The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Williams makes an impact for No. 1 Clemson
Tre Williams, Clemson: The freshman defensive lineman from Windsor had four tackles, including a tackle for loss in the topranked Tigers’ 73-7 win over Georgia Tech. It was the second career game for the former Kingwood Oxford and St. Thomas More star. It wasn’t all good news for Connecticut’s players at Clemson as Taisun Phommachanh, a quarterback from Bridgeport, injured his left ( non throwing) hand that required surgery. According to reports, he is considered day to day.
DIXON LIGHTS IT UP
Keyion Dixon might have went from the Football Bowl Subdivision to Football Championship Series level after transferring from UConn to Eastern Kentucky, but that doesn’t mean he is done producing against FBS competition. Three of Eastern Kentucky’s first five games were against FBS teams and the Glastonbury native has led EKU in receiving yards in each of them.
Dixon had eight catches for 196 yards with touchdown grabs of 90 and 4 yards on Saturday. His second touchdown gave Eastern Kentucky the 29-28 lead but Troy’s Evan Legassey hit the game-winning 47-yard field goal on the final play for the 31- 29 Troy win. Dixon was named the FCS Stats National CoPlayer of the Week. Dixon has 25 catches for 496 yards and five touchdowns in five games. He has 59 catches for 993 yards in 17 games at EKU after finishing with 507 yards on 44 receptions in 23 games at UConn.
COLLINS READY TO FLY WITH OWLS
New Canaan’s Mike Collins was named the starting quarterback at Rice last week. He will make his debut with the Owls against Middle Tennessee on Saturday.
Collins had a four-game stretch in 2018 at TCU when he threw for 940 yards with five touchdown passes and two interceptions in games against Oklahoma, Kansas, Kansas State and West Virhinia. He only appeared in two games in 2019 and landed at Rice as a graduate transfer.
BIG TEN SET TO HIT THE FIELD
The number of Connecticut natives hitting the field for FBS programs is about to increase significantly with Big Ten teams ready to open their seasons this weekend.
A total of 17 players from Connecticut are on the Iowa, Michigan, Penn State, Purdue and Rutgers rosters. Iowa, which includes former New Haven Register Male Athlete of the Year Nico Ragaini, will face off with Purdue. It will be the first game at Purdue for former Windsor High and UConn star Tyler Coyle. Coyle had 262 tackles and seven games with doubledigit tackles. It was announced on Sunday that Purdue coach Jeff Brohm tested positive for COVID-19 and his ability to coach in Saturday’s game is up in the air. Co-Offensive Coordinator Brian Brohm will serve as acting head coach for the Iowa game. Former UConn head coach Bob Diaco, is Purdue’s defensive coordinator. Anthony Poindexter, the defensive coordinator when Diaco was at UConn, is also on the Purdue staff.
ON THE AIR
Michigan at Minnesota, Saturday, 7:30 p. m., ABC: Michigan leads all Big Ten teams with seven Connecticut products on the roster. Darien’s Andrew Stueber could see time at guard after being a tackle throughout his time with the Wolverines. Greenwich’s Cornelius Johnson, Newtown’s Ben Mason and Luke Schoonmaker could also play key roles for Michigan.