Spring Break
The Storrs Side: signing day highlights for Huskies
Russell Blair
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: Sports
Yesterday, UConn landed key recruits at many of the spots they struggled at last season or will need to fill gaps left by graduates.
Wide Receivers: In the 2008 season the Huskies possessed the 11th- worst passing offense of the 119 teams with a FBS football program. Averaging a dismal 139.7 yards per game the passing game tallied only five scores while creating 17 turnovers off interceptions, largely due to the lack of a playmaker on the outside. Kashif Moore led all receivers with only 263 yards, just three ahead of fullback Anthony Sherman.
Key Recruit: Dwayne Difton.
Difton, the four-star recruit out of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., will add an entirely new dimension to a UConn offense that relied mostly on Donald Brown last season. With offers from the likes of Purdue, Minnesota and Southern Miss, Difton looks to be the real deal.
Defensive Ends: Simply put, Cody Brown was a monster last season. The senior end had 16.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, not to mention forcing five fumbles and defending eight passes. Across the line fellow senior Julius Williams added six more sacks and another 11 tackles for loss to give UConn a fearsome duo up front.
Key Recruit: Tim Willman.
Willman, while not as quick or explosive as Brown has a massive frame standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 255 pounds. The three-star recruit out of Fulton, Md., was recruited hard by the Terps before deciding upon Storrs.
Offensive Line: The Huskies offensive line was one of the most solid in the country. Through 13 games the line allowed only 15 sacks. In run blocking, the big bodies up front opened holes for Donald Brown who led the country with 2,083 yards. Center Keith Gray and left tackle William Beatty will both be gone next season to graduation.
Key Recruit: Steve Greene,
Committing back in October, Greene checks in at 6-foot-4 302 pounds and will be solid at the guard position for the Huskies. He's also the 41st best guard in this year's class.
Wide Receivers: In the 2008 season the Huskies possessed the 11th- worst passing offense of the 119 teams with a FBS football program. Averaging a dismal 139.7 yards per game the passing game tallied only five scores while creating 17 turnovers off interceptions, largely due to the lack of a playmaker on the outside. Kashif Moore led all receivers with only 263 yards, just three ahead of fullback Anthony Sherman.
Key Recruit: Dwayne Difton.
Difton, the four-star recruit out of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., will add an entirely new dimension to a UConn offense that relied mostly on Donald Brown last season. With offers from the likes of Purdue, Minnesota and Southern Miss, Difton looks to be the real deal.
Defensive Ends: Simply put, Cody Brown was a monster last season. The senior end had 16.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, not to mention forcing five fumbles and defending eight passes. Across the line fellow senior Julius Williams added six more sacks and another 11 tackles for loss to give UConn a fearsome duo up front.
Key Recruit: Tim Willman.
Willman, while not as quick or explosive as Brown has a massive frame standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 255 pounds. The three-star recruit out of Fulton, Md., was recruited hard by the Terps before deciding upon Storrs.
Offensive Line: The Huskies offensive line was one of the most solid in the country. Through 13 games the line allowed only 15 sacks. In run blocking, the big bodies up front opened holes for Donald Brown who led the country with 2,083 yards. Center Keith Gray and left tackle William Beatty will both be gone next season to graduation.
Key Recruit: Steve Greene,
Committing back in October, Greene checks in at 6-foot-4 302 pounds and will be solid at the guard position for the Huskies. He's also the 41st best guard in this year's class.
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