Special to The Prospector

UTEP senior Isaac Tauaefa has made it through the first round of competition on the X Factor. He is a former UTEP football player who played defensive line.

UTEP senior Isaac Tauaefa has made it through the first round of competition on the X Factor.

The media advertising and communications major auditioned back on May 14 and the episode aired Wednesday night on Fox.

Tauaefa sang James Morrison’s song “Better Man” for his audition. He got a yes from all four judges on the show.

Tauaefa is originally from Corinth, Texas, and is a former UTEP football player who played defensive line and completed two seasons with the Miners before a knee injury.

Demi Lovato, an X Factor judge, reassured him that he made the right choice pursuing a singing career rather than football.

The next episode of the X Factor airs Thursday night and eliminations will be made. The top 40 will be selected, and if Tauaefa moves on to thethird round he may be featured on more episodes.

Tauaefa has participated in some open-mic nights at UTEP in the past, but nothing to the scale of the hit show.

X Factor airs every Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.

For more information on the competition visit thexfactorusa.com.

Videos of Tauaefa’s singing can be found here.

Amanda Guillen may be reached at [email protected].