University of Connecticut Athletics
2001 University of Connecticut Football National Letter of Intent Signees
2/7/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
STORRS, CONNECTICUT (Feb. 7, 2001) -- University of Connecticut head football coach Randy Edsall announced Wednesday the signing of 23 student-athletes to 2001 National Letters of Intent for the sport of football. Wednesday was the first day that prospects were permitted to sign.
"I am extremely excited about these 23 student- athletes," said Edsall. "As we continue our upgrade at the Division I-A level, it is evident that people are taking notice of our football program and have substantial interest in the University of Connecticut, both in our state and across the nation."
Highlighting the group are seven student- athletes who played high school football in the state of Florida. UConn also signed five standouts from the state of Connecticut, four from Pennsylvania, three from New Jersey and one student-athlete each from the states of Georgia, Massachusetts, New York and Virginia.
"I thought our coaching staff did a tremendous job of identifying some terrific talent, both academically and athletically," Edsall continued. "We have a group of student-athletes who are going to be outstanding ambassadors for the University of Connecticut and its football program for the next four-to-five years. These young men also have a clear understanding of where we are as a program and where we hope to be in the very near future. They are excited about the challenges the future presents here at UConn "I think this is a group of players that has the ability to contribute immediately to the success of our football team," concluded Edsall. "We were able to improve our team at several key positions and improve our depth at other positions as well. And most importantly, we have a group of student- athletes that will help the University of Connecticut football program as it continues its progression toward membership in The Big East Football Conference. Many of these 23 student- athletes will be fifth-year performers for us in 2005, our first season as a full BIG EAST member. These players saw that opportunity to compete against the best competition in the country for the next four-to-five seasons and accepted it with great enthusiasm."
A complete listing of the 23 National Letter of Intent Signees, with height, weight, position, hometown and high school, can be found below:
2001 University of Connecticut Football National Letter of Intent Signees
| Name | Ht. | Wt. | Pos. | Hometown | High School/Junior College |
| Tony Atkinson | 6-0 | 200 | WR | Brunswick, GA | Brunswick HS/New Mexico Military Academy |
| Brendan Borowski | 6-5 | 303 | OL | Cherry Hill,NJ | Cherry Hill East HS |
| Ezra Carey | 6-0 | 178 | DB | Farmingdale, NJ | Neptune HS/Lackawanna JC |
| Alfred Fincher | 6-2 | 210 | LB | Norwood, MA | Norwood HS |
| John Fletcher | 5-9 | 170 | DB | Miami, FL | Miami Carol City Senior HS |
| Quanear Gaskins | 6-2 | 190 | WR | Aliquippa, PA | Alliquippa HS |
| Nick Graby | 6-4 | 270 | DL | Callicoon, NY | Delaware Valley HS/Lackawanna JC |
| Keith Harrison | 5-10 | 170 | DB | Camden, NJ | Woodrow Wilson HS |
| Mike Henry | 6-4 | 255 | OL | Miami, FL | Monsignor Edward Pace HS |
| Kinnan Herriott | 6-0 | 180 | DB | McKeesport, PA | McKeesport HS |
| Marlon Jones | 5-9 | 170 | DB | Jacksonville, FL | Ribault HS |
| Michael Kodish | 6-6 | 265 | OL | Coral Springs, FL | J.P. Taravella HS |
| Tim Lassen | 6-5 | 250 | TE | Cheshire, CT | Cheshire HS |
| Darius Leak | 6-2 | 235 | LB | Chesapeake, VA | Deep Creek HS |
| Derrick Lewis | 6-4 | 285 | OL | West Haven, CT | West Haven HS |
| Cory McKinney | 6-2 | 205 | ATH | DeLand, FL | DeLand HS |
| Deon McPhee | 6-4 | 260 | DL | Jacksonville, FL | The Bolles School |
| Dan Orlovsky | 6-5 | 220 | QB | Shelton, CT | Shelton HS |
| Grant Preston | 6-5 | 300 | OL | Mechanicsburg, PA | Mechanicsburg HS |
| Taurien Sowell | 6-2 | 210 | LB | Bridgeport, CT | Bridgeport Central |
| Jason Williams | 5-10 | 185 | WR | McKeesport, PA | McKeesport HS |
| Jermell Williams | 6-2 | 185 | QB | Hollywood, FL | McArthur HS |
| Justin Wolf | 6-4 | 230 | TE | Monroe, CT | Masuk HS |
Tony Atkinson
6-0, 200, WR, Brunswick, GA
High School: Brunswick HS/New Mexico Military Academy - Two year letter winner in football for coach John OMera - All Region, Voted WR MVP as a senior - Team also went to Empire Bowl game.
