University of Connecticut Athletics
Six Huskies Named All-BIG EAST
12/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
STORRS, CONN. (December 1, 2004) – Six University of Connecticut football players received All-BIG EAST Conference recognition on Wednesday in a vote of the league’s seven coaches. Cornell Brockington (Willingboro, N.J.), Alfred Fincher (Norwood, Mass.) and Justin Perkins (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) made the first team while Ryan Krug (Pine Beach, N.J.), Maurice Lloyd (Daytona Beach, Fla.) and Matt Nuzie (Trumbull, Conn.) made the second team.
Brockington led the conference in rushing this year with 1,146 yards, (104.2 per game), also ranking him 20th in the nation. In his six BIG EAST contests, Brockington averaged 156.0 all purpose yards per game and scored a total of eight touchdowns.
Fincher led the BIG EAST in tackles with 131 this season while his average of 11.9 per game tied him for fifth in the nation. Fincher tied for sixth in the league, and second amongst linebackers, with 12 tackles for loss while his five forced fumbles tied fellow first-team selection Diamond Ferri of Syracuse for the conference high. He played some of his best games in BIG EAST action, making a career high 21 tackles against West Virginia and 17 more against Pittsburgh, earning BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week recognition.
Perkins intercepted four passes on the season to tie for third in the BIG EAST while tying for the conference lead with 15 passes defended. Perkins returned two of his interceptions for touchdowns, setting both a UConn seasonal and career record in the process. Perkins is one of just six players in the nation this fall to have multiple interception return touchdowns.
Krug is the anchor piece of a steady UConn offensive line that helped the team rank first in the league in total offense (17th nationally) and second in both passing and scoring offense. A senior, Krug has started 43 games in the trenches during his Husky career.
Lloyd ranked third in the conference with 99 total tackles and is fourth in the BIG EAST with his average of 9.0 stops per game. Lloyd also contributed 8.5 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and an interception to UConn’s defensive efforts in 2004.
Nuzie finished second in the league in field goals, and tied for 13th nationally, by averaging 1.45 per game. His 16 successful kicks rank one shy of equalling the school record. The semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award was named the BIG EAST’s Special Teams Player of the Week after UConn’s win over Pittsburgh when he made three field goals, including a critical 49-yard boot just before halftime.
UConn will return to action on Dec. 27 when the Huskies play in the program’s first ever bowl game. UConn will take on the yet to be crowned Mid-American Conference champion in the Motor City Bowl at Detroit’s Ford Field. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. on ESPN. For more information on the game, go to UConnBowl.com.
