Randy Edsall knew the question about Connecticut was bound to come up.
The Huskies have missed out on some major recruits in-state in recent years and the loss of several players downstate has an effect.
The Huskies missed out on Stamford area players in running back Silas Redd and linebacker Khari Fortt (both Penn State) and also missed on Wethersfield's Tyler Murphy (Wethersfield) and Kevin Pierre-Louis out of Stamford (Boston College). Fortt and Pierre-Louis the Huskies went after hard.
That comes on the heels of losing out on New London's Jordan Reed last year to Florida, Aaron Hernandez three years before that to Florida and even players such as Torrey Mack to Virginia and Masengo Kabongo to Maryland two years ago among others.There are a handful of others too that wouldn't even consider the Huskies.
There isn't a ton of talent in Connecticut, but when it's top shelf and can help the Huskies the players tend to go away. While Redd wasn't ever an option and was always a Penn State guy, the Huskies recruited Fortt and Pierre-Louis hard. Murphy was offered, but given a deadline. Murphy wanted to play quarterback while the staff wanted him to be a defensive back. Murphy is headed to Florida as a QB.
At least all of the above gave UConn a shot. Sometimes the Huskies don't even get in the door.
Now, every players has to make their own decisions but there are a handful of players every year that think of UConn as a settle. For whatever reason top shelf players from Connecticut have taken to spurning the Huskies as a football school. Edsall admitted as much on Wednesday. Sometimes, the farther Edsall gets away from Connecticut the more open recruits and high school coaches are to him and UConn. Chicago recruit Greg McKee had late interest from Ohio St. He's coming to UConn. In Connecticut, that would be unheard of for a player to chose UConn over one of those schools. In fact, it would open the player up to scorn.
"That's what's disappointing to me.," Edsall said. "We are better received outside the state of Connecticut than what we are within the state, in certain pockets. That's tough to say, but you've got to say it because it's true."
Edsall said his staff has tried to reach out to coaches throughout the state but the response continues to be minimal. Coaches and players have access to tickets for games on Saturday and the attendance is usually abysmal. The UConn staff sets up free coaching clinics and opens up spring practice to coaches and the response is usually under-whelming.
There are many high school coaches in this state that have failed to take a step inside the Huskies $50 million practice facility, regarded as one of the best in the nation. That has an effect and whenever UConn goes up against another BCS school, especially downstate in Fairfield County, they don't have the advantage that other in-state schools enjoy. In fact, UConn is at a disadvantage.
What makes this mind-boggling is the Huskies have had a track record of state players doing extremely well in Storrs. Scott Lutrus, Marcus Easley, Dan Orlovsky, Dahna Deleston, Donald Thomas, Dan Ryan, Mike Hicks, turned into NFL caliber prospects here after being lightly recruited. They all have had good careers playing at the state school. Currently, Erik Kuraczea is set to be starter at guard and Zach Hurd will also start. Hurd is another major NFL prospect at guard. Connecticut players have done very well when they go play at UConn.
UConn players from Connecticut have for the most part played a lot in Storrs.
What's going on here?
First off, I have said this before, but before I started covering UConn football I was on the high school beat. Most of this is the high school coaches getting doe-eyed when a college coach comes in. You can't get everybody, but there is something more at play here.
High school coaches control a lot of the early recruiting and hold a lot of sway and some are miffed at UConn because they won't take their second rate players. For many years UConn always took the second of the litter in Connecticut while the big-time players went to such places as Syracuse and Boston College and even Penn St. The second tier player used to get recruited by UConn as a I-AA and that was a nice feather in the cap for the high school. While times haven't changed down in some parts of this state, the Huskies are no longer a I-AA school.
UConn is in a BCS conference and they can't take second rate players or marginal FBS players on the roster. It's about competing in the Big East. A lot of high school coaches take offense with that. They feel as though they are owed something and that the state school should throw some token spots their way. UConn will evaluate any player that a Connecticut high school coach asks to be evaluated. What they aren't going to do is take someone who doesn't belong.
Now, when that second tier player is passed by but a major BCS player is available there is some resistance from high school coaches to be open to UConn. Perhaps they want special treatment. Perhaps they don't think the Huskies are a major program. The fact so few high school coaches in this state have stepped foot inside the Burton Complex, and so few actually go to coaching clinics (why would you not do this?), and attend games with players speaks volumes.
UConn isn't going to get every player instate. But, except for some pockets, they have a better chance of pulling a 5 star recruit out of Texas than getting a 4 star in-state recruit to stay home.
It's a hurdle for the program, and one that is so counter intuitive to recruiting it's hard to explain.
Perhaps, it's just going to take a lot more time.
Showing posts with label signing day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label signing day. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Signing Day wrap-up
There are never any surprises when UConn unveils it's recruiting class on national signing day. As we have seen throughout the years, Randy Edsall does things differently. While the rest of the recruiting world is in a tizzy as a frenzy of de-commits (is that a word?) and last minute switches the Huskies usually relax on signing day. This year's class is 20 deep, minus only one in Jacob Ruby who had some issues with transcripts coming from Canada from what I hear. Ruby isn't going to be able to play anywhere.
Besides that, the Huskies wrapped up their recruiting a week ago with the final commitment, B.J. McBryde, locked in after UConn coach Randy Edsall spent an entire day with McBryde in Beaver Falls, Pa.
That's just the way things work up in Storrs. Players who verbally commit are held to a high standard and the Huskies don't try and poach or allow "soft verbals." If a recruit visits another school, then the scholarship is pulled.
The Huskies, predictably, are ranked last in the Big East in recruiting but I wouldn't put much stock in the pay site evaluations. Edsall called it propaganda and the poor recruiting classes of the previous four years have turned out pretty well for the team.
I can't tell you how much I don't pay attention to recruiting stars. Edsall called it propaganda on Wednesday and I don't disagree. That I had two emails today wishing me Happy National Signing Day made me want to put my head back in the pillow.
Don't get me wrong, today is important, but there is an ample supply of players out there and the Huskies have done pretty well in the past that I can't take rankings of prep players seriously. So.... I don't.
Here's Edsall on the class.
"This is probably the most athletic class we have been able to put together. There are a lot of 2-3 sport athletes."
It's heavy on a couple of positions and they added 4 offensive linemen including Greg McKee out of Chicago who enrolled in January. McKee was the player Edsall was visiting when we all assumed he was telling an untruth and he was actually in Chicago meeting with ND officials. Funny. It's a secondary area for the Huskies, but McKee showed up in the summer as part of a tour group.
There were also a couple of position switches.
Ruben Frank, 6-2 229 out of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. was moved from DE to fullback. So, there is your fullback. Other moves are Byron Jones from New Britain and St. Paul headed to corner. Jones has size and is extremely athletic. I thought of him as a wide receiver, but Edsall is looking for more size at the corner and safety positions and they do need that.
UConn will also add a pair fo QBS to the fold. Leon Kinnard signed last year and enrolled in January while Scott McCummings from Natik High in Natick, Mass. is also in the fold. Kinnard is 5-9 175, while McCummings is 6-2 210 and both are dualk threat quarterbacks. Kinnard remains at QB for the time being and will get his shot there.
Both of these quarterbacks are more athletic and mobile than the current crop of statue men Zach Frazer and Cody Endres. Edsall said he isn't changing the offense however, but with redshirt Mike Box and now Kinnard and McCummings, UConn is looking for players with a little more mobility at the position. McCummings and Kinnard can throw the ball and are accurate. UConn isn't going to go with a QB that can't throw anymore.
That brings 5 scholarship QBs to the fold, and add in Jonny McEntee and it's six signal callers. That's a lot.
Other highlights of the class include defensive lineman Angelo Pruitt from Cinicnnati (Cincinnati tried to come in late). Current January enrollees that could battle for time at safety are Gilbert Stlouis and Andrew Opoku.
The class is heavy with OL and DB, two need areas for the Huskies on the depth chart.
At wide receiver Edsall cited Tebucky Jones Jr. from New Britain. He loves Jones' competitiveness (Side note: I can't tell you how weird it is that I am going to cover Tebucky Jones Jr. I only went to middle school with Tebucky Jones Sr. in New Britain at St. Ann's and watched him play football in high school. My wife was in the New Britain band when Tebucky Jones led New Britain to the title over Greenwich in 1992. OK enough ancient history).
There isn't much too this recruiting class. Edsall has proven that once he gets raw ability into the fold he has been able to manage it. Recruiting classes also aren't signed without regard to the rest of the roster. The Huskies were light on skill position players. No tight ends and only two wide receivers. It was a defense heavy class with four linebackers, five defensive backs and three defensive linemen.
Huskies are a very young team. I wouldn't expect a ton out of this class next year. Last year's class had 3 WRs and two defensive linemen play. That would be hard pressed this year. Safety and defensive back is the best bet.
As far as other house keeping, Edsall said they will name two assistant coaches tomorrow.
Besides that, the Huskies wrapped up their recruiting a week ago with the final commitment, B.J. McBryde, locked in after UConn coach Randy Edsall spent an entire day with McBryde in Beaver Falls, Pa.
That's just the way things work up in Storrs. Players who verbally commit are held to a high standard and the Huskies don't try and poach or allow "soft verbals." If a recruit visits another school, then the scholarship is pulled.
The Huskies, predictably, are ranked last in the Big East in recruiting but I wouldn't put much stock in the pay site evaluations. Edsall called it propaganda and the poor recruiting classes of the previous four years have turned out pretty well for the team.
I can't tell you how much I don't pay attention to recruiting stars. Edsall called it propaganda on Wednesday and I don't disagree. That I had two emails today wishing me Happy National Signing Day made me want to put my head back in the pillow.
Don't get me wrong, today is important, but there is an ample supply of players out there and the Huskies have done pretty well in the past that I can't take rankings of prep players seriously. So.... I don't.
Here's Edsall on the class.
"This is probably the most athletic class we have been able to put together. There are a lot of 2-3 sport athletes."
It's heavy on a couple of positions and they added 4 offensive linemen including Greg McKee out of Chicago who enrolled in January. McKee was the player Edsall was visiting when we all assumed he was telling an untruth and he was actually in Chicago meeting with ND officials. Funny. It's a secondary area for the Huskies, but McKee showed up in the summer as part of a tour group.
There were also a couple of position switches.
Ruben Frank, 6-2 229 out of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. was moved from DE to fullback. So, there is your fullback. Other moves are Byron Jones from New Britain and St. Paul headed to corner. Jones has size and is extremely athletic. I thought of him as a wide receiver, but Edsall is looking for more size at the corner and safety positions and they do need that.
UConn will also add a pair fo QBS to the fold. Leon Kinnard signed last year and enrolled in January while Scott McCummings from Natik High in Natick, Mass. is also in the fold. Kinnard is 5-9 175, while McCummings is 6-2 210 and both are dualk threat quarterbacks. Kinnard remains at QB for the time being and will get his shot there.
Both of these quarterbacks are more athletic and mobile than the current crop of statue men Zach Frazer and Cody Endres. Edsall said he isn't changing the offense however, but with redshirt Mike Box and now Kinnard and McCummings, UConn is looking for players with a little more mobility at the position. McCummings and Kinnard can throw the ball and are accurate. UConn isn't going to go with a QB that can't throw anymore.
That brings 5 scholarship QBs to the fold, and add in Jonny McEntee and it's six signal callers. That's a lot.
Other highlights of the class include defensive lineman Angelo Pruitt from Cinicnnati (Cincinnati tried to come in late). Current January enrollees that could battle for time at safety are Gilbert Stlouis and Andrew Opoku.
The class is heavy with OL and DB, two need areas for the Huskies on the depth chart.
At wide receiver Edsall cited Tebucky Jones Jr. from New Britain. He loves Jones' competitiveness (Side note: I can't tell you how weird it is that I am going to cover Tebucky Jones Jr. I only went to middle school with Tebucky Jones Sr. in New Britain at St. Ann's and watched him play football in high school. My wife was in the New Britain band when Tebucky Jones led New Britain to the title over Greenwich in 1992. OK enough ancient history).
There isn't much too this recruiting class. Edsall has proven that once he gets raw ability into the fold he has been able to manage it. Recruiting classes also aren't signed without regard to the rest of the roster. The Huskies were light on skill position players. No tight ends and only two wide receivers. It was a defense heavy class with four linebackers, five defensive backs and three defensive linemen.
Huskies are a very young team. I wouldn't expect a ton out of this class next year. Last year's class had 3 WRs and two defensive linemen play. That would be hard pressed this year. Safety and defensive back is the best bet.
As far as other house keeping, Edsall said they will name two assistant coaches tomorrow.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
In Today's JI
Here is the wrap up of recruiting from yesterday.
I have been reading a lot of the experts' recruiting wraps. Dwayne Difton is ranked No. 39 by rivals and No. 84 by scout. The Huskies' wide receivers are ranked 23 as a group.
This quote about Rutgers recruiting class from Allan Wallace courtesy of the AP.
Are we done with the absurdity yet? Why is Difton not the 20th ranked receiver? Why isn't Rutgers 25th or why aren't they 50th overall? How can anyone tell?
UConn has 12 coaches devoted to watching film and rating players. They spend a ton of time on it. It's impossible to evaluate all of these kids, and even if you do, how do you start ranking players after the top handful of can't miss stars? It's absurd. I am stunned by how many papers have quoted these recruiting analysts today. Some schools buy in hook line and sinker. I will never write a "4-star" recruit in my paper. I do work for scout.com, and the service along with rivals.com are valuable. But, the thought that I am validating their player evaluations is silly.
The stars and the evaluations aren't valuable information. It's sports pornorgraphy, everyone has to stop looking at it.
It's who you got at certain deficient positions. I like Malik Generett's potential better than any of the other three the Huskies got. We'll see how it turns out.
Lastly, this feeds into the thought of great coach and terrible recruiter for Edsall. Is that accurate? Or, considering that UConn locked up a lot of these guys well in advance, did the Huskies get much of what they wanted?
As far as talent evaluation, I am sticking to the pro's whose jobs are on the line finding these guys. UConn does a good job at getting players who aren't "maxed out" as Edsall likes to point out. The hardest part of recruiting is projecting what a 17 year old will look like in three years. That is the test of the recruiter and the Huskies have done well there.
This staff has missed on getting a big-tme WR in a long-time. I can't really remember any working the players they brought in. All other positions the Huskies have recruited pretty well over the years.
All this team needed were breakout wide receivers. We'll see how it turns out, but they have several of them that look very enticing.
The drive to upgrade the talent level was particularly focused at the wide receiver spot. UConn signed St. Paul-Bristol’s Marcus Aiken, a New Britain native; 6-foot-5 Malik Generett from York, Pa.; and a pair of highly-sought-after Florida recruits in Dwayne Difton of St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale — the No. 1-ranked high school team in the nation — and Mike Lang of Largo High in Largo.
With a new offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead coming aboard and a commitment to throw the ball more, the Huskies needed a jolt at the wide receiver position. Edsall didn’t guarantee anyone playing time, but at that spot it’s open season when the group gets to camp in August.
“Wide receiver is probably a position where there is a little bit more opportunity,” Edsall said. “If there is a guy that comes in and shows he’s above the other people, then he’s going to play.”
I have been reading a lot of the experts' recruiting wraps. Dwayne Difton is ranked No. 39 by rivals and No. 84 by scout. The Huskies' wide receivers are ranked 23 as a group.
This quote about Rutgers recruiting class from Allan Wallace courtesy of the AP.
“I’d rate Rutgers in the 30-to-45 (best) group,” Allen Wallace, publisher of SuperPrep magazine, said in a telephone interview. “It’s not a group filled with headlinders. However, it has a big talented kid at quarterback with a lot of touch on the ball.”
Are we done with the absurdity yet? Why is Difton not the 20th ranked receiver? Why isn't Rutgers 25th or why aren't they 50th overall? How can anyone tell?
UConn has 12 coaches devoted to watching film and rating players. They spend a ton of time on it. It's impossible to evaluate all of these kids, and even if you do, how do you start ranking players after the top handful of can't miss stars? It's absurd. I am stunned by how many papers have quoted these recruiting analysts today. Some schools buy in hook line and sinker. I will never write a "4-star" recruit in my paper. I do work for scout.com, and the service along with rivals.com are valuable. But, the thought that I am validating their player evaluations is silly.
The stars and the evaluations aren't valuable information. It's sports pornorgraphy, everyone has to stop looking at it.
It's who you got at certain deficient positions. I like Malik Generett's potential better than any of the other three the Huskies got. We'll see how it turns out.
Lastly, this feeds into the thought of great coach and terrible recruiter for Edsall. Is that accurate? Or, considering that UConn locked up a lot of these guys well in advance, did the Huskies get much of what they wanted?
As far as talent evaluation, I am sticking to the pro's whose jobs are on the line finding these guys. UConn does a good job at getting players who aren't "maxed out" as Edsall likes to point out. The hardest part of recruiting is projecting what a 17 year old will look like in three years. That is the test of the recruiter and the Huskies have done well there.
This staff has missed on getting a big-tme WR in a long-time. I can't really remember any working the players they brought in. All other positions the Huskies have recruited pretty well over the years.
All this team needed were breakout wide receivers. We'll see how it turns out, but they have several of them that look very enticing.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Final thoughts
Signing Day to me is overblown (do we really need 14 hours of coverage?). I think the wall-to-wall media coverage is insane as is the hounding that goes on with these kids. But, for die hards who read this blog, this is like Christmas.
It's an important day and I think UConn made out pretty well.
Here are some more thoughts. Dwayne Difton looks to be the best bet right off the bat to play because of the offense he played in and the caliber of players he played with. He is a lot more polished than the others. Mike Lang is supposed to be a burner, and if you have speed it could always be used.
I love 6-foot-5 Malik Generett from his highlight reel. 6-foot-5 receiver is a dimension they don't have. There is 6-foot-4 Brian Parker laying in the weeds after a redshirt, this is good for the Huskies.
Aiken is a great athlete, he is perhaps the least polished because he played RB, but the Huskies aren't projecting as much since they have seen him at WR. He would be likely to redshirt.
The Huskies are starting to sign wide receivers. No more Brad Kanuch's switches from RB. Even Aiken has experience at WR.
Add this mix in with Kashif Moore and Michael Smith as well as redshirts Gerrard Sheppard and Brian Parker and it looks like UConn will have players to throw to.
This season it was tough to watch. But now, it looks as thought the Huskies have much more talent in the pipeline. There are now 10 scholarship WRs on the team. Only one is a senior in Kanuch. There may be attrition, but it looks like there will be some competition.
As far as other recruiting thoughts, the Huskies are going to start clamping down and recruiting their core areas. That would be Eastern Ohio and Northern Virginia into the Northeast and a heavy emphasis on Pennsylvania. There is also a nice Georgia pipeline from Edsall's Georgia Tech days that is paying off and of course Florida. Every team in the country has to recruit Florida.
Other areas however are going to be put as secondary priorities. Unless a player shows interest in the Huskies or they spot him at a camp and he is receptive, the Huskies won't go crazy.
Connecticut is a place UConn has to get better in. There is a lot of skeptical high school coaches who get bowled over when a major coach calls, and in my opinion, I find a lot of high school coaches starry-eyed. Let's be honest, the Huskies lost out on some major in-state recruits for a variety of reasons. Some part of it is that there are high school coaches that seem to discourage players from even considering UConn. Edsall mentioned this in a much nicer way during his press conference when he mentioned how much these players could accomplish at UConn that they are "missing the boat."
There are a lot of high school coaches who discourage players from even considering UConn in-state. UConn's in-state track record for players who went to UConn is pretty good. I don't know what else a player and coach can ask for. To not even consider UConn to me is a bad move.
UConn's facilities are top notch, they are in a major conference, there is playing time to be had, and Edsall can get players to the NFL. And, players graduate. Still, some high school coaches feel UConn is a settle or a step down. Florida is one thing, some others schools are another.
If the occasional player got away, it's one thing. But, too many are getting away to think that this is just the work of kids wanting to leave the state.
It has become counter intuitive. A prospect in Connecticut seems to be looked down by heading to UConn over another similar institution. In every other state, the state school gets those players in-state, or at least the majority of them. It's an odd dynamic up here, and most of it is the attitude of high school coaches.
Huskies have higher credibility in Pennsylvania than they do in Fairfield County.
That's changing as coaches turn over and current players grow up with UConn ingrained in their minds. It's getting better, but the Huskies need to get more in-state players because nothing beats an in-state pipeline. Massachusetts they have done well as have they done in Pennsylvania.
Lastly, on the recrutinig rankings as a team. I can't tell you how silly they are. Look at the current Huskies class and their roster.
