Fourteen Miners Named All-CUSA by College Football Network

8/1/2023 2:30:00 PM

EL PASO, Texas – Fourteen UTEP student-athletes were named All-Conference USA by the College Football Network on Tuesday.

WR Tyrin Smith, OT Steven Hubbard, C Andrew Meyer, OG Elijah Klein, DE Praise Amaewhule, DT Keenan Stewart and LB Tyrice Knight were named first team. Making the second team were RB Deion Hankins, OG Justin Mayers and transfer CB AJ Odums. OT Zuri Henry, CB Ilijah Johnson, and PR Marcus Bellon were named third team, while Bellon at the WR position and S Kobe Hylton earned honorable-mention recognition.

Hubbard, who played in 11 games, starting nine at left tackle in 2022, was also named the Offensive Lineman of the Year, while the UTEP O-line earned Offensive Line of the Year status.

The UTEP offensive line returns five starters which has combined for over 120 starts. The offensive line has allowed just over 1.6 sacks per game, ranking in the top half of the league in least sacks allowed over the last three seasons. Meyer, a redshirt senior, has made 31 career starts at center. Klein, another redshirt senior, has earned 43 career starts on the line, which includes 41 at right guard and a pair at left tackle. Mayers, a redshirt junior, started all 12 games at left guard in 2022, as he's coming off his first full season. Henry, a redshirt senior, has 25 career starts, while playing in a total of 41 contests. Hubbard has appeared in 20 career contests during his career at UTEP.

Knight was tabbed the Linebacker of the Year, after racking up 95 tackles in 2022. Knight was voted second team All-CUSA last season after recording 6.5 TFL, a sack, INT, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble return for a TD. The redshirt senior has started 31 games over the last three seasons.

Smith is coming off his first career 1,000-yard season, gaining a team-best 1,039 yards on a squad-high 71 receptions. The senior was only one of three CUSA receivers to go over the 1K mark, while Smith ranked fourth in the league in receptions. Smith added seven TD catches to his stat line. Smith was only the eighth Miner in school history to gain over 1,000 yards in the air, while he has a chance to be the first UTEP receiver in program history to gain 1,000 yards receiving in back-to-back seasons.

Amaewhule, an All-CUSA second team performer last season, enters the 2023 season ranking second on UTEP's all-time sack's list with 17.5. The redshirt senior needs 3.0 sacks to break the all-time mark at UTEP. Amaewhule led the defense with eight quarterback hurries, while forcing a fumble, and recovering a fumble.

Stewart started 11 games at the defensive tackle position, tallying 23 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss (seven yards) 0.5 sack, seven quarterback hurries (second on team), a fumble recovery and blocked kick in 2022. The redshirt senior posted a season-high seven tackles against Middle Tennessee, while tallying five stops and a TFL at UNM.

Hankins was chosen second team All-CUSA following a career-high 701 rushing yards in 2022. The redshirt junior averaged 5.0 yard on 140 carries and rushed for a pair of touchdowns. Hankins tallied a team-high 563 yards in league-only games. Hankins rushed for a season-high 138 yards on 17 carries (8.1 avg.) in a win over FAU that included a career-long 72-yard rush against the Owls. Hankins grinded 112 yards on 20 attempts (5.6 avg.) in a win at Charlotte (UTEP's first ever win in the Eastern Time Zone).

Odums comes to UTEP after playing at New Mexico the past two seasons. Odums, in 18 career games as a Lobo, tallied 57 tackles (34 solo) with 2.0 TFL, a sack, five breakups and an interception. Odums recorded 48 stops (28 solo) with a sack, five breakups and an INT in 2022. Odums faced UTEP last season, registering four tackles and a pass breakup.

Johnson was named to the 2022 All-CUSA Freshman Team after leading the Miners with a pair of interceptions. He tied for the team with six pass breakups and added 20 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. The Maricopa, Ariz., product intercepted his first career pass at Charlotte. His first career INT came at the most opportune time as it sealed a victory for UTEP in the final seconds against the 49ers. Johnson registered a career-high three pass breakups in a win against rival NM State, while adding three more in UTEP's upset win over Boise State.

Bellon, a junior-college transfer who dazzled in his first season as Miner, returned a punt 47 yards during an upset win over Boise State on national television, while he tallied a career-long 52-yard touchdown reception at LA Tech. The speedster played in all 12 games, ranking fourth in CUSA in punt return average and tallying 253 all-purpose yards.

Hylton also impressed during his first season as a Miner. The junior transfer led all UTEP defensive backs with 91 tackles, while pacing the team with 54 solo stops. Hylton added 10.0 TFL, three breakups, five quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick.

THE 2023 SEASON
The Miners kick off the new campaign at Jax State on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 3:30 p.m. MT on CBS Sports Network.

UTEP will open home action on Saturday, Sept. 2 against Incarnate Word at 7 p.m. in the Sun Bowl. Tickets for the 80's Night game are available at www.utepminers.com/tickets, by calling 915.747.UTEP, emailing tickets@utep.edu or by visiting the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office (500 W. University Ave., 79968

For complete coverage of UTEP Football, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPFB (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.

Print Friendly Version