UTEP's freshman class, touted as the best ever, lives up to expectations

For all the attention UTEP coach Scotty Walden garnered in his glittering debut as the Miners’ 27th head football coach, perhaps his biggest impact came two months after his employment was announced.

Then came his first signing day of February and it was spectacular. A UTEP program that almost always ranks near the bottom of the nation in recruiting has been ranked either first or second in Conference USA, according to the ratings services.

Of the 12 new scholarship players, 11 were from Texas and the other was a New Mexico legacy (Stratton Shufelt, whose father Pete starred for UTEP and played in the NFL).

It was so unlike anything else UTEP has ever released in February, every scholarship recruit was a two- or three-star recruit and disproved any negative stereotypes about recruiting high school athletes from Dallas and Houston to in El Paso.

“A lot of people said we can’t recruit here,” Walden said. “We are proving that it is a myth and a lie. The proof is in the pudding how talented these men are and I will also talk about their character. They are elite people.”

After watching the course for nearly three weeks, Walden’s impression grew better. While the future looks bright, the newest class of miners could also make an impact this year as they are already in camp.

Here are the fastest lifters.

Bandit Jaylin Jones, Beaumont West Brook

A three-star prospect, he was rated by 247sports as the best true freshman recruit in Conference USA. He’s listed at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, but Walden says he’s 6-5 — which seems accurate — with an 80-inch wingspan. In UTEP’s new defense, his bandman position is a rusher who can drop into coverage, and Jones looks like someone who can do it all.

He currently works as the backup to the team’s star Maurice Westmoreland, and with UTEP often easing Westmoreland’s load in anticipation of how much he will do once the season begins, that means Jones often goes with the first team. He’s battling another true freshman for the backup in 6-5 Ekow Taylor.

More: UTEP’s quarterback battle hasn’t budged as Cade McConnell and Skyler Locklear battle to a tie

“There was an (NFL) scout here the other day, ‘Who’s that guy?'” Walden said. “They can’t believe he’s a freshman. His length has caused a lot of problems for quarterbacks trying to throw him off the edge when he blitzes. He plays all over the place for us, but when he gets on the line, he’s so much. He has an 80-inch wingspan, is 6-foot-5 as a true freshman and has already gained 15 pounds since coming here.

As the top-rated prospect in CUSA, Jones had plenty of college options, and it’s rare for players like that to choose UTEP.

“I had a lot of options, but I talked to Coach Walden and he made me see how big the city of El Paso is, it’s a sleeping giant,” Jones said. “Look at the stadium around us, it’s huge. Coach Walden talked to me, ‘You have a dream. You’ll make it. I believed in him.”

As for how it happens, “It’s really a grind,” Jones said. “Coach Walden holds us to a higher standard, so it’s a grind. It is very beautiful, better than I expected. I like it here. (Defensive coordinator) JJ Clark and (Bandits coach Seth McDonald) helped me a lot. When I have time, I work with Maurice (Westmoreland), he helped me a lot.”

Defensive lineman Kyran Duhon, Houston Summer Creek

UTEP is constantly tweaking the depth chart and Duhon has played all over the place with occasional stints with the first team. He looks to be a depth player when the season starts, but he looks like someone who can contribute right away.

“All he does is get TFLs (tackles for loss) and drop it for us every week,” Walden said. “Kyran’s been elite, he’s hustle. Since he’s been here, he might have grown an inch (to 6-3). He’s gotten tall. When those freshmen blossom, it’s fun to watch.”

Duhon admits he didn’t see himself making that much of an impact before his first day in a classroom.

“I didn’t think it would happen this fast, but my coaches believed in me and gave me the opportunity,” Duhon said. “They’re doing great. It’s a friendly environment, great coaches and great teammates. Once you get to know them, you become brothers.”

Linebacker Stratton Shufelt, Rio Rancho (NM) Cleveland

The only non-Texas freshman scholarship when UTEP announced its class on national signing day, Shufelt was an obvious recruiting target. He was the top-ranked recruit out of New Mexico, and his father Pete played for the Miners from 1989-93 before a five-year NFL career.

“It came down to coaching Clark’s recruiting,” Shufelt said of his drive to El Paso. “I like the staff. I like the idea of El Paso — it reminds me a lot of home. Obviously, it’s my dad’s alma mater, he showed me the ropes. I couldn’t see a better option than coming here.”

He works mostly with the third team right now and on special teams, and at 6-2, 220 is one of the most physically chiseled players on the team. His aggressiveness at linebacker drew praise from the staff, as Walden called him “physical and fierce.”

Shufelt said he is working on processing the new defense.

“We like to stack days, stacking days in our schedule is huge,” Shufelt said. “It’s essential when you learn something, you don’t want to forget what you’ve learned, so every day you have to build on what you’ve learned. Coach Clark says it all the time, Coach Walden says, “Stack days,” learn from your mistakes.

“I’m going to keep grinding every day. It’s competitive, especially in the linebacker room. I’ve worked on special teams, I’ve worked down to the ropes. We’ll see what happens.”

Quarterback Shay Smith, Franklin High

Smith is in a battle with another true freshman quarterback, JP Pickles, for third-team quarterback, and most seasons the third-team quarterback sees the field. Walden called him “one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever been around.”

More about him in Sunday’s El Paso Times.

Another true freshman Walden mentioned

When asked to talk about how impressed he was with this freshman class, here are the other players Walden highlighted.

Running back Ashten Emory, Rockwall. “His balance and body control, he has a fall camp,” Walden said. – It’s a stud.

Defensive tackles Ashton Coker, Katy Taylor

Wide receiver Rafeald Campbell, Arlington Bowie

Wide receiver Wondame Davis Jr., Ennis

Offensive Lineman Craig Wydra, Andress

Offensive lineman Allan McCarter, Manvel

Offensive Lineman Luka Matamoros, Pflugerville Hendrickson

Bret Bloomquist can be reached at [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X.

UTEP’s freshman class, touted as the best ever, lives up to expectations

Bandit Jaylin Jones, Beaumont West Brook

Defensive lineman Kyran Duhon, Houston Summer Creek

Linebacker Stratton Shufelt, Rio Rancho (NM) Cleveland

Quarterback Shay Smith, Franklin High

Another true freshman Walden mentioned

By Matthew. Jr

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UTEP’s freshman class, touted as the best ever, lives up to expectations

Bandit Jaylin Jones, Beaumont West Brook

Defensive lineman Kyran Duhon, Houston Summer Creek

Linebacker Stratton Shufelt, Rio Rancho (NM) Cleveland

Quarterback Shay Smith, Franklin High

Another true freshman Walden mentioned

By Matthew. Jr

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