UTEP announces its 2013 football recruiting class
UTEP announced its 2013 recruiting class Feb. 6.
Tyler Batson
WR | 6-1 | 185 | Spring, Texas | Westfield
Tabbed first-team All-District 13-5A for Westfield High School … a two-year varsity letterwinner, Batson posted 18 receptions for 351 yards and three touchdowns as a senior, averaging 19.5 yards per reception in a predominantly rushing offense … helped Westfield to a 12-1 overall record and the District 13-5A title … also ran track at Westfield … son of Jennifer Gibson, who ran track for the Barbados National Team … born 12/7/95.
Devin Cockrell
CB | 5-11 | 180 | Port Arthur, Texas | Memorial
Garnered UIL 21-5A All-District second-team honors during his senior campaign … helped the team finish with an 8-3 record … defense was ranked no. 1 in District 21-5A and gave up the fewest passing yards in school history … led Memorial secondary in tackles and pass break-ups … totaled 41 tackles, four forced fumbles, 10 pass deflections, eight tackles for losses and two interceptions … averaged 7.6 yards per carry on offense at tailback … in 2011, Memorial finished the campaign 13-2 and went to the state semifinals … son of Tarsha Taylor … born 12/21/94.
Dewan Edmonson
DT | 6-1 | 260 | Manvel, Texas | Manvel
Second-team All-District 22-5A member in 2012 for Manvel High School … Top-100 Houston Area player by Houston Chronicle … helped Manvel forge a mark of 11-2, including 7-0 in the league, as a senior … registered 43 tackles, including 13 solo stops … came up with three sacks, three hurries and also caused a fumble … named the defensive player of the game after making 10 tackles, including two for a loss, against Sam Rayburn … member of the power lifting team at Manvel … coach, Kirk Martin, played for UTEP (1988-92) and was a member of the 1988 Independence Bowl team … son of Dewan Sr. and LaGenia Edmonson … born 10/23/94.
Derek Elmendorff
OL | 6-3 | 295 | El Paso, Texas | Franklin
Ended his senior year as a first-team All-District, first-team All-City and honorable-mention All-State honoree … preseason first-team All-City and All-State pick entering his senior season … recorded more than 100 pancake blocks in his career, including 68 his senior year … did not allow a sack his senior season, helping Franklin rank sixth in the state (5A) for total yards, eighth in rushing and 14th in passing … played in the Greater El Paso Football All-Star game … started his prep career at left tackle before switching to right tackle as a junior … three-year varsity starter for coach Daren Walker … threw the shot put and discus for the Franklin track and field team as a freshman and sophomore … parents are Tony and Linda Elmendorff … born 4/8/95.
Jameel Erving
SAF | 6-1 | 195 | Fontana, Calif. | Summit/Riverside CC
Two-year starter/letterwinner at Riverside City College … registered 44 tackles, including 29 solos, one interception and one fumble recovery in 2012 … appeared in 11 games, helping the team to a 9-2 record in 2012 … recorded four tackles and broke up two passes in RCC’s Golden State Bowl victory over L.A. Harbor … one of the most improved players from his freshman season to his sophomore year, according to RCC’s head coach Tom Craft … caught 32 passes for 397 yards and tallied five total touchdowns his senior season at Summit High School (Calif.) … finished second on the team with three interceptions in helping Summit to a 10-3-1 record … son of Craig Erving … born 8/11/93.
Nick Gathrite
CB | 5-9 | 170 | Riverside, Calif. | Arlington/Riverside CC
Registered 25 tackles, including 18 solos, as sophomore at Riverside City College … tied for second on the team with three interceptions … appeared in nine games, helping the team to a 9-2 record in 2012 … intercepted two passes, including one he returned for a 50-yard touchdown, in RCC’s win over L.A. Harbor in the Golden State Bowl … named Defensive MVP in the Golden State Bowl … played on a Arlington High School (Calif.) team that finished 10-2 his senior year … son of Tracy Waynewright … born 12/31/91.
Aaron Jones
ATH | 5-10 | 175 | El Paso, Texas | Burges
Earned 1-4A Offensive MVP and the El Paso Times All-City MVP award his senior season … appointed to The Old Coach 2013 Class 4A All-State Team … amassed more than 1,800 yards rushing and accounted for 30 touchdowns in 2012 … recorded 74 tackles (56 solos), one interception and two forced fumbles … helped Burges to a 10-3 record and an area playoff win … rushed for 335 yards against a solid Wichita Falls Rider defense in the regional playoffs … played three years of varsity … earned 1-4A District MVP honors after compiling over 1,400 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns his junior season … participated in the Greater El Paso All-Star Game … named to the National All-Department of Defense team … All-District wide receiver his sophomore season … played varsity basketball and competed on the track and field team for Burges … El Paso Times All-City selection on the hardwood and is currently averaging 17.6 ppg … a member of the 1600m relay state championship team after taking the district title … son of Alvin, Sr. and Vurgess Jones … played with his twin brother, Aaron … father is an army veteran and mother is an active duty member of the military … born 12/2/94.
