University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Signs 27 to National Letters of Intent
2/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
February 4, 2004
STORRS, CONN. - University of Connecticut head football coach Randy Edsall announced on Wednesday that the Huskies have signed 27 student-athletes to a National Letter of Intent to join the UConn program.
"I’m very satisfied with this signing class," Edsall says. "These are outstanding young men who will come in here, enhance our program, and allow us to continue to get better. There’s players at every position and we filled all of the things that we were looking for. I think we got a lot of individuals who have a great work ethic, good character and want to graduate. Those certain traits are always high on our list when we’re recruiting. I think this group of people will fit right in with the ones that we already have here on our campus. Plus, football is very important to them and that is something that you always look for."
The Huskies went 9-3 during the 2003 season, only the program’s second at a Division I-A level with a full compliment of scholarships. UConn finished the season ranked in the national top 10 in both passing offense and total offense and riding a five-game winning streak which is the fifth longest active streak in the country. UConn was one of only 12 teams to beat squads from three different BCS Conferences (ACC, Big Ten, BIG EAST) during the 2003 regular season and ended the campaign with an exclamation point, beating Wake Forest, 55-17, in Winston-Salem. UConn did not go unrecognized for its dramatic improvement as the Huskies saw the nation’s largest attendance increase, making a jump of 21,252 fans per game at Rentschler Field from the school’s 2002 total. The Huskies, who will begin play in the BIG EAST Conference this fall, have won 13 of their last 16 games. UConn’s nine victories in 2003 were the second most of any current or future BIG EAST team, trailing only Miami’s 11.
The following is a full signee roster and short biography of each:
PLAYER POS. HT. WT. HOMETOWN / HIGH SCHOOL RB 6-0 215 Salem, CT / East Lyme DT 6-1 270 Bethlehem, PA / Fork Union Military DL 6-6 265 York, PA / William Penn DB 5-11 190 Cicero, NY / Cicero-North Syracuse TE 6-3 220 Selinsgrove, PA / Selinsgrove DB 5-10 170 Tamarac, FL / Coral Springs Charter PK 6-3 215 Boca Raton, FL / Boca Raton DL 6-2 250 Plainfield, NJ / Plainfield DB 6-1 180 East Hartford, CT / East Catholic WR 6-3 175 Windsor, CT / Windsor WR 6-2 175 Tallahassee, FL / Godby TE 6-5 225 Pepperell, MA / Bishop Guertin (NH) DL 6-2 240 Worcester, MA / Doherty QB 6-1 190 Bristol, CT / Bristol Central P 5-10 185 Plantation, FL / American Heritage OL 6-2 265 Palatka, FL / Palatka DL 6-4 252 Penfield, NY / Penfield Central LB 6-2 210 Norwich, CT / Fitch WR 5-10 175 New Haven, CT / Hyde Leadership LB 6-2 205 Camp Hill, PA / Maine Central Institute TB 5-7 170 Fort Lauderdale, FL / Glades Day LB 6-4 195 Willingboro, NJ / Willingboro DB 6-0 180 Ansonia, CT / Ansonia OL 6-3 285 Waldorf, MD / Westlake DL 6-4 245 Rochester, PA / Rochester LB 6-2 230 Decatur, GA / Towers OL 6-5 295 Lawrenceville, GA / Brookwood– Named second-team All-State by the New Haven Register in 2003 and earned first-team mention All-State recognition from the Hartford Courant in 2003...The 2003 New London Day Player of the Year...Also earned a spot on the coaches’ All-State team as a senior...Twice named All-Area and All-Division...Rushed for a conference record 2,007 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior after racking up 1,350 rushing yards and 21 TDs as a junior...Helped the Vikings to the 2003 state class MM championship, rushing 32 times for 147 yards in the final after a 213-yard rushing performance in the semifinal that included a 99-yard touchdown scamper...Named the MVP of the 2003 Class MM Championship Game...Earned first-team All-Conference honors in track as well...Parents, Lou and Kathy are both UConn graduates with his father playing tailback for the Huskies from 1971-73, gaining 600 yards on 193 career carries with nine touchdowns.
