Madison’s Walsh named co-captain

STORRS >> Even with the honors rolling in during his junior and senior campaigns at Connecticut high school football powerhouse Hand High School, Matt Walsh heard the whispers about how his skill set was not going to transfer to the next level.

Sure, the fiery Walsh might have been able to be a dominant linebacker in the Southern Connecticut Conference but when he gets to UConn, it’s going to be a different story.

Former UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni only gave the naysayers more ammunition when Walsh began his collegiate career playing fullback.

When Bob Diaco, a former college linebacker, was hired he had

a different take on things and after giving him a second season to play offense, he moved Walsh to defense.

Diaco took a certain glee in seeing Walsh emerge into not only a reliable linebacker but also a team leader. It all came full circle when Walsh joined Byron Jones as the only Connecticut natives since the 2011 season to be named as a captain for the UConn football team.

“It helps drive me just like everybody when there are doubters, it is just another reason why you want to prove them wrong,” said Walsh, who is the first New Haven area product to be a captain at UConn since Dan Orlovsky, a quarterback from Shelton was one of UConn’s three captains during the 2004 season. “Everybody said I wasn’t fast enough to play linebacker at the Division I level and just to be able to do that and play the role that I am now, I don’t have to say anything anymore because everybody can see it for themselves that I actually can do it.”

Walsh is joined by offensive tackle and two-year captain Andreas Knappe, quarterback Bryant Shirreffs and defensive lineman Mikal Myers as the team captains after a vote by the members of the team.

“I feel like I have been a leader already, now I have the ‘C” on my chest,” Walsh said. “I just want to be able to guide guys and be a coach on the field, make sure everybody is making the right decisions on and off the field.”

Diaco couldn’t be happier that Walsh was named as one of the four captains as he has witnessed Walsh’s growth both on and off the field in the last three years.

“It’s one of the great stories,” Diaco said. “Without some of major life-altering event that happens to young people from the ages of 1522, to see him grow and mature and become a worker, become a servant, become a classmate, become a teammate and become a productive football player and the growth that he has made. People have guided him. I am sure when you ask him, he will mention the people in his life but he had to do it. I am so proud of him for that and he is not going to look back. It is in his DNA, he is who is meant to be and he’s a defender of our mission specifically as it relates to football. He is going to be a great defender on a mission he is on.”

Fellow linebacker Cam Stapleton said “ask the guards, ask them how they feel when he is coming down on them.”

It is that ferocious approach to the game that allowed Walsh to be named the Register’s State Player of the Year after recording 182 tackles as a senior, 15 coming in the 2012 Class L title game.

“How he was on offense, I don’t even know but you move him to defense and it was like night and day,” UConn defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter said. “This kid was made to play defensive football. Lucky for us, (due to) the vision of the head coach of seeing this kid and moving him to defense. He is just an awesome kid to be around. He will work hard, he really practices hard, a great teammate and great leader. Obviously being voted team captain, your teammates think a lot about you and your leadership ability. It is awesome to see it. He has come a long way, we are looking forward to him having a great year.”

Former NFL linebacker Vincent Brown was his position coach a season ago before shifting over to coach the defensive linemen this year. He witnessed Walsh transform himself physically so he could move from sideline to sideline to make tackles as well as drop into coverage if need be.

“Matt epitomizes the Bleed Blue mentality that we have that we are trying to grow in the program,” Brown said. “He is one of the kids who has transformed not only his life but his dedication as a football player and it represents what our program is about, developing the players. He went from a young man who kind of partially involved to being a vocal and active leader on the team. He embraced the role. He has transformed his body so he is leaner, he is quicker, he is stronger and he is a student of the game. He is very instinctive and intuitive so he sees things and he helps make all the guys around him better players also.”

Growing up watching UConn play only made Walsh appreciate the honor of being voted as a team captain even more.

“It is giving me goose bumps right now,” Walsh said. “Going to the games, I was dreaming about getting on the field and now to be a leader and a captain on the team walking about to the center of the field to do the coin toss when all eyes are on you, it is an experience that I am thankful I am going to get the opportunity to do it.

“It has been a wild ride, everybody has their ups and downs in their career and kind of seeing at one point of my college career and where I am now, it kind of gives me more motivation that if I did that, what else can I do? That is one reason why I will never set my limits and will always strive to be the best that I can.”

Rose leaving UConn

Freshman Jasen Rose, who has been absent from UConn preseason practice due to what Diaco said was a result of the former Southington High star not feeling well, released a statement announcing that he is leaving UConn.

“At this time in my life, attending school at UConn is not what is best for me. I will instead enroll at a different school this fall, one closer to home and to my family. As much as I love the game of football, I will step away from it and not participate this season or in the foreseeable future,” Rose said in a statement posted on the UConn football Twitter account.

Rose was a highly-decorated quarterback and a Register all-state pick at Southington High who was expected to play the “F” position, a hybrid tight end/hback position.

“I wish him the best,” Diaco said. “I wish his family the best, I will be rooting for him and hoping for him. I enjoyed the recruiting process, getting to know his family and getting to know him. When he came to campus, I thoroughly enjoyed being with him and around him. He is a special young man. He is working on him, different seasons in your life pop up and you go down different paths. Jay has to live Jay’s life and I am supportive of that whether I like it, love it is irrelevant. I care about him and I want him to do well.”

Diaco announced that redshirt freshman linebacker Connor Freeborn, who has been working with the second team, suffered a season-ending lower-body injury. Also, he is hopeful that senior linebacker Jon Hicks will be cleared to participate in the season opener against Maine on Sept. 1.