University of Connecticut Athletics
Football Names D.J. Hernandez Starting Quarterback
8/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
STORRS, Conn. (August 17, 2006) – University of Connecticut head football coach Randy Edsall announced on Thursday that sophomore D.J. Hernandez (Bristol, Conn.) will be the Huskies’ starting quarterback for the team’s season-opener on August 31 against Rhode Island at Rentschler Field.
“After yesterday’s scrimmage and also the chance that we have had to evaluate the play of our quarterbacks last season and in the spring, it is clearly my opinion, and also that of our coaching staff, that D.J. should be our number one quarterback,” Edsall says. “He is the best choice to lead our team right now and I have the utmost of confidence in him and his abilities. I know that he will do a great job as a leader. His work ethic is indescribable and this is a quality that any successful quarterback must possess. I am confident that he can handle our offense and he has earned that right with his performance on and off of the field, where he has distanced himself from his competitors for the starting nod. After yesterday’s scrimmage, my mind is completely made up and it is time to just come out and announce this important piece of news.”
Hernandez played in seven games last fall with a pair of starts, while also missing some time with a broken wrist. He completed 46 of his 90 passes on the year for 515 yards with six touchdowns and one interception. Additionally, he gained 286 rushing yards on 64 carries. Hernandez had his finest performance of the year in a losing effort against No. 17 Louisville in the season finale on Dec. 3. Before a prime time ESPN audience with a bowl berth on the line, Hernandez completed 18-of-32 passes (56-percent) for 255 yards and three touchdowns without an interception for a 154.13 rating. He also led UConn in rushing against the Cardinals with his 49 yards and gained four first downs on the ground to accompany his 11 through the air. Hernandez saw his first significant action for UConn unexpectedly after Matt Bonislawski was injured against Syracuse, also before a prime time ESPN audience, on Oct. 7. Hernandez helped lead the Huskies to a 26-7 victory off of the bench, completing 50-percent of his passes while rushing for 86 yards and a touchdown.
A three-sport All-State pick at Bristol Central High School (football, basketball and baseball), Hernandez was the 2003 Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year on the gridiron. With his starting nod, 2006 will mark the fourth time in UConn’s five Division I-A seasons that a home-grown player has started at quarterback on opening day. Shelton’s Dan Orlovsky, now with the NFL’s Detroit Lions, was the opening day starter in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
The remainder of UConn’s depth chart for the URI game will be announced on August 22 following the team’s final scrimmage of the preseason camp, to be held on Monday evening at Rentschler Field.
Jahi Smith To End Playing Career
STORRS, Conn. (August 16, 2006) – Due to multiple concussions, University of Connecticut senior corner back Jahi Smith (Suitland, Md.) will no longer participate on the field with the Huskies, but will remain on scholarship and continue in his role as a team captain while finishing his degree in economics. After suffering a concussion in a recent practice, Smith’s decision to stop playing was reached earlier this week after consultation with his family, team physician Dr. Jeffrey Anderson and head coach Randy Edsall.
“I’m so very fortunate,” Smith said, reached at home in Suitland where he is preparing for the funeral of his brother, Eric Holland, who was tragically killed earlier this week. “So many people here only know this world (Suitland) but I am lucky to also have a second world in my football family at UConn to help at times like this. After God and family, getting my degree is my first priority and football is my second. Even if I won’t be playing, I can’t wait to rejoin the team.
“A lot of the players voted for me as a captain because of my character and that is why I was elected more so than for what I did on the field. I talk with my teammates all of the time about their personal issues and problems. They always come talk to me and I help get them through. I have to go back to them. I have to be a leader and I am looking forward to helping this team win any way that I can. When things like this happen (his brother and the concussions) you have to get some positives out of it. There’s no quitting. You have to deal with triumphs and disappointments the same and I am thankful for the opportunities that await me when I get back to Storrs.”
Smith played in 24 games during his UConn career, mostly on special teams but also as a reserve corner back. He recorded a total of 10 tackles, four of them solo. In high school he was an All-Metro selection by The Washington Post and an Honor Roll student at Suitland High School.
“Jahi has meant a lot to this football team throughout his career both on the field and off the field,” Edsall says. “His contribution on the field will be missed but he will continue in his captain’s role and help to lead this team throughout the year. This is an unfortunate situation but Jahi’s health and welfare is first and foremost in our minds. This was a decision that Jahi made after consulting with Dr. Anderson and came to this decision before the untimely death of his brother. These have been some tough times for Jahi and his family.”
