UTEP football lands three first-team All-C-USA nods
UTEP kicker Gavin Baechle, defensive end Jadrian Taylor and right tackle Jeremiah Byers were named first-team All-Conference USA, the league announced Tuesday.
All three are leaving, as Baechle and Taylor are graduating after using their extra year of eligibility from the COVID season, and Byers has entered the transfer portal. He has reportedly already received offers from Florida State and Miami.
Defensive end Praise Amaewhule, running back and Parkland alum Deion Hankins, linebacker Tyrice Knight and long snapper Angelo Tejada were named to the second team, and cornerback Ilijah Johnson made the all freshman team.
Baechle made 22 of 24 field goals this season, which included a string of 22 consecutive made field goals, three short of the national record. He set the school record for made field goals, breaking it for the first time on a walk-off game-winner against Florida Atlantic.
Taylor led C-USA and was ninth nationally with 9.5 sacks and also had a 100-yard fumble return against Charlotte.
Byers started all 12 games this year and the redshirt sophomore has 30 starts in his career. UTEP had two 700-yard rushers this year in Hankins and Awatt.
The seven total Miners on the first and second team are the most since UTEP had nine all-conference players in 2006.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at 915-546-6359; bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP football lands three players on first-team All-C-USA