Personal Profile: Tony Atkinson - Born 01/05/80
Brendan Borowski
6-5, 303, OL, Cherry Hill, NJ
High School: Cherry Hill East - Three year letter winner in football for coach Charles Wood - First team All South Jersey, All Group Four, Team Captian as a senior.
Personal Profile: Brendan Borowski - Born 03/23/83
Ezra Carey
6-0, 178, DB, Farmingdale, NJ
High School: Neptune/Lackawanna JC - Two Year letter winner for coach Mark Duda - Two-time All Conference at Junior College - First team all Conference, First team All Monmouth County, All Shore Punt Returner, Two-time All conference Basketball -
Personal Profile: Ezra Carey - Born 09/16/81
Alfred Fincher
6-2, 210, LB, Norwood, MA
High School: Norwood - Three year letter winner for coach Walt Frazier - Bay State League All Star, Boston Globe/Herald All School, Gridiron Club of Mass, All State as a senior -
Personal Profile: Alfred Fincher - Born 08/15/83
John Fletcher
5-9,170, DB, Miami, FL
High School: Miami Carol City Senior - Named Honorable Mention First Team All-District as a senior... Totaled 20 tackles, 15 pass-break-ups and blocked two kicks.
Personal Profile: John Fletcher - Born 12/21/82
Quanear Gaskins
6-2,190, WR, Aliquippa, PA
High School: Aliquippa - Three year letter winner for coach Mike Zmijnanc - Two-time All conference, Two time All State honorable mention, Also Lettered in Basket ball for two years -
Personal Profile: Quanear Gaskins - Born 11/04/81
Nick Graby
6-4,270, DL, Callicoon, NY
High School: Delaware Valley/Lackawanna JC - Four year letter winner - Two year First team tri-county offense and defense, First team All State, JC First team All conference, Participated in NY State Governors Bowl and Golden Isles Bowl game.
Personal Profile: Nick Graby - Born 01/16/81
Keith Harrison
5-10, 170, DB, Camden, NJ
High School: Woodrow Wilson - Three year letter winner for Mike McBride - First team All South Jersey, NJ super 100 team, Participated in the NY/NJ Governors Bowl -
Personal Profile: Keith Harrison - Born 05/06/83
Mike Henry
6-4, 255, OL, Miami, FL
High School: Monsignor Edward Pace - Three year letter winner for coach Joe Zaccheo - First team All county, Second team All State, Participated in Nike All Star game -
Personal Profile: Mike Henry - Born 02/02/83
Kinnan Herriott
6-0,180, DB, McKeesport, PA
Enrolled at Connecticut in January of 2001 and will participate in winter workouts and spring practice. High School: McKeesport HS in McKeesport, PA...Three-year letterwinner in football for coach George Smith...Two-time All-Conference and Fabulous 22 pick... All-State selection as a Senior...Competed in Track and set a school record of 47 feet in the triple jump as a senior.
Personal Profile: Kinnan Herriott...Born 12/21/80.
