Dom Amore: Jim Mora’s re-imagined UConn football team starts at quarterback

[huskymedic]

Assisted access <<

-> “He’s extremely athletic,” Mora said. “He’s a 6-foot-3, 205-pound kid with a rocket arm, he can also throw with touch and he can run. What you see in the college game now are quarterbacks who are dual-threat guys, who when a play breaks down they can get a first down, threaten the defense down the field with their legs, where you can get into a triple-option game, an RPO (run-pass option) game, zone-read game. Those are the offenses that seem to be having success, and he has all of those traits.” <-

->“Watching Nick work in the limited time I’ve been watching him, you see real athleticism out of him,” Mora said. “You see a real resolve. This is a guy who came into his college career with high hopes and it hasn’t quite worked out the way he wanted … yet.”

Joe Fagnano, transfer from Maine, initially won the starting job last season, but went down for the season with a shoulder injury in the second game. He’s back, as is sophomore Tucker McDonald. True freshman Cole Welliver, also from Texas, is getting started. “Four guys all at different stages of their careers that I think can be good players at Connecticut,” Mora said.

Evers is the one in the now-or-never stage. This is me talking, not Mora. If Evers is not under center or in the shotgun when the Huskies begin the season at Maryland Aug. 31, something will have gone awry.

Back to Mora: “There is so much turnover at the quarterback position,” he said. “Nick was one of the top high school quarterbacks in the country coming out. Then he commits to Florida, the coach is let go, so he goes to Oklahoma, didn’t have an opportunity to establish a relationship with that staff in recruiting, they make some changes, it doesn’t work out there.

“He ends up at Wisconsin, again some changes. Now coming to us, I feel like he has a lot to prove. I’ve watched a ton of his practice tape, I’ve watched him work with our guys a little bit, he’s a really talented guy. He just needs somebody to buy into him and say, ‘You’re our guy. Yeah, you’re going to make some mistakes, we’ll ride through it with you.’ Everything I’ve seen in Nick, I like.” <-

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Evers is the one in the now-or-never stage. This is me talking, not Mora. If Evers is not under center or in the shotgun when the Huskies begin the season at Maryland Aug. 31, something will have gone awry.

Interesting comment from Amore. I guess he thinks it's Evers job to lose. I guess Roberson thought the same thing.

 

[freescooter]

Interesting comment from Amore. I guess he thinks it's Evers job to lose. I guess Roberson thought the same thing.

I think they have decided Evers is the quarterback. No ands ifs or buts. They looked around at the available portal guys and landed one who was highly rated coming out of high school but was buried at the College level. He is, for all intents and purposes, a redshirt freshman 4star.

 

[Hamms30]

I think they have decided Evers is the quarterback. No ands ifs or buts. They looked around at the available portal guys and landed one who was highly rated coming out of high school but was buried at the College level. He is, for all intents and purposes, a redshirt freshman 4star.

When he originally commited, the vibe on Storrs Central was that this was never ever a question.

 

[History Geek]

Yes, Evers was recruited to be the starter. Robeson entering the portal the same day is enough evidence of that. Fagnano staying meant he was content finishing his degree at UConn/being the experienced back up. McDonald/Weliver fighting it out this year for the next year’s back up/QB of the future role. Based on Mora’s comments, the staff saw enough in July to give Evers the keys to the offense from Day 1 of camp, and he will have some room to develop in August.

 

[Buffett10]

Interesting comment from Amore. I guess he thinks it's Evers job to lose. I guess Roberson thought the same thing.

Roberson wasn’t even QB2 in the spring

 

[Chin Diesel]

Interesting comment from Amore. I guess he thinks it's Evers job to lose. I guess Roberson thought the same thing.

I said it in another thread when I watched the video.

Sounds like QB1 to me.

 

[CJasmer]

I said it in another thread when I watched the video.

Sounds like QB1 to me.

