2011 Bowl: N/A
Head coach: Paul Pasqualoni
Odds to win Big East: +1500
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Offense
The Huskies finished last place in the Big East in total offense with only 312 yards per game last season, so as one would expect, winning even nearly half the games as they did was challenging enough.
Will things get better?
It’s looking like it, yes. They recruited some JUCO talent and got transfer students to improve the overall talent pool on their team offensively. Still, they will have issues at QB even with the return of last year’s starter, Johnny McEntee. They were 8th in the Big East last year in passing with only 194.7 yards per game, so strides must be made, especially since they weren’t good afoot either, with only 118.5 rushing yards per game.
One of the JUCO transfers they added should make a big difference for the aerial attack. Chandler Whitmer came from Butler County Community College (Kansas) and he threw for 3,022 yards last year while compiling 25 TDs. Whitmer had originally signed with Illinois but transferred to JUCO after his redshirt freshman year. He may end up being the starter after an impressive spring.
Some other impressive transfers include Shakim Phillips (Boston College) and Bryce McNeal (Clemson). They will also have Mike Smith rejoin the team, who missed last season due to academic eligibility issues and Smith was one of the more consistent offensive players in spring play. Another senior, Nick Williams, should make an impact at SR.
Lyle McCombs could be one of the difference makers, but he can’t do all the running like he did himself last year, when he finished with 1,151 yards and 7 TDs. Freshman Joe Williams will help a lot, as he has the speed to get off on some big runs and Max DeLorenzo, a red shirt freshman, as well as junior Martin Hyppolite should be able to relieve some of the duties from McCombs. The OL is going to need to be much better and with Moe Petrus and Mike Ryan gone, there is no assurance that they will be.
Defense
Eight starters return on defense and the top defender Blidi Wreh-Wilson will finally be able to play a full season.
The linebackers were very good last season, but were only three deep, with Jory Johnson, Sio Moore, and Yawin Smallwood returning. This year they have more depth with Maryland transfer Ryan Donohue joining the fold, so expect that to significantly aid their defensive flexibility.
A big problem will be the lack of receiver coverage. Last year the Huskies finished 8th in the Big East in passing coverage, giving up 281 yards per game, which was bad enough to be ranked 113th nationally. It also rendered their overall defense 7th in the Big East, giving up 366.7 yards per game. Wreh-Wilson and Dwyane Gratz are both expected to aid the issues there, though they are seniors and should have already been doing so. Junior Taylor Mack will be the third cornerback. I don’t expect the pass coverage to be much improved, which will be a major thorn in the side for UCONN.
Special Teams
Chad Christen will take over as the kickoff specialist since Dave Teggart graduated. He may share the duties, though, with a freshman in Bobby Puyol, who had a great high school kicking career. Cole Wagner also has a 41.2 yard per kick average in his career as well.
Outlook
Things were looking good following their Fiesta Bowl appearance in 2010, but have gone steadily downhill ever since, and last year’s losing record only further indicates the need for change in the program. They’ve brought in a tough group of recruits, bested by Joe Williams, Obi Melifonwu, Mikal Myers, Jazzmar Clax, and a number of others, who could help right the ship. Their running game could potentially be above averge and the defense has above average potential as well, but it’s still going to take a strong improvement from Pasqualoni to get this team back into bowl play.
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