Josh Ortega makes strides for UTEP football team Bret Bloomquist, Wochit
Josh Ortega's time at UTEP has been one of steady ascent.
The defensive lineman was never likely to make an instant impact when he arrived from Montwood in 2016, part of a local-heavy recruiting class, so he went about working and getting better as he waited for his time.
Ortega redshirted in 2016, played in seven games as a freshman in 2017 when he made two tackles, and he changed positions from tackle to end in 2018 and made eight tackles.
Through all that, he kept plugging away, moving up the depth chart, making a larger impact for the Miners, setting himself up for his breakthrough this season.