Eight years ago, when Alec Marenco was 11 he traveled with his family from El Paso to Albuquerque to see UTEP play against Utah State in the New Mexico Bowl.
His hometown Miners, who featured twin brothers Aaron and Alvin Jones from Burges High, lost to the Aggies, 21-6. Marenco had no clue back then that his future would be at University Stadium – and with the New Mexico Lobos.
Marenco, a sophomore linebacker for New Mexico, starred at Burges and picked up his first scholarship offer from UTEP, from where his mother Christina was a volleyball player, and where father, Oscar also earned his degree.