Two-star DE Leander Parrish chooses UTEP, goes in-depth on commitment

In his first year as the head ball coach at UTEP, Scotty Walden continues to deliver on his promise to make the Miners a strong presence on the in-state recruiting scene.

His latest addition is coveted Rockwall (Texas) DE Leander Parrish, who took an official visit to El Paso over the weekend and saw enough to shut his recruitment down. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound phenom held offers from Tulsa, San Diego State, UTSA, Arkansas State and Rice, but he's headed to the Sun City to join the Orange Swarm defense.

“When I went down there, I was greeted with a lot of hospitality," Parrish told MinerInsider.com. "Just going down there, feeling the energy from Coach Walden and the staff. How energetic they are, seeing them during crucial points — they don’t get dead. They just keep going. They keep the energy throughout the whole game, no matter the situation. I know that it’s a new up-and-coming program, so I know they’ve been adding things to it. I feel like they can be something big. There’s something there — a lot of potential there. I feel like it’s an opportunity to go be a part of something.”