Spring Break
A new name among UConn running backs
Russell Blair
Issue date: 3/24/09 Section: Sports
The new, revamped passing game and the position battle between Zach Frazer and Cody Endres was the top story coming into UConn's spring practices.
Not unexpectedly, throughout the first week of practice reporters swarmed to Frazer and Endres, intently watched their performances on the field and tried to get tight-lipped head coach Randy Edsall to point toward one or the other as a potential starter.
Meanwhile, Kelmetrus "Meme" Wylie, despite rushing in only one game last season, is quietly making a name for himself as one of the Huskies' premier backs, fighting for a starting position right alongside Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman. While early practices were dominated by the new spread offense and the players' adjustment to a new playbook, Edsall assured that UConn would still run a balanced offense.
"It's going to be a balanced attack," Edsall said. "We aren't going to favor the pass or the run, we're looking to create a 50-50-type scheme and there's different ways that we can get to the running game by personnel and the passing game by personnel."
At 213 pounds, the 5-foot-10 Wylie is UConn's biggest back, but doesn't allow his size to get in the way of his blazing speed. During Saturday's practice, Wylie split time on the first team with the Huskies' stable of backs, but shined when it came to 11-on-11 full-contact scrimmages at the end of practice.
Practicing their red-zone offense from the 10-yard line, Frazer took the snap and tossed it to the right to Wylie. Showing an explosive burst of speed, Wylie jab-stepped around the defensive line and into daylight one shed tackle later and scampered into the end zone for a touchdown. While Dixon showed himself to be proficient between the tackles, Wylie shined around the ends, getting a full burst of speed and daring defenders to try and stop him.
"He looks to be a lot stronger and he's not hesitating," Edsall said. "He's a guy that has strength and power and speed, so he's a guy that can help us in a lot of different areas; he just has to continue doing what he's been doing."
Not unexpectedly, throughout the first week of practice reporters swarmed to Frazer and Endres, intently watched their performances on the field and tried to get tight-lipped head coach Randy Edsall to point toward one or the other as a potential starter.
Meanwhile, Kelmetrus "Meme" Wylie, despite rushing in only one game last season, is quietly making a name for himself as one of the Huskies' premier backs, fighting for a starting position right alongside Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman. While early practices were dominated by the new spread offense and the players' adjustment to a new playbook, Edsall assured that UConn would still run a balanced offense.
"It's going to be a balanced attack," Edsall said. "We aren't going to favor the pass or the run, we're looking to create a 50-50-type scheme and there's different ways that we can get to the running game by personnel and the passing game by personnel."
At 213 pounds, the 5-foot-10 Wylie is UConn's biggest back, but doesn't allow his size to get in the way of his blazing speed. During Saturday's practice, Wylie split time on the first team with the Huskies' stable of backs, but shined when it came to 11-on-11 full-contact scrimmages at the end of practice.
Practicing their red-zone offense from the 10-yard line, Frazer took the snap and tossed it to the right to Wylie. Showing an explosive burst of speed, Wylie jab-stepped around the defensive line and into daylight one shed tackle later and scampered into the end zone for a touchdown. While Dixon showed himself to be proficient between the tackles, Wylie shined around the ends, getting a full burst of speed and daring defenders to try and stop him.
"He looks to be a lot stronger and he's not hesitating," Edsall said. "He's a guy that has strength and power and speed, so he's a guy that can help us in a lot of different areas; he just has to continue doing what he's been doing."
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