Recruiting Roundup — UTEP and Rice

Catching up with some of the latest recruiting headlines across Texas.As the summer season approaches, it signals we are only two months shy of football two-a-days. It's also the best chance for prospects to attend camps, get better, and prepare for the upcoming season. Two schools, UTEP and Rice, are in full offseason mode. We profile the recent University of Texas-El Paso offer bonanza and take a look at the Rice Owls and its newly committed signal-caller from 2016. Plenty of activity as the sun comes out between the two in-state programs in this week's Recruiting Around the State.UTEPThe Miners out of El Paso have been active on the recruiting offer board of late. Really active.The UTEP coaching staff has extended offers recently in the double figures. They've been traveling across the country in the effort to bring talent to West Texas. Let's start in Texas.Being close to campus helped Parkland (El Paso) senior DE Christian Johnson. He, along with 6-foot-3, 240-pound Midland DE Traver Vliem, were offered. The other in-state defensive linemen who picked up a Miners offer was Spencer Nigh, a 6-foot-1, 260-pounder from Magnolia HS.A pair of linebackers picked up offers last week. Argyle's 6-foot-1, 200-pound Kyleb Howell and Arlington's 6-foot-1, 200-pounder Hunter Donnelly were both extended offers by the coaches. Keller RB Tyler Tutt and Huntsville athlete Corey Hightower were also offered.One to watch is recently offered senior Jordan Myers of Dickinson. The WR and athlete from the 3rd coast is quickly becoming a household name in recruiting circles.The out-of-state invitations soon followed. The UTEP staff then ventured to New York for a JUCO defensive back (Kamal Hardy) and the 6-foot-1 195 athlete Joshua Mack from Pittsford. They stopped by New Jersey to offer Lawrence Garner of Columbus. The 6-foot-3, 225 running back/linebacker is one of the more underrated recruits in the eastern region.Back out west, UTEP also offered 3-star DL Leevel Tatum, of Beaverton (OR) and JUCO OL A.J. McCollum of Portland (OR). Sacramento 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior running back Isaiah Hamilton added a UTEP offer as well.It shows that UTEP is always willing to go the extra mile to find prospects and fits for the Miners program. Not just in the state of Texas, but coast to coast in the United States.RICEThe Rice Owls have watched Tom Herman and crosstown rival UH grab the recruiting headlines of late securing some rather large in-state prospects. In an effort to bolster its roster and thwart any continued Cougar momentum, Rice landed a big fish recently.Waco Midway senior QB Sam Glaesmann committed to Rice and couldn't have been happier. Glaesmann backed up SMU early enrollee Ben Hicks last season and will get a chance to shine in 2016."It's a 40-50 year commitment, not a four to five," Glaesmann told ESPN Waco's David Smoak. "Football is over eventually and I want to be able to have a degree from Rice. Nobody had anything bad to say about Rice University. It's not only a great fit for me academically, but also as a QB."It's also one way to grab the headlines from a rival for the up and coming Owls. Justin Wells is an editor of InsideTexas.com and a TexasFootball.com contributor.