More honors for Hurd and Wilson

UConn LB Lawrence Wilson and OG Zach Hurd were both named to the preseason All-America third team by the Sporting News.

Wilson, too

Hurd’s UConn teammate, senior Lawrence Wilson was named to watch list for the 2010 Bronko Nagurski Trophy by the FWAA and the Charlotte (N.C.) Touchdown Club. It is awarded to the nation’s best defensive player.

Wilson led the Huskies with 140 tackles — 11 for a loss — to go along with five sacks. The Tuscaloosa, Ala., native averaged 10.8 tackles per game, first in the conference and 10th nationally. His efforts earned him first team All-Big East honors.

Waterford's Hurd named to watch list

UConn senior offensive guard Zach Hurd was named to the 2010 Outland Trophy watch List on Monday by the Football Writers Association of America. The award is given annually to the nation’s top interior lineman.

Hurd, a former standout at Waterford High School, was a first-team All-Big East selection last season after starting 13 games and has made 26 consecutive starts for the Huskies. He is also one of the team’s four captains for the 2010 season.

Two more times announced

UConn's games on Sept. 11 against Texas Southern and Sept. 18 at Temple will kickoff at noon. 

Kickoff times have been finalized for three of UConn's six home games. In addition to the season opener versus Texas Southern, the West Virginia game on Friday, Oct. 29 is at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN2 and the Pittsburgh game on Thursday, Nov. 11 is at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.

What Nebraska moving to the Big 10 means to UConn and the Big East

There has been so much talk over the past few months about this school moving here or there and the creation of super conferences. The first piece has appeared to have fallen into place Wednesday.

Word that Nebraska will leave the Big 12 and head to the Big 10 should be a sign of relief for the Big East, at least initially.

If nothing else, Nebraska might be a big enough of a deterrent to Notre Dame, which doesn't want to be in a conference bigger than 12 teams, to remain an independent. This saves the Big East. Even if Rutgers, Pitt or Syracuse defect, there won't be an issue replacing them with Central Florida or Memphis.

As for the Big 12, they look to replace Nebraska with Texas Christian. But if the conference can't hold itself together, all bets are off and the Big 10 may try to take several Big 12 and Big East teams.

The fallout could produce a Big East raid of Conference USA or should the SEC expand, the Big East and ACC could produce a super conference of their own.

Right now, the Big East looks safe.

Depth chart

2010 University of Connecticut Post-Spring Practice Depth Chart

Offense

LT

Adam Masters (RSo., 6-4, 270)

Jimmy Bennett (RSo., 6-8, 301)

Greg McKee (Fr., 6-5, 299)

LG

Mathieu Olivier (RSr., 6-6, 276)

Erik Kuraczea (RSo., 6-2, 315)

Steve Greene (RFr., 6-4, 324)

C

Moe Petrus (RJr., 6-2, 292)

Gary Bardzak (RJr., 6-3, 297)

Ben Chapman (RSo., 6-2, 276)

RG

Zach Hurd (RSr., 6-7, 323)

Tyler Bullock (RFr., 6-4, 291)

RT

Mike Ryan (RJr., 6-5, 332)

Kevin Friend (RFr., 6-5, 287)

Stephen Brown (RFr., 6-4, 289)

TE

Ryan Griffin (RSo., 6-6, 240)

John Delahunt (RSo., 6-3, 243)

Corey Manning (RSo., 5-4, 255)

Alex Kaiser (Sr., 6-5, 238)

TB

Jordan Todman (Jr., 5-9, 190)

Robbie Frey (RFr., 6-0, 199) OR

Kelmetrius Wylie (RJr., 5-10, 223)

Jonathan Jean-Louis (Sr., 6-0, 200)

Martin Hyppolite (RFr., 6-0, 210)

FB

Anthony Sherman (Sr., 5-11, 242)

Bret Manning (Sr., 5-11, 255)

QB

Zach Frazer (RSr., 6-4, 236)

Cody Endres (RJr., 6-4, 223)

Michael Box (RFr., 6-3, 194) OR

Leon Kinnard (Fr., 5-9, 179) OR

Johnny McEntee (RSo., 6-3, 216)

WR

Michael Smith (Jr., 6-0, 200)

Malik Generett (RFr., 6-4, 210)

Joshua Massey (Sr., 5-8, 186)

WR

Kashif Moore (RJr., 5-9, 177)

Nick Williams (So., 5-9, 182)

Dwayne Difton (So., 5-11, 171)

Eric Sawicki (RFr., 6-0, 189)

WR

Isiah Moore (RJr., 6-1, 183)

Gerrard Sheppard (RSo., 6-2, 205) OR

Marcus Aiken (RFr., 5-11, 191)

Defense

DE

Jesse Joseph (So., 6-3, 231)

Trevardo Williams (So., 6-1, 224) OR

A.J. Portee (RSo., 6-4, 236)

Jonathan Louis (Fr., 6-5, 241)

DT

Kendall Reyes (RJr., 6-4, 287)

Alex Polito (RSr., 6-6, 284) OR

Shamar Stephen (RFr., 6-5, 291)

DT

Ryan Wirth (RSo., 6-2, 275) OR

Twyon Martin (RJr., 6-2, 270)

Tim Willman (RFr., 6-3, 271)

DE

Marcus Campbell (Jr., 6-2, 227)

Greg Lloyd (Sr., 6-2, 234) OR

Ted Jennings (RS., 6-5, 238)

“Husky” LB

Jory Johnson (RSo., 6-1, 219)

Andrew Opoku (Fr., 6-4, 217)

Matt Edwards (RSo., 6-0, 189)

Emmanuel Omokaro (RJr., 5-10, 207)

MLB

Scott Lutrus (RSr., 6-3, 240)

Jerome Williams (RSo., 6-11, 248)

Michael Osiecki (Fr., 6-2, 225)

WLB

Lawrence Wilson (RSr., 6-1, 217)

Sio Moore (RSo., 6-1, 231)

Mark Hinkley (RSo., 5-11, 228)

CB

Blidi Wreh-Wilson (RSo., 6-0, 184)

Tevrin Brandon (RFr., 5-10, 172)

S

Jerome Junior (RSo., 6-1, 208)

David Kenney (RFr., 6-0, 186)

Harris Agbor (RJr., 5-10, 192)

John Yurek (RJr., 6-0, 200)

S

Kijuan Dabney (Sr., 6-0, 214)

Mike Lang (So., 5-11, 186) OR

Chris Lopes (RFr., 5-10, 183)

CB

Dwayne Gratz (RSo., 6-0, 190)

Gary Wilburn (RJr., 5-11, 196) OR

Gilbert St. Louis (Fr., 5-11, 176)

Special Teams

P

Chad Christen (RFr., 6-1, 200) OR

Cole Wagner (RFr., 6-2, 197)

K

Dave Teggart (RJr., 6-0, 209)

Chad Christen (RFr., 6-1, 200)

LS

Derek Chard (Sr., 6-3, 234)

Stephen Brown (RFr., 6-4, 279) OR

Mark Hinkley (RSo., 5-11, 228)

H

Chad Christen (RFr., 6-1, 200)

Zach Frazer (RSr., 6-4, 236)

PR

Gary Wilburn (RJr., 5-11, 196) OR

Nick Williams (So., 5-9, 182) OR

Leon Kinnard (Fr., 5-9, 179)

KR

Robbie Frey (RFr., 6-0, 199)

Jordan Todman (Jr., 5-9, 190)

UConn update

Robert McClain, a cornerback, was taken by Carolina in the seventh round, S Robert Vaughn heading to Green Bay and RB Andre Dixon signed with Pittsburgh.

First Husky

Buffalo selects Marcus Easley in the fourth round, 107th overall.

Easley is a great story; wasn't recruited, walked on at UConn and went from scout team his junior year to starter and best WR the school has seen in a long time.

2010 schedule

The Big East released its 2010 schedule, and of note for UConn are the three weeknight games -- which coach Randy Edsall is not a fan of. Those three games, as well as the regular season finale will aired nationally.

9/4 at Michigan
9/11 Texas Southern (originally Northeastern)
9/18 at Temple
9/25 Buffalo
10/2 Vanderbilt
10/8 at Rutgers (Friday night, 7:30 p.m., on ESPN)
10/23 at Louisville
10/29 West Virginia (Friday night, 8 p.m., on ESPN2)
11/11 Pittsburgh (Thursday night, 7:30 p.m., on ESPN)
11/20 at Syracuse
11/27 Cincinnati
12/4 at South Florida (TBA, ESPN/ESPN2/ABC)

UConn's recruit list

Name                           Pos.     Hgt.      Wgt.     Hometown/High School

Alexander, Joshua         LB        6-3        215       Waldorf, Md./Westlake

Brown, Ty-Meer             DB        6-1        180       McKeesport, Pa../McKeesport

Cruz, Gus                     OG       6-4        256       Manchester, N.H./Kimball Union Academy

Davis, Geremy               WR       6-2        205       Lawrenceville, Ga./Norcross

Frank, Reuben               FB        6-2        229       Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie

Hansson, Mark              OT        6-5        256       Clearwater, Fla./Palm Harbour University

Jones, Byron                 DB        6-0.5     175       New Britain, Conn./St. Paul (Bristol)

Jones, Tebucky             WR       6-0        180       Farmington, Conn./New Britain

Louis, Jonathan             DE        6-5        240       Brockton, Mass./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.)

Mack, Taylor                 DB        5-10      170       Powder Springs, Ga./The Lovett School

McBryde, B.J.               DE        6-5        250       Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls

McCombs, Lyle             RB        5-8        175       Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph By The Sea

McCummings, Scott      QB       6-2        210       Natick, Mass./Natick

McKee, Greg                 OT        6-5        295       Chicago, Ill./Martin Luther King College Prep

Opoku, Andrew              DB        6-4        226       North Brunswick, N.J./Fork Union Military Academy (Va.)

Paull, Bryan                  C          6-4        290       Parkland, Fla./M. Stoneman Douglas

Pruitt, Angelo                DL        6-2.5     270       Cincinnati, Ohio/North College Hill

Smallwood, Yawin          LB        6-3        215       Worcester, Mass./Doherty

St. Louis, Gilbert            CB        5-11      175       Davie, Fla./Plantation

Steg, Brandon               LB        6-3        220       Coral Springs, Fla./J.P. Taravella

The following student-athletes each signed a Letter of Intent with UConn in 2009 and enrolled for the Spring 2010 semester

Name                           Pos.     Hgt.      Wgt.     Hometown/High School

Kinnard, Leon                QB       5-9        180       Reistertown, Md./Loyola Blakefield

Osiecki, Michael            LB        6-2        225       Seymour, Conn./ Seymour

Former Husky arrested

Fullback Deon Anderson, who plays for the Dallas Cowboys, was arrested:
http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/news/story?id=4881623

UConn's Big East All-Academic Team members

Name                          Year    Pos.     Hometown                  Major

Harris Agbor                So.       S          Mesquite, Texas           Political Science

John Apostolakos         Sr.        TE        Pittsford, N.Y.              Sports & Leisure/Finance

Jimmy Bennett              RFr.     OT       Alexandria, Va.            Undeclared

Derek Chard                Jr.        TE        Burlington, Conn.          Finance

Marcus Easley              Sr.        WR      Stratford, Conn.           Sport Management

Robbie Frey                 Jr.        RB       Lehighton, Pa.              History

Alex Kaiser                  Jr.        TE        Newington, Conn.        Economics

Brad Kanuch                Sr.        WR      Johnstown, Pa.             Sports & Leisure

Alex LaMagdelaine       Sr.        OG      Rumson, N.J.               English/Economics

Corey Manning             RFr.     TE        Tyrone, Ga.                  Undeclared

Alex Molina                  Sr.        WR      Waterford, Conn.         Psychology

Emmanuel Omokaro     So.       S          Danbury, Conn.            Sports & Leisure

Moe Petrus                  So.       C         St. Laurent, Que.          Psychology

Alex Polito                   Jr.        DT       Reading, Pa.                 Communication Sciences

Dave Teggart                So.       K         Northborough , Mass.   Sports & Leisure

John Yurek                   So.       S          Greencastle, Pa.           Biological Sciences

Jazz, Huskies honored

I'll start with word of the team being nominated for the 2009 FedEx Orange Bowl Courage Award for the strength and determination it has showed in light of Jasper Howard's murder.

Each week, the Football Writers Association of America nominate a team or player who best exemplifies courage. The winner will be announced at the end of the college football season.

Also, this from the university regarding Saturday's game:
The University of Connecticut and its Division of Athletics will honor the memory of Jasper Howard as the team returns to Rentschler Field on Saturday for the first time since Howard passed away on October 18. UConn will take on Rutgers at noon in a BIG EAST Conference game.

All fans who attend Saturday’s game will receive a “6” card in honor of Jasper Howard’s jersey number.  In addition, the first 15,000 fans who enter the gates will receive “Jazz Live 365” wristbands.

UConn students who attend the game will receive the same “eye-black” that the Husky team is wearing – one with a “6” and the other with a “JH”. All UConn students will also receive a “6” button.

