St. Joseph's De La Cruz signs with UTEP

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- St. Joseph offensive lineman Diego De La Cruz is heading to El Paso.

The Monterrey native signed his letter of intent to play football at UTEP.

"The coaching staff, and feel you feel when you go there, they make you feel like family," said De La Cruz. "They show you it's real when coaches bond with players, and players bond with coaches. It was genuine. All the times I went and how they approached me and my family when we went there. Very genuine."

The Miners are coming off a 3-9 season under first-year head coach Scotty Walden.

De La Cruz helped the Bloodhounds go 10-2 during his senior season.

He was supported by friends and family at his signing ceremony held on the Bloodhounds' campus.

"It's dream," De La Cruz said. "Couldn't sleep last night. Something you can only imagine, you see in movies, TV, or you see other people doing it. But when it's you, it's such an amazing feeling."