2017 Senior Class

[sdhusky]

When they were sophomores, I thought these guys (with some help) could compete for an AAC championship.

Not now.

Does Edsall have enough time with them to go bowling? I think so.

1 Tre Bell CB 5-11 180 JR Union, NJ
3 Ron Johnson RB 5-11 220 JR Naples, FL
4 Bryant Shirreffs QB 6-2 220 JR Jefferson, GA
10 Cameron Stapleton LB 6-4 255 JR Staten Island, NY
11 Junior Joseph LB 6-1 245 JR Sinking Spring, PA
12 E.J. Levenberry LB 6-3 250 JR Woodbridge, VA
13 Vontae Diggs LB 6-2 225 JR Downers Grove, IL
15 Luke Carrezola LB 6-3 260 JR Langhorne, PA
16 Brice McAllister S 5-11 193 JR East Longmeadow, MA
16 Will Rishell QB 5-11 192 JR Marlborough, CT
21 Jamar Summers CB 6-0 190 JR Orange, NJ
22 Arkeel Newsome RB 5-7 185 JR Ansonia, CT
30 Jalen Stevens LB 6-3 241 JR Goose Creek, SC
57 Cole Ormsby DL 6-3 262 JR Windsor, CT
62 Tommy Hopkins OL 6-6 311 JR Hawthorne, NY
72 Brendan Vechery OL 6-6 309 JR Ashburn, VA
73 Steve Hashemi OL 6-6 289 JR Trumbull, CT
77 Trey Rutherford OL 6-5 311 JR Markham, ON
79 Kyle Schafenacker OL 6-3 284 JR Cooper City, FL
80 Tommy Myers ? 6-5 260 JR Coventry, CT
86 Alec Bloom TE 6-6 261 JR Ligonier, PA
93 Folorunso Fatukasi DL 6-4 310 JR Far Rockaway, NY

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

With Diaco and staff I thought 2017 was a 2 win squad. With Randy, we may double that.

This roster is a mess.

 

[shizzle787]

Sherriffs is perfect for Edsall. He doesn't commit a lot of turnovers (most of his fumbles are the fault of a bad OL). He has 17 TDs and 14 INTs the last two years in 22 games. As long as we have a good RB, we should be fine.

 

[sdhusky]

Sherriffs is perfect for Edsall. He doesn't commit a lot of turnovers (most of his fumbles are the fault of a bad OL). He has 17 TDs and 14 INTs the last two years in 22 games. As long as we have a good RB, we should be fine.

I think Newsome is as good as guys who thrived under Edsall. Certainly not Brown or Todam, but Brockington, Dixon, post-injury Caulley.

What I am most interested in seeing is how the oline plays. Can he turn it around in a single off season? How long to get OK?

 

[UConnDan97]

When they were sophomores, I thought these guys (with some help) could compete for an AAC championship.

Not now.

Does Edsall have enough time with them to go bowling? I think so.

1 Tre Bell CB 5-11 180 JR Union, NJ
3 Ron Johnson RB 5-11 220 JR Naples, FL
4 Bryant Shirreffs QB 6-2 220 JR Jefferson, GA
10 Cameron Stapleton LB 6-4 255 JR Staten Island, NY
11 Junior Joseph LB 6-1 245 JR Sinking Spring, PA
12 E.J. Levenberry LB 6-3 250 JR Woodbridge, VA
13 Vontae Diggs LB 6-2 225 JR Downers Grove, IL
15 Luke Carrezola LB 6-3 260 JR Langhorne, PA
16 Brice McAllister S 5-11 193 JR East Longmeadow, MA
16 Will Rishell QB 5-11 192 JR Marlborough, CT
21 Jamar Summers CB 6-0 190 JR Orange, NJ
22 Arkeel Newsome RB 5-7 185 JR Ansonia, CT
30 Jalen Stevens LB 6-3 241 JR Goose Creek, SC
57 Cole Ormsby DL 6-3 262 JR Windsor, CT
62 Tommy Hopkins OL 6-6 311 JR Hawthorne, NY
72 Brendan Vechery OL 6-6 309 JR Ashburn, VA
73 Steve Hashemi OL 6-6 289 JR Trumbull, CT
77 Trey Rutherford OL 6-5 311 JR Markham, ON
79 Kyle Schafenacker OL 6-3 284 JR Cooper City, FL
80 Tommy Myers ? 6-5 260 JR Coventry, CT
86 Alec Bloom TE 6-6 261 JR Ligonier, PA
93 Folorunso Fatukasi DL 6-4 310 JR Far Rockaway, NY