– Pronounced OFF-ah on-oh-wah-hee...Played at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia for the 2003-04 academic year...At Freedom High School, was selected for the 2003 U.S. Army All-American Game at the Alamodome in San Antonio…Named all-state as a senior and was a three-time All-Area pick on the defensive line by both the Allentown Morning Call and the Easton Express Times…Named first-team All-Region by PrepStar…Also a three-time all-conference pick…A three-year starter and team captain as a senior…Also played fullback…Made 214 career tackles at Freedom, including 23 sacks and 34 total tackles for loss while also recovering 12 fumbles...Father, Afa, and uncle, Sika, formed the three-time WWE tag-team champion “Wild Samoans,” while cousin, Dwayne Johnson, played football at Miami from 1992-94 and currently wrestles in the WWE as “The Rock.”
– Pronounced bee-tee...A first-team All-County football pick on both offense and defense...Played defensive end, defensive tackle, offensive tackle and tight end during his career at William Penn...Team captain...Earned a combined seven varsity letters in football, basketball and track...Played center in basketball...An honor roll student and member of the Future Leaders of America...Parents are both Pastors.
– Earned second-team All-State honors...Named second-team All-Central New York and second-team All-Area...Saw action at both tailback and outside linebacker for the Northstars...Named the Gatorade New York State Track Athlete of the Year as a junior...Has run a 10.88 in the 100 meters.
– Was twice named 3A All-State in Pennsylvania, once at linebacker and once as an athlete, and also made the Academic All-State team as a senior...A two time All-Conference and Sunbury Daily Item All-Anthracite Area pick...The Daily Item’s Player of the Year...Named to the WNEP Super 16 Dream Team for the Scranton Area...Carried the ball 102 times as a senior for 775 yards with 14 touchdowns, while catching 24 passes for 459 yards and seven TDs...As a junior, had 148 carries for 842 yards with 10 touchdowns while making 43 catches for 534 yards and three touchdowns...A two-time team captain...Member of the National Honor Society since his sophomore year...Brother, Matt, is a starting offensive tackle at Youngstown State.
– The first student-athlete to ever sign a national letter of intent from five year old Coral Spring Charter...Listed amongst the top 20 recruits in talent-rich Broward County by the Miami Herald despite not playing football until his junior year...Named All-County by both the Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel...An honorable mention All-State selection...Playing quarterback in an option offense, he both rushed and passed for over 1,000 yards in 2003 while also starting at safety on defense...Totaled 2,491 total yards as a senior and was responsible for 25 touchdowns...Finished third in Broward County in rushing yards in 2003 and was second in completions, attempts and passing yards...Selected for the Dade-Broward All Star Game...Team captain...Named preseason All-County this year in basketball and has scored over 1,000 career points.
– Pronounced chur-ah-vee-no...Named second-team All-State at the 4A level while garnering All-County and All-Conference honors...Received the 2003 Lou Groza Award as the best high school place kicker in Palm Beach County...Played in the Outback Bowl’s high school All Star Game...Led Palm Beach County in field goals made as a senior, including six of 40 yards or longer with his career-long coming from 50...Was also 41-of-43 on extra point attempts and successfully converted three onside kicks...Member of Boca Raton’s Honor Roll.
– Ranked amongst the top 20 prospects in New Jersey...Named first team All-State by the Newark Star Ledger and also garnered All-County, All-Area and All-Conference recognition as a senior...Davis led a defense that was dominant enough to post a 7-3 record and earn a state playoff berth despite having an offense that scored more than two touchdowns in a game just once during the 2003 season...Made 95 tackles in 2003, including 25 TFLs and 13 sacks...Team captain.
– Pronounced DAY-na...Named second-team All-State by the New Haven Register and earned honorable mention All-State recognition from the Hartford Courant...A two-time All-Conference pick at running back...Helped the Eagles to an 11-0 regular season mark in 2003 and a trip to the class L state semifinals...Scored 14 touchdowns his junior year...Ran a 6.54 in the 55 meters to place fourth at the 2003 New England Indoor Track and Field Championships...Is also East Catholic’s starting center fielder and leadoff batter.
– Pronounced knaw-liss dew-er...Named first-team All-State by the New Haven Register and earned honorable mention All-State recognition from the Hartford Courant...Helped Windsor to a 10-3 record in 2002 and a trip to the state class L final followed by a 9-3 record in 2003 and the state semifinals...Had 60 receptions in his career for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns...A three-year letterwinner and team captain as a senior who also earned two letters in track and has cleared 6’4" in the high jump...Honor roll student and chairman of the student government.
