In years past, UTEP's recruiting presence in the state of Texas has been minimal.

That changed last December when new head coach Scotty Walden got to town.

He's been thoroughly unafraid to recruit the state of Texas. And especially as it pertains to the remote western region of the Lone Star State, Walden and the Miners aren't going to let a stud slip through their fingers without a fight.

One such prospect is versatile 6-foot-4 athlete Kason Brown, who hails from the small west Texas town of Big Lake. Brown, who boasts four FBS offers, took in the Sun City this past weekend on his official visit to UTEP. It was the first OV experience for Brown, and he told Rivals that it exceeded his expectations.

“I had a great time; I really enjoyed it," remarked Brown. "I didn’t know what to expect with it being my first [official] and everything, but man, it was awesome. It was more than I expected, for sure. As soon as I got there, I just felt love. I wasn’t committed or anything, but it felt like I was. They treated me like I was their guy, and they treated everyone like that. They care so much about what they’re doing, and it’s amazing what they’re doing out there.”

Brown opined that the highlight of the visit was his time with Walden, the 34-year-old head man who has UTEP on the verge of signing Conference USA's top recruiting class.

“I think just sitting down and talking and listening to Coach Walden," said Brown. "He’s really recruiting hard, and you can tell, man — he’s so passionate about what he’s doing. And he’s very energetic, and he cares about more than just football. He cares for you as a person too. And that’s big for me.”