Phil Steele Names Nine UTEP Football Players to 2026 Preseason Mountain West Team

6/10/2026 4:36:00 PM

EL PASO – Nine UTEP football players were announced to Phil Steele's 2026 Preseason Mountain West Team on Wednesday.

Making the list for the Miners are junior cornerback Justin Content (second team), sophomore kick returner Nik Henry (fourth team), redshirt senior bandit Sterling Miles (third team), redshirt senior wide receiver Jaden Smith (fourth team), redshirt senior safety Xavier Smith (third team), redshirt senior wide receiver/punt returner Kam Thomas (first team, third team), sophomore cornerback TJ Tillman (fourth team), redshirt sophomore offensive line Brian Williams Jr., and senior linebacker Jayden Wilson (second team).

Content returns for his third season after playing in 21 career games with 15 starts. The product of Hoschton, Ga., tallied 58 tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss and an interception in 12 games (11 starts) last season. Content racked up a career-high 13 tackles against LA Tech while also picking off his first career pass.

Henry was named to the 2025 All-Conference USA All-Freshman team after playing in eight games with one start in his first season with the Miners. The native of Seguin, Texas, returned 13 kickoffs with a long return of 22 yards last season.

Miles transferred to UTEP from Eastern Michigan, where he played in 22 career games. The product of West Bloomfield, Mich., also played at Cincinnati.

J. Smith, who missed last season due to injury, returns to the gridiron in 2026. Smith last played in 2024 when he started the first four games. The native of Atlanta, Ga., hauled in 21 passes for 177 yards and a long catch of 41 yards. He added a touchdown pass that year. Smith totaled 1,922 yards on 173 receptions and 14 touchdowns in three seasons at Eastern Kentucky (2021-23).

X. Smith returns for his third season with the Miners after playing in 22 games with 20 starts in his career. Last year, the product of Atlanta tallied 60 tackles while producing 78 in 2024. Smith picked off a pass at no. 7 Texas, while recording a season-high nine tackles at Utah State.

Thomas made the squad at two positions – first team wide receiver and third team punt returner. Thomas started the first game of the 2025 season, rushing for 36 yards at Utah State but missed the remainder of the season due to injury. In 2024, Thomas's first season as a Miner, he was named All-CUSA first team punt returner after averaging 20.0 yards on 10 returns and a 93-yard touchdown at rival NM State. That year, the native of Birmingham, Ala., led UTEP with 871 all-purpose yards in nine games started. Thomas tied for the team lead in receptions (47) for 532 yards and two TDs in 2024.

Tillman returns for his second season after tallying 11 tackles (six solo) in 11 games (three starts) his true freshman season. The native of Amarillo, Texas, registered a pair of stops against rival NM State.

Williams Jr. transferred to UTEP from Jackson State, where he played in 14 games in two seasons. The product of Atlanta saw action in 11 games with nine starts in 2025.

Wilson is coming off an impressive first year with the Miners as the native of El Paso ranked second on the team with 92 tackles. Wilson added 8.0 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, an interception, and six hurries. Wilson amassed a season-high 16 tackles against Liberty.

UTEP opens the 2026 season at SEC power Oklahoma on Sept. 5, while the Miners will host Texas Southern in the first home game on Sept. 12.

2026 UTEP FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS INFORMATION
For the first time since 2021, all of UTEP's home games will be played on Saturdays. The Miners will host a pair of nonconference games – vs. Texas Southern (Sept. 12 at 7 PM) and Oregon State (Sept. 26 at 7 PM). Mountain West foes traveling to the Sun Bowl are Nevada (Oct. 10), San Jose State (Oct. 17), Hawai'i (Nov. 7), and Wyoming (Nov. 14).

For 2026 UTEP Football Season Tickets, call (915) 747-UTEP, email tickets@utep.edu, or visit www.utepminers.com/tickets. The Eisenberg Family Ticket Office is located at 201 Glory Road (Brumbelow Building, UTEP Campus).

SUPPORT THE MINER ATHLETIC CLUB
Help support UTEP student-athletes by making a gift to the Miner Athletic Club. Visit https://am.ticketmaster.com/utep/donor-level/MTY%3D today!

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.

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