Spring Break
Football: Frey, freshmen play important roles
Justin Verrier
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Sports
|
But it took a wakeup call from Hofstra's Deron Mayo in the third quarter of the Huskies' season-opener against the Pride Saturday for him to realize it.
Frey, a redshirt freshman seeing time in the backfield with Andre Dixon, who was sidelined with an ankle injury, took a handoff up the middle on first down and was promptly met by Mayo.
The run was just two yards, but the gain was much more substantial.
"When I got that first hit, I was like, 'OK, it wasn't that bad, I'm alive, I'm still here, I can do this," Frey said Tuesday. "I think that's what got me going."
The carry was the start of an impressive showing for the running back. Along with getting a game ball for his special teams play, Frey finished with 34 yards on nine carries in mop-up work and scored UConn's final touchdown in its 35-3 victory.
Although he didn't save the ball, he said his first touchdown was exciting.
Frey wasn't the only one working out and through his nerves Saturday. Fifteen freshmen and redshirt freshmen saw their first action on the field. Wide receivers Kashif Moore and Michael Smith, the only true freshman on the two-deep depth chart, each recorded their first catches, while quarterback Cody Endres threw his first career pass.
Non-freshmen such as sophomore Greg Lloyd also saw increased action. Thrust into the starting spot at middle linebacker, Lloyd finished second on the team with six tackles.
Although some fared better than others, head coach Randy Edsall was generally pleased with what he saw from his young players
"All these young kids, for their first game, it wasn't exactly what they wanted, it wasn't as bad as it could've been," Edsall said. "But I know this: they work hard and they're going to get better with more repetitions and game experience."
After redshirting and working on the scout team all of last year, Frey wanted to get all the experience he could.
Be the first to comment on this story