 419 yards (15.0 avg.) with six TDs ? compiled 657 all-purpose yards, including 10 kickoff returns for 212 yards (21.2 avg.) ? sat out the ?09 campaign to focus on academics ? one of three Mt. SAC players who will be joining the Miners for 2011 spring drills, along with quarterback Nick Lamaison and offensive tackle James Martin ? played strong safety and wingback for Glendora High School?s 2007 team that finished 9-3 and won the Sierra League championship ? earned All-Southern Section Inland Division defensive honors as a prep senior, when he was credited with 42 tackles (34 solos) and three interceptions for 80 yards ? rushed 30 times for 232 yards (7.7 avg.) with three TDs, and made 14 receptions for 234 yards (16.7 avg.) with three scores as an offensive player in ?07 ? also an All-Sierra League baseball player in high school, patrolling center field ? parents are Kenneth and Julie Edwards ? has three brothers and one sister ? born 12/14/89 (Pasadena, Calif.).
Cole Freytag WR/DB, 6-1, 180 4.60 El Paso, Texas (Coronado) Three-year starter at Coronado HS in El Paso ? tabbed MVP for the city?s Senior All-Star Football Classic after registering a pair of touchdown receptions ? other 2010 honors included first team All-District 1-5A for the athlete/kick returner position and district co-MVP ? played a multitude of positions throughout his career ? as a senior he passed for 563 yards and five scores while compiling 649 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns ? added 306 yards receiving while accounting for a 44.0-yard average and four TDs on kickoff returns ? reaped second team All-District recognition and honorable mention All-City accolades in 2009 ? picked up honorable mention All-District honors as a sophomore ? two-time member of his high school academic honor roll ? son of William Freytag and Sloan Georges ? stepmother is Katy Freytag ? has three sisters and one brother ? born 1/2/92 (Chicago, Ill.).
Ishmael Harrison WR, 6-0, 190 4.50 Red Oak, Texas (Red Oak) Texas Top-300 Player by Dave Campbell?s magazine ? regarded as a three-star recruit by Scout.com ? first team All-District 15-4A choice as a junior and second team as a senior ? posted 29 receptions for 300 yards and two TDs as a senior ? rushed 36 times for 400 yards with seven scores while playing in only seven games in a season curtailed due to injury ? led Red Oak HS to three straight playoff appearances for the first time ever, and the school?s first district title since 1982 ? accumulated 373 yards receiving (31 catches) and 223 rushing (35 carries) as a junior ? voted his team?s offensive MVP for the 2010 season ? three-year starter at inside receiver ? four-year letterwinner in track, competing in the sprint relay, mile relay and 200 meters ? A/B honor roll student ? parents are Ardis and Tamar Harrison ? has two brothers and three sisters ? born 9/17/92 (Dallas, Texas).
Shane Huhn DB, 6-0, 190 4.43 Cibolo, Texas (Steele) Unanimous All-District 25-5A, All-Area and honorable mention All-State by the Associated Press as a senior at Steele High School ? appointed first team All-Texas Defense by 5aTexasFootball.com after racking up 83 tackles with two interceptions, 14 pass deflections and four forced fumbles for the 5A-II state champions ? recovered a fumble in the state title game ? tallied 42 stops and seven break-ups as a junior en route to being tabbed second team All-District 27-4A (team moved up to 5A classification for the 2010 season) ? compiled 54 tackles, four interceptions, 10 pass break-ups and a forced fumble as a sophomore, garnering second team All-District honors ? three-year starter at safety ? also an accomplished baseball player who received honorable mention All-State accolades while playing the outfield ? runs the 40 in 4.4 seconds ? parents are Jeff and Sandy Huhn ? has one brother ? born 3/14/92 (El Paso, Texas).
Trint Jenkins OL, 6-8, 325 5.25 Tulsa, Okla. (Victory Christian) Three-year member of the varsity team at Victory Christian HS, starting as a junior and senior ? played on both sides of the ball ? garnered first team 3A District 7 honors as an offensive lineman his senior year ? chosen as the offensive tackle and offensive lineman MVP at the Max Emfinger All-American Bowl in Baton Rouge, La. ? served as a captain at the event, a role he also held at his high school ? also lettered in baseball and basketball during his prep career ? involved with four mission trips to Ecuador, Jamaica and Mexico while also volunteering for Kids Against Hunger International, Habitat for Humanity and Victory Mobile Kids Club Sidewalk Trucks ? has one sister ? son of Paula and Lee Jenkins ? born 4/16/92 (Shreveport, La.).
