UConn spring competitions heating up
STORRS — Just over a week into spring practices the UConn football team has ramped up to full speed practices as new and old faces compete for their potential spots in the fall.
The first glimpses of the coming positional battles were shown in simulated situational scrimmages on Saturday.
“The difference this year is that we know what to expect, obviously last year coach ( Jim) Mora was new,” said Jackson Mitchell, UConn’s junior linebacker from Ridgefield. “We are getting our feet under us and going over the defensive and offensive systems. There are some new guys that are still learning the system but we really have a chance to perfect our technique.”
Mora was not available to the media Saturday, which was an open house for prospective students.
Returning starting quarterback Zion Turner ran two-minute drills against Maine transfer Joseph Fagnano, with both throwing to a healthy receiving group.
Turner, who took over as starting quarterback in the 2022 opener after Ta’Quan Roberson’s seasonending knee injury, is settling in after his first season of experience.
“(I want to work on) decision making, getting through progressions faster, getting the ball out of my hands and learning the offense better,” Turner said. “This will be my second year in the offense, I can say now that I feel way more comfortable than I did.”
Fagnano looked strong, connecting with Keelan Marion in the end zone at one point during practice. Turner and Fagnano are joined by freshman quarterback Tucker McDonald and Roberson, who is still nursing his knee currently, but is still throwing.
“This group is actually really great, we keep pushing each other every day,” Turner said. “In meetings
we learn from one another, and it is great to build off each other’s experiences. There are three of us who have played college football in the QB room. It is great to get out here and work with the guys.”
Running backs Devontae Houston and Victor Rosa ran full speed against the defense, with Brian Brewton, who broke his elbow last season, also back to full health. The core group of returners was joined by Louisville transfer, Jalen Mitchell. Hunter Clark, a freshman fullback from Greenwich who played at Brunswick, reached the end zone during drills.
“Our running back room is solid now so we are all competing for a spot,” Rosa said. “We are all pushing each other, we are all getting 1% better each day and it is a great environment.”
Jalen Mitchell is the lone newcomer in the backfield at the moment, joining the most prolific portion of UConn’s offense last season. That group was highlighted by Rosa, who scored a teamleading 11 touchdowns. Still, he is unsatisfied.
“I am not satisfied with what I did last year, so I have to come out every day and continue to work on my craft,” Rosa said.
“Looking back at film there is a lot that I can fix to up my game to the next level, and that is what I am trying to do.”
On the defensive side, Jackson Mitchell is getting familiar with his new positional teammates. Mitchell made 140 total tackles last season with an interception, two forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
Now he will be joined by among others Kansas transfer Eriq Gilyard and Delaware transfer Noah Plack.
“Playing with anyone new is difficult at first,” Mitchell said. “I played next to (Ian) Swenson for three years, so we had really good communication, and that takes time. We switched some things up with the schemes and we are all learning it and
working it together. I expect really big things from the linebacker group and those guys, between Noah (Plack) and Eriq (Gilyard).”
One thing is certain. In Mora’s second spring season, the expectations have been raised. UConn finished last season 6-7, and made its first trip to a bowl game since 2015.
“Coach Mora has stressed that last year was the bottom line, that was our standard, but now we have to be better than that,” Mitchell said. “(A record of) 6-7 isn’t good enough for us, that is a losing season really. We want to beat that, and we know what we need to do to do that.”
UConn’s 2023 season open Sept. 2 when the Huskies play host to N.C. State at Rentschler Field.