UTEP Football Feature - Darta Lee

By Mark Brunner, Strategic Communications

The UTEP football team (5-1) is off to its best start in 11 years, and one of the biggest reasons has been the play of unheralded offensive linemen like second-year starter Darta Lee.

Quietly the Miners’ offensive line is turning in a banner year. UTEP leads Conference USA and ranks 12th nationally by only allowing 1.00 sacks per contest. That’s a point of pride for Lee. “(It means) a lot,” Lee said. “Going against guys like Praise (Amaewhule) every day (helps).

We love to compete and we don’t like to lose. OLP, o-line pride, is about having pride and doing your job every play no matter what.” The Miners are also second in the conference and rate 12th in the country with time of possession (33:00 average per game). For some offensive linemen playing 33 minutes (55 percent of the contest) would be an issue, but not for Lee. He has put in the work, but he also credits UTEP Director of Strength and Conditioning, Coach Kevin Schadt.

“Body by ‘Schadt’ is how,” Lee said. “I mean a lot of 300 yards shuttles, you know just the way we work. Every day we came out here it wasn’t ‘here we go again, let’s get through this.’ It was let’s attack today. Let’s get better today, let’s work harder, let’s keep going. “The practices in the summer, it was never about us,” Lee said. “It was always doing it for the people that supported us, for the coaches that spend their time with us, for the people on Twitter that were supporting us when nobody else was. We’re doing this for y’all.”

And that work put in when no one else was looking has paid dividends, with UTEP just one win shy of bowl eligibility heading into Saturday’s contest against LA Tech. Lee couldn’t be happier, but his motives aren’t just for his own personal success. He possesses a much bigger perspective.

“It’s my senior year, and I just want people to know that ‘hey, come out and support us because we’re doing it for you’,” Lee said. “We’re doing it for the city, we’re doing it for the school and not for the individual accolades or individual success. It’s bigger than us. “I’ve been here for three years,” Lee said. “Most of the guys who came in and started this are just giving it their all to turn this around for the city, for the school and for the people that come out as supporters.”

His play on the field cannot be questioned, but his teammates like center Andrew Meyer notices other attributes as well. “(Darta) has a lot of leadership,” Meyer said. “I’ve been here, but he’s got more experience than me. He has a lot of knowledge. When we run PRPs (player run practices), he’s the first one to step up and take charge and lead us in the right direction. He’s always got a positive work ethic. He’s just an awesome guy to be around.” Even guys on the defensive side of the ball take notice of Lee. “He’s got a lot of experience so that’s good,” defensive end Jadrian Taylor said. “There’s really not many guys with a lot of experience like him in this conference so going against him (daily) gets me a lot of experience. He makes it easier for me in games by going against him in practice.”

He’s also found time to give back to the community, helping out at the Jones Brothers 2021 Youth Skills Camp over the summer. “It was a lot of fun,” Lee said. “That was just all love between fellow UTEP players (current and former) showing love to each other and supporting each other.”

Lee started his career at Illinois, before ending up at Kilgore College. Once there, it didn’t take long for head coach Dana Dimel to reach out to Lee and bring him to the Sun City.

“Coming out of high school I was very close to committing to K-State where Coach Dimel was the OC (offensive coordinator),” Lee said. “We had a great relationship so when he found me in JUCO he offered me as soon as we talked. It was a no brainer to come play for a guy like that.

“Coach Dimel is just a great guy,” Lee said. “He cares about your future. He expects you to be a football player, but his development of men is what I love the most about him.”

The 6-3, 315 offensive lineman has certainly made the most of his opportunity. He’s already earned a degree in multidisciplinary studies, and was on the Dean’s List for the college of business in the spring of 2021. He has deserved every accolade that has come his way, but doesn’t take it for granted.

“You know coming from where I come from, not many people get this opportunity so it just shows that when you put your mind to it, you can do anything,” Lee said. “That’s all it is. College is a great learning experience, a great stepping stone for a lot of people, and I just want to put my best foot forward and try my best.”

The Alief (SWAT), Texas, native has done just that on the football field as well. He helps set the tone for the Miners’ physical rushing attacking, but Lee has an appreciation for the bevvy of running backs. “It makes it easier when you got guys like Deion Hankins, (Ronald) Awatt, Q-Wadley (Quardraiz Wadley), Willie (Eldridge), Rey (Flores),” Lee said. “It just makes things easier because you know positive things are going to happen if you do your job. I know if I fire off on this play this can be an 80-yard touchdown, so why not?”

But whether he’s pass blocking or run blocking, what Lee enjoys most is when he gets to pancake an opposing player. It is fuel in his tank, and motivation to keep on going. “I mean it’s the best feeling in the world. I don’t score touchdowns, I don’t get sacks, but when I put a guy on his backside it’s the dominating factor that keeps me going.”

And so far in 2021, Lee and the Miners are going great.