Ryan Lindblade OL, 6-7, 285 5.15 Richmond, Texas (Foster) Listed on the Greater Houston Top 100 team in addition to garnering honorable mention All-District 23-4A recognition ? two-year letterwinner and one-year starter ? one-year letterwinner for track ? first team Academic All-District with a 3.5 GPA … heavily involved with the FCA … accumulated 160 community service hours ? son of Andrew and Sandy Lindblade ? has one brother ? born 5/31/93 (Richmond, Texas).
James Martin OL, 6-6, 285 5.05 Chino Hills, Calif. (Ayala/Mt. SAC) Started at left tackle for Mt. San Antonio College?s 2010 state and national championship team ? helped the Mounties to a 13-0 record ? graded out at 92 percent for the season with 33 pancake blocks ? 2010 honors included first team All-Conference, team Most Improved Player and Scholar-Athlete of the Year ? backed up All-State left tackle Manase Foketi, a Kansas State signee, as a freshman in 2009 ? graded out at 95 percent for the year with 22 pancakes in a reserve role ? grayshirted in 2008 upon arriving at Mt. SAC ? one of three Mt. SAC players who will be joining the Miners for 2011 spring drills, along with wide receiver Mike Edwards and quarterback Nick Lamaison ? missed nine games his senior year at Ayala HS with a knee injury ? played varsity ball for three seasons, mostly seeing action at right tackle ? parents are Joe and Ruth Martin ? father played football at Stanford ? has two sisters ? born 8/21/89 (Chino Hills, Calif.).
Derrick Morgan DB, 6-1, 210 4.55 Germantown, Md. (Clarksburg/Cabrillo Junior College) Two-year starter who won a team award for never missing a practice or game during his career ? served as team captain in 2009 and 2010 ? garnered first team All-Coast Conference honors after compiling 87 tackles, 10 pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, a sack, an interception and a blocked field goal as a sophomore in 2010 ? also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown ? posted 57 tackles, seven break-ups, an interception and a forced fumble in 2009 ? three-year starter in the high school ranks, with the final two coming at Clarksburg HS (Md.) ? chosen team MVP as a senior ? previously helped Damascus HS claim the Class 4-A Maryland state title ? son of Sherman Morgan and Cynthia Allen ? has three brothers and three sisters ? born 5/3/90 (Davenport, Iowa).
A.C. Patterson OL, 6-1, 305 5.25 Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman) All-State and Al-League honoree as a senior at Bishop Gorman High School ? rated the no. 28 center prospect in the country by Scout.com and the sixth-best overall prospect in the state of Nevada by Rivals.com ? started every game at center for Bishop Gorman over the last three seasons ? anchored the Gaels to back-to-back state titles with a 15-0 mark in 2009 and 13-2 in 2010 ? started and played every snap in the Max Emfinger All-American Bowl in Baton Rouge, La. on Dec. 31, 2010 ? played his freshman year at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora (Colo.), where he also started at center ? in four years of varsity ball was a part of teams that posted a combined record of 48-8 with playoff appearances every season ? threw the shot put and discus as a member of Bishop Gorman?s track and field squad ? son of UTEP defensive coordinator Andre Patterson ? mother is Donna Patterson ? has one sister ? full name is Andre Cornelius Patterson, Jr. ? born 5/19/92 (Pullman, Wash.).
Roy Robertson DL, 6-6, 240 4.65 Grand Prairie, Texas (South Grand Prairie) Listed as a three-star recruit and the no. 60 defensive end prospect in the land by Rivals.com ? also a three-star recruit by Scout.com ? regarded as the no. 6 defensive lineman in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and the no. 45 player in the Metroplex by The Dallas Morning News ? first team All-Area and All-District 5-5A defense selection as a senior at South Grand Prairie HS ? exploded onto the scene in 2010 after seeing limited playing time earlier in his prep career ? collected 75 tackles, including 26 for losses, with nine sacks, eight pass break-ups and a fumble recovery during the 2010 season ? split time at defensive end and outside linebacker ? two-year varsity letterwinner filled a backup role at defensive end as a junior ? parents are Howard Harris and Trevell Robertson ? has one sister ? cousin, Carl Nicks, plays for the New Orleans Saints and was a 2010 Pro Bowler ? born 7/23/93 (Oakland, Calif.).
