University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Utah State
UConn Football Starts New Era At Utah State
8/25/2022 8:44:00 PM | Football
Huskies Prepare For Tough Test
UConn Athletic Communications / Aug. 25, 2022
TV: Fox Sports 1
Radio: UConn Sports Network from Learfield - ESPN 97.9
Live Stats: UtahStateAggies.com
Game Notes: UConn Utah State
STORRS – As UConn football gets ready to launch the Coach Jim Mora Era for real Saturday afternoon at Utah State (4 p.m., FS1), there is understandable excitement surrounding the new season, the new coaching staff, and new energy.
But when one team kicks the ball off at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium, all that will be put aside and there is a college football game to be played. And UConn is well-aware that it is not making its debut against an easy opponent.
"We know the challenges that face us, especially this week, with a top 25 team, coming off an 11-3 year, returning a quarterback who's really good, a defense that plays hard, plays fast, plays physical, traveling across the country as a 27-point underdog," UConn coach Jim Mora said. "But we're up for it, we're looking forward to it. We can't promise anything but a group of kids who will go out and play their best. I'm looking forward to seeing them go out and get what they've earned – a chance to compete."
Mora and his staff have watched enough film of Utah State to know all about the Aggies. USU, which is receiving votes in both national preseason polls, is 12-1 in its last 13 home openers.
Utah State returns seven starters on offense, including graduate senior quarterback Logan Bonner, who has started every game for the Aggies for the past two seasons. He passed for 3,628 yards with 36 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions last season. Also returning is grad senior running back Calvin Tyler Jr., who gained 884 yards and scored 7 TDs.
"I think he's got really good arm talent," Mora said about the Utah State QB. "When he rolls to his left, which you would think would be a weakness, he can zing it in there. And he can throw the deep ball going to his left, too. I think he's smart in his reads – he gets them into the right play, or out of the wrong play. They stay so balanced with their run-pass that it makes it hard to guess with them."
UConn's offense has one advantage – that Utah State has no film to look at from last year to chart the Huskies' tendencies. Of the four UConn quarterbacks – Ta'Quan Roberson, Tyler Phommachanh, Zion Turner and Cale Millen – only Phommachanh played at UConn last season and he was injured and lost for the season after three games.
UConn's top running back, sophomore Nate Carter, who gained 578 yards last year, and leading receiver, sophomore Keelan Marion, who had 474 receiving yards, are back for the Huskies.
"Defensively, they bring a lot of pressure, a lot of movement," UConn offensive coordinator Nick Charlton said of Utah State. "They are very physical up front. We know they are going to be aggressive with us, so we have been preparing for that. We keep stressing to our guys how physical this game is going to be."
It will be the second straight season that UConn has opened the season on the road in Week Zero against an opponent from the Mountain West, bowing at Fresno State last year. The Huskies have yet to defeat a Mountain West opponent in five tries.
"I have a feeling of what we are, but I really need to see us roll it out there and play," Mora said. "This is going to be a fantastic indicator of where we truly are. I do think our players have really embraced what we want to become as a football team."
