The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Choate grad Lucien latest freshman to get his shot
Just over a month ago a frustrated Jeremy Lucien did what countless other college freshmen have done when things weren’t going quite as planned: He placed a call to dear old Dad.
Since arriving at UConn, Lucien had done everything right in the classroom and during football conditioning drills, but a shoulder injury was threatening to wreak havoc on his hopes of contributing immediately.
“Before I got hurt, I really felt like I began to get into the swing of things with the conditioning level and knowledge of the playbook,” Lucien said. “Getting hurt sucks but I talked it over with my dad and he’s a big believer that everything happens for a reason. We both kept trying to see the bigger picture and see the silver lining, so getting hurt, it humbled me even more. The whole time I was hurt, I tried to do everything I could to stay in the loop, stay on top of the playbook and keep my condition and footwork up so when I did come back, I wouldn’t miss a beat.”
Lucien returned to practice last week and immediately made an interception. He made his debut during the Huskies’ 62-7 loss at Boise State on Saturday. Now the Choate graduate is expected to draw his first start at cornerback when the Huskies play host to Rhode Island on Saturday (noon, SNY).
“We think very highly of him but then he missed a lot of time with the shoulder and now we’re trying to get him back,” UConn defensive coordinator Bill Crocker said. “He’s an intelligent kid, I think he’s a pretty disciplined kid, so I think he can cover some of those holes that we’ve missed the last couple of games. Nothing is going to replace having some experience. He got a few snaps the other night.”
Lucien started in the second half, but on the first offensive snap of the third quarter he missed a tackle on a bubble screen, allowing A.J. Richardson to turn a short completion into a 74-yard touchdown. The score put Boise State up 48-0 so the Broncos ran the ball on 30 of their final 34 plays of the game. As a result, Lucien’s coverage skills weren’t put to the test.
That figures to change against URI.
“It is all about next man up, so I went into each game expecting I might get in, so Coach (Randy Edsall) called me and I knew I had to go out (ready to play).
“I’m humble so even if I have a little bit of success, I do my best not to let it go to my head. I’m still young so I have to keep attacking, give 100 percent effort.”
There’s been a revolvingdoor policy at the starting cornerback spot opposite sophomore Tahj HerringWilson between a host of true freshmen. Shamel Lazarus was the starter at the beginning of preseason camp. Keyshawn Paul started the opener only to be replaced by Ryan Carroll. Now it’s Lucien’s turn as he is slated to be the seventh true freshman to start on defense this season. If Omar Fortt’s concussion keeps him out of the game, Oneil Robinson could be the eighth true freshman defensive starter and 10th freshman overall to start on defense in the first three contests.
UConn has nine true freshmen on its defensive depth chart which is tied with LSU and Minnesota for the most at the FBS level. However, those teams list 36 and 31 players on the chart, compared with 22 for UConn. They have combined for one true freshman defensive starter while UConn had six in the first two games.
Veteran safety Marshe’ Terry was asked about the freshmen when he was at the American Athletic Conference football media day, and Lucien was the first player he mentioned. Starting safety and leading tackler Tyler Coyle recently joked that if he were looking for Lucien, chances are he’d be in UConn defensive backs coach Curome Cox’s office watching tape or seeking more coaching.
The intellectual side of the position is something that fits with Lucien’s personality. He was a decorated student at Choate even while balancing a challenging academic workload while starring on the football and track and field squads. His work in the classroom was impressive enough that the Ivy League school Columbia offered him a spot on their team.
“It is not necessarily the 4.0 that’s expected, it’s giving maximum effort in everything you do,” Lucien said. “If you do it right, then it’ll yield a 4.0. I always try to give it my all in the classroom and on the football field because if I do it the right way, I end up getting the results that I desire.”
Lucien is already enrolled in the honors program at UConn, and while many freshmen don’t declare a major until late in their sophomore season, he is a mechanical engineering major.
“He has his priorities straight,” Edsall said. “He challenges himself in every aspect of his life academically, athletically and he’s a great kid. He’s got it all together. You tell him it one time and he’s got it. He’s not out there texting, (on) social media a bunch; if it is, it’s back and forth with somebody on formulas and things along those lines, which is way over my head.”
Lucien’s academic excellence can be traced back to his childhood in Bath, Pa. When he was in middle school, Lucien was in a program that helps place minority students in secondary schools. Choate — ranked fifth among the best private high schools in the country in a 2017 Business Insider article — was among the schools recommended to Lucien after he took the Secondary School Admission Test.
It took a couple of visits and a meeting with Choate football coach LJ Spinnato and one of the team captains before Lucien was sold on leaving the comfort of his home and heading to Wallingford for the next four years.
Choate was 38-0 with four straight bowl victories during Lucien’s time there. The confidence he gained playing for the Wild Boars helped him when he arrived at UConn playing a position where any amount of self-doubt can be a recipe for failure.
In practice, Lucien isn’t afraid to get up and play press coverage. He said he is able to move on even after he is beaten in coverage.
“That’s always been the way that I play, I’m a no-fear kind of guy,” Lucien said. “I’m not afraid to press, I’m not afraid to play off, try to mix it up because I don’t want to favor one too much but I’m not afraid to get up on a line and get in the receiver’s face.”