Kishon Sanders TE, 6-2, 230 4.65 Pasadena, Calif. (La Salle) Three-year starter while captaining the squad the past two years ?three-time honorable mention All-District selection … registered 17 catches for 180 yards as a senior while also gaining 106 yards on the ground ? scored two TDs in five games before his season was cut short due to injury ? earned second team All-Camino Real honors for his efforts ? tallied 25 receptions for 415 yards and four touchdowns as a junior ? accounted for 31 catches covering 318 yards with three scores in five games in 2008 ? started his prep career at Blair HS, earning the bulk of his playing time at quarterback … completed 24-of-37 throws (64.9 percent) for 397 yards with seven TDs and two interceptions ? took his team to the second round of the playoffs with a league title …. four-year letterwinner in men?s basketball and three-year letterman in track ? son of Lavell Sanders and LaTasha Jamal ? father is a well-known football coach in the Pasadena area … has two brothers and one sister ? born 11/19/92 (Pasadena, Calif.).
Gage Sharp DB, 6-0, 190 4.49 The Colony, Texas (The Colony) Rated a three-star recruit by Scouts.com ? All-District 3-4A safety as a senior at The Colony HS ? produced 52 tackles, including three for losses, with four pass break-ups, three interceptions and four quarterback pressures ? returned 22 kickoffs for 444 yards (20.2 avg.) with a long of 93, and added 13 punt returns for 156 yards (12.0 avg.) with a long of 38 ? also served as the team?s punter with a 40-yard average ? three-year starter at safety who also started at wide receiver as a senior ? named The Colony?s Utility Player of the Year ? participated in the Top Gun Academy (Williamsburg, Va.), the Ultimate 100 Top Prospect Camp (Norman, Okla.) and the U.S. Army All-American Combine (San Antonio, Texas) ? recorded a 44-inch vertical at the Top Gun Academy ? also ran track as a prep, competing in the 100 and 200 meters, 4×100 relay and long jump ? made the A/B honor roll ? parents are Ron Brittian and Crystal Sharp ? has two brothers and two sisters ? uncle, Troy Smith, holds the pole vault record at Arkansas ? born 6/6/93 (Culver City, Calif.).
Blaire Sullivan QB, 6-3, 195 4.55 San Antonio, Texas (Central Catholic) Texas Top-300 Player by Dave Campbell?s magazine ? first team All-District and second team All-State quarterback as a senior at Central Catholic HS ? completed 112-of-217 passes (51.6 percent) for 1,876 yards and 24 touchdowns with three interceptions his senior year ? also rushed for 820 yards and 11 scores ? completed 103-of-175 passes (58.9 percent) for 1,775 yards with 20 TDs and five picks as a junior on his way to second team All-District accolades ? three-year varsity letterwinner and two-year starter at signal-caller, posting an 18-6 record with two trips to the state playoffs ? team lost to eventual state champion Plano Prestonwood his senior year ? served as student council president for all four years in high school ? member of the National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society ? ranked third in his graduating class academically and made the Principal?s List for superior achievement in the classroom ? also an Academic All-State choice ? ran track for Central Catholic High as well, competing in the 400 meters and 4×100 relay ? parents are Vince and Diane Sullivan ? has one brother and one sister ? born 5/19/92 (Dallas, Texas).
Xay Williams RB, 6-0, 200 4.32 Carrolton, Texas (Ranchview) Three-year starter ? chosen first team All-District 12-3A while also being recognized as the district co-MVP ? racked up 1,345 yards and 15 scores on 109 carries as a senior ? garnered second team All-District accolades after rushing 67 times for 502 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior ? also caught 26 passes for 395 yards and five scores ? rated among the top 15 running backs in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area ? two-year varsity member for track ? earned a third-place showing in the 200 meters at the regional meet as a junior ? son of Allen Round and Mechell Williams ? has one brother and two sisters ? born 9/11/92 (Shreveport, La.).
