SMU’s Sutton could dominate AAC

NEWPORT, R.I. » Nine players from the American Athletic Conference have been selected in the first round of the NFL draft since 2014. If there is one player leading the list of candidates to keep the AAC’s first-round selection streak alive, it could be SMU receiver Courtland Sutton.

After being limited to two games in an injuryshortened freshman season, all Sutton has done in the last two years is average nearly 17 yards on 125 receptions and haul in 19 touchdown receptions. Sutton has eight games with at least 100 receiving yards in the last two seasons including one game with 252 yards against South Florida.

Projected as a second-day pick in the 2017 NFL draft, Sutton made the decision to return for another season with the Mustangs.

Sutton credits a meeting with SMU coach Chad Morris at his Brenham, Texas, home for helping him in his decision to return to school.

“The coaches he has brought in and him helping me to understand that (the NFL) is going to be there, him helping myself and my family understand that having that degree from SMU is something nobody can take from me ever,” Sutton said. “The air is going to be taken out of the football eventually so you always want to have something to fall back on. I’ll be set for success after the game of football is done and be able to move forward with my career.”

It doesn’t hurt that he is 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds as well.

Sutton watched the draft and when three receivers were taken in the first nine picks, he had no second thoughts. When Temple’s Haason Reddick was selected with the 13th overall pick, again Sutton was content with his decision to return to school.

REWARD FOR ROSE

Former Southington High star Jasen Rose walked away from a football scholarship a year ago.

Earlier this month, Rose found himself as a scholarship football player at UConn once again.

“He reached out and if he wanted to be a part of that, great,” Edsall said of Rose’s return to UConn. “He did and he is back with us now. I put him on scholarship a week ago. I’m looking forward to having him out there competing.”

Rose, a quarterback at Southington, will try to earn playing time as a tight end beginning on July 29 when the first practice of summer/fall camp takes place.

Tight end is position of strength with the return of seniors Alec Bloom and Tommy Myers. Edsall, however, does have concerns as the first day of camp fast approaches.