2022 NCAA Football Preview: University of Connecticut Huskies

University of Connecticut Huskies

Head Coach: Jim Mora (46-30, 1st season at UCONN)

2021 Record: 1-11

Offense Analysis:

It cannot get much worse than 2021 for the UCONN offense. Scoring just 15.6 PPG and gaining 265 YPG, the Huskies offense was the 128th best offense in all of Division 1. Now in 2022, OC Nick Charlton has the chances to prove himself as an effective play caller. Transfer QB Ta’Quan Roberson comes to East Hartford after spending the last season primarily as a backup for Penn State. Roberson struggled in his few opportunities in Happy Valley and is looking ahead to a fresh start in 2022. Returning for the UCONN offense is leading rusher So. RB Nathan Carter and leading pass catcher So. WR Keelan Marion. With such a young offense, 8 out 11 starters being sophomores or younger, it may be difficult for UCONN’s offense to get going early in the season. However, with such a young team, this offense could turn it around in the next few years.

Defense Analysis:

The good news is the defensive side of the ball looks set to be slightly more experienced than the offense. The bad news is UCONN D let up around 38 PPG and 451 YPG to opponents last season and lost their best defensive player, Kevon Jones, to the NFL. That being said, DC Lou Spanos will have a chance to improve on last year’s output with the help of returning leading tackler, Jr. LB Jackson Mitchell, and his best secondary player in Sr. CB Tre Wortham. Spanos also gets some reinforcements through the transfer portal. Grad. transfer Sr. Marquez Bembry, a former 3-star recruit, joins the Huskies defense after playing at Kentucky last season. Old Dominion transfer Jr. Sokoya McDuffie, who recorded 4 sacks last season, hopes to help fill the void left by Jones. The UCONN defense should improve in its 3rd season under Spanos, but it won’t be easy.    

Summary:

After a canceled 2020 season, UCONN didn’t exactly hit the ground running in 2021. UCONN was not able to put a W on the board until week 8 against Yale and before that, suffered an early season loss to FCS opponent Holy Cross. However, with the hire of former UCLA and NFL head coach, Jim Mora, the Huskies seem determined to turn their program around. Mora spent last season as an assistant on the UCONN staff and is retaining both coordinators for the upcoming season. Not going into a season with a completely revamped staff may alleviate some of the growing pains, but that does not mean this season will be smooth sailing. Mora needs to prove UCONN’s investment in its football program was not a mistake and he needs to do it sooner rather than later.

2022 UCONN Football Schedule (Predicted W/L)

• Aug. 27 – @ Utah State (L)
• Sept. 3 – Central Connecticut State (W)
• Sept. 10 – Syracuse (L)
• Sept. 17 – @ Michigan (L)
• Sept. 24 – @ NC State (L)
• Oct. 1 – Fresno State (L)
• Oct. 8 – @ FIU (L)
• Oct. 15 – @ Ball State (L)
• Oct. 29 – Boston College (L)
• Nov. 4 – UMASS (W)
• Nov. 12 – Liberty (L)
• Nov. 19 – @ Army (L)

Projected 2022 Record: 2-10

Written By: Steve DeFruscio

Instagram: @redshirt_szn

Twitter: @redshirt_szn , @stevedefruscio