UConn is set at QB with Zach Frazer and Cody Endres plus Casey Turner to go along with new commitments.
The offensive line will lose Will Beatty, maybe a first rounder, but is loaded with underclassmen. This is a strength as good as anyone around. No worries here.
Running back is loaded.
On defense, I love the young defensive tackles in Kendall Reyes and Twyon Martin. The linebackers are tremendous and still have two years left, and, the secondary is very good and has young talent all around.
The two worry areas for the Huskies are WR and defensive end.
They satisfied that in this recruiting class and also are bringing in athletes that may pan out.
On a side note: Joe Moorhead was greeted by a very big round of applause tonight at the signing event at the Rent. I know the fans didn't like Ambrose's offense, but this guy isn't a miracle worker.
He did have a good line however: "I hope you feel the same way after Ohio University."
Maybe everyone is excited that the forward pass will be utilized this season.
It's an important day and I think UConn made out pretty well.
Here are some more thoughts. Dwayne Difton looks to be the best bet right off the bat to play because of the offense he played in and the caliber of players he played with. He is a lot more polished than the others. Mike Lang is supposed to be a burner, and if you have speed it could always be used.
I love 6-foot-5 Malik Generett from his highlight reel. 6-foot-5 receiver is a dimension they don't have. There is 6-foot-4 Brian Parker laying in the weeds after a redshirt, this is good for the Huskies.
Aiken is a great athlete, he is perhaps the least polished because he played RB, but the Huskies aren't projecting as much since they have seen him at WR. He would be likely to redshirt.
The Huskies are starting to sign wide receivers. No more Brad Kanuch's switches from RB. Even Aiken has experience at WR.
Add this mix in with Kashif Moore and Michael Smith as well as redshirts Gerrard Sheppard and Brian Parker and it looks like UConn will have players to throw to.
This season it was tough to watch. But now, it looks as thought the Huskies have much more talent in the pipeline. There are now 10 scholarship WRs on the team. Only one is a senior in Kanuch. There may be attrition, but it looks like there will be some competition.
As far as other recruiting thoughts, the Huskies are going to start clamping down and recruiting their core areas. That would be Eastern Ohio and Northern Virginia into the Northeast and a heavy emphasis on Pennsylvania. There is also a nice Georgia pipeline from Edsall's Georgia Tech days that is paying off and of course Florida. Every team in the country has to recruit Florida.
Other areas however are going to be put as secondary priorities. Unless a player shows interest in the Huskies or they spot him at a camp and he is receptive, the Huskies won't go crazy.
Connecticut is a place UConn has to get better in. There is a lot of skeptical high school coaches who get bowled over when a major coach calls, and in my opinion, I find a lot of high school coaches starry-eyed. Let's be honest, the Huskies lost out on some major in-state recruits for a variety of reasons. Some part of it is that there are high school coaches that seem to discourage players from even considering UConn. Edsall mentioned this in a much nicer way during his press conference when he mentioned how much these players could accomplish at UConn that they are "missing the boat."
There are a lot of high school coaches who discourage players from even considering UConn in-state. UConn's in-state track record for players who went to UConn is pretty good. I don't know what else a player and coach can ask for. To not even consider UConn to me is a bad move.
UConn's facilities are top notch, they are in a major conference, there is playing time to be had, and Edsall can get players to the NFL. And, players graduate. Still, some high school coaches feel UConn is a settle or a step down. Florida is one thing, some others schools are another.
If the occasional player got away, it's one thing. But, too many are getting away to think that this is just the work of kids wanting to leave the state.
It has become counter intuitive. A prospect in Connecticut seems to be looked down by heading to UConn over another similar institution. In every other state, the state school gets those players in-state, or at least the majority of them. It's an odd dynamic up here, and most of it is the attitude of high school coaches.
Huskies have higher credibility in Pennsylvania than they do in Fairfield County.
That's changing as coaches turn over and current players grow up with UConn ingrained in their minds. It's getting better, but the Huskies need to get more in-state players because nothing beats an in-state pipeline. Massachusetts they have done well as have they done in Pennsylvania.
Lastly, on the recrutinig rankings as a team. I can't tell you how silly they are. Look at the current Huskies class and their roster.
UConn is set at QB with Zach Frazer and Cody Endres plus Casey Turner to go along with new commitments.
The offensive line will lose Will Beatty, maybe a first rounder, but is loaded with underclassmen. This is a strength as good as anyone around. No worries here.
Running back is loaded.
On defense, I love the young defensive tackles in Kendall Reyes and Twyon Martin. The linebackers are tremendous and still have two years left, and, the secondary is very good and has young talent all around.
The two worry areas for the Huskies are WR and defensive end.
They satisfied that in this recruiting class and also are bringing in athletes that may pan out.
On a side note: Joe Moorhead was greeted by a very big round of applause tonight at the signing event at the Rent. I know the fans didn't like Ambrose's offense, but this guy isn't a miracle worker.
He did have a good line however: "I hope you feel the same way after Ohio University."
Maybe everyone is excited that the forward pass will be utilized this season.
Signing Day presser
First things first, this class is heavy on wide receivers and considering the problems this year (to be nice) in the passing offense it isn't a surprise.
Two last commitments were Dwayne Difton and Mike Lang of course at WR.
