2007 Connecticut Huskies Football Picks & Predictions


June 5, 2008 | Posted By Larry Cook

Coach Randy Edsall went to the junior college ranks to find a quarterback in hopes that the Huskies won’t be playing musical chairs at this position in 2007. Tyler Lorenzen threw for 2,960 yards and rushed for 836 more at Palomar Junior College in California last fall. He was brought in to rejuvenate a passing game that ranked 110 th nationally out of 119 schools a year ago. Edsall has high praises for Lorenzen, saying that his is a mature leader through spring ball heading into the fall.

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Third-year sophomore Dennis Brown should bring much-needed stability to the quarterback position if Lorenzen can’t get the job done. Edsall has enough confidence in both that he moved D.J. Hernandez, who started six games last season, to receiver. Lorenzen and Brown hold the key to an offense that did finish 13 th nationally in rushing despite a 4-8 season. But no UConn player started all 12 games at the same offensive line position a year ago. Stability will be crucial this season.

The ground game should be good again with Donald Brown II emerging as a freshman star last season with 896 yards and seven touchdowns. Veteran Lou Allen is a good compliment to the speedy Brown, who posted a 134.6 yard average in five league games. Nine players started on the offensive line last season because of injuries. This unit should be solid now though with much experience under their belts. The same should hold true at wide receiver, where Terrence Jeffers, Brad Kanuch and Larry Taylor are back after combining for 59 catches in 2006.

Defensively the Huskies’ strength will be in the linebacking corps where returnees Danny Lansanah and Ryan Henegan will be joined by true freshman Jarrell Miller. Lansanah had 99 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss to go along with four interceptions in his 2006 campaign. Henegan had 92 tackles and Miller is the first Parade All-American to sign with the Huskies. Dan Davis is a standout at end, but will move to the inside to fill some of the void left by the loss of both tackle starters. The UConn secondary has speed and experience, headed by returning corners Tyvon Branch and Darius Butler. Branch had 79 tackles a year ago, showing he can take down backs in the open field.

The UConn Huskies will finish at the bottom of the pack in the Big East, but they should get off to a fast start. They have Duke, Maine and Temple as their first three opponents. But the next victory will be tough to come by if the quarterback position isn’t stable enough. Their next victory might not be until November 17th at home against Syracuse. Another 4-8 season sounds about ideal as we predict the outcome of this team.

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