Alvin Jones
SAF | 5-10 | 180 | El Paso, Texas | Burges
First-team All-District 1-4A defensive back and second-team All-District 1-4A quarterback as a senior … rushed for 950 yards on 80 carries with 20 touchdowns, while passing for 463 yards and seven scores … helped Burges to a 10-3 record and an area playoff win … also recorded 83 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and returned three punts for touchdowns … played three years of varsity ball … participated in the Greater El Paso All-Star Game … won eight consecutive games after taking the signal calling reins … competed on the Burges track and field team … a member of the 1600m relay state championship team after taking the district title … El Paso Times All-City selection in basketball, averaging 15.2 ppg … son of Alvin, Sr. and Vurgess Jones … played with his twin brother, Aaron … father is an army veteran and mother is an active duty member of the military … born 12/2/94.
Darrin Laufasa
FB | 6-1 | 240 | Bothell, Wash. | Bothell
Rated a three-star recruit and the no. 9 player in the state of Washington by ESPN/Scouts Inc … ranked the no. 15 fullback in the nation by Scout.com … played at Juanita High School (Kirkland, Wash.) as a freshman, sophomore and junior prior to transferring to Bothell High School for his senior season … blocked for a 2,000-yard rusher (Danny Wilson) while compiling 700 rushing yards and six touchdowns at Bothell … garnered first-team All-League honors as a running back and linebacker his senior year … helped Bothell High to a 6-5 record … team advanced to the second round of the state playoffs … selected to play in the East/West All-State Game … second-team All-League running back as a junior when he rushed for 900 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 6.5 yards per carry … played inside linebacker as a sophomore, recording 45 tackles for a 10-2 team that finished runner-up in the conference and advanced to the state playoffs … three-year varsity letterman for coaches Shaun Tarantola (Juanita HS) and Tom Bainter (Bothell HS) … also was a member of his high school wrestling and rugby teams as a sophomore and senior, respectively … son of John and Maria Laufasa … brother Corey recently graduated from Washington State and played linebacker for the Cougars … another older brother, Jeremiah, is currently a running back at WSU … born 5/6/95.
Mack Leftwich
QB | 5-11 | 200 | Wexford, Penn. | North Allegheny
Two-year varsity letterwinner at North Allegheny High School … tabbed Pennsylvania Player of the Year, was an All-State selection and was named a North Xtra All-Star by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette … led North Allegheny to 16-0 season and the 4-A state title with a no. 4 national ranking … connected on 177-of-268 passes for 3,331 yards with 45 touchdowns and four interceptions during his senior campaign … also ran for 553 yards on 138 carries with 10 rushing TDs … selected to play in the Big 33 Classic in June of this year … named to the Pittsburgh Tribune Terrific 25 and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Fab 22 … ranked one of the top-50 players in the state of Pennsylvania … became just the third signal caller in Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) history to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a season and the 22nd to register more than 5,000 yards passing in career … as a junior, he completed 126 passes on 230 attempts for 2,203 yards and 20 TDs and rushed for 933 yards, reaching paydirt 16 times … totaled 91 TDs in two years as a starter, finishing with a 30-1 record … carries a 3.75 GPA … son of Spencer and LaTonne Leftwich … father is UTEP’s assistant head coach and offensive line coach … born 11/18/94.
Ryan Metz
QB | 6-3 | 185 | El Paso, Texas | Andress
Three-year varsity starter at Andress High School … named an All-District 1-4A first-team selection … tabbed All-City by the El Paso Times … connected on 160-of-267 passes for 2,615 yards and 21 TDs in 2012 … also registered 385 yards on 70 carries and reached the end zone five times on the ground … named to the 1-4A All-Academic team in 2012 while ranking third in his class … was second-team All-District his junior campaign and honorable mention as a sophomore … track district champion in the 400m in 2011, reaching the regional finals … received the Presidential Award for Excellence and is a member of the National Honor Society … has a 100.1 GPA and is ranked fourth in his class … son of Matthew and Misty Metz … grandfather is Leon Metz, famous El Paso historian … born 6/24/95.
