UTEP has landed its crown jewel of the 2025 cycle, at least according to the Rivals ratings.

Kane Bowen, a three-star linebacker from Sherman (Texas), is now the highest-rated member of the Miners' class after a weekend visit that culminated in his verbal pledge. It was Bowen's first-ever trip to the Sun City, but he saw enough that he felt comfortable shutting down his recruitment.

“I had an idea [I might commit]," Bowen told MinerInsider, "but I didn’t know for sure until I got there. That’s when I really knew. When I felt the energy, then I was like, yeah, I’m gonna pull the trigger right now.”

Defensive coordinator J.J. Clark ran point in the Miners' pursuit of Bowen, and although he held offers from Sam Houston, Kansas State and Nevada, the recruitment ultimately came down to UTEP and Tulsa. Although the Golden Hurricane had a distinct geographical advantage, Clark developed a strong bond with Bowen that laid the groundwork for his commitment.

“They made me feel like I was wanted," said Bowen of the UTEP staff. "They let me know that I would be a big part of the team, and that [my] freshman year, I could make an impact. So I was like, oh yeah. I’m gonna make this the one.”

UTEP's 2025 recruiting class is exploding, and Bowen sees the potential in the Sun City under the leadership of new head coach Scotty Walden. Even before coaching a game in the Sun Bowl, the Miners' staff has been able to sell their vision to a myriad of recruits across the state of Texas. And their vision for Bowen involves a variegated role in the Orange Swarm defense.

“They have a whole bunch of energy, they’re young, and they just want to win," Bowen noted. "They really said they want me everywhere, but they said they’re gonna put me at SAM. I’m gonna come off the edge sometimes. Inside the box, outside the box, everything.”

At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, Bowen has the tools and college-ready frame to make an immediate impact for the Miners, who are enjoying the fruits of a highly successful Sun City Showcase this past weekend. Bowen was one of ten prospects that verbally committed to the UTEP staff on Saturday at the Sun Bowl.

“[That] gave me a whole bunch of confidence, seeing a whole bunch of great players commit at the same time," Bowen remarked. "Throughout the day, we was building the chemistry. It’s time to build it up and put UTEP on the map.”

Bowen is not only the highest-rated commit of the 2025 class for the Miners, but he's the highest-rated commit that UTEP has landed since the class of 2019 (McKel Broussard).

Want to know the who, what, when and why of all things UTEP football recruiting? Now is a great time to subscribe to MinerInsider, as current subscribers already know which visitors are on campus and which prospects are close to locking in a pledge to the Miners. Don't miss out on your opportunity to get inside access to UTEP football like never before!