Jan. 16, 2008
UTEP's Marcus Thomas will play in his second postseason all-star game this weekend when he participates in the East West Shrine Game on Saturday (Jan. 19) in Houston.
Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. MST at John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
Thomas, a 6-1, 215-pound running back, will play for the West squad. He was ninth in the nation in scoring (9.8 points per game) and 26th in rushing (106 yards per game) as a senior, when he ran for 1,166 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Phoenix native concluded his career with 2,615 yards rushing and 26 rushing touchdowns, totals which rank fifth and third respectively in school history.
Thomas ran six times for 29 yards in the Cornerstone Hula Bowl on Jan. 12 in Honolulu.
UTEP offensive lineman Oniel Cousins will join safety Quintin Demps in the Under Armour Senior Bowl on Jan. 26 in Mobile, Ala. The game will be carried on the NFL Network at 2 p.m. MST from Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile.
Cousins started all 12 games at right tackle in 2007, helping the Miners set a school record with 5,074 yards of offense. UTEP had 500+ yards of offense in three games and 400+ yards on eight occasions. The Miners also tied the school record by scoring 40+ points in five games. A native of Fullerton, Calif., the 6-4, 300-pound Cousins was instrumental in UTEP ranking 26th in the country in both scoring offense (33.6 ppg) and passing offense (275.2 ypg) this past season. The Miners were also 36th in total offense at 422.8 yards per contest.
Demps is UTEP's all-time leader for interception yards (404), while ranking second in interceptions (17). He was a first team All-Conference USA defensive back and second team punt returner by the coaches and the media in 2007, as well as an honorable mention All-America by SI.com. He posted 72 tackles, 4.5 tackles for losses, five interceptions (for 220 yards), nine pass break-ups, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick as a senior. The 6-1, 205-pound San Antonio native became the first player in NCAA history to have two 100-yard interception returns in one season, the first at New Mexico State and the second at UCF.
