A BOWL TRADITION: TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL - JAN. 1, 2011 - GLENDALE, ARIZONA PAPAJOHNS.COM BOWL - JAN. 2, 2010 - BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA INTERNATIONAL BOWL - JAN. 3, 2009 - TORONTO, ONTARIO MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL - DEC. 29, 2007 - CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA MOTOR CITY BOWL - DEC. 27, 2004 - DETROIT, MICHIGAN UConn 2012 Spring Prospectus Quick Facts 2012 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE Location: ...........................................................Storrs, Conn. SUN. MON. TUE. WED. THU. FRI. SAT. Founded: ........................................................................ 1881 Enrollment: ......................30,525 (17,815 Storrs undergrad) Mar. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 President: ................................................... Dr. Susan Herbst Director of Athletics: ....................................Warde Manuel Practice Practice Practice Nicknames: .................................................Huskies, UConn #1 #2 #3 Colors: ................................... National Flag Blue and White 3:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 10:15 a.m. Conference: .......................................................... BIG EAST Website: .................................................UConnHuskies.com 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Stadium: ....................................................... Rentschler Field Capacity: ..................................................................... 40,000 Practice Practice Practice Surface: ............................................................. Natural Grass #4 #5 #6 3:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. Team Information Apr. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Head Coach: ............................................... Paul Pasqualoni Practice Practice Practice Alma Mater: ................................................. Penn State, ‘72 #7 #8 #9 Record At UConn: ......................................................... 5-7 3:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 10:15 a.m. Overall Collegiate Record: .............. 140-79-1 (20 seasons) Offensive System: .................................................. Multiple 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Defensive System: .......................................................... 4-3 2011 Record: .................................................... 5-7, 3-4 BE Practice Practice Practice Starters Ret./Lost: ........................................................ 15/9 #10 #11 #12 Lettermen Ret./Lost: .................................................. 30/19 3:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 10:15 a.m. FB Office Phone: ...................................... (860) 486-2718 FB Office Fax: ........................................... (860) 486-2197 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Practice Practice Prac. #15 Assistant Coaches: #13 #14 Spring Game 3:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. GEORGE DeLEONE: Offensive Coordinator, Offensive Line DON BROWN: Defensive Coordinator, Cornerbacks CLAYTON WHITE: Special Team Coordinator, Running Backs HANK HUGHES: Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Line MATT CERSOSIMO: Wide Receivers, Recruiting Coordinator Spring Media Policies SHANE DAY: Quarterbacks UConn’s spring practices on Tuesday and Saturday will be open to the media with Thursday closed. Live MIKE FOLEY: Tight Ends social media updates are not allowed during practice – Twitter, blogs, Facebook, etc. Requested student- DARRELL PERKINS: Safeties athletes and head coach Paul Pasqualoni will be available for interviews following the open practices. All JON WHOLLEY: Linebackers practices are scheduled for the Mark R. Shenkman Training Center – if there is a change in location the MICHAEL DIGMAN: Offensive Graduate Assistant media will be informed. The Blue-White Game will be held on Satruday, April 21 at 1:00 p.m. JORDAN ORLOVSKY: Defensive Graduate Assistant TIM PENDERGAST: Director of Football Administration ANDY BAYLOCK: Director of UConn Football Alumni/Community Affairs DAVE WILCZEWSKI: Recruiting Assistant TABLE OF CONTENTS Quick Facts/Media Information ................................... 1 The 2012 University of Connecticut Spring Football Prospectus is a publication of the UConn Division of Athletics and the Athletic Communications Office. Cover and Spring Outlook ........................................................... 2-3 interior design by Maggie Oren, MB Design. Editorial Assistance by Brendan Flynn, Head Coach Paul Pasqualoni ..................................... 4-5 Luanne Dunstan and Sean Soltys. Primary photography by Steve Slade and Bob Assistant Coaches ........................................................ 