– Pronounced GAUL-den...An All-District selection who was also named All-Big Bend by the Tallahassee Democrat...Caught 48 passes for 700 yards and three touchdowns as a senior when he was an All-Conference selection...The biggest of his 48 catches in 2003 was on a 44-yard "Hail Mary" pass to give Godby a last second win over regional No. 1-seed Milton in the opening round of the state playoffs...Team captain as a senior...Placed third in the state for 3A by clearing 6’8" in the high jump, and was district champion the long jump, for the Godby track and field team.
– Pronounced get-eck...Named first team All-State and All-Area at Bishop Guertin...Played in the Shrine-Maple Sugar Bowl between New Hampshire and Vermont All Stars...Made 30 receptions for 400 yards as a senior after grabbing 24 passes his junior year for 350 yards...A team captain in both football and basketball.
– Will join the program in January, 2005 and attend prep school this upcoming fall...Named first-team All-State as a senior and earned Worcester Inner City All Star accolades...Credited with 107 total tackles his senior year, causing six fumbles and recovering nine, one of them for a touchdown...Made 24 career sacks.
– 2003 Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year who was nominated for the Army All-American Game...Named first-team All-State by the New Haven Register as a senior and also named to the Hartford Courant’s All-State team...Rated as one of the top 10 prospects in New England...The first player in state history to both rush and throw for over 3,000 yards in his career, gaining 3,116 yards and 45 touchdowns on the ground and 3,114 yards and 31 TDs through the air...As a junior became the first Bristol quarterback to gain over 1,000 yards rushing (1,599) and passing (1,302) in the same season, while also lending a hand in a combined 34 touchdowns (19 rushing and 15 passing)...Spent his first two seasons at Bristol Central as a wide receiver...Also a stand-out basketball player, helping guide Bristol Central to the 2003 state class LL championship, averaging 20 points per game and earning All-State honors in the process...Named All-Conference in baseball after batting .368 last spring...Will graduate in May with 10 varsity letters (four in football, three each in basketball and baseball)...Team captain in both football and basketball...Honors student...Father, Dennis, lettered at UConn in 1976 as a defensive back and his uncle, David, also played at UConn before transferring to Louisville.
– Pronounced hoo-SAR...Averaged 40.9 yards net and 44 yards gross last fall for American Heritage...Was a starting linebacker and also played fullback...A versatile athlete, was a regional wrestling semifinalist in the 189 pound weight class and was a regional finalist in the discus throw...Won the school’s Patriot Award in wrestling his junior year and was the football MVP as a freshman and sophomore...Member of the National Honor Society...Also a student pilot.
– Named to the Class 3A All-State team in 2003...Also named All-First Coast, All-Putnam County and All-District...Helped the Panthers to three state playoff appearances and a district championship in 2003...Palatka was ranked No. 1 in the state for 3A during the 2003 season before finishing at 9-2...Alternated between guard and tackle on offense and played some defensive tackle too...Appearing as a DT, made seven tackles, including three for a loss, in the state’s annual Shrine Bowl...A three-year starter...Earned a total of 11 varsity letters in football, wrestling, weight lifting and track...Team captain in both football and wrestling...Plans to study chemical engineering at UConn and maintains a 3.7 GPA at Palatka where he was voted most likely to success by his fellow seniors and the faculty.
– Named second-team All-State and first-team All-Greater Rochester...The Co-Player of the Year in Section 5...Set a school record with his 14 sacks in 2003 while also contributing 76 tackles and three blocked kicks...Also served as a long snapper at Penfield Central...Was a team captain in football and lacrosse.
– Named All-State as a junior...Played his final year at Fitch after beginning his high school career at Stonigton...Led Stonigton in rushing during his sophomore and junior years, amassing 1,413 yards as a junior...Missed half of the 2003 season with a knee injury.
– Named second-team All-State by the New Haven Register in 2003 after receiving honorable mention honors as a junior...Earned honorable mention All-State recognition from the Hartford Courant in 2003...A two-time All-Conference selection...Had 21 receptions for 386 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior while averaging 36 yards per punt return and making six interceptions as a free safety...Helped Hyde Leadership to an 11-1 record in 2002 and a 10-2 record in 2003 along with a pair of trips to the state class S semifinals...Ranks second in Hyde history in scoring and receiving yardage...Also excels in track where he runs sprints and placed fourth in New England in the long jump, surpassing 22 feet...A two-time All-State selection in outdoor track...Team captain in football.
