Two veterans, newcomer have typically good UTEP safety unit looking strong

UTEP safeties form veteran anchor Bret Bloomquist, Wochit

The UTEP defense has typically found strength in its safeties even when all else goes sideways.

That's an area where they expect to be good, and this year they expect to be good with someone old, someone new and someone repurposed.

That would be, in order, returning starter and captain Michael Lewis, junior college transfer and redshirt Justin Prince, and the ever-reliable Justin Rogers, completing a move from corner and the closest thing the defense has to an established star.

There's also someone to replace, graduated Kahani Smith and his 80 tackles, but on the balance, this is a group that should play up to the standards which for…