2002 Statistics

written by James Johnson

Sophomore tailback Terry Caulley was a revelation in his 2002 freshman season, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt and scoring 15 touchdowns. He gained nearly 65% of the Huskies' rushing yardage, and that ratio must drop for Connecticut to improve this season.

Caulley is too small to make it through an entire season in one piece if he averages 25-30 yards per game. Coach Randy Edsall tried that last season and saw Caulley get progressively more banged up as the year went on. Chandler Poole, a 5'11" 204 pound senior, had some success filling in for Caulley last season (4.1 yard average on 51 carries). It will be up to him and redshirt freshman Cornell Brockington to provide enough depth in the running game to keep Caulley near his peak form throughout the season.

Junior quarterback Dan Orlovsky seemed to improve nearly every game last season, and even more is expected of him this year. Orlovsky completed over 60% of his passes last season and threw 19 touchdowns against only 11 interceptions. He was proficient as a medium-range passer and showed enough arm strength to be effective throwing downfield.

The Huskies' best hope of developing a deep receiving threat is sophomore Jason Williams (6'0", 180 lbs.). After finishing 7th in the 55-meter dash at the Big East Track Championships this winter, Williams will look to become more consistent and improve on his 15.4 yard per catch average he posted in spot 2002 duty. Connecticut has another speedy wide receiver in converted quarterback Keron Henry (6'2", 218 lbs, junior). An athletic receiver who has run a 4.42 40-yard dash, Henry had a strong spring and is expected to blossom into a dependable receiver with more playing time this season. Keep an eye on former walk-on Shaun Feldeisen, who was awarded a scholarship just prior to the start of the 2002 season. He had a breakthrough season finishing second on the team in receiving yardage and receptions while playing in all 12 games.

One of the more interesting races to watch this spring will be at tight end where six players will vie to pick up the slack left behind by Tommy Collins, the team's leading receiver in 2002.

The left side of the Huskies' line is their strength, with returning starters Ryan Krug and Brian Markowski. Center Billy Irwin also started every game last season. The right side of the line in not bad either, with guard LeAndre Dupree having 12 career starts to his credit and tackle Grant Preston expected to develop into a strong tackle after moving over from guard. The unit's productive 2002 leads us to believe defenses will see them coming, so to speak. This year's tests will be harder.

If Connecticut's receivers are able to stretch the field, the Huskies' offense will be even more effective than 2002, when they averaged 31 points per game. Injuries on the offensive line, if they occur, will be a problem, though, since there is little depth at those positions.

TB Terry Caulley

written by James Johnson

Connecticut's best defensive player is clearly end Uyi Osunde. The 6'3", 243 pound, senior made 15.5 TFLs and had 9.5 sacks. His speed makes him the best playmaker, but Osunde missed spring practice while recovering from a shoulder surgery. He is expected to be back at 100% for the season. With a strong senior year, he should show up on NFL scouts' radar at draft time.

Anchoring UConn's run defense is tackle Sean Mulcahy, a senior who will be in his third season as a starter. The other defensive end, junior Tyler King, had 5.5 sacks despite being sidelined for a while with chicken pox (at least that won't happen again this year).

Questions surround the availability of the Huskies' best defensive back, senior strong safety Chris Meyer (6'0", 207 lbs.). There is no doubt about his ability. He is a strong, tough hitter who has already broken up 19 passes in his career. Meyer was suspended for spring practice after being arrested in connection with an off-campus rape case. He was charged with interfering in the investigation, but at this point is still eligible and plans on rejoining the team by fall.

Fellow safety Terrance Smith is also a big hitter. Cornerback Marion Jones (5'5", 163 lbs.) is a junior who stepped into the starting lineup and had 65 tackles. His size can create mismatches, but he obviously knows how to hit and finish. Overall, Connecticut has a solid, experienced secondary if Meyer is available.

Linebacker Maurice Lloyd led the Husikes with 113 tackles despite his relative diminutive size. He is an extremