QB Ta’Quan Roberson to have surgery on torn ACL

Three days after UConn’s 31-20 loss at Utah State, coach Jim Mora revealed that starting quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson tore his ACL and will have surgery this week.

Roberson, a transfer from Penn State, completed one of two passes and rushed for first-quarter touchdown before leaving the game with the knee injury Saturday. Preliminary indication were that he suffered an ACL injury.

“It is confirmed that it’s an ACL,” Mora said at his weekly press conference Tuesday. “He will have surgery this week.”

True freshman Zion Turner will start Saturday against Central Connecticut State in the home opener at Rentschler Field.

Mora also address the collarbone injury suffered by receiver Keelan Marion against Utah State. Marion had surgery Monday morning and a plate was inserted to stabilize the injury and assist in healing.

“He was back in the building yesterday,” Mora said. “I don’t know what the time frame is for his return. I was told by our athletic trainers that the fact that they can plate that now, so he can start working his range of motion immediately to get his strength back so as soon as the bone heals, then he can play.

“In the past you had to wait for the bone to heal before you could do any recovery work…we’ll just be hopeful that that thing heals quickly."

Marion was UConn’s best available receiver with Cam Ross out for the year due to a broken foot suffered in fall camp. Adding Roberson and Marion to the injury report does not bode well for the Huskies offense.

“Your heart goes out to anyone who gets injured.

But that’s the personal side of it. The business side of it is, you got to get going, you got to get guys ready to go,” Mora said.

Turner had no choice but to march onto the field as the quarterback Saturday. Completing 12 of 31 passes for 109 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, he performed well considering the circumstances.

The freshman won 37 of 39 games and three state titles with football powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“He’s a winner. He’s one of those guys that seems unfazed by circumstance,” Mora said. “He just stays in his lane and he just does his job, he has great poise and great focus. I think he feels that pressure but I’m not sure it affects him.”