UTEP guard Will Hernandez earned the first of what figures to be a long string of postseason awards, as he was named to the the All-Conference USA first team, the league announced on Tuesday.
The All-American, projected as a second- or third-round pick in April's NFL draft, is the first Miner to receive consecutive all-conference first team honors since Quintin Demps (2006 and 2007). The Las Vegas, Nev., native is also the first UTEP offensive lineman to receive back-to-back first team recognition.
Defensive lineman Trace Mascorro also earned all-conference honors, as he was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team.