The portal is technically closed and most of the top players who entered have found new homes for the 2026 season. We’re breaking down each of the 13 FBS portal classes across the state of Texas, continuing with UTEP. The Miners are entering Year 3 of the Scotty Walden era as new members of the Mountain West. Walen is 5-19 overall and 4-12 in conference play as the head coach at UTEP. The hope is that a strong portal class pairs with a few highly-ranked G6 recruiting classes to create a breakout season in El Paso. 

Overview 

Head coach Scotty Walden added nearly 20 players to the UTEP squad through the transfer portal ahead of an important Year 3 with the program. The Miners are moving to the Mountain West, which is what the fan base has wanted for years. The next wish is to win and reach a bowl game. UTEP has recruited well under Walden, including in the portal. This class includes at least one player at nearly every position. 
Class Grade: C+

Three Key Additions 

QB EJ Colson, Incarnate Word: The UIW transfer is expected to become the starting quarterback for the Miners in a critical 2026 season. Colson began his career at UCF in 2024, appearing in three games and starting once for the Golden Knights before transferring to the FCS level and earning the starting job for the Cardinals after Week 1. He ended the season with 2,142 passing yards and 16 touchdowns through the air while adding 287 yards and three scores as a runner. Colson only threw four interceptions on 296 attempts. UTEP threw 20 interceptions as a team last year, tied for most in the nation. 

RB Tavorus Jones, Missouri: An El Paso native returning home to find more carries. Jones was a four-star prospect from nearby El Paso Burges High School, where he rushed for 3,589 yards and 42 touchdowns while adding 72 receptions for 1,298 yards and 14 scores in his prep career. He spent four seasons at Missouri ahead of his transfer to UTEP, carrying the ball 27 times for 111 yards and one touchdown. 

OL Brian Williams Jr., Jackson State: The Miners must improve in the trenches as Mountain West members and Williams was one of five offensive linemen signed by UTEP in the transfer window. He’s a 6-foot-2, 333-pounder who played in 11 games for a Jackson State squad that reached the SWAC Championship game. He’ll likely end up as one of the starters at guard. 

Two Sleepers 

LB Isaiah Bogerty, Texas Southern: The 6-foot-3, 230-pound incoming senior should make an immediate impact for UTEP at the linebacker position. He recorded 82 tackles in 2025 for Texas Southern and had four games with at least 10 tackles. The Stafford native has played 31 games over his four-year college career and has registered 187 tackles, including eight for loss and two sacks. He’s also broken up two passes. 

CB Kaleb Miles, East Texas A&M: A Prosper native who began his college career in the JUCO ranks at Navarro College performed well in 2025 at the FCS level, finishing the season with 49 tackles, including two for loss and a sack, as well as two interceptions and five pass breakups. One of those interceptions came in the season opener against SMU. The 5-foot-10, 192-pound junior can play outside cornerback or spin into the nickel position because he’s not afraid of the physicality required to help against the run. 

Transfer List

• QB EJ Colson, Incarnate Word 
• QB Raymond Moore, Morgan State 
• RB Tavorus Jones, Missouri 
• WR Carver Cheeks, Northern Colorado 
• WR Royal Capell, Oklahoma State 
• OL Omoruyi Aliu-Otokiti, Livingston College 
• OL Jayden Trapp, Texas A&M-Kingsville
• OL Brian Williams Jr., Jackson State 
• OL Jeremy Lamb, North Texas 
• OL Jackson Bradley, Cornell 
• DT Elijah Fields, SFA
• DT Preston Hickey, Northwestern State 
• LB Sterling Miles, Eastern Michigan 
• LB Isaiah Bogerty, Texas Southern
• CB Kaleb Miles, East Texas A&M 
• DB Latristan Thompson, Utah
• DB Esteban Guillory, Western Illinois 
• S Donovan Howard, Virginia State 
• P Brady Braun, Gardner Webb