Today’s the day, Husky fans. We may have seen college football back last weekend, but today means the UConn Huskies play for the first time since their loss to Marshall in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. After making a bowl game for the first time since 2015, the Huskies have monumental momentum heading into this season and I’m excited to see how Coach Mora’s squad performs. There are a lot of starters on offense and defense that are returning along with exciting transfers.
To prepare for tonight’s game, I wanted to give an in-depth breakdown of the team along with how I see the game playing out.
A Quarterback Change Shakes Up The Huskies Offense
Last season, the quarterback position for UConn felt like the weakest position on offense. It started with Taquon Roberson going down Week One vs Utah State and after that, we saw Cale Millen get a few snaps, but the position was mostly dominated by freshman Zion Turner. Turner played okay passing for 1,407 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, but he wasn’t good enough to get UConn over the .500 hump. Heading into camp we saw a quarterback competition between Roberson, Turner, and Maine transfer Joe Fagnano. In my eyes, competition is great. Competition breeds success. At the end of the competition, Fagnano was named the starter.
In his time with the Black Bears, Fagnano played very well. He passed for 2,231 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only 6 interceptions. Fagnano added 296 rushing yards and 3 scores. Having Fagnano as the starter means UConn won’t have to rely so heavily on the run. The Huskies run game is very good, but it can’t be used as much as it was in 2022. A more balanced attack will win UConn more games and that’s what we’ll get with Fagnano under center.
Who Will Fagnano Be Getting The Ball To?
With top option Aaron Turner leaving this offseason for Cincinnati, more weapons have to step up. UConn still has ole reliable Justin Joly at tight end which is great. He’ll most likely take over as the team’s full-time starter and will be great as a check down for Fagnano and a vertical threat. He caught 18 passes for 250 yards and 2 scores in 2022.
At wideout, Mora went into the portal and brought in some talented targets. Geordon Porter comes to Storrs from the University of New Mexico and last season, he caught 22 passes for 312 yards and 2 touchdowns. Porter has great quickness and could serve as a solid slot standing at 6’0, 195 pounds. Another addition was Brett Buckman from Delaware. Buckman was dynamic for the Blue Hens in 2022 reeling in 39 passes for 470 yards and a score.
UConns third wideout will be a familiar face. Cameron Ross enters his fourth season with the Huskies and is looking for redemption. In 2019, he balled out catching 60 passes for 723 yards and 4 scores. But injuries in 2021 and 2022 hampered his productivity as he only played in three games over a two season span. It’ll be fun having him back on the field.
Finally, I’d be remised to not mention a Connecticut guy that I played against in high school. Jacob Flynn from Southington, CT saw some action last season catching 5 passes for 32 yards and a touchdown, but is going to have a bigger role in 2023. He’s 6’0 and has a knack for getting open, so having him on the field more this season will be great for the offense and state of Connecticut.
The Huskies Running Back Room Stays Deep
Last season’s running back room in Storrs was deep, but raw. Now, with another year of experience under their belts, they’ll be ready to either run through someones face or run right past them. Victor Rosa was the top dog last season after coming on big time in the Florida International game. Prior to that, he had seen some action, but not a substantial amount. In the FIU game, he saw 16 carries for 89 yards and 2 scores. The Bristol, CT native would go onto rush for 636 yards and 11 scores on 140 carries.
Another familiar back going into the season is Devontae Houston. Houston battled injuries throughout the season, but still managed to rush for 578 yards and 3 scores. He plays more physical than Rosa so having a thunder and lightning, yin and yang in the backfield will be exciting and refreshing to see for the Huskies. The third back in the room who will see substantial time this year is Brian Bewton. Bewton was held down by injuries in 2022 and only saw time in four games last year. He’s extremely quick and will serve as a dynamic player out of the backfield catching passes and running the ball on third and long situations.
UConns Offensive Line Looks To Build Off Last Year’s Success
One of the nation’s most underrated offensive line units of 2022 were the UConn Huskies. In 13 games, the Huskies ran for 2,483 yards. That’s more than Auburn, Notre Dame, and Penn State. The Huskies offensive line also only allowed 18 sacks last season.
Now after seeing that success, you’d probably think it’d be tough to replicate that. What if I told you that you were wrong? Four of last years five starters are back and they’re all extremely experienced. The cornerstone player of this unit is one of PFFs highest graded players, guard Christian Haynes. Haynes is in his sixth season with the Huskies and would have probably been a second or third round pick in this year’s draft. Along with him returning is left tackle Valentin Senn, a 6’6 Austrian monster. In addition, guard Noel Ofori-Nyadu and tackle Chase Lundt are back.
The only change on the offensive line is that redshirt sophomore Yakiri Walker will take over at center as Dartmouth transfer Jake Guidone graduated. These are big shoes to fill as Guidone was an absolute stud last season, but Yakiri Walker has the size and physicality to succeed and help the run game succeed.
Mr. Connecticut, Jackson Mitchell, Will Anchor The Huskies Front Seven
If you’re a college football fan and haven’t heard the name Jackson Mitchell yet, it’s time to wake up. Mitchell is one of the nation’s best linebackers and in 2022, he tallied 140 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 5 fumble recoveries. He’s an absolute stud and has continued to get better and better year after year. Joining Mitchell in the Huskies ferocious linebacking core is Tui Faumuina-Brow. Faumuina-Brow is a big body standing at 6’2, 231 pounds, but has minimal experience having only seen action in six games last season.
UConn’s third starting linebacker comes as a transfer from Delaware. Noah Plack joins his former Blue Hen teammate Brett Buckman and Plack brings experience and hard nosed play. Plack made 93 tackles last season and looks to improve this year vs better opponents.
On the defensive line is more experience. At defensive end, the Huskies have Eric Watts, Colin McCarthy, and Pryce Yates back. Watts made 47 tackles and 7 sacks last season, while his counterpart McCarthy totaled 30 tackles and 3 sacks. Yates is coming off a year where he made 12 sacks and 45 stops last year. It’s safe to say the Huskies are set off the edge.
In the interior of their defense, Dal’Mont Gourdine is back in blue and white to stuff the run. The massive run stopper from Charleston, SC made 34 tackles and 1.5 sacks last year. Next to him will be Sokoya McDuffie, who transferred in from Old Dominion last year. He was a solid addition for the Huskies as he was stout vs the run making 13 tackles and 1 sack in nine games.
Transfer Armauni Archie Will Add A Veteran Presence To The Huskies Secondary
While UConn has immense experience in their front seven, they don’t have as much in the secondary. One player bringing a veteran presence will be Washington State transfer Armauni Archie. Archie is a senior who played in ten games last year making 11 tackles. He’ll most likely slide in as one of UConn’s starting corners playing opposite of redshirt sophomore Malcolm Bell. In 2022, Bell played in eleven games making 40 tackles and 6 pass breakups. I feel pretty great about this tandem as they both have experience and are extremely athletic.
At safety, the Huskies are rolling with Malik Dixon-Williams and Durante Jones. Last season, Malik Dixon-Williams made 87 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 6 pass breakups. He’s fantastic in run support and serves as an awesome centerfielder for the Huskies defense. Junior Durante Jones is coming off an extremely productive season in 2022 where he made 98 stops and 1 interception. If this entire starting defensive back group can stay healthy, then they’ll give fits to every offense they encounter this year.
Previewing The North Carolina State Game
If you don’t know ball (CC: Luke Owens), then you probably have written this game off. You probably think that UConn will get rinsed by North Carolina State. You’d be wrong. The Wolfpack’s roster lacks talent and downgraded at quarterback. Devin Leary transferred to Kentucky and they brought in Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong. Armstrong passed for 2,210 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions last season in the ACC and has regressed over his career. A change of scenery will usually help some players, but I think Armstrong is past needing a change of scenery.
With this game being at home, there’s an energy building in the Husky fanbase. In week’s prior, there has been so much talk about “packing the Rent” and it has only intensified as the games grown closer. Packing the Rent was something as a fan, I was used to seeing as a kid. But in the dark Bob Diaco years, the Rent ran dry. If the UConn faithful come out in droves tonight, then we could see the crowd factor into North Carolina States struggles.
I’m hoping it looks something like this.
If UConn can establish the run early on with Rosa and Houston, then the pass game will open up big time. Nick Charlton’s play calling last year was great and if he keeps it up this year with new weapons, then we’ll see an insane offensive unit taking down good teams. On defense, Lou Spanos will need to bring the heat and get after Armstrong. If he runs some stunts with the defensive line and linebacking core, that’ll disrupt Armstrong and then the secondary will do what they’re capable of.
ROLL HUSKIES AND PACK THE RENT!
