Cooper Departure Shakes Up UTEP Football Receiver Depth Chart

The UTEP football wide receiver corp was shaken up by another big departure, with the news surfacing that Arizona graduate transfer Devaughn Cooper has entered the transfer portal, as reported by Rivals Portal on Friday.

The California wideout earned a redshirt last season after playing just four games for the Miners—totaling 10 catches for 147 yards—before suffering a season-ending injury to his arm. At Arizona (2016-18), Cooper snagged 18 passes for 368 yards.

He becomes the second significant receiver to leave the program after last season. Tre'Shon Wolf (454 receiving yards, two touchdowns) transferred to Incarnate Word over the offseason too.

Even though the UTEP football team will return two of its top three receivers in sophomore Jacob Cowing (550 receiving yards, three touchdowns) and senior Justin Garrett (446 yards, three touchdowns), the Miners have a significant experience dropoff among the receivers. Senior Walter Dawn Jr. (six receptions, 78 yards) is the only other returning receiver who caught a pass last year. New Mexico grad transfer Q' Drennan has experience at the Divison I level, while converted receiver from quarterback Mark Torrez played before with the Miners.

The Miners will have to hope that someone young emerges among the receiver group, similarly to how Cowing exploded onto the scene as a freshman.

Other starters like punter Mitchell Crawford, linebacker Sione Tupou and offensive lineman Greg Long entered the transfer portal over the offseason.