I think there are some talented players on that list for sure. The biggest question is whether or not Edsall's new staff can turn that O-Line into a functional, productive unit.

If they can, we'll go bowling.

If they can't, well...let's hope they can...

 

[businesslawyer]

I think Newsome is as good as guys who thrived under Edsall. Certainly not Brown or Todam, but Brockington, Dixon, post-injury Caulley.

What I am most interested in seeing is how the oline plays. Can he turn it around in a single off season? How long to get OK?

That's actually something I am hopeful for. I think lost in the team just quitting at the end of last season was the fact that the OL was quietly playing better. The Cincy game I thought was the best OL performance I had seen here in years. We have lots of experienced guys back and are looking at from left to right something like Pert, Hopkins, Crozier, Vachery and Rutherford. Maybe Tabur tries to push his way in. Maybe the new staff likes Hashemi. Thor is a loss, but Levy -- well, it's amazing a guy could start as many games as he did in his career as he did the way he played.

Get me Foley, give me spring and summer camps and I can't imagine our OL play won't be much, much better. And I think folks will be surprised how good Arkeel is if someone actually blocks for him.

 

[sdhusky]

T
Get me Foley, give me spring and summer camps and I can't imagine our OL play won't be much, much better. And I think folks will be surprised how good Arkeel is if someone actually blocks for him.

Its absolutely amazing to go on here:

Connecticut Huskies 2012 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - College Football - ESPN

And look at the leading rusher by year. From 2004 to 2010, they average 5+ yards per game. Brown at 5.7/carry and 2000+ yards in 2008

Then starting in 2011, its about a yard or 1.5 yards less per carry. Overnight.

Arkeel at 4.7 last is by far, the best.

 

[len0322]

Actually think Johnson maybe a better between the tackle fit than Newsome in Edsall's offense he he goes back to the traditional fullback set...expecting a grounnd and pound approach next year

 

[len0322]

Sherriffs is perfect for Edsall. He doesn't commit a lot of turnovers (most of his fumbles are the fault of a bad OL). He has 17 TDs and 14 INTs the last two years in 22 games. As long as we have a good RB, we should be fine.

BS has a similar game to TL. I would not be sad to see #4 comeback at QB for one more year

 

[SubbaBub]

When they were sophomores, I thought these guys (with some help) could compete for an AAC championship.

Not now.

Does Edsall have enough time with them to go bowling? I think so.

1 Tre Bell CB 5-11 180 JR Union, NJ
3 Ron Johnson RB 5-11 220 JR Naples, FL
4 Bryant Shirreffs QB 6-2 220 JR Jefferson, GA
10 Cameron Stapleton LB 6-4 255 JR Staten Island, NY
11 Junior Joseph LB 6-1 245 JR Sinking Spring, PA
12 E.J. Levenberry LB 6-3 250 JR Woodbridge, VA
13 Vontae Diggs LB 6-2 225 JR Downers Grove, IL
15 Luke Carrezola LB 6-3 260 JR Langhorne, PA
16 Brice McAllister S 5-11 193 JR East Longmeadow, MA
16 Will Rishell QB 5-11 192 JR Marlborough, CT
21 Jamar Summers CB 6-0 190 JR Orange, NJ
22 Arkeel Newsome RB 5-7 185 JR Ansonia, CT
30 Jalen Stevens LB 6-3 241 JR Goose Creek, SC
57 Cole Ormsby DL 6-3 262 JR Windsor, CT
62 Tommy Hopkins OL 6-6 311 JR Hawthorne, NY
72 Brendan Vechery OL 6-6 309 JR Ashburn, VA
73 Steve Hashemi OL 6-6 289 JR Trumbull, CT
77 Trey Rutherford OL 6-5 311 JR Markham, ON
79 Kyle Schafenacker OL 6-3 284 JR Cooper City, FL
80 Tommy Myers ? 6-5 260 JR Coventry, CT
86 Alec Bloom TE 6-6 261 JR Ligonier, PA
93 Folorunso Fatukasi DL 6-4 310 JR Far Rockaway, NY

