Pebble Hills star quarterback Gael Ochoa commits to UTEP
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Is Gael Ochoa a future hometown hero? Well it's a very real possibility now that the Pebble Hills star quarterback has committed to UTEP.
Ahead of his senior season Ochoa announced his ambition to play Division 1 football would become a reality.
"I'm super excited, I'm staying home so that makes it extra special," Ochoa said. "It's Division 1 football, that was always my dream no matter where it was as long as I got to play Division 1 football I'd kind of accomplished my goals and now I'm trying to reach for even bigger goals."
The 6' 2" El Pasoan led the Spartans to the Area Round of the playoffs in his junior season after throwing for 2,029 yards and rushing for 453 yards with 24 passing TDs and 9 rushing TDs.
Ochoa is set to be one of the best high school footballers in El Paso this season and was bound to get a lot more D1 interest but he told ABC-7 he knew UTEP was the right choice for him especially after growing up around the program.
"They did offer me really early as a junior which isn't really normal for them as a program especially as a quarterback so I always appreciated that," Ochoa said. "It's my hometown so I have always had that special connection. It is kind of early, I was trying to keep my eyes open and doors open for as long as I could but I really wanted to focus down on my senior season and get it out of the way."
Another incentive in becoming a Miner is Ochoa will get to reunite with his junior season wide receiver in Jalile Bost who signed to play with UTEP for the upcoming 2023-24 season.