Lawrence Montegut
DE/OLB | 6-1 | 220 | La Marque, Texas | La Marque
Three-year varsity starter at La Marque High School … had a huge senior season … honors included 24-3A District Defensive MVP, second-team All-Greater Houston (Houston Chronicle) and second-team All-State (Padilla poll) … registered 59 tackles, 10 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 2012 … two of the recoveries were returned for touchdowns … was a first-team All-District 24-4A member as a junior … good all-around athlete who also played basketball and was on the track & field team … quality student who sports the highest GPA for all varsity student-athletes at his school and was a first-team All-Academic selection as a senior … son of Demetra and Lawrence Sr. … born 9/15/93.
Peter Nonu
DT | 5-11 | 320 | Long Beach, Calif. | South Hills/Mt. SAC
Registered 60 tackles, half of which were solo stops, in 11 games for Mt. SAC in 2012 … recorded 4.5 sacks and forced two fumbles … squad finished 11-1 on the year … member of 2011 team that won a record sixth California Community College Athletic Association Championship … had 37 tackles, including 14 solo stops, while also registering two sacks that year … 39 tackles, three sacks and one interception as a senior at South Hills High School … also lettered in track and field … son of Christina and Saolotoga Nonu … has a two-month old son, Dominic … born 11/28/92.
Cole Rogers
TE | 6-4 | 220 | Dripping Springs, Texas | Dripping Springs
State Top-300 player by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine … regarded as one of the top-40 wide receivers in the Lone Star State by recruiting analyst Randy Rodgers … unanimous first-team All-District 25-4A wide receiver as a senior at Dripping Springs High School, just outside of Austin … other senior honors included All-Centex and team offensive MVP … registered 57 receptions for 992 yards as a senior, both school single-season records, while scoring 12 touchdowns … also set the Dripping Springs HS standard with 99.2 receiving yards per game during his final year as a prep … helped Dripping Springs reach the third round of the state playoffs his junior year, encompassing the most successful season in school history … three-year letterwinner for coach Bob Schultz … played tight end as a sophomore, and wide receiver as a junior and senior … also a three-year letterman in basketball … son of Chuck and Karyn Rogers … born 12/2/94.
Jaylon Scott
CB | 5-9 | 170 | Dallas, Texas | Carter
Rivals.com three-star recruit … helped Carter High School finish runner-up in the district and advance to the second round of the state playoffs before ending the season 9-3 … 2012 11-4A All-District first team selection … tabbed second team as a junior … registered six interceptions, including one for a TD … also a two-year letterwinner in track and field, where he earned a bronze medal in the 100m at the 2011 UIL Region II-4A Championships … son of Cassandra Scott and Jason Harris … born 10/5/94.
Quinton Tezeno
CB | 5-10 | 170 | Orange, Texas | West Orange Stark
Honorable mention All-State and first-team All-City defensive honoree as a senior … led West Orange Stark to back-to-back Regional Championships … was a two-year varsity performer who compiled 83 tackles and six interceptions, including five interceptions during his senior season … also saw action on special teams, where he recorded 17 punt returns and rushed for 263 yards and one touchdown his senior year … member of his high school track and field team and competed at the District 21-3A Championships, where he helped the 4x100m relay claim gold with a time of 43.90 … his father, Quinton Tezeno Sr., was a safety for Houston and New Mexico State in the 1980s … son of Rhonda and Quinton Tezeno, Sr. … born 4/3/95.
Chris Thomas
OL | 6-4 | 320 | Lancaster, Texas | Lancaster/Cisco College
Started at left tackle for Cisco [Texas] College during the 2012 season before transferring to UTEP … enrolled at UTEP in January and will have three years of eligibility with the Miners … three-year varsity letterwinner for coach Christopher Gilbert at Lancaster High School outside of Dallas … played nose tackle as a sophomore, right guard as a junior and right tackle as a senior … earned first-team All-District 15-4A and All-Area recognition as a senior … second-team All-District as both a sophomore and junior … member of a district co-championship team his senior year … was also a member of the Lancaster track and field team for four years, throwing the discus … parents are Sedrick and Tina Thomas … born 9/8/94.
Nick Usher
DE/OLB | 6-3 | 215 | Los Angeles, Calif. | Serra
Instinctive player who produced 11.5 sacks on his way to earning All-CIF honors as a senior for Serra High School in 2012 … also recognized as a Mission League first-team member and a first-team All-Area honoree … finished with 61 tackles, 38 of which were solos … also recovered two fumbles … efforts aided SHS to a 14-2 record, including 4-1 in the league … led squad to the CIF championship … played in two postseason all-star games, totaling 26 tackles, six sacks and a touchdown … key member of the eight-man defensive line rotation … contributed four sacks and nine tackles as a junior … considered to have big upside … son of Norman and Geraldine Usher … born 1/22/95.
Source: UTEP Athletics