2017 was supposed to be the year Diaco competed for the conference title.

It we do actually end up pretty good we can take that Diaco really was a bad coach.

If we don't then we have to say that he was a bad recruiter too.

 

[JMick]

I think Newsome is as good as guys who thrived under Edsall. Certainly not Brown or Todam, but Brockington, Dixon, post-injury Caulley.

What I am most interested in seeing is how the oline plays. Can he turn it around in a single off season? How long to get OK?

Every RB on the roster should be pumped that Edsall is the coach now. If he stays true to his past then he's just going to do what Diaco promised them we would do. Except now we'll actually do it.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

As others have mentioned, I think Arkeel's talents have been squandered a bit behind a porous offensive line. Not to say he's on the level of Brown, Todman or Dixon, but I don't think he's that far behind either.

Hopefully Randy can make a difference in his senior season.

 

[kris1]

I think there are some talented players on that list for sure. The biggest question is whether or not Edsall's new staff can turn that O-Line into a functional, productive unit.

If they can, we'll go bowling.

If they can't, well...let's hope they can...

BINGO!!!

If they can turn the OLine around, this team will be above .500. With Diaco gone, the OLine must be the first thing fixed, aside from assembling a good staff. Newsome will have a huge year, if that happens.

 

[kris1]

As others have mentioned, I think Arkeel's talents have been squandered a bit behind a porous offensive line. Not to say he's on the level of Brown, Todman or Dixon, but I don't think he's that far behind either.

Hopefully Randy can make a difference in his senior season.

I was looking the other day at Newsome's RB rating for the class of 2018. He currently is rated 65th out of 219 RBs. Obviously, some guys in that class have declared early. It's unlikely Newsome will be drafted (possibly given a chance as a free agent), but he is one of the fastest RBs in the class. His 4.49s 40-time (with a low of 4.38s/high of 4.59s) is up there with the top 4 RB prospects in the class:

1. Fournette (LSU) 4.45s
2. Cook (FSU) 4.46s
3. McCaffrey (Stanford) 4.48s
4. Freeman (Oregon) 4.49s
​

Hopefully, he can flourish in Edsall's offense as a runner and in the passing game.

FWIW, Ron Johnson is rated 60th (no 40-time listed).

 

[FfldCntyFan]

When they were sophomores, I thought these guys (with some help) could compete for an AAC championship.

Not now.

Does Edsall have enough time with them to go bowling? I think so.

