The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Cornerback Paul ready to tackle year No. 2
STORRS — There were times when Keyshawn Paul would look around during his freshman season at UConn and wonder just what he had gotten himself into.
Thrown right into the mix of things as a true freshman, the talented cornerback from Miami was tested not only on the field but in the classroom.
With a year of experience to fall back on as well as an additional 11 pounds of muscle as he is expecting better things from both himself and his team during the 2019 season.
“I am way more comfortable,” Paul said after Sunday’s practice when he worked with the starting defense along with fellow true sophomore cornerback Jeremy Lucien. “I feel like I am bought in, I feel like this is more like home, I feel like I am exactly where I should be. Last year was kind of iffy, I wasn’t really buying in. I wasn’t believing last year and didn’t have the confidence and now I feel like I have a lot more confidence. I trust all of my teammates, I feel like we all grew up and all matured, we have such a bond.”
Paul’s recruiting class was asked to play right away and the results were somewhat predictable as kids fresh out of high school were asked to square off with players who were not only a few years older but in many cases talented enough to currently be in NFL training camps. UConn had statistically the worst defense in major college football history. While nobody is expecting the 2019 team to start pitching shutouts, the hope is that harsh lessons will result in improved play at all three levels of the defense.
Paul, coming off a strong spring, is one of those young players that UConn coach Randy Edsall is excited about.
“He is a different young man from last year,” Edsall said. “The transformation with him has really been extraordinary, I really like what he has done in the classroom, on the field, off the field. He is communicating my better and just feels really comfortable. If he can keep progressing, he has a chance to be a really good football player.”
Paul is one of 17 returning UConn players who are at least 10 pounds heavier than they were a season ago. Nine of those players were defensive players who were true freshmen a season ago.
“I didn’t think we were big enough strong enough and fast eough so that was part of the reason why we
started spring ball early so we could get a fourmonth training session,” Edsall said. “Their efforts and Matt King’s staff and what they did, it shows. I had people come here today and even the officials, a lot of those guys worked our stuff in the spring and said you guys look like a different team physically and that was part of the plan.”
Leading the way are defensive back Jalon Ferrell and tight end Donovan
Williams, who put on 25 pounds each. Offensive lineman Dylan Niedrowski added 23 pounds while defensive linemen Pierce DeVaughn and Jonathan Pace combined to add 38 pounds. Receivers Garrison Burnett and Elijah Jeffreys have put on 31 additional pounds of muscle between them.
Starting offensive tackle Matt Peart wasn’t at Sunday’s practice as he is attending his brother’s wedding. His absence from the last two practices has given Niedrowski some valuable work with the starting
offensive line.
Edsall said he is probably at least another week of practice before settling on a pecking order especially for the new players. Receiver Cameron Ross, defensive back Malik Dixon, linebacker Jackson Mitchell and defensive linemen Justin Moore, Dalmont Gourdine and Eric Watts were among the true freshmen getting time with either the first or second teams.
The offensive highlight was a 75yard pass from Steve Krajewski to Ardell Brown late in practice with Brown making a difficult over the shoulder catch look routine after a 50yard heave from Krajewski.
Paul, Messiah Turner and Diamond Harrell each had big hits on defense.
Tight end Jay Rose and defensive lineman Jonathan Pace were among the injured players to sit out the practice but Edsall didn’t seem concerned about the severity of the bumps and bruises for the players who missed practice.