May 1, 2008

UTEP's Joe West agreed to terms on a free-agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday.

A 6-2, 210-pound wide receiver, West ended his Miner career with 93 catches for 1,540 yards and 13 TDs. He is tied for ninth place in the UTEP record book with 13 touchdown receptions. He started all 12 games in 2007, rating second on the team in receiving yards (734) and receiving touchdowns (six) and third in catches (41). West averaged a team-leading 17.9 yards per catch in 2007, when he had two 100-yard games - 153 yards versus Southern Miss and 101 yards at Texas Tech.

UTEP had three players chosen in last weekend's NFL Draft - OL Oniel Cousins (Baltimore), DB Quintin Demps (Philadelphia) and RB Marcus Thomas (San Diego). QB/WR Lorne Sam signed a free-agent deal with Denver on Monday while former Miner Jake Sears is preparing for a tryout with the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants.