D.J. Shoemate is officially in the fold for the UConn Huskies and with three weeks to go before camp the UConn running back situation got a little more crowded...and at that's a good thing.
Shoemate is a refugee from Southern California where the Trojans were hit by big-time NCAA sanctions. Edsall is going to allow the former high school All-American to come in and compete right away
"He will have the opportunity to compete for playing time. Whomever is the best guy will play."
There are a couple of spots where the Huskies are thin going into fall camp but running back isn't one of them. Shoemate is a terrific athlete and Edsall felt he is very shift and quick. He's much bigger than incumbent Jordan Todman, who rushed for over 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns last year.
Todman was unchallenged this spring with Andre Dixon now headed the the UFL's Hartford Colonials after the duo both went over 1,000 yards last year. Now, Shoemate looks primed to compete for some of Dixon's carries and even more.
"Jordan has shown what he can do," Edsall said. "No question about that. Over 1,200 yard rusher. DJ will compete for carries at that position. Whomever is best guy is going to play. We have seen here in previous years, we have one guy a starter, next year not a starter. It’s competition and guys that can do that. I am not saying it's going to happen at running back, but he has an opoortunity to come here and get carries."
That's a warning to Todman, who didn't endear himself to the coaching staff this spring missing several practices because of disciplinary reasons. What Todman did was nothing serious, but the coaching staff didn't really have anyone primed to challenge Todman for carries. Now with Shoemate, if Todman doesn't work hard and compete, then there is a player here who can take those carries away.
It's not hard to fathom. The backup running back for UConn going into fall camp is perhaps the most dangerous rusher east of the Mississippi. Cornell Brockington, Donald Brown, Andre Dixon have all had big years unseating 1,000 yard rushers. If Edsall can send Terry Caulley, whom Edsall adored, to the bench as well as Brown during their careers, it isn't that much of a stretch to think the same could happen to Todman.
If UConn is going to compete for the Big East title Edsall will need to get the best of both worlds out of his backs. Shoemate is bigger, at 220 pounds, and was a fullback at USC who did a lot of pass catching, and the tandem could put up big numbers this season. Todman showed his explosion, and if Shoemate's scouting report is accurate, they added another explosive back into the mix. Shoemate will also play on special teams which should help immensely.
I am not expecting Todman to be supplanted. I would actually bet against it. But, I don't think the coaching staff is going to waste talent and athleticism offensively. Shoemate is going to get on the field and will get carries. That should make the Huskies a much more dynamic bunch.
Also some house keeping. Geremy Davis will redshirt his freshman season after having successful surgery. Also, backup fullback Bret Manning was granted a scholarship.
Here's UConn's release on Shoemate.
D.J. Shoemate, a 6-0, 225-pound, tailback from Corona, Calif., will enroll at the University of Connecticut and play for the Husky football team this fall. Shoemate transfers to Connecticut after spending his first two years at the University of Southern California. Shoemate will be eligible to play at UConn immediately and has two years of eligibility remaining.
Shoemate served as a backup fullback for the Trojans and played on special teams as a sophomore in 2009. He played in 12 games for USC and had a pair of carries for two yards and two receptions for 23 yards, including a 13-yard TD.
Shoemate began 2008 as a wide receiver, and then was moved mid-season to fullback. He also played on special teams and played in a total of nine games.
He enjoyed a tremendous career at Servite High School in Anaheim where he was teammates with current Husky quarterback Johnny McEntee.
Shoemate earned ESPN 150 honors as a senior and was named Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West first team, Orange County Register Fab 15, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Los Angeles Times All-Star, Orange County Register All-Orange County first team and was the Trinity League Co-Offensive MVP.
In his senior year, he ran for 1,291 yards on 241 carries with 24 TDs. Shoemate also caught 40 passes for 570 yards with 4 TDs.
As a sophomore in 2005, he made the All-CIF Division I first team, Orange County Register All-Orange County first team and was the All-Serra League Co-MVP while rushing for 604 yards on 71 carries with 13 touchdowns, catching 46 passes for 930 yards with eight TDs and getting four scores on blocked punts.
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