Marlon Jones
5-9, 170, DB, Jacksonville, FL
High School: Ribault - Three year letter winner for coach Arthur Mallory - All First coast team, Third team All State, All Dixie team in Super Prep Magazine, District player of the year -
Personal Profile: Marlon Jones - Born 02/17/83
Michael Kodish
6-6, 265, OL, Coral Springs, FL High School: J.P. Taravella - Two year letter winner for coach Jack Michalak - Offensive lineman of the year for Taravella... Participated in Broward county All Star Game -
Personal Profile: Michael Kodish - Born 11/04/82
Tim Lassen
6-5, 250, TE, Cheshire, CT
Apple Valley Classic Defensive MVP, All League Offense, All Area, Second team All State Defensive end -
Personal Profile: Tim Lassen - Born 04/27/83
Darius Leak
6-2, 235, LB, Chesapeake, VA
High School: Deep Creek - Three year letter winner for coach David Cox - Two-time All District, Two- time All Region, Two-time All Tidewater, Second team all State -
Personal Profile: Darius Leak - Born 10/29/82
Derrick Lewis
6-4, 285, OL, West Haven, CT
High School: West Haven - Three year letter winner for coach Edward McCarthy - Two-time All Conference, Two-time All District, Two-time New Haven Register All State, Tom Lemmings All North- East team, All America Honorable mention.
Personal Profile: Derrick Lewis - Born 06/02/82
Cory McKinney
6-2, 205, ATH, DeLand, FL
High School; DeLand - Three year letter winner for coach Wade Rollerson - Two-time First team All Area, All Conference, First team All County, First team All State, Honorable mention Golden helmet Award -
Personal Profile: Cory McKinney - Born 10/12/80
Deon McPhee
6-4, 260, DL, Jacksonville, FL
High School: The Bolles School - Two year letter winner for coach Corky Rogers - Athlete of the year, Big man quarter 400 meter winner -
Personal Profile: Deon McPhee - Born 12/27/81
Dan Orlovsky
6-5, 220, QB, Shelton , CT
High School: Shelton - Three year letter winner for coach Joe Benanto - Tom Lemming All American, Superprep All American, Prep Star All American, Heisman TRI State All State QB, Connecticut player of the year, New Haven Register player of the year, Hartford Courant All State, Connecticut McHugh Award winner MVP of LL.
Personal Profile: Dan Orlovsky - Born 08/18/83
Grant Preston
6-5, 300, OL, Mechanicsburg, PA
High School: Mechanicsburg - Three year letter winner for coach Rich Lichtel - Two-time All Conference, Two-time first team All Sentinel, Top 100 Mid State Player, Big 33 candidate
Personal Profile: Grant Preston - Born 05/05/82
Taurien Sowell
6-2, 210, LB, Bridgeport, CT
High School: Bridgeport Central - Four year letter winner for coach Dave Cadelina - All State, First Team FCIAC, All Connecticut Post
Personal Profile: Taurien Sowell - Born 06/29/83
Jason Williams
5-10, 185, WR, McKeesport,PA
High School: McKeesport - Three year letter winner for coach George Smith - First team All Conference, First team All District, 4 By 100 state champs - Big 33 Finalist.
Personal Profile: Jason Williams - Born 09/08/81
Jermell Williams
6-2, 185, QB, Hollywood , FL
High School: McArthur - Four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at quarterback... Three-time First Team All-Digest performer... Starting QB in the 2000 Broward County All-Star game and 2001 Broward-Dade All-Star game... Holds school records for TD passes (six) and yards (397) in a game... Had 2000 passing yards and 18 TDs as a senior, 4,500 yards and 46 TDs in his career.
Personal Profile: Jermell Williams - Born 12/24/82
Justin Wolf
6-4, 230, TE, Monroe, CT
High School: Masuk - Three year letter winner for coach Joe Murphy... Had 16 catches and four TDs in only seven games as a senior... Added 50 tackles and seven sacks while averaging 44 yards per punt... As a junior, had nine TD catches and 12 sacks.
Personal Profile: Justin Wolf - Born 12/08/82.
