April 24, 2010

Shortly following the conclusion of the 2010 NFL Draft on Saturday, UTEP defensive back Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith and wide receiver Jeff Moturi agreed to free agent contracts. Cromartie-Smith joins the Pittsburgh Steelers and Moturi is a Green Bay Packer.

The 6-2, 210-pound Cromartie-Smith was credited with 300 tackles while starting 34 games for the Miners, all over the last three seasons. He ranked ninth nationally and second in Conference USA in tackles per game (10.9) as a senior.

A Riverside, Calif. native, Cromartie-Smith was appointed first team All-Conference USA and UTEP's defensive MVP after posting 109 tackles and four tackles for losses in 2009. He was credited with double digit stops in five of the 10 games that he played in, including 19 tackles versus Buffalo in the season opener - tied for the fourth-highest total of any FBS player during the 2009 campaign.

Moturi was first team All-Conference USA as a sophomore in 2007 and honorable mention All-League each of the last two years. He made a catch in 36 straight games to end his collegiate career. One of eight players in school history to amass 2,000 yards receiving, Moturi ranks rates third in UTEP annals in TD catches (26), fourth in receptions (170), tied for fourth in 100-yard games (10) and fifth in receiving yards (2,527).

The 6-0, 190-pound Moturi tied for fourth nationally in touchdown receptions with 13 in 2007. He tied the school record by making a touchdown catch in 10 consecutive games that year. The Irving, Texas native had another big season in 2009, registering 53 catches for 974 yards and topping 100 yards five times in eight games versus C-USA opponents.