Shirreffs named UConn starting QB

Senior to replace Pindell in starting lineup for Huskies

STORRS » Certainly there was some pertinent information in the first seven pages of UConn’s weekly game notes leading into Saturday’s showdown against nationallyranked South Florida.

However, when the packets were handed out to the assembled media shortly before UConn football coach Randy Edsall arrived for the Tuesday morning press conference, the scramble was on to get the information on page No. 8 out on various social media platforms.

The updated depth chart for the Huskies matchup with 2-0 South Florida Saturday had the most anticipated information: Bryant Shirreffs listed as starting quarterback ahead of last week’s starter, David Pindell.

Edsall didn’t have much to say about the decision to make Shirreffs the starter after Shirreffs threw for 124 yards and a touchdown in relief of Pindell in a season-opening win over Holy Cross.

“We make the decision we think is the best for the team,” Edsall said. “Both of them played coming out the game, Bryant is the guy who is the starter for us against South Florida.”

Shirreffs started 21 games over the last two seasons, but was benched in favor of true freshman Donovan Williams for the final three games of the 2016 season. He was then beaten out for the starting job during preseason camp by Pindell, a junior-college transfer. Now Shirreffs finds himself back in the starting lineup.

“It means a lot to me, but it doesn’t change how I am going to prepare,” Shirreffs said. “I am try-

ing to savor each moment because I know this is my last year at UConn. I made the decision right before camp that I don’t want to look back on the season and have any regrets about it, so I have been trying to savor each moment and maximize each day.”

Shirreffs led UConn to touchdown scoring drives of 53, 59 and 47 yards on three of his first possessions as the Huskies rallied for a 27-20 win over Holy Cross. The fact that he continued to be a supportive teammate even after he lost his starting job last season, and was passed over again heading into this season, wasn’t lost on the other members of the team.

“Bryant, what he went through at the end of the season last year, he stuck with us at the end of last year, being a leader out there,” UConn junior center Ryan Crozier said. “At the beginning of the season, he didn’t take a step back once he got the second man job, so I respect him for that.”

Following the game, redshirt freshman running back Nate Hopkins addressed the maturity that a 21-game starting quarterback like Shirreffs brings to the team.

“He went into the game, he was real relaxed and calm, he is somebody you can follow,” Hopkins said. “You know off the field he is a dad, he has played here and been a starter most of the time, so it is easy to get behind him because he cares a lot about the program.”

Hearing that his younger teammates think that highly of Shirreffs means the world to him.

“It is weird to think about it that way,” Shirreffs said. “I remember being on that side of things and I would look up to certain players and I would certainly feel that way. It is weird to see myself in that role, but that is cool that he said that. I see all of us as family, all as brothers and there are certainly things that I experienced that I feel like I can help some players with.”

It would be easy for Shirreffs to harbor some resentment at how things when down when Bob Diaco coached his final three games with the Huskies, but Shirreffs has resisted the temptation to sound off on being benched because it would create an unwanted distraction moving forward.

“I was enjoying every second of it and luckily I had people around me making plays,” Shirreffs said. “He (Edsall) has had a monumental effect on my life as a football player and as a person. I am really thankful he came into my life, he and the other coaches. It has been awesome, he has been really supportive of me and the best thing that I can say is that they are genuine honest people and it is a pleasure to be here every day. That is the reality, that is the best thing for me.”

Shirreffs was asked if he felt the same way a season ago.

“I don’t want to look back, but I am so grateful of where we are today,” Shirreffs said.

The other big news is that senior linebackers Vontae Diggs and Junior Joseph practiced on Tuesday.

STEPHEN DUNN / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS UConn quarterback Bryant Shirreffs sets to pass during the fourth quarter against Holy Cross Thursday. Shirreffs was named the starting quarterback on Tuesday.