UConn Football 2014 Spring Wrap Up

2013: YEAR IN REVIEW

In what was the worst UConn football season since 2001, the fall of 2013 included a near-upset over the historic Michigan Wolverines, the mid-season firing of Paul Pasqualoni, countless quarterback changes, and a 3 game win streak to close the season, bringing the Huskies’ record to 3-9 on the year, and 3-5 in the inaugural season of the American Athletic Conference. The defense was uncharacteristically inconsistent, the offensive line was putrid, and quarterback play, which UConn has not figured out since Dan Orlovsky in 2004, was once again poor.

Fortunately, UConn loses just 2/5 of its starting offensive line and a talented, but injury-plagued, receiver in Shakim Phillips on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively, UConn suffers a pretty crushing blow in LB Yawin Smallwood’s early exit for the NFL draft where he could be a 3rd round pick. The team will have to replace ¾ of the starting defensive line as the new coaching staff shifts to a hybrid 3-4 defensive scheme, with the loss of 6-5, 317 lb Shamar Stephen perhaps being the most significant as he would be the ideal nose tackle. In the secondary, only Taylor Mack will be missing from last year’s depth chart, which shouldn’t have too much of an effect as he was prone to allowing big plays.

With the hiring of Bob Diaco, former Assistant Coach of the Year for Notre Dame in 2012, Athletic Director Warde Manuel was looking for someone who could change the culture of UConn football and get some fans in the seats. Diaco is a high-energy, defensive-minded coach who has shown a strong confidence in the UConn brand and potential for this football program.

With the recent success of both the Women’s and Men’s basketball teams here in Storrs as well as the ever-changing landscape of College Football, all eyes in Connecticut will be on the football team this fall, looking to ascend the Huskies’ athletic program into the top tier of college athletics.

STRENGTH

Receiving core – Last year, Geremy Davis was UConn’s first receiver since its move to FBS football to record a 1,000 yard season. The fact that he did this with 3 different quarterbacks who almost never had time to throw and combined for 18 interceptions and just 16 touchdowns makes this feat all the more impressive. In his return for his Senior year, he is joined by the lightning quick Deshon Foxx. Though prone to drops, he is a big play waiting to happen when the ball is in his hands. The slew of young receivers that all saw some time last year, including Kamal Abrams, Dhameer Bradley, John Green, and Brian Lemelle all are poised to step into a complementary role at receiver with their collective talent and experience.

At tight end, Sophomore Sean McQuillan should see an expanded role at tight end after a productive freshman year.

WEAKNESS

Offensive line is the biggest question mark coming out of the Spring and into the Summer. The secret behind the success of the string of UConn’s recent running back success from Donald Brown to Andre Dixon to Jordan Todman was its massive and talented offensive line. A number of them have gone on to see success in the NFL (William Beatty, Donald Thomas), but unfortunately we have seen this trend stop in recent years.

The reasons for this are not concrete, whether it’s the staff failing to develop like they used to or simply missing on recruits, but, like, Diaco, I believe the success of UConn’s program is dependent on the productivity of the offensive line.

BREAKOUT PLAYERS

Andreas Knappe: The 6’8, 300 lb lineman from Denmark is hard to miss on the football field. The Redshirt Sophomore is very new to the game, only playing a few years before coming to UConn in 2012. He has changed positions from the defensive line to the offensive line this off-season, where he figures to be able to find some playing time and provide a much needed spark at a position the Huskies have struggled at the past few seasons.

Graham Stewart: The LB redshirt Junior transfer student played high-school football for one of the state’s powerhouse schools in Xavier-Middletown before choosing to attend Florida over UConn. After transferring back home and an injury plagued sophomore year in Storrs, Stewart looks to show Husky Nation what he can do and continue what has been a terrific linebacker legacy at UConn.

Obi Melifonwu: Though you could say last year was his breakout performance as a redshirt freshman, the 6’4 210 pound safety is poised to take it to the next level in his second year starting for UConn. He has a rare combination of size and athleticism for a safety, and was second on the team in tackles last season with 70 to go along with two interceptions. He possesses the most potential of any player on UConn’s defense.

POSITION BREAKDOWN

QB: This unit looked pretty awful last year, and hopefully things will change as all who saw time are returning. With sophomore Casey Cochran ending the year with UConn’s only 3 victories in 2013, he looks to have the edge after running with the first team in the Spring Game. Senior Chandler Whitmer and Sophomore Tim Boyle are both capable quarterbacks that should challenge for the starting job. Cochran does not have the experience of Whitmer or the arm strength of Boyle, but he is an accurate and intelligent QB that should come out of the summer as the starter. Regardless, this kind of depth at the quarterback position is never a problem. C+

RB: Senior Lyle McCombs had his best season in his freshman year where he eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark, and has not come too close to that since. The 5’8 170 pound back is small but lightning quick and with a formidable line, has the ability to be an above average back in the American conference. Junior Max DeLorenzo offers a contrasting style to McCombs as the complimentary back, being able to pound the ball and offers a bit more consistency. A a couple highly-touted recruits will join the team this summer in Parade All-American Arkeel Newsome and Brice McCallister and they should challenge for playing time if they aren’t redshirted. There’s no star here like in previous years at UConn, but the two should provide a formidable ground attack for the Huskies. B-

WR: As noted above, this the strength on UConn’s offense. Geremy Davis, the 6’3 Senior who should be playing on Sundays in 2015, is a physical receiver with excellent hands that always finds a way to get the ball. Senior Deshon Foxx is a dynamic option in the slot, and the coaches at UConn are simply waiting for an underclassman, possibly Brian Lemelle or true sophomore Dhameer Bradley, to step up into that 3rd receiving slot. A-

TE: Sean McQuillan has the tools to be a solid pass-catching tight end, showing some signs of life last season before being forced to sit out the last 3 games. There is not too much proven depth at the position, but defensive end convert EJ Norris should see the field as a versatile football player. C+

OL: The offensive line lost a few of its starters as well as some backups to graduation and suspension, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. 4 linemen in UConn’s regular rotation from last year are gone, but some of the most consistent ones from last year return in Dalton Gifford, Alex Mateas, Gus Cruz, and Tyler Samra. Someone will need to step up in that fifth spot on the line, possibly left tackle, where Xavier Hemingway, commonly known as the revolving door, was poised to take until his dismissal from the team. Look out for Andreas Knappe to make an impact on the line as the season progresses. C-

DL: The defensive line received immense praise after the spring game from players and coaches alike, “Words can’t describe how dominant our defensive line is going to be next fall,” said Junior safety Andrew Adams. The starting unit of BJ McBride, Reuben Frank, Angelo Pruitt, Julian Campenni, where only Campenni returns as a starter, has size with McBride at 6’5 304 pounds and Campenni at 6’0 299 pounds. Pruitt played in all 12 games, starting 10, in 2013 and Frank, after transitioning from fullback last year, seems to have settled in nicely and should have a solid year. B+

LB: UConn should have some success at linebacker this season in a unit led by Florida transfer and former 4 star recruit Graham Stewart, Marquis Vann, and Jefferson Ashiru. All three are juniors with similar size. Each are sound tacklers and have the ability to cover. Though the unit will certainly miss Yawin Smallwood, a future NFL starter, the Huskies have a very formidable front seven, probably the most consistent aspect of the team. B

Secondary: Led by 4 year starter Byron Jones, UConn’s secondary, a unit that has often been the defense’s weakness, should improve on last year’s inconsistency. Safety Obi Melifonwu is a rising star in the conference while Andrew Adams beside him looks to make impact in his first year as a starter. The second corner spot is a bit up for grabs after the graduation of Taylor Mack, but Sophomores Jhavon Williams and David Stephenson showed signs of some serious talent and should provide a reliable option opposite Jones. B-

Special Teams: UConn brings back all those who returned kicks last year including Lyle McCombs and Deshon Foxx, where they can hopefully find some success after not much last year with the departure of Nick Williams in 2012, a current Washington Redskin. The kicking and punting game should take a major step back after the graduation of veterans Cole Wagner and Chad Christen. Sophomores K Bobby Puyol and P Justin Wain lack experience and should be in some growing pains as special teams seem like they may be taking a step back after a fair amount of consistency over the past few years. D+

2014 EXPECTATIONS

With a once again intriguing non-conference schedule along with some new, unfamiliar conference opponents, UConn’s record is particularly challenging to predict. The team should improve at the majority of positions and it should equate to an improved record after going 3-9 last season.

The Huskies get to play two of the top teams in the AAC in UCF and Cincinnati at home as well as BYU and Boise State at Rentschler field to open the year. This team is beyond motivated to end the 3-year streak of not reaching the post season, and there’s no question they have the tools and the schedule to do so.

Predicted Record: 7-5

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Ben Cantor of The UConn Blog provided the information for our UConn football 2014 spring wrap up.  For more Husky football information, commentary and analysis, you can follow Ben & The UConn Blog on Twitter @TheUConnBlog. 

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