The UConn football team is finishing up spring practices, under the radar during March Madness, with the FanFest on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Morrone Stadium on campus.
After going 6-6 and playing in the Myrtle Beach Bowl during Jim Mora’s first season, fortunes sank last season to 3-9, with several of the losses coming down to the final seconds. Those games went UConn’s way in 2022.
As Mora’s fourth season starts, the program, still independent, is perhaps at a crossroads. The Huskies play at Maryland and Duke early in the season, then have six games in a row at home, a chance to play their way into bowl contention.
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There has been the usual roster turnover, players leaving through the transfer portal, and some coming in, and a shuffle in the coaching staff, with new coordinators Gordon Sammis (offense) and Matt Brock (defense) on both sides of the ball.
Here are some storylines developing as the spring season ends.
1. Quarterback
As always, the quarterback situation is front and center. Joe Fagnano, who won the job last year and got hurt in the second game, is back, as is Ta’Quan Roberson, who started most of last season and improved as the weeks went along and would seem to be the favorite. Sophomore Tucker McDonald has shown some improvement in the workouts, and freshman Cole Welliver from Texas comes in with promise. The Fan Fest will offer some clues as to how things are shaking out.
UConn linebacker Jackson Mitchell commits to play in Hula Bowl https://t.co/AnV2zoIOGK
— Hartford Courant Sports (@Courant_Sports) December 13, 2023
2. Defensive leadership
With Jackson Mitchell’s career over, the Huskies lose a lot of leadership on defense. Now that Brock is in place, philosophies will be changing, though Mora’s career is on that side of the ball. It’s time to be on the lookout for changes in scheme and new leaders to emerge.
3. Receivership
UConn has had trouble identifying receivers who can get open and get separation, and of the best they had, Justin Joly and Cam Ross, left via the transfer portal. New receivers have come in, like TJ Sheffield, Skyler Bell and Jasiah Gathings from the portal, freshman Brock Montgomery. For UConn’s offense to be more explosive, as Sammis envisions, this new receiving corps must be better than the last.
4. Local guys
Mora has emphasized landing in-state players as a staple of his recruiting, and he has been gettingthe top players coming out of CIAC schools and prep schools. Victor Rosa, from Bristol, and Cam Edwards, from Norwalk, established themselves in the offensive backfield last season. Several others could emerge as sophomore to play a larger role.
5. More from the portal
The end of spring practice figures to bring more movement through the portal, as players on the roster discover they will not have the roles they seek, and others become available. So the roster for 2024 is really still taking shape. Sheffield, from Purdue, committed earlier this week. There could be more comings and goings in the next week.
If you go
If you are planning on attending Sunday’s UConn football Fan Fest at Joe Morrone Stadium on the Storrs campus, here is what you need to know:
Tailgating, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Free parking is available in the east and west I lots on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and must follow all UConn on-campus tailgating policies. Additional parking will also be available in the south garage, but no tailgating will be allowed at this location.
Athletics surplus sale, 11:30 a.m.: The sale will include discounted pricing on surplus apparel such as tees, shorts, sweats, hoodies, polo’s, pullovers, jackets and selected uniforms. Equipment will include a combination of running shoes, cleats and various accessories.
Burton Family Football Complex open house, 12-1 p.m.: 2024 season ticket holders may attend. Fans can tour the building for an inside look at the facility that is the on-campus home to the UConn football team.
Fan Fest begins, 1:30 p.m.: Gates to Morrone Stadium and fans are invited to make their way around the concourse where food truck and concessions offerings, inflatable games, lawn games, face painters, photo booths, balloon artists, and more will be available. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to take a picture with the 2023 and ’24 NCAA national championship men’s basketball trophies.
Football practice, 1-2 p.m.: Practice will feature situational drills, offense and defense positional breakouts and team-oriented segments along with special, in-practice interviews with players and coaches.
Meet and greet, 2-2:30 p.m.: At the conclusion of practice, there will be a meet-and-greet session with the team at the Shenkman Training Center. Access to the Morrone Stadium field for photo opportunities will also be available.
