Isabella a challenge for UConn defense
STORRS — There might not be an attribute more important to a football cornerback than impeccable timing.
Break too early when a pass is thrown and the result is likely to be a pass interference penalty. React too late and it could be a game-changing play by the opponent.
Speaking of ideal timing, UConn sophomore cornerback Tahj Herring-Wilson couldn’t pick a better time to be healthy with a matchup against UMass’ dynamic senior receiver Andy Isabella awaiting Saturday (noon, ESPNU).
Herring-Wilson injured an ankle in a win over Rhode Island last month. He missed the next two games and was out there for only one play against Memphis in early October. Herring-Wilson reclaimed his starting role and went the distance in Saturday’s nearupset of nationally ranked South Florida. He drew praise from UConn coach Randy Edsall for playing and practicing harder and more effectively.
“I felt great, my ankle didn’t bother me at all and I did everything I needed to do to play well,” HerringWilson said.
“I was able to study more film (when he was unable to play) and see what teams wanted to do against us and that was the thing that helped me with USF.”
Herring-Wilson knows the Huskies will have their
hands full with Isabella, who has 35 catches, 563 receiving yards and four touchdowns in the last three games. He is tied for the national lead with 1,013 receiving yards; his 64 receptions also rank second while he is tied for fifth with eight TD catches.
“He’s a great receiver and we respect him,” HerringWilson said. “I think the biggest thing is sticking to the game plan and everything will take care of itself. I trust what the coaches are teaching me, studying film and take everything week by week, just line up and play ball.”
Without Herring-Wilson in the lineup, UConn relied exclusively on true freshmen at cornerback. Jeremy Lucien, Ryan Carroll, Shamel Lazarus and Keyshawn Paul have combined to start 10 games playing against plenty of speedy receivers.
“It was a little depressing not being out there but all I can do is help them grow and help them out any way I could throughout practice and throughout the week,” Herring-Wilson said.
With 10 different true freshmen earning at least one start on defense, it’s no wonder the Huskies lead all Football Bowl Subdivision teams this season with a program-record 140 tackles from true freshmen. UConn’s 178 tackles from the freshman class (counting the contributions from redshirt freshmen Ian Swenson, Caleb Thomas and Rob King) also are the most among FBS programs.
Linebacker Kevon Jones leads the way with 38 tackles, seven shy of the program mark for tackles by a true freshman during the FBS era. The current record was set by James Hargrave in 2002, the first season UConn was a full-fledged FBS program.
“I feel like I’m productive but our record doesn’t really show it. I just try to give it my all,” Jones said.
Travis Jones, a defensive lineman from New Haven, and safety Oneil Robinson have 23 and 22 tackles respectively. With Omar Fortt recording 40 tackles as a true freshman in 2017, four of the top 10 spots for tackles by UConn true freshmen since 2002 are held by current Huskies.
Herring-Wilson isn’t about to let the true freshmen have all the fun. While there have been some rough patches, he said he relishes the challenge of trying to defend game-breaking receivers.
“It is something that you either have or you don’t,” Herring-Wilson said. “I love competition and I’m excited to take on a new challenge; every week you go up against receivers who are athletic.”
Herring-Wilson learned about rising to the challenge when he arrived at Suffield Academy as a talented 13year-old weighing all of 135 pounds. The one player who went out of his way to help Herring-Wilson get acclimated at one of the top prep school football programs in the country was former UConn defensive back Brice McAllister, who is wrapping up his college career at UMass this season.
“Today before practice Tahj texted me about the game doing a jersey swap (after the game), so that’s funny,” McAllister said after UMass’ practice Monday. “I look at Tahj like my little brother, I’ve known him since he was 13, 14 back at Suffield. He’s progressed a long way from when I first met him. It’s been cool to watch him out there.”
Herring-Wilson, McAllister and Clemson defensive lineman Christian Wilkins — whom some NFL draft sites have ranked as the top defensive line prospect available in the 2019 draft — helped Suffield Academy register back-toback undefeated seasons.
“We didn’t need the coaches to talk to us and get us right, we had the leadership to hold ourselves accountable,” Herring-Wilson said. “I think that was probably the biggest thing so there weren’t a lot of mental mistakes.
“He (McAllister) just taught me what it meant to be well-rounded, especially in the weight room. I started off, I came into Suffield at 135 and I think the biggest thing was to push myself in the weight room to get stronger and that helped me a lot, helped me build confidence on the field.”
Edsall said UConn is in good shape health-wise although flu-like symptoms forced senior receiver Hergy Mayala to miss Tuesday’s practice. Edsall is hoping Mayala can return to practice Wednesday. Also, a shoulder injury is expected to sideline reserve receiver Quayvon Skanes for a few weeks.