2015 Connecticut Football Preview:
UCONN struggled through most of last season, only pulling out two victories over the course of the season. Despite these struggles, the Huskies enter 2015 with optimism of being about to reach a bowl game. Bryant Shireffs will take over as the signal caller for a young Huskies offense that features only two senior starters. The UCONN offense will most likely experience some bumps early in the season, but has the talent to be a much improved unit over a season ago. On the other side of the ball, the Huskies 2015 defense will be one of the most experienced in the AAC. 5 seniors are slated to start for the Huskies defense, with Kenton Adeyemi, and Julian Campenni headlining what should be a fantastic defensive line. Look for the Connecticut Huskies to be one of the surprise teams in the AAC in 2015.
2014 Connecticut Football Preview:
An interim head coach, 9 consecutive losses to open the season, and no bowl game for the 3rd straight year. These are all things that Connecticut Huskies football fans would like to forget about the 2013 season. Coming into 2014 there is a fresh air around the Huskies program. The hiring of now head coach Bob Diaco has brought a wave of excitement as he looks to turn the Huskies into one of the premier defensive teams in the AAC. In his first season as head coach he will have plenty of defensive talent as he inherits a squad that will start 9 upperclassmen, headlined by senior cornerback Byron Jones. UConn’s offense will have plenty of experience as well as senior Chandler Whitmer returns along with dangerous receiver and team leader Geremy Davis. Playing in the AAC, Connecticut always has an exciting schedule and despite the tough competition, they have a good chance to be bowl eligible for the first time since 2010. Games to look for will be September 27th against Temple, November 22nd against Cincinnati, and the season finale, December 6th against SMU.
2013 Connecticut Football Preview:
After finishing 5-7 in back-to-back seasons, the Connecticut Huskies have retooled their coaching staff. Head coach Paul Pasqualoni returns, but he has brought in a new offensive and defensive coordinator to a program that he took over two seasons ago. The Huskies will have to replace four of their top players on defense after their departure to the NFL and the offense will need improve dramatically after finishing 118th in college football in scoring. Junior running back Lyle McCombs remains the catalyst for the Huskies’ offense and will be looked to once again to carry the team after eclipsing 2,000 yards through his first two seasons. Connecticut will host Maryland, Michigan, and Rutgers in 2013 in what is shaping up to be a huge season for Pasqualoni.
2011 Connecticut Football Preview:
Connecticut made a surprise run to the Fiesta Bowl last season after winning a share of the Big East title. However, in light of the departure of star running back Jordan Todman and head coach Randy Edsall, the Huskies may have a tough time returning to a BCS bowl this year. However, with a solid core of players and an experienced new coach, they will still be in the mix in the conference in 2011.
Replacing Todman will be hard to do, but the Huskies will rely primarily on D.J. Shoemate, who saw limited time last year after transferring from USC. It might be especially more difficult given the uncertainty at the quarterback position, as UConn will likely turn to sophomore Mike Box, who has yet to prove himself.
With the effectiveness of the offense in question, the defense will have to carry the team. That should not be a problem as the Huskies feature a slew of talented returning players. Kendall Reyes and Twyon Martin will anchor a solid defensive line, while cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson, along with safety Jerome Junior, will pace an experienced secondary.
2010 Connecticut Football Preview:
In their final game of the 2009-2010 season the UCONN Huskies trounced South Carolina by a score of 20-7 in the PapaJohns.com Bowl. Entering 2010, the team will try to carry that bowl game momentum to improve their standing in the Big East Conference.
Last season, the Huskies finished fifth in the Conference, posing a respectable 8-5 overall record. But the team will need to win more games within the Big East if they are to return to the top of the league. In 2007, UCONN shared a Big East Conference title with West Virginia and won an invitation to the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
The team will be without star wide receiver Marcus Easley, who was drafted into the NFL by the Buffalo Bills. However, the Huskies find themselves in a rare but fortunate situation as they prepare for the season: they have two competent quarterbacks to lead their team. It looks like the starting job will belong to Zach Frazer, who threw for 1,461 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. But Cody Endres, who posted a 145 QB efficiency rating in 2009, will be waiting in the wings.
2009 Connecticut Football Preview:
Head Coach: Randy Edsall
Connecticut has always been known as a basketball school, with top programs in both men's and women's hoops. But UConn football Coach Randy Edsall has built a program that one day could rival the success of their basketball teams. Edsall and his Huskies squad are riding high heading into the 2009 season, after their first bowl win in 5 years. If Connecticut can retool its running game and get their defense playing lights out, then look for the Huskies to once again be one of the top football teams in the Big East Conference.
2008 Connecticut Football Preview:
Head Coach: Randy Edsall
The University of Connecticut Huskies football team is rapidly becoming a Division IA team to be taken seriously. Making an appearance in the top 25 in 2007, the team looks poised to become a tough Big East competitor. UConn made its Division IA debut as an independent in 2000, and then joined the Big East Conference in 2004. Every year the team improves upon the previous year. Every season sets new school records. The UConn Huskies are a team to watch.