6-9 Stowell. Additional photography by John Korduner, Envision Sports Media and David Silverman/New England Patriots. Personnel Chart ........................................................... 10 Rosters .................................................................... 11-13 Returning Letterwinners ........................................ 14-19 Incoming Student-Athletes ................................... 20-21 2011 Year In Review ............................................. 22-27 2011 Game Recaps ................................................ 28-39 2011 Statistics ........................................................ 40-45 Director of Athletics Warde Manuel .......................... 46 ATHELETIC COMMUNICATIONS Associate AD/Communications: Mike Enright* Assistant Director – Athletic Communications: Patrick McKenna Assistant Director – Athletic Communications: Phil Chardis Communications Assistant: Matt Lee Communications Assistant: Sagan Byrne Communications Assistant: Brendan Flynn* Communications Secretary: Luanne Dunstan * Football contact Mailing Address: 2095 Hillside Road U-1173 • Storrs, CT 06269-1173 Office Phone: (860) 486-3531 Office FAX: (860) 486-5085 1 2012 UConn Football Spring Prospectus UConnHuskies.com 2012 Preview A number of performers return at wide receiver. Senior Nick Williams The University of Connecticut football team opens its 2012 spring prac- is the veteran of the group and has also enjoyed a terrific career as a kickoff tice with plenty of experience as there are six starters back on offense and and punt returner. Senior Mike Smith returns after missing last season, but eight on defense. At the same time, there are several newcomers and current has played in 36 career games – the most of any returning WR. Redshirt underclassmen that will push those starters for playing time. sophomore Jeremy Davis played in all 12 games last year and made six As Paul Pasqualoni begins his second year in charge of the Husky catches while classmate Tebucky Jones played in eight games with five program, the goal of spring practice is to develop individual skills and also catches. work on various overall schemes on both offense and defense. Connecticut Redshirt sophomore Shakim Phillips is a transfer from Boston fell just short of bowl eligibility last year as it went 5-7 and the hope is that College, who sat out last season at UConn, and will look to crack the rota- spring practice will serve as a catalyst to return the Huskies to postseason tion this year. Sophomore Kamal Abrams played in eight games in 2011. play in 2012. Sophomore Deshon Foxx, who played seven games at TB last year, has been Pasqualoni’s coaching staff from last year remained intact with the moved over to WR this spring. Senior Denzel Allen, juniors Robert Cherry, exception of one position. Former quarterbacks coach Joe Moorhead was Brandon Flower and Frank Guardi are also at wide receiver as is redshirt named the head coach at Fordham, his alma mater. Joining the Husky staff freshman Brendan Donegan. at that same position is Shane Day, who spent the past two years as the QB Last year’s starting fullback Mark Hinkley has departed and the coach with the Chicago Bears. Huskies have three FBs on the roster looking for playing time. Redshirt The biggest losses for Connecticut on offense come on the offensive sophomore Reuben Frank played in all 12 games last year while redshirt line and the wide receiver spot. UConn loses center Moe Petrus, who sophomore Michael Osiecki has switched from linebacker to fullback. Also started 51 games over his career and was a two-time All-BIG EAST pick, at the position is redshirt freshman Christopher Matteis. and Mike Ryan at tackle, a three-year starter who also earned All-BIG Passing to the tight end was emphasized more at Connecticut under EAST honors twice. Paqualoni in his first year than it had been in the past. Redshirt seniors Although there is experience returning on the offensive line, the Ryan Griffin and John Delahunt both return this season to give the Huskies Huskies do lose their top two receivers from last year in Kashif Moore and outstanding experience at the position. Griffin is the team’s leading returner Isiah Moore. from last season with 33 receptions while Delahunt had six receptions and used more in the blocking scheme. Redshirt sophomore Mark Hansson and The competition at quarterback will be wide open between five play- redshirt freshman Sean McQuillan will also battle for playing time. ers. Redshirt senior Johnny McEntee started all 12 games last season while redshirt sophomore Scott McCummings also saw considerable playing With the departure of Petrus, redshirt sophomore Bryan Paull and mid- time, especially in Wildcat situations. Sophomore Michael Nebrich returns year enrollee Kyle Bockeloh will be looking for a shot. In addition, players looking for more playing time in 2012. There are two newcomers in camp currently at guard and tackle could also get a chance at the center spot. – redshirt sophomore Chandler Whitmer, a junior college transfer who also The Huskies return two veterans at guard in redshirt senior