Hopefully he learns the playbook. Seems to be an athletic kid who has never learned the system at two other schools already. Typically that is a warning sign. But again outside the first game the football schedule is pretty low level outside a couple additional P4 teams. He might with his athletic ability get this team to 7-5 without actually developing as a real QB.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

This kid has potential to break every record if he sticks around I sure as hell hope he’s starting day 1

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

This kid has potential to break every record if he sticks around I sure as hell hope he’s starting day 1

If he ends up being that good…he won’t stay around to break records. I hope he is great…but understand..if he is good…he probably portals again. That’s ok.

The only thing that might stop him…is that he has already committed to Florida…oklahoma…wisconsin. He may be tired of change. But if he does have a strong year, you can’t blame him for looking at new opportunities.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[UCFBfan]

If he ends up being that good…he won’t stay around to break records. I hope he is great…but understand..if he is good…he probably portals again. That’s ok.

The only thing that might stop him…is that he has already committed to Florida…oklahoma…wisconsin. He may be tired of change. But if he does have a strong year, you can’t blame him for looking at new opportunities.

While I totally understand the new world of CFB and how we are a stepping Stone school, I feel we have a decent chance of having him stay if he blows up. Like you said, he's been around the P4 and not gotten any play. Could that change after coaches see what he can actually do in games? Sure. But he might not want to risk the same thing happening as what happened at those 3 other stops when he might have a good thing going with a proven coach with NFL pedigree in Mora.

Let's hope he blows up. That's the first step before we can even have this be a convo.

 

[CJasmer]

This website is delusional. I have been blocked because I do not have rose color glasses. To think UConn with no history in FBS somehow should have a seat at the table is ridiculous. UConn was never good in football even at FCS level. Biggest rival was Yale. Maybe put your big boy pants on and accept yes you are a major player in basketball but no one will ever miss you if you stop playing football. News flash. No one in New England cares about college football except the 10 fans who post on this website.

 

[Chin Diesel]

While I totally understand the new world of CFB and how we are a stepping Stone school, I feel we have a decent chance of having him stay if he blows up. Like you said, he's been around the P4 and not gotten any play. Could that change after coaches see what he can actually do in games? Sure. But he might not want to risk the same thing happening as what happened at those 3 other stops when he might have a good thing going with a proven coach with NFL pedigree in Mora.

Let's hope he blows up. That's the first step before we can even have this be a convo.

It's not just being a stepping stone school. Even the top schools lose QB's to other top schools regularly.

 

[CJasmer]

While I totally understand the new world of CFB and how we are a stepping Stone school, I feel we have a decent chance of having him stay if he blows up. Like you said, he's been around the P4 and not gotten any play. Could that change after coaches see what he can actually do in games? Sure. But he might not want to risk the same thing happening as what happened at those 3 other stops when he might have a good thing going with a proven coach with NFL pedigree in Mora.

Let's hope he blows up. That's the first step before we can even have this be a convo.

If he can make $1 million in NIL will UConn be able to match? That is only question you need to answer since top QBs in P4 are getting 7 figures.

 

[huskymedic]

End around <<

 

[huskymedic]

Assisted access <<

-> The Williamsport, Penn. native was one of 89 student-athletes from 67 different schools named to the watch list for the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year award, which is voted on by a panel of college football writers, editors and sports information directors. Three winners will be honored at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, which will be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (where the UConn men’s basketball team won the national championship in April), and serve as a College Football Playoff quarterfinal on New Years Eve. <

 

[UCsports]

If he ends up being that good…he won’t stay around to break records. I hope he is great…but understand..if he is good…he probably portals again. That’s ok.

The only thing that might stop him…is that he has already committed to Florida…oklahoma…wisconsin. He may be tired of change. But if he does have a strong year, you can’t blame him for looking at new opportunities.

If he has a great season, then he will likely leave for the NFL because he is eligible for the draft after this season. If he has a decent or good season, then UConn will likely match other NIL offers.

 

[huskymedic]

Good 6 minute watch:



Nice touch on the pass to transfers Ezeriah Anderson & Skyler Bell.

 

[huskymedic]