University of Connecticut Athletics
2001 Spring Preview
3/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Heading into year two of Division I-A competition, third-year head coach Randy Edsall and his staff have plenty of questions about who will make up the nucleus of the Connecticut Football roster for the 2001 season. And it is during the 15 days of spring practice 2001 that those answers will begin to materialize. With several key performers returning from injury and a slew of youngsters looking to make a first impression, this year's spring practice proves to be as competitive and spirited as any in the country.
OFFENSIVELY, most talk begins and ends with the health of senior quarterback Ryan Tracey. While Tracey is expected to be limited during the spring as he continues his recovery from major knee surgery, there will still be plenty of interest in the position as his potential back-ups fight it out. Junior Chris Willis played respectably at the end of the 2000 season despite very limited experience and is the front runner entering spring for the back-up spot. Husky football followers also will watch with interest the play of redshirt freshman Keron Henry, who gave the defense fits as a scout teamer a year ago.
The tailback position is one with five qualified candidates, all possessing the potential to be the starter come September 1. Senior Taber Small is a workhorse and is one of the most prolific scorers UConn has ever had at the position. He is the front runner on experience alone. Sophomores Evan Benson, Chandler Poole and Jason Dellaselva all saw bits and pieces of playing time in 2000 and each showed the ability to take over the starting spot. Redshirt freshman Chris Bellamy is the fifth member of the group and is a player who will get a good hard look during spring ball.
The fullback spot will be manned by sophomore Terry McClowry and redshirt freshman Justin Spence. The position has a limited role in the Husky offense, but with solid play from either or both of the players, that role could expand.
The tight end position will be one which features a pair of talented and experienced performers, senior Rashad Drayton and junior Tommy Collins. Both have been hampered by injuries over the past two seasons, but, if healthy, will have a major role in the 2001 Husky offense.
The wide receiver position is as inexperienced as it has been in many seasons, but don't confuse lack of experience with lack of talent or speed. This is a group that has speed to burn. Headlining the returnees is junior Wes Timko, a two-year starter and legitimate deep threat. He will be joined at the split end spot by senior Ayo Sorrells and sophomore O'Neil Wilson. The coaches will look for some consistency out of Sorrells and like the size and speed of Wilson. At the flanker spot, sophomore Cliff Hill returns after a solid first season of playing time. He will be joined by a pair of redshirt freshman with tremendous promise. Matt Cutaia is the fastest Husky on the roster, while Jasen Ridley has a good mix of size and speed. Both players will be factors in the receiver rotation.
The Husky offensive line also lacks much of the experience that it has featured in past seasons, but finally may have some of the talented depth that it has been lacking. Senior C.J. Hessel and junior Steve Cully each started all 11 games in 2000 at the tackle spots and return as the anchors of the unit. Sophomore Laurence Oliver was impressive in playing time at the end of the 2000 season and will take over the left guard spot. At right guard, redshirt freshman LeAndre Dupree is healthy and ready to contribute after nearly breaking into the lineup a year ago. Redshirt freshman Brian Markowski was another player who would have played a year ago if not for injury and he will man the center spot. Sophomore Ed Injaychock and redshirt freshmen Ryan Krug, Billy Irwin and Bill Chester will all be in the mix for playing time and see plenty of opportunity this spring.
DEFENSIVELY, a new defensive coordinator will bring a new look and new energy to the unit, while the return of some key performers from injury will also provide a much-needed boost.
The secondary will welcome the return of junior corner Roy Hopkins. Hopkins is a two-year starter who suffered a season ending knee injury in the first quarter of 2000. Senior Carl Bradford will man the other corner spot, with junior Dwaun Black and redshirt freshman Justin Perkins as back-ups at the corners. The free safety position will have a pair of sophomores, Terrance Smith and Chris Meyer, who both were starters as true freshmen in 2000. At strong safety, sophomore Trenton Jones was a starter a year ago and is joined by freshman Kinnan Herriott, an impressive newcomer who joined the squad in January.
Junior Jamal Lundy returns to take over a new position in the UConn defense, the Husky, which is a hybrid of the safety and linebacker positions. Junior Robert Randall will also see time at that spot.
The linebacking unit returns four other experienced performers, led by junior Razul Wallace. Wallace comes off a standout sophomore season and will hold down the middle backer position. Senior Jamie Lenkaitis will return from a knee injury and senior Justin Cook filled a starting role for part of the 2000 season as well. At the weak side linebacker position, senior Kamari Stroman is a two-year starter who returns.
Another new hybrid position for the Husky defense will be the Bandit position. Junior Uyi Osunde will take over this spot, a cross between an outside linebacker and a rush end. Redshirt freshman Tyler King will also compete for playing time at this new position.
