UTEP Gets Their Future QB

A month before National Signing Day, the UTEP football team wasted no time in addressing one of their top priorities. Junior College All-American quarterback Nick Lamaison signed with the Miners and is on his way to El Paso to attend Spring semester classes. Lamaison is a little smaller than most pro prospects (6-1 vs. 6-4), but his accuracy and leadership impressed UTEP head coach Mike Price. I spoke with Coach Price this morning and he liked how Lamaison interacts with his players and coaches. His strong leadership skills and toughness are more positives that the junior college signal caller will bring to the Miners.

Lamaison was not heavily recruited out of South Hills High School in West Covina, California and immediately went to Mt. San Antonio College. His successful freshman season earned him All-American honors by the JC Athletic Bureau and Lamaison signed to play with the Tennessee Volunteers. When Lane Kiffin left Tennessee for USC, Lamaison opted to return to Mt. San Antonio College and UTEP began recruiting him.

Price told me he was hoping his current group of quarterbacks had improved by now, but their lack of progress forced him to sign a junior college QB. Lamaison will participate in spring drills and will have two years of eligibility left. I expect him to win the starting quarterback job, but hope the competition will be the kind of motivation Javia Hall, Carson Meger, and Tate Smith need to work harder this offseason and give the UTEP coaches more confidence in their abilities.  Now, Price and his staff need to address the offensive line and don't be surprised if they go back to the junior colleges to help fill that position.