– Spent this past fall at Maine Central Institute where he earned first team All Star honors on both offense and defense from the Kenebec Journal...One of three finalists for conference MVP honors...Was named second-team All-State as a linebacker at Trinity and twice earned All-Mid-Penn recognition...Played for Trinity’s Class 2A Pennsylvania Championship basketball team in 2003...A versatile athlete, was a member of Trinity’s state finalist 4x400 relay team, a Mid-Penn finalist in the 100 meters, 200 meters, high jump and long jump while setting school records in the long jump and as a part of the 4x400 relay.
– Finished fourth in Florida’s Mr. Football award after earning Class A Player of the Year accolades...Twice earned All-State and All-Area honors...Made the Treasure Coast All Star Team...Led the area in rushing in 2003 with 1,774 yards and 28 touchdowns...A dangerous returner, averaged 43.9 yards per kickoff return and 12.4 yards per punt return in 2003 while also making 35 tackles as a cornerback...Helped the Gators advance to the state Class A semifinals...Playing up a division against state 2A ranked Clewiston during the 2003 regular season, he rushed for 232 yards and two touchdowns, one of them an 84-yard game-winner...Team captain...Team MVP in football and basketball.
– Pronounced toe-dell...Was named All South Jersey for group three and earned first-team All-Olympic Conference accolades...Played at the same high school as current Husky tailback Cornell Brockington.
– Named the state of Connecticut’s Player of the Year by the New Haven Register and was also named first-team All-State by the Register...Named to the Hartford Courant’s All-State team as a quarterback...Named All-State each of the past three years...Rated as one of the top 10 prospects in New England...Selected as a Tri-State All Star by MSG TV...Three times named All-Conference...A key player on Ansonia’s 2002 and 2003 undefeated state class S championship teams, rushing for 218 yards and two touchdowns in this past fall’s 55-0 title game win over Cromwell. Also threw a TD pass in the win over Cromwell...In the team’s 2002 state title game win over Notre Dame-Fairfield, Tinney had a rushing touchdown, an interception return TD and a pair of two-point conversion runs to nab game MVP honors, on the heels of a 10-carry, 212-yard, three TD performance, all in the first half, of the team’s semifinal win over Immaculate...Team captain.
– A consensus All-State pick in Maryland as a senior...Named first-team All-Metro by the Washington Post while also earning All-Conference recognition and a spot on George Michael’s Golden 11 All Star team...A three-time All-Conference honoree...As a senior, played on every Westlake snap except for kickoffs...As a defensive lineman, recorded 75 tackles as a senior including 28 for a loss with seven sacks while recording a total of 183 career tackles with 71 for a loss and 18 sacks, deflecting 14 passes and intercepting one...Saw action at Westlake as a center, guard and tackle on offense while also playing defensive tackle and long snapping...Served as a team captain as both a junior and senior...Team went 10-2 in 2003 and ranked 20th in the Washington Post’s Top 20...A three-time Scholar Athlete Award recipient.
– Earned All-State accolades as a senior...Helped the Rams to the WPIAL Class A titles his freshman through junior seasons before falling in the 2003 Western Pa. semifinals...A three-time All-Big Seven pick, earning awards on both offense and defense as a tight end and a defensive end...Was twice named All-Class A by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review...Had 68 tackles and 13 sacks as a senior and finished his career with 186 tackles, 27 sacks and five fumble recoveries...A three-year starter at Rochester...Also an All-Conference basketball player at Rochester...Team captain in both football and basketball.
– Named Defensive Player of the Month three times in DeKalb County and five times was Defensive Player of the Week in the state of Georgia at the 3A level...Made 309 career tackles in 30 games with 46 sacks...Team captain...Earned seven varsity letters in football, basketball and track.
– Named a Class 5A All-County selection who was ranked as one of the top 100 players overall in Georgia….Selected to play in the Down Under Bowl in Australia….Helped the Broncos to a 9-2 season and was a solid contributor in ending rival Parkview’s 46-game winning streak, in USA Today’s High School game of the week...That game avenged a loss to Parkview in the 2002 5A State Championship Game at the Georgia Dome...Named the Brookwood Touchdown Club’s Offensive Player of the Week…Senior Appreciation Award recipient...A four year letter winner in football and a three year letter winner in track as a discus thrower...Honors student.