1 Tre Bell CB 5-11 180 JR Union, NJ
3 Ron Johnson RB 5-11 220 JR Naples, FL
4 Bryant Shirreffs QB 6-2 220 JR Jefferson, GA
10 Cameron Stapleton LB 6-4 255 JR Staten Island, NY
11 Junior Joseph LB 6-1 245 JR Sinking Spring, PA
12 E.J. Levenberry LB 6-3 250 JR Woodbridge, VA
13 Vontae Diggs LB 6-2 225 JR Downers Grove, IL
15 Luke Carrezola LB 6-3 260 JR Langhorne, PA
16 Brice McAllister S 5-11 193 JR East Longmeadow, MA
16 Will Rishell QB 5-11 192 JR Marlborough, CT
21 Jamar Summers CB 6-0 190 JR Orange, NJ
22 Arkeel Newsome RB 5-7 185 JR Ansonia, CT
30 Jalen Stevens LB 6-3 241 JR Goose Creek, SC
57 Cole Ormsby DL 6-3 262 JR Windsor, CT
62 Tommy Hopkins OL 6-6 311 JR Hawthorne, NY
72 Brendan Vechery OL 6-6 309 JR Ashburn, VA
73 Steve Hashemi OL 6-6 289 JR Trumbull, CT
77 Trey Rutherford OL 6-5 311 JR Markham, ON
79 Kyle Schafenacker OL 6-3 284 JR Cooper City, FL
80 Tommy Myers ? 6-5 260 JR Coventry, CT
86 Alec Bloom TE 6-6 261 JR Ligonier, PA
93 Folorunso Fatukasi DL 6-4 310 JR Far Rockaway, NY

I'll wager that Stapleton and Carrezola are now full time defensive ends and Fatukasi is now a full time defensive tackle. I believe there is also a chance Ormsby will end up at DT.

 

[huskysupporter]

I was looking the other day at Newsome's RB rating for the class of 2018. He currently is rated 65th out of 219 RBs. Obviously, some guys in that class have declared early. It's unlikely Newsome will be drafted (possibly given a chance as a free agent), but he is one of the fastest RBs in the class. His 4.49s 40-time (with a low of 4.38s/high of 4.59s) is up there with the top 4 RB prospects in the class:

1. Fournette (LSU) 4.45s
2. Cook (FSU) 4.46s
3. McCaffrey (Stanford) 4.48s
4. Freeman (Oregon) 4.49s
​

Hopefully, he can flourish in Edsall's offense as a runner and in the passing game.

FWIW, Ron Johnson is rated 60th (no 40-time listed).

I don't consider Newesome a fast back. He is caught from behind quite a bit. Fast enough for college though.

The thing that stands out to me is his vision. You just cant teach that. Sets up blocks and is always a step ahead.

People always say that based off his size he can't carry a full load. I give a big bs to that. Arkeel is an inside the tackles runner I don't care what his size is. Feed him the ball. I am confident HCRE will see that. He needs a small crease to pick up 5-6 yards.

i want to see him get 25 touches a game.

 

[businesslawyer]

I'll wager that Stapleton and Carrezola are now full time defensive ends and Fatukasi is now a full time defensive tackle. I believe there is also a chance Ormsby will end up at DT.

First thing my son said to me on the EdsAll news was "so now we will go back to recruiting DEs who can actually hope to catch a QB when he scrambling!"

I think u have next years D L exactly right -- stale and Luke outside and Ormsbt and Foley inside. That change alone makes us a better D

 

[noeynox]

I'm thinking Camp Stapleton and Luke Carezola at DE, Ormsby and Foley inside at tackle. We have to get quicker, and the front 4 has to generate more pressure.

Did not see post up top saying same thing.

 

[TheDoggPound]

Ormsby would have to add 20-30 LB's

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Ormsby would have to add 20-30 LB's

Not necessarily. What did Fuller weigh? Lunn? At 270-275 Ormsby will have a few pounds on either of them and that wouldn't take much quickness away.

Not every defense plays with solely 290+ DT's. Schiano didn't at Rutgers and RE seldom did here.

 

[noeynox]

Ormsby would have to add 20-30 LB's

Nah, you could be an effective DT in college in the 270-280 lb range. He's probably not for from that lower range right now.

 

[hardcorehusky]

My Arkeel comparison is Lyle McCoombs. I think Arkeel has better vision.

 

[SonsOfNutmeg]

Ormsby would have to add 20-30 LB's

That's easy... nothing but triple MooYah burger w/ cheese and bacon all semester. If he lives that'll do the trick!

 

[kris1]

I anticipate seeing more of this with HCRE back: