courtesy of UTEP athletics

UTEP fullback Forest Mckee sets up block for Kavicka Johnson on screen pass at the University of Alabama Birmingham Nov. 23, 2017.

UTEP senior fullback Forest McKee announced on twitter today that he tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, April 3. Previously UTEP President Heather Wilson announced that three staff members and one student had tested positive as of April 2. With that metric, that would make McKee the second student announced and the only one by name.  

McKee is the first athlete from UTEP to come out as positive for COVID-19. Initially, there was some speculation that someone from the Athletic department had tested positive. UTEP had stated that one of the confirmed cases had returned from the Conference-USA Basketball Championships in Frisco, Texas and had been in the Foster Stevens Basketball Center and the Larry K. Durham Sports Center on March 13. 

According to university updates, three of the confirmed COVID-19 cases were recovering and one was isolated at home. 

McKee said in the post that he was feeling better and thanked the staff, teammates and healthcare professionals that worked with him. 

The former New Mexico Preps linebacker of the year hails from Las Cruces and went to Onate High School locally as a two-way player. As a member of the Knights program McKee was an All-State Linebacker. McKee has been primarily a full back for the Miners.  

Over three seasons, McKee has appeared in 33 games and started six. Primarily a blocker McKee has only had one carry in his career for two yards and four receptions for 42 yards. 

The Miners were able to have six practices prior to all spring sports being suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic March 12. McKee is the only known athlete to have tested positive. It is unknown at this time how many athletes have been tested within all sports. 

Michael Cuviello may be reached at [email protected]