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April 30, 2012
EL PASO - UTEP football's RB Joe Banyard, DB Antwon Blake, LS Matt Camilli and WR Donavon Kemp agreed to free agent contracts following the 2012 NFL Draft on Saturday. Banyard and Blake join the Jacksonville Jaguars, Camilli signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kemp is a Dallas Cowboy. It marks the most UTEP players to sign free agent contracts following the weekend of the draft in the Mike Price era. A native of Sweetwater, Texas, Banyard (5-11, 210-pounds) led the Miners' running game in 2011, averaging 69.3 yards per game to rank fourth in C-USA. He powered UTEP's running game, collecting 832 yards of UTEP's 1,859 and registered five runs of more than 50 yards, including a season-best 77 versus East Carolina (Nov. 12). Banyard posted five games with over 90-yards rushing (four vs. C-USA opponents) and recored a career-best 240 yards against Houston. A native of Houston, Texas, Blake (5-10, 205-pounds) was credited with 46 tackles and a team-best seven pass break-ups in 2011. He recorded an interception, one tackle for loss and had two blocked kicks. He registered five or more tackles in four contests, including a season-best nine against Southern Miss. Blake notched multiple pass deflection contests and six of which came in league play. A three-year starter, Camilli (6-4, 245-pounds) was tabbed All-Conference USA first team in 2011. A native of Las Cruces, Camilli served as the Miners' long snapper for punts, field goals and PATs and posted two tackles on special teams. Under his guard, UTEP did not have a blocked punt in 48 attempts in 2011 and in 51 attempts in 2010.
A wide receiver out of DeSoto, Texas, Kemp (6-1, 195-pounds) recorded 23 catches for 456 yards in 2011. He averaged 19.8 yards per catch to rank second on the squad. Kemp registered four games with over 50 yards in receptions, including a season-best 114 vs. Stony Brook and had six contests with multiple receptions. 
 
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