As for the rest of the defensive line, junior Greg Smoot is a two-year starter who will anchor the unit from one tackle spot. Sophomores Sean Mulcahy and Chris Clarke will be at the other tackle spot, although Clarke may miss most of spring practice due to injury. At the defensive end spot, junior Hakeem Kashama is not completely recovered from a season ending knee injury, but is backed up by redshirt freshman Ryan Bushey, a talented transfer from Auburn who sat out the 2000 season. Sophomore Ken Wilson and redshirt freshman Warren Spivey will both also be in the mix for playing time among the front four.
The kicking position appears solid for the next few seasons with the return of junior kicker Geoff Heyl and sophomore punter Adam Coles. Both had solid 2000 seasons and should give the Husky kicking game the stability it has been lacking for the past several seasons.
LETTERMEN RETURNING (36)
OFFENSE (15)-- Benson, Collins, Cully, Dellaselva, Drayton, Hessel, Hill, McClowry, Oliver, Poole, Small, Sorrells, W. Timko, Tracey, Willis DEFENSE (18)-- Black, Bradford, Clarke, Cook, Hopkins, Jackson, Jones, Kashama, Lenkaitis, Lundy, Meyer, Mulcahy, Osunde, Randall, Smith, Smoot, Stroman, Wallace SPECIALISTS (3)-- Coles, Heyl, Hickok
LETTERMEN LOST (15)
OFFENSE (7)-- Campoli, Darby, Deignan, Derfuss, Fitzsimmons, O'Connor, Richmond DEFENSE (7)-- Dixon, Freeland, Jumpp, Neumann, R. Timko, Wilkins, Ziccardi SPECIALISTS (1)-- Cammuso
STARTERS RETURNING (21)refers to any individual who started more than 50% of games played in 2000 or 50% of career appearancesOFFENSE (8)Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. Key StatisticsTommy Collins Jr. FB 6-3 242 Caught three TD passes in '00Steve Cully Jr. OL 6-4 288 Started all 11 games in '00Rashad Drayton Sr. TE 6-4 255 35 catches over past two seasonsC.J. Hessel Sr. OL 6-4 285 14 career starts, 11 in '00Cliff Hill So. WR 5-11 170 29 catches in '00Taber Small Sr. TB 5-9 193 22 career rushing TD'sWes Timko Jr. WR 6-3 185 Two-year starter with 31 catchesRyan Tracey Sr. QB 6-3 223 15 TD's in eight gms. in '00DEFENSE (11)Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. Key StatisticsCarl Bradford Sr. DB 5-8 176 35 career games playedRoy Hopkins Jr. DB 5-9 175 Missed '00 with knee injuryHakeem Kashama Jr. DL 6-3 259 Started seven games in '00Jamal Lundy Jr. DB 5-11 212 Leading tackler in '00; All-ECACChris Meyer So. DB 6-0 187 Started five games in '00 as froshSean Mulcahy So. DL 6-6 246 Started six games in '00 as froshUyi Osunde Jr. LB 6-4 235 135 tackles, 13 starts in two seasonsTerrance Smith So. DB 5-10 185 Started seven games in '00 as froshGreg Smoot Jr. DL 6-3 267 21 starts in two seasons on DLKamari Stroman Sr. LB 5-11 205 35 career games playedRazul Wallace Jr. LB 6-1 221 School record for TFL in '00SPECIALISTS (2)Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. Key StatisticsAdam Coles So. P 6-5 225 40.5 avg as frosh in '00Geoff Heyl Jr. PK 5-9 160 10-16 FG, 22-24 PAT in '00STARTERS LOST (7)OFFENSE (4)Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Key StatisticsMark Campoli OL 6-4 295 21 starts in past two seasonsSteve Darby OL 6-3 264 Started all 11 games in '00Corey Derfuss OL 6-3 288 34 starts in past three seasonsJohn Fitzsimmons WR 6-3 208 No. 2 receiver in UConn historyDEFENSE (3)Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Key StatisticsRonel Jumpp DL 6-0 257 46 career games playedRyan Timko DL 6-1 275 14 starts in past two seasonsJamar Wilkins DL 6-3 242 45 career games playedSPECIALISTS (0)KEY NEWCOMERSName Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. HometownEzra Carey Jr. DB 6-0 178 Farmingdale, NJ/Lackawanna JCJohn Fletcher Fr. DB 5-9 170 Miami, FLNick Graby Jr. DL 6-4 270 Callicoon, NYCory McKinney Fr. DB 6-2 205 DeLand, FLDeon McPhee Fr. DL 6-4 260 Jacksonville, FLDan Orlovsky Fr. QB 6-5 220 Shelton, CTGrant Preston Fr. OL 6-5 300 Mechanicsburg, PAJason Williams Fr. WR 5-10 185 McKeesport, PAJustin Wolf Fr. TE 6-4 230 Monroe, CT
