The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
3-year starter Peart helps UConn hit ground running
STORRS — The players, all 76 of them, have manned starting positions with varying degrees of success over the last three years, but only one has been called upon week in and week out since the start of the 2016 season.
When UConn plays at East Carolina on Saturday (7 p.m., CBS Sports Network), junior offensive tackle Matt Peart is slated to make his 35th consecutive start, which is something only nine Huskies have accomplished since UConn became a fullfledged Football Bowl Subdivision member in 2002.
“It’s one of those accomplishments that you can look at and hang your hat on,” Peart said. “It’s a testament to the coaches that they believe I can play both sides, so that versatility is amazing. It’s nice knowing you’re able to accomplish something that not many players are able to accomplish.”
As Peart mentioned, he has played both left and right tackle during the streak. Peart started 24 straight games at left tackle in 2016 and ’17 before moving to the right side this season.
There have been some growing pains for Peart, who has been called for a series of pre-snap penalties, but in recent weeks he has helped the UConn offensive perform at elite levels, especially in the run game.
Dating back to 1978, UConn had never posted four straight games with at least 250 rushing yards until accomplishing the feat in the last four contests. The 1,192 rushing yards against South Florida, UMass, Tulsa and SMU marks the sixth time in the last 40 years that UConn has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in a span of four games, and topped the previous best four-game total set against Hofstra, Temple, Virginia and Baylor in 2008. The total is also more than the Huskies managed in 12 games in both the 2012 and ’13 campaigns.
“We got really close together, there’s a real brotherhood between all of us and I love every single guy on the offensive line,” Peart said. “We all came together, came closer, and it has to start with us.
“I love each and every one of those guys. They truly are my brothers and they probably will be at my wedding and everything. We have gotten so close together that we understand what we need to do and how to do it effectively.”