Aug. 30—STORRS — Mystery surrounds the 2024 UConn football team heading into the season.
The roster has undergone a makeover with the addition of 51 new players, including an injection of talent and experience from the transfer portal.
A new quarterback will be at the helm.
The Huskies have a new offensive and defensive coordinator.
There’s a renewed enthusiasm and energy inside the program.
Will that all translate to a successful season that ends with a bowl berth?
It’s hard to predict with so many changes.
UConn’s journey back to respectability will start with Saturday’s season opener at noon Saturday against Maryland at SECU Stadium in College Park. The game will be broadcast on FS1.
“We’re excited to get going,” said coach Jim Mora, who’s in his third season in Storrs. “It’s been a long off-season. A ton of changes in this program. … I’ve been impressed with the way they’ve been able to jell.
“Hopefully, we can maintain that energy that we have and that connectedness that we have as we go through the season and hit some hurdles and face some adversity, but I like where we are right now. We’ve had good practices. There’s great energy and really good focus.”
UConn is looking to recapture the momentum that the program gained after a successful six-win bowl season in 2022 but then lost with a dismal 3-9 mark last season.
An 0-5 start last season sucked the wind right out of UConn’s sails. Injuries took a toll.
The Huskies are hoping to avoid another dreadful start and be far more competitive.
There’s reason to be optimistic.
UConn has a favorable schedule, playing seven of its first nine games at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.
A floundering offense that averaged just 19.1 points per game last season has received some upgrades. Gordon Sammis, the offensive line coach, has added offensive coordinator to his duties.
Wisconsin transfer Nick Evers, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound redshirt sophomore, won the starting quarterback job. Two of his projected prime targets — grad student TJ Sheffield (Purdue) and redshirt junior Skylar Bell (Wisconsin) — also are transfers from Big Ten country.
There’s depth at the running back. UConn returns its top two rushers in redshirt sophomore Cam Edwards and junior Victor Rosa, who’ll operate behind a solid offensive line that is anchored by left tackle Valentin Senn and right tackle Chase Lundt. Redshirt freshman Ben Murawski, a St. Thomas More graduate, is listed first on the depth chart at left guard.
Led by veterans Dal’Mont Gourdine, Jelani Stafford and Pryce Yates, the defensive line will be one of the team’s strengths. Yates led the team in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (14) last season.
But questions remain about the defense, especially at the linebacker position. Matt Brock, who spent the last four seasons at Mississippi State, takes over the defensive coordinator duties. He implemented a new, more aggressive scheme.
Special teams will rely on new players to fill important roles.
It will be interesting to see how this revamped UConn team will react on game day and deal with adversity.
“The lights come on and it brings out some truths that maybe you didn’t know,” Mora said. “And those can be very, very positive or those can be challenges. … I’m anxious to see us go out and compete.”
Starting on the road against a Big Ten team isn’t ideal.
Coming off consecutive eight-win seasons, Maryland was picked to finish 11th in a loaded Big Ten. The Terrapins also have undergone significant changes, including at quarterback and on the offensive line.
Maryland returns five starters on offense, including redshirt junior running back Roman Hemby who has racked up 2,316 yards from scrimmage in the last two seasons. Seven starters are back from a defense that allowed 22.5 points in 2023.
Twenty point underdogs, UConn can start winning back fans and boost attendance for next weekend’s home opener against Merrimack by playing a competitive game on Saturday.
Whatever happens, UConn will know a great deal more about the team after the opener.
“You always learn a lot about your team in those early games,” Mora said. “We face a really, really good Maryland team on the road. I think we’re going to learn a lot about where we are as a team and what our potential will be.”
