Rising Redshirt Freshman

[bmayuc]

So I was looking at the roster today after the new round of commits seemingly closed up this recruiting season, and my mind wandered to the kids who redshirted this year, and who would play key roles next year.

If anyone has heard practice scuttlebutt or has any info, feel free to share in this thread. Otherwise, as always while #boneyardin please feel free to speculate and guess. Here are mine:

1. Peart starts at LT - Diaco was too hyped about this kid to have him waste eligibility. Wonder if Levy moves inside to G, where his limited mobility is not such a liability.

2. Nazir Williams is a factor at the Rush OLB spot that Graham Stewart occupied. Who knows who starts, but with his size and athleticism I think we have a major playor on our hands here.

3. Aaron Garland gets major burn, possibly at nickel. I liked his film too much out of HS and all the rumors were that he was balling on the scout team last year. Reminds me of Super Bowl Participant Reggie McClain in body type and athleticism. Solid, sneaky-good.

 

[noeynox]

I am eager to see if Phillipe Okunam breaks into the rotation. I'm thinking it will be a battle between him and RS sophomore Sheridan Lawley to fill in at the spot vacated by Adeyemi. Also one of Murphy or Blackwell has a chance to break into the rotation at nose guard replacing Campenni, though Marrinan showed ability and may rotate with Myers. I'm a fan dline play.

 

[Husky25]

Crozier technically redshirted, didn't he? He'll either be starting center or, at the very least, in the interior line rotation.

 

[Palatine]

http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-uconn-football-recruit-bios-0205-20150204-story.html

Full class.

 

[sub legacy]

I'm interested to see the progression of Tyler Davis and the competition between him and Shirrefs.

 

[gioff23]

I am looking for Ryslik, Murphy and Okunam up front on D. I'm looking for Richardson and Williams at LB, and I'm looking for Garland at CB. But let's be honest, we need someone to step in for Adams on the back-end.

On the O side, we burned a lot of RS', so I'll be on the look out for Holman, mostly because he has a fascinating background.

 

[ktuck911]

Coaches talked up Holman & Ryslik a bunch in the preseason too.. but the guys I'm really looking fwd to seeing are the transfers Levenberry and Williams. Hoping they can provide immediate impacts on both sides of the ball... moreso Williams in our passing game...

 

[Exit 4]

I expect big things from Garland. Okunam is a wild card, hopefully he can be a + player. I never saw any tape on Peart - it would be fantastic if he was a + player - a wonderful surprise. Hopefully we see progress with players like Mayala, Beals (definitely has potential) and Dallas Parker. Murphy and Davis seem like heart guys - hopefully that translates to the field too.

 

[Palatine]

A 3-4 defense requires a mountain of a nose guard to anchor it. So I'm curious about this guy.

Felton Blackwell, Egg Harbor City, N.J./Cedar Creek, DL, 6-2, 323: A defensive tackle at Cedar Creek High School … ranked a top 50 prospect in New Jersey by ESPN … named a First Team Cape-Atlantic League-National Conference All-Star after his senior season.

 

[J187Money]

A 3-4 defense requires a mountain of a nose guard to anchor it. So I'm curious about this guy.

Felton Blackwell, Egg Harbor City, N.J./Cedar Creek, DL, 6-2, 323: A defensive tackle at Cedar Creek High School … ranked a top 50 prospect in New Jersey by ESPN … named a First Team Cape-Atlantic League-National Conference All-Star after his senior season.

Don't tip your hand. If you like someone, you know that UCONN will sign him and nail him to the bench, just to spite you.

 

[Stinger92860]

I had forgotten this will be Tyler's 2nd spring game. By the the time the season starts he will have had over a year and one half with the staff. Time flies.

 

[Palatine]

Don't tip your hand. If you like someone, you know that UCONN will sign him and nail him to the bench, just to spite you.

That's not true. I simply want them to cycle though non-productive players more quickly. Besides, there is generally a rotation on the defensive line so we will see almost everyone by the second or third game.

Blackwell, Murphy, Ryslik and Okounam will all get reps in the spring game and probably early in the season as well.

 

[Exit 4]

A 3-4 defense requires a mountain of a nose guard to anchor it. So I'm curious about this guy.

Felton Blackwell, Egg Harbor City, N.J./Cedar Creek, DL, 6-2, 323: A defensive tackle at Cedar Creek High School … ranked a top 50 prospect in New Jersey by ESPN … named a First Team Cape-Atlantic League-National Conference All-Star after his senior season.

I expect something from Connor Freeborn too on the DL rotation.

 

[Wildgopher]

I'm interested to see the progression of Tyler Davis and the competition between him and Shirrefs.

I 2nd this.

 

[Husky25]

The competition will be between Davis and Anderson for second string. I think Shirreffs has done enough to enter the Spring as QB1 and will not ease up enough to be ousted by fall camp. Really anxious to see what he can do behind a beefed up O-line rotation.

 

[Palatine]

The competition will be between Davis and Anderson for second string. I think Shirreffs has done enough to enter the Spring as QB1 and will not ease up enough to be ousted by fall camp. Really anxious to see what he can do behind a beefed up O-line rotation.

If we just give Shirreff the job without competition that would be a big mistake.

 

[ktuck911]

If we just give Shirreff the job without competition that would be a big mistake.

Amen... I'm hoping Tyler Davis shines this Spring.. Can he show us that he can see the entire field and if nothing's there on his progressions he can tuck and run? or improvise by moving around in the pocket and buying time for a WR to get open? We need to see that.. Hopefully Shireffs is able to do that.. He showed a ton this past season. 2 heads are way better than one at that spot on our team for 2016.. we might be lucky and have 3 heads ( Donovan Williams )

 

[Husky25]

If we just give Shirreff the job without competition that would be a big mistake.