Edsall in wide receivers that included Marcus Aiken of Bristol and Malik Genrett.
There were no gurantees for playing time, but, there is an opportunity at WR for the Huskies more so than any other position on the field.
"Wide receiver is a possible position where there may be more of an opportunity," Edsall said Wednesday. "We'll see how it plays out."
Difton is from St. Thomas Aquinas in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. and played on the No. 1 high school team in the country. He is a burner and a game-breaker. He played against Lang in Florida's football semifinals. Lang is a tremendous athlete that both the offensive and defensive coaches wanted.
The Huskies saw Aiken at WR in summer camp (he played running back at St. Paul of Bristol) and like his athleticism. Genrett is 6-foot-5 and adds some more size to the corps.
The Huskies have hold overs Kashif Moore and Mike Smith (both will be sophomores) as well as senior Brad Kanuch. Redshirting this season was a couple of more receivers in Brian Parker and Gerrard Sheppard. The Huskies also have junior Kevin Poles in the mix and on scholarship.
This will be the most interesting summer battle.
Other tidbits on the class:
* The Huskies recruited two QBs in Michale Box and Leon Kinnard. Box is 6-2 out of Suwanee, Ga. Kinnard is an interesting player in that he is 5-9. He is here as a quarterback according to Edsall until he says he wants to switch. UConn feels he can play quarterback.
* Nick Williams is recruited as an athlete, and he is going to return kicks. they haven';t figured out his other position yet. I am assuming he will compete for that job right away.
* Huskies recruited one running back in Martin Hypolite after Don Brown declared for the NFL Draft. Hypolite reminds Edsall of Brown with his leg strength. Hypolite is from Wakefield Mass.
*Local players are Trevardo Williams and Mike Osiecki and Aiken. Williams is from Bridgeport and is already in school. He prepped at Canterbury. Osiecki is from Seymour and is a LB.
*Williams as well as Jesse Joseph and Keensen Chambers have enrolled this spring and all are DEs. Williams may be the best bet of the three to see action next season, though Edsall would like to redshirt them all.
Other notes:
*Edsall said that recruiting Connecticut is improving, but the Huskies did lose out on some major players such as Jordan Reed who went to Florida and Hartford's Andre Lawrence that went to BC among others.
Still, with a bumper crop in 2010, especially Fairfield County, Edsall thinks it's starting to turn.
*Junior Greg Robinson has moved to inside linebakcer. Edsall made it as a throwaway comment, but this is a blog and news nonetheless.
*Also, more blog only fodder, for the message board and rumor people who emailed me. Rumors that DT Jarrell Miller is returning to the team are false. He isn't on the football team as of today according to a source in the know and that is not something that is expected. The football program isn't even sure he is enrolled in school full-time. There are also eligibility questions.
*Lastly, ignore the rankings. Huskies got some wide receivers and they appear to be good catches (love the pun). That's what ya'll should be concerned a bout.
I will leave you with this Edsall quote:
Ok, Got to pay the bills.
Two last commitments were Dwayne Difton and Mike Lang of course at WR.
Edsall in wide receivers that included Marcus Aiken of Bristol and Malik Genrett.
There were no gurantees for playing time, but, there is an opportunity at WR for the Huskies more so than any other position on the field.
"Wide receiver is a possible position where there may be more of an opportunity," Edsall said Wednesday. "We'll see how it plays out."
Difton is from St. Thomas Aquinas in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. and played on the No. 1 high school team in the country. He is a burner and a game-breaker. He played against Lang in Florida's football semifinals. Lang is a tremendous athlete that both the offensive and defensive coaches wanted.
The Huskies saw Aiken at WR in summer camp (he played running back at St. Paul of Bristol) and like his athleticism. Genrett is 6-foot-5 and adds some more size to the corps.
The Huskies have hold overs Kashif Moore and Mike Smith (both will be sophomores) as well as senior Brad Kanuch. Redshirting this season was a couple of more receivers in Brian Parker and Gerrard Sheppard. The Huskies also have junior Kevin Poles in the mix and on scholarship.
This will be the most interesting summer battle.
Other tidbits on the class:
* The Huskies recruited two QBs in Michale Box and Leon Kinnard. Box is 6-2 out of Suwanee, Ga. Kinnard is an interesting player in that he is 5-9. He is here as a quarterback according to Edsall until he says he wants to switch. UConn feels he can play quarterback.
* Nick Williams is recruited as an athlete, and he is going to return kicks. they haven';t figured out his other position yet. I am assuming he will compete for that job right away.
* Huskies recruited one running back in Martin Hypolite after Don Brown declared for the NFL Draft. Hypolite reminds Edsall of Brown with his leg strength. Hypolite is from Wakefield Mass.
*Local players are Trevardo Williams and Mike Osiecki and Aiken. Williams is from Bridgeport and is already in school. He prepped at Canterbury. Osiecki is from Seymour and is a LB.
*Williams as well as Jesse Joseph and Keensen Chambers have enrolled this spring and all are DEs. Williams may be the best bet of the three to see action next season, though Edsall would like to redshirt them all.
Other notes:
*Edsall said that recruiting Connecticut is improving, but the Huskies did lose out on some major players such as Jordan Reed who went to Florida and Hartford's Andre Lawrence that went to BC among others.
Still, with a bumper crop in 2010, especially Fairfield County, Edsall thinks it's starting to turn.
"Kids are starting to understand thatat you can flourish here. If they haven't see it they missed the boat," Edsall said. "You can be an All-American, you can win the Big East you can get to the NFL. Kids are starting to understand that, the kids need to understand that and the coaches in this state need to understand that."
*Junior Greg Robinson has moved to inside linebakcer. Edsall made it as a throwaway comment, but this is a blog and news nonetheless.
*Also, more blog only fodder, for the message board and rumor people who emailed me. Rumors that DT Jarrell Miller is returning to the team are false. He isn't on the football team as of today according to a source in the know and that is not something that is expected. The football program isn't even sure he is enrolled in school full-time. There are also eligibility questions.
*Lastly, ignore the rankings. Huskies got some wide receivers and they appear to be good catches (love the pun). That's what ya'll should be concerned a bout.
I will leave you with this Edsall quote:
"We can evaluate talent, and athletes who have maxed out. We do a good job of developing talent. When I cam here, we had one player in pro ball. We now have 12, with four more going to the NFL. That shows you something."
Ok, Got to pay the bills.
Recruits are in
UConn announces recruiting class:
http://www.uconnhuskies.com/AllStories/MFootball/2009/02/04/20080204.html
I'll have a breakdown and coaches thoughts after a 3 pm presser. No surprises.
http://www.uconnhuskies.com/AllStories/MFootball/2009/02/04/20080204.html
I'll have a breakdown and coaches thoughts after a 3 pm presser. No surprises.
MARCUS AIKEN – Played wide receiver, running back and defensive back during his scholastic career….as a senior, rushed for 1,000 yards and 15 TDs with 19 receptions for 253 yards and three TDs…team went 9-2 overall in ’08…as a junior, rushed for 933 on 122 carries and had 31 receptions for 476 yards….had 213 rushing yards with three TDs in junior year vs. Wilcox Tech…two-time All-Nutmeg conference pick…third team all-state pick by the New Haven Register…team captain…also plays basketball and track…in spring of 2008, won state Class S championship in 300-meter hurdles in record time of 39.15..was also second in 110-meter hurdles…born February 5, 1991.
TEVRIN BRANDON- 2008 all-state honorable mention and second team All-(Lehigh Valley) The Express-Times All-Area… intercepted eight passes and made 51 tackles as senior… named first team all-conference his junior year after making 51 tackles and five interceptions also ran track in high school, making the first team all-area his sophomore and junior years …born December 9, 1990.
MICHAEL BOX – Played his senior season at Collins Hill and led team to 8-3 record…had school-record 1,561 yards of passing as a senior, including 286 yards in one game for a school record….two-time Gwinnett County Player of the Month…second team all-region…threw for 1,005 and four touchdowns as a junior at Duluth (Ga.) High School and rushed for 540 yards and three TDs…as a sophomore, had 781 passing yards as a sophomore…played in the Gwinnett County All-Star Game…born November 19, 1990.
TYLER BULLOCK-- Named a First Team The Sentinel (Cumberland County, Pa.) All-Star and to the AAA All-State Associated Press second team as a senior…team captain…two-time (Harrisburg) Patriot News All-Star…also played tight end and defensive end in high school…team finished 12-1 in 2008 with their only loss coming in the state quarterfinals…born July 10, 1990.
KEENSEN CHAMBERS – Enrolled at UConn this January after spending the fall semester at Worcester Academy….was a New England Prep School Athletic Conference All-Star this past fall…at Southside High School, was an all-county pick in 2007 and two-time all-region pick…played basketball as team won Class AA State Championship in 2007…named to all-tournament team…was awarded a Pepsi-Greenville County Schools Golf Tournament Scholarship following his senior year for community involvement…named to The National Society of High School Scholars…born June 16, 1990.
CHAD CHRISTEN –Named Class AAA First Team All-State and first team All-Mid Penn Conference selection…had a long field goal of 49 yards as a senior and 50 yards as a junior…had seven field goals in both his junior and senior seasons…averaged 42.8 yards per punt as a senior – improving from 38.5 as a junior…in three years as a starter, registered 83 touchbacks on kickoffs….was also team’s starting quarterback as a senior…born September 9, 1990.
DWAYNE DIFTON – Named first team All-Broward County by the Miami Herald and second team All-Broward County by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel as a senior…ranked 13th top recruit in Broward County by Sun-Sentinel…St. Thomas Aquinas finished the season as top-ranked high school football team in the country by USA Today…team was 2007 and ‘08 5A State Champions…had 25 receptions for 414 yards (16.6 average) and five TDs in the 2008 regular season…also had a 34-yard rush during season…caught a TD pass in his team’s 56-7 victory in the 2008 state championship game…had eight receptions for 134 yards and two TDs in three postseason games….had four receptions for 121 yards and a TD in win against Cincinnati Elder in Kirk Herbstreit Classic played at Paul Brown Stadium…team averaged 426 yards of total offense per game… as a junior, had 19 receptions for 276 yards and two TDs…born February 15, 1990.
KEVIN FRIEND – First team All-Cedar Run District pick as a senior and second team all-region…team MVP and captain…is highly-ranked wrestler in the heavyweight division and is ranked second in the state…born July 12, 1990.
MALIK GENERETT- First team all-state in 2008 by Associated Press and Pennsylvania Football News… named 2008 Tri-Player of the Year in the York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association…named first team all-league twice…selected to play in Big 33 All-Star game…864 receiving yards as a senior captain…team captain…switched from quarterback to wide receiver midway through his junior season…45 receptions for 933 yards and 11 TDs his senior year, an average of 20.7 yards per reception…as a junior, after position switch, had 21 receptions for 420 yards and four TDs…attended same high school as current Husky Zac Zielinski and ’08 grad William Beatty…born October 6, 1989.
STEVE GREENE – Two-time Associated Press Class A first team all-state selection in Pennsylvania on the offensive line…2008 first team all-state pick by Pennsylvania Football News (Class A) and first team all-conference by the Altoona Mirror…also played defense as a senior and made 42 tackles…team captain…also plays basketball and football…selected to play for Pennsylvania in the Big 33 All-Star Game in June 2009..born December 13, 1990.
MARTIN HYPPOLITE – Set single-season school records as a senior with 1,639 rushing yards with 29 TDs…also is school’s career leader in rushing yards with 2,850 yards and is the leading scorer with 269….had five touchdowns in two different games this year and four TDs in another...team was 8-1 in senior year…had 19 receptions for 318 yards and four TDs as a senior….also return kicks and punts…rushed for 1,013 yards as a junior…first team all-state pick…averaged 9.6 yards per carry as a senior….team captain…named to 2008 All-Scholastic team by both The Boston Globe and Boston Herald… born June 17, 1990.
JESSE JOSEPH – Enrolled at UConn in January of 2009…was team captain and all-league pick….invited to 2007 Team Quebec camp…team was 2006 and ’07 Bol d'Or Trophy champions, which goes to the winner of the Canadian Prep Triple-A football league champions…from same prep school as current Husky Moe Petrus…a Canadian native who graduated from Northeast Philadelphia High School in 2006…will have five years of eligibility to compete in four at UConn.
DAVID KENNEY – Was named first team all-conference all-prep as a junior… named New Jersey-New York All-Star as a senior…born September 18, 1990.
LEON KINNARD – Second team all-state pick as a junior…was honorable mention all-state as a sophomore and senior…as a senior, was named second team all-metro from the Baltimore Sun and All-Baltimore County…first team all-metro and all-county as junior ….as a sophomore in 2005, was 103 for 185 in the air for 1,415 yards and 11 TDs..also rushed for 303 yards and 11 TDs…as a junior in 2006, threw for 1,489 yards with 13 touchdowns as team won state title… team went 11-0 in senior year….team captain…was selected to play in 2008 Maryland Crab Bowl between all-stars from Maryland and Washington, D.C., but missed game because of injury…born February 9, 1991.
MICHAEL LANG – Had 38 receptions for 960 yards and nine TDs as a senior….the yards and TDs were school single-season records….team advanced to state semifinals …had two receptions in state semifinals…team captain…also played defensive back in high school….First Team All-Suncoast by St. Petersburg Times…First Team All-Pinellas County by St. Petersburg Times… as a junior, had a 75-yard interception return for a TD in state playoff game…played in 2008 Florida North-South All-Star Game…born December 24, 1990.
CHRIS LOPES – Helped lead Tilton to an undefeated season in 2007 and win its first-ever New England Prep School Athletic Conference Super Bowl appearance….had 10 receptions for 350 yards and five TDs….had 60 tackles as a defensive back…had a 23-yard TD reception in Super Bowl….team went 7-2 in 2008 and played in Super Bowl again…was an All-Evergreen League pick and All-New England selection in 2008…originally attended Brockton High School…was a Boston Globe All-Scholastic pick and Big Three League All-Star in 2006…born January 5, 1990.
MICHAEL OSIECKI – 2008 Gatorade State Player of the Year in Connecticut….also earned first team all-state honors from the New Haven Register…two-time first team All-Naugatuck Valley League…team advanced to state Class SS final as a senior…also played fullback in high school, rushing for 1,774 yards and 26 TDs on 199 carries and catching 25 passes for 419 yards and six TDs as a senior…second team all-state his junior year…team captain…born June 14, 1991.
SHAMAR STEPHEN – Had 57 tackles in senior year with 12 sacks….had two blocked field goals…team captain…team went 7-2 in senior year…also plays basketball…..First Team All-American Lutheran Team…born February 25, 1991.
NICK WILLIAMS – Named 2008 Trenton Times Player of the Year…team captain and MVP…all-conference on both offense and defense as a junior and senior and all-conference on defense as a sophomore…as a junior, made 50 tackles with three interceptions….had 11 interceptions as a sophomore…born November 23, 1990.
TREVARDO WILLIAMS – Enrolled at UConn in January of 2009…named to the 2007 all-state team by both the Hartford Courant and the New Haven Register…a two-time all-conference selection…on the track, placed second in New England in the 100 meters in 2007...lived in Jamaica until 1999…born December 31, 1990.
TIM WILLMAN – First-team all-league selection…honorable mention all-state…named to the Howard County Times All-County team…named to the National Football Foundation Baltimore Chapter Academic All-State team…played in 2008 Maryland Crab Bowl between all-stars from Maryland and Washington, D.C….grandfather Lou Cavallo of Wallingford graduated from UConn in mid-50s…born November 23, 1990.
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