Spring Break
Seniors Bid Adieu To UConn Athletics
Kevin Vellturo
Issue date: 5/11/08 Section: Sports
Football
Tyvon Branch, CB - Branch made a large impact his junior and senior years, starting at both cornerback and safety. During the 2007 season he was a standout on special teams, leading the Big East in kick return average (28.9 yards) and becoming the first player in UConn history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same season. Branch was drafted in the fourth round by the Oakland Raiders in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Donald Thomas, OG - Thomas was the only other player on the football team to get drafted, going in the sixth round to the Miami Dolphins. Thomas, who walked on to the team in 2005, started 13 games in 2007 and did not allow a single sack.
Dan Davis, DE/DT - Davis started every game of his final two seasons, recording 116 tackles and 7.5 sacks by the end of his UConn career. Davis was not drafted, but signed with the Indianapolis Colts after the draft.
Danny Lansanah, MLB - Lansanah finished his career at UConn as the ninth-leading tackler in school history, with 323. He finished with 10 career interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns, making him one of only four Huskies ever to do that. A first-team All Big East selection in 2007, Lansanah signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent.
Larry Taylor, WR/RS - Taylor spent his career at UConn primarily as a kick-returner, returning two punts for touchdowns as well as one kickoff. He is one of four players in school history to return both a punt and a kick for touchdown. Taylor also spent time as wide receiver.
Also graduating: Lou Allen, RB; Donnell Ford, SS; Ryan Henegan, LB; Zak Penwell, DT; Gary Mack, DE.
Men's Soccer
Julius James, D - The native of Trinidad became only the second three-time All-American in school history and recently won his third consecutive Big East Defensive Player of the Year award in his senior season. James played every game of the 2007 season for a defense that posted 15 shutouts. Along with stellar defense, James scored the game-winning goal against Syracuse (Sept. 30) and also added a goal and an assist in the Big East semifinal against Louisville. James was drafted by Toronto FC in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft.
Tyvon Branch, CB - Branch made a large impact his junior and senior years, starting at both cornerback and safety. During the 2007 season he was a standout on special teams, leading the Big East in kick return average (28.9 yards) and becoming the first player in UConn history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same season. Branch was drafted in the fourth round by the Oakland Raiders in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Donald Thomas, OG - Thomas was the only other player on the football team to get drafted, going in the sixth round to the Miami Dolphins. Thomas, who walked on to the team in 2005, started 13 games in 2007 and did not allow a single sack.
Dan Davis, DE/DT - Davis started every game of his final two seasons, recording 116 tackles and 7.5 sacks by the end of his UConn career. Davis was not drafted, but signed with the Indianapolis Colts after the draft.
Danny Lansanah, MLB - Lansanah finished his career at UConn as the ninth-leading tackler in school history, with 323. He finished with 10 career interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns, making him one of only four Huskies ever to do that. A first-team All Big East selection in 2007, Lansanah signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent.
Larry Taylor, WR/RS - Taylor spent his career at UConn primarily as a kick-returner, returning two punts for touchdowns as well as one kickoff. He is one of four players in school history to return both a punt and a kick for touchdown. Taylor also spent time as wide receiver.
Also graduating: Lou Allen, RB; Donnell Ford, SS; Ryan Henegan, LB; Zak Penwell, DT; Gary Mack, DE.
Men's Soccer
Julius James, D - The native of Trinidad became only the second three-time All-American in school history and recently won his third consecutive Big East Defensive Player of the Year award in his senior season. James played every game of the 2007 season for a defense that posted 15 shutouts. Along with stellar defense, James scored the game-winning goal against Syracuse (Sept. 30) and also added a goal and an assist in the Big East semifinal against Louisville. James was drafted by Toronto FC in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft.
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