I didn't say Shirreffs shouldn't have competition. I said I believe it is his position to lose and I don't believe he will. Even if Coach Diaco comes out and publically states there will be an open competition, Shirreffs will start off getting at least 50% of the reps (with the other QBs splitting the remainder), if not starters' reps.

Amen... I'm hoping Tyler Davis shines this Spring.. Can he show us that he can see the entire field and if nothing's there on his progressions he can tuck and run? or improvise by moving around in the pocket and buying time for a WR to get open? We need to see that.. Hopefully Shireffs is able to do that.. He showed a ton this past season. 2 heads are way better than one at that spot on our team for 2016.. we might be lucky and have 3 heads ( Donovan Williams )

I could not disagree more. First of all, If you want a QB to see the entire field and run through their progressions, The line need to give him time and keep him upright. When Shirreffs had time, he was able to do exactly what you are wondering if Davis can do. He did not have the requisite amount of time consistently enough.

If there is one position where two or three heads are not better than one it is a Quarterback. It can be done, but those instances are more the exception than the rule and the two players by and large have different roles. It seems to me that Davis and Shirreffs are very similar players. Davis may have a better arm, but who is more aware than UConn fans that arm strength can be mitigated once the bullets start flying?

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I know that we love the backups and unknowns on this board, but IMO if we are playing Peart and Davis we are in for a long year. I know both OT's struggled last year but I do not feel comfortable with a green LT next year.

I think the biggest impacts could be on the defensive side of the ball. Kids like Okunaum and Blackwell on the line, Williams at LB, and Terry at S.

I'm still high on Diggs. I like a 4 man rotation with him, Carrezola, Joseph, and Levenberry. Hopefully they redshirt Tarbutt after foolishly playing him last year.

 

[Husky25]

I know that we love the backups and unknowns on this board, but IMO if we are playing Peart and Davis we are in for a long year. I know both OT's struggled last year but I do not feel comfortable with a green LT next year.

I think Peart will start the year subbing at both tackle positions, provided UConn can sustain drives. He may take over one of them as the season goes on due to injury or performance, but I think OT was inconsistent enough where a RS FR can contribute significantly. I don't feel the same about Davis just yet. Though in reality he has a few things working against him. 1) There should not be a QB rotation 2) He hasn't played in a live game vs. unfamiliar opponents (i.e. not on his own team), and 3) He has too similar a style (from what I've seen) as the starter.

 

[Sportsman5]

http://www.nhregister.com/article/NH/20150815/SPORTS/150819629

"Receiver Tyraiq Beals, who had an impressive catch, offensive tackle Matthew Peart, tight ends Chris Lee and Zordan Holman continue to see regular time with the second-team offense as they appear to be leading the list of first-year players (along with defensive tackle David Ryslik) who could get on the field as true freshmen."

Of the RS freshman it would appear that Ryslik and Peart will see the field the most. Ryslik has the size and was the highest rated recruit. Peart has received a lot of positive praise from the coaches and if he can add 15+ lbs before the start of the season, then he will have enough size.

 

[Exit 4]

http://www.nhregister.com/article/NH/20150815/SPORTS/150819629

"Receiver Tyraiq Beals, who had an impressive catch, offensive tackle Matthew Peart, tight ends Chris Lee and Zordan Holman continue to see regular time with the second-team offense as they appear to be leading the list of first-year players (along with defensive tackle David Ryslik) who could get on the field as true freshmen."

Of the RS freshman it would appear that Ryslik and Peart will see the field the most. Ryslik has the size and was the highest rated recruit. Peart has received a lot of positive praise from the coaches and if he can add 15+ lbs before the start of the season, then he will have enough size.

Great find - thanks for posting.

 

[businesslawyer]

The competition will be between Davis and Anderson for second string. I think Shirreffs has done enough to enter the Spring as QB1 and will not ease up enough to be ousted by fall camp. Really anxious to see what he can do behind a beefed up O-line rotation.

Given our problems on the OL, and only having one WR on whom you could count, what Shirreffs did bordered on remarkable. If the OL improves and either Beals or Mayale steps way up, Shirreffs will look much better even if he doesn't improve at all. And there is no reason to think he won't improve.

 

[Exit 4]

Given our problems on the OL, and only having one WR on whom you could count, what Shirreffs did bordered on remarkable. If the OL improves and either Beals or Mayale steps way up, Shirreffs will look much better even if he doesn't improve at all. And there is no reason to think he won't improve.

Sounds right. I'm going to hope that Peart is a + player at OT and that Crozier and Oak can get on the field to firm up the interior OL. Mayala is a decent sized target, he should be doing more (obviously) and Beals is shifty with great speed potential, so much more production is needed and expected from there as well. If the OL can go from C- level to B+ level, that would be tremendous. It appears the Diaco recognizes that more is needed from the coaching at WR position given the job posting. I hope something real positive comes from it next fall with better play from the WRs.

 

[Husky25]

Given our problems on the OL, and only having one WR on whom you could count, what Shirreffs did bordered on remarkable. If the OL improves and either Beals or Mayale steps way up, Shirreffs will look much better even if he doesn't improve at all. And there is no reason to think he won't improve.

Some people have will always, and will continue, to think the best player on the team is the second string QB and if they don't succeed when given the chance (whether it comes in practice or a game), it's not their fault. I have no idea why the starter is never seemingly afforded that benefit of the doubt.