UTEP running back Deion Hankins has been named to the FWAA Freshman All-American Watch List, it was announced by the organization on Tuesday morning.
This year’s FWAA (Football Writers Association of America) Freshman All-American team will represent the 20th since its inception and feature a list of seven semifinalists and three finalists later this season leading up to the unveil of the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year.
Hankins, an El Paso native, leads the Miners this season with 65 carries for 300 yards and five rushing touchdowns in the four games he has played in.
The redshirt freshman currently ranks 13th in the country and third in Conference USA with five touchdowns on the season.
Hankins is one of nine Conference USA players (and the only C-USA running back) named to the FWAA Freshman All-American Watch List, along with QB Grant Wells (Marshall), QB Bryson Lucero (UAB), TE Taylor Thompson (Charlotte), DL Christian Clayton (UTSA), LB Tyler Grubbs (LA Tech), LB Jamal Ligon (UTSA), DB Quincy Riley (Middle Tennessee) and K Matthew Quinn (UAB).
With three rushing touchdowns in UTEP’s road win at ULM earlier this season, Hankins became the first Miner freshman to score three rushing touchdowns in a game since John Harvey at Colorado State on Sept. 14, 1985. He also tied the school record for single-game rushing touchdowns by a freshman.
Hankins and the Miners (3-2, 0-1 C-USA) return to action this weekend as UTEP travels to face Charlotte (1-2, 1-1 C-USA) at 10 a.m. MT on Saturday at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ for subscribers.