Prior to the contest, the UConn Marching Band will come onto the field all wearing No. 6 jerseys and will display the formation of a “6” in the word “UCONN” during its pregame program.

Following the entrance of both teams on to the field for the game, there will be a “Moment of Respect” in honor of Howard with both teams lining up on their respective sidelines.

“We encourage all Husky fans to arrive at their seats in Rentschler Field by 11:30 a.m. on Saturday in order to see the pregame band show and to be present for the Moment of Respect,” says UConn Head Football Coach Randy Edsall. “There are a number of pregame activities and we would like to see every seat occupied as a sign of respect for Jazz.”

The Connecticut team will once again wear a “JH” sticker on its helmet while Rutgers will wear a “6”.

As fans enter Rentschler Field, they will have the opportunity to donate to both of the funds that have been set up in his memory. 

"The Jasper T. Howard Endowed Scholarship" will be annually awarded to a UConn football student-athlete who plays at the cornerback position and who best displays the outstanding leadership qualities which Jasper embodied.

 "The Jasper Howard Fund" will assist Jasper's family with expenses such as funeral costs, travel to attend the memorial service and support for Jasper's soon-to-be-born child, in a manner consistent with NCAA guidelines.

Fans are also reminded that they will be permitted to bring signs honoring Howard into Rentschler Field. This will be a one-time exception to the regular Rentschler policy prohibiting signs.

Signs cannot be on sticks or poles --- and signs cannot impair the enjoyment of the game for other fans.

"This is one more way that our fans can make a personal tribute to Jasper Howard," says UConn Director of Athletics Jeffrey Hathaway. "We thank our friends at Rentschler Field for relaxing the 'no signs' policy for this one game only and providing fans another opportunity to honor Jasper." 

Prior to the game at approximately 9:40 a.m., the UConn football team will take part in their usual pregame “Husky Walk”. Fans can greet the Huskies from Gates D to C at Rentschler Field to welcome the team to the game.

Jasper Howard's Funeral

If you want to watch...go to nnbcmiami.org and click NNBC on Demand. Click on the scrolling marquee that says Jasper Howard Funeral. A pop-up box will appear prompting you to sign up. You must do this in order to view.

Once you do this, you'll be set.

Jasper Howard vigil

From UConn:
Beginning at 6:00 on the lawn outside the student union.
Pres. Hogan, Coach Edsall, student gov. pres. Thomas Haggerty and MAYBE a representative from the West Indian group will speak. Candles will be provided.
There will be some kind of acapella song from a group on campus.
The crowd will then be led in a procession to mirror lake (in front of Monteith and Arjona) for some final words.
Candles will be left by the lake.

The latest on Howard

Randy Edsall said that the team will keep Howard's locker in place until the time he would have graduated (2011). His number will not be retired, but will not be worn until after Howard would have graduated and given only to a player who shares the same character as Howard.

The funeral is expected to take place Monday in Miami and the team will travel.

UConn's game at West Virginia on Saturday will go on, but the Mountaineers will wear a No. 6 on their helmets and hold a moment of silence before kickoff.

Tuesday presser

The normal meeting place, perhaps appropriate today -- the defensive meeting room -- is standing room only as everyone and their cousin is in here to hear what Randy Edsall has to say regarding Jasper Howard's death.

There are 11 TV cameras, numerous photogs and countless scribes.

While we wait, read what former Husky Dan Davis shared:

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/x1801873133/Dan-Davis-I-cant-believe-my-teammate-was-killed

Press conference on Howard's death

Randy Edsall said he arrived at St. Francis Hospital around 1:30 a.m., where several players and other students were present. He spoke with Howard's mother and later, was called in to identify the body around 4:30 a.m.

He addressed the students who were on present, calling the situation "not pleasant" for him and others.

Edsall, with his voice quivering, called Howard a "great young man."

"We had lost a brother, a teammate, a great person, a mentor and just somebody you love to be around," Edsall told the team at a 6 a.m. meeting.

UConn will do something to remember Howard this season with a helmet or jersey logo and will make tribute in the football complex.

The most tragic news is that Edsall spoke with Howard's girlfriend in Miami and learned that Howard was going to become a father.

Howard dies

Jasper Howard, the UConn CB, was killed in an on-campus stabbing early Sunday morning, team spokesman Mike Enright confirmed.

More details later.

Big play

Kashif Moore caught a 67-yard reception, one that should have been for maybe 15 but the blocking of Ryan Griffin and Dwayne Difton sprung him deep into Louisville territory.

The drive ended with Andre Dixon's second TD.