The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
UConn football team loses RB Newsome to injury
Huskies’ top receiver to miss 3-4 weeks with ‘clavicle/sternum’ issue
STORRS — Connecticut high school football legend Arkeel Newsome is known as a man of few words who lets his dynamic playmaking ability do the talking for him. However, surrounded by doctors, athletic trainers and even a couple of interns on the sideline, the usually soft-spoken Newsome had plenty to say.
Newsome went 51 yards on a catch and run to set up the first score in UConn’s 20-14 win over Tulsa on Saturday, but after landing awkwardly, he slowly made his way to the sideline. At one point, just to prove he wasn’t as seriously injured as the medical experts feared he was, Newsome jumped off the table and did a few pushups.
Newsome wasn’t able to talk his way back into the game, and it’s going to be a while before the former Ansonia High School star gets on the field again.
He will be out for the next three to four weeks for what UConn coach Randy Edsall termed “a clavicle/sternum issue.”
Newsome wasn’t among the players made available to the media Tuesday, but senior quarterback Bryant Shirreffs was more than happy to answer questions about the 5-foot-7, 190-pounder.
“He’s a beast. There aren’t many people in the country who have taken the hits he’s taken,” Shirreffs said. “I know how some of those hits feel and I don’t see how he does it because he’s considerably (smaller) than me, and to see some of the hits he’s taken, this injury doesn’t really surprise me after all that I’ve seen. He is one tough player and a tough individual. That’s a credit of where he’s from, the people who’ve had influences on him, just his resilience. His size might
not be that big but his heart’s really big.”
Newsome is the first UConn running back with 100 career receptions, and his final play against Tulsa put him into second place on UConn’s career list for all-purpose yards. Newsome joins a select group including Penn State’s Heisman Trophy candidate Saquon Barkley as the only FBS players with at least one 50-yard run and catch this season.
“Arkeel has been very productive, he’s been having a very good year,” Edsall said. “I feel bad for him, but it’s just like anything else, you have to move forward. He’s not going to be there so now other guys are going to get their opportunities to step up and they have to step up. Injuries are a part of the game; it’s unfortunate, he’s contributing and making a lot of big plays. We’re not going to change our whole offense, that’s for sure.”
Freshmen Nate Hopkins (289 yards) and Kevin Mensah (210) are the No. 1 and 3 rushers on the team, so the running game shouldn’t take a huge hit with Newsome’s absence, but it will be felt in the passing game. Newsome is tied for the team lead with 22 receptions and leads with 407 receiving yards while the other running backs have combined for 61 yards on nine receptions.
It’s not just the catches Newsome makes but the fact that opposing defenses need to make certain they knew where Newsome was at all times because a blown assignment likely would result in a touchdown for the Huskies.
“I would guess defenses would game plan a lot for Arkeel, so in that respect, it’s not a great thing for us,” Shirreffs said. “I believe in the other running backs, and the other guys are definitely going to step up. We have an offense where any given week different people can step up; when a big play has to be made you never know who’s going to make it.”
Hopkins ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns in a season-opening win over Holy Cross but hasn’t rushed for more than 38 yards in any game since. Mensah had 156 yards and averaged 7.1 yards per carry in his first two games but has 54 yards on 24 carries in the last four outings.
“Kevin’s getting better, but Kevin has to relax a little bit. He puts a lot of pressure on himself,” Edsall said. “We’re trying to get him to do what he’s supposed to do. He’s one of these kids who wants to be perfect all the time instead of just getting the ball and letting your instincts take over. He’s talented enough. Nate’s a guy who has gotten better, he has some shiftiness to him. The big thing with Nate is just staying healthy, that’s the big thing with him.”
Missouri is also dealing with an injury to a star running back. A shoulder injury will keep leading rusher Damarea Crockett out of Saturday’s game.
“Arkeel has been very productive, he’s been having a very good year. I feel bad for him, but it’s just like anything else, you have to move forward. He’s not going to be there so now other guys are going to get their opportunities to step up and they have to step up.” UConn coach Randy Edsall