Sean Kugler's promise to upgrade the talent on the UTEP football team and bring in more local players took another tangible step forward Wednesday when five Miners, including three from El Paso, were selected to the 2016 preseason Conference USA Football Team.
Tailback Aaron Jones, tackle Will Hernandez and linebackers Nick Usher and Alvin Jones, and punt returner Warren Redix account for the biggest haul UTEP has ever put on the preseason C-USA team as voted on by the 13 league coaches.
Only Louisiana Tech, with seven, and Florida Atlantic and Southern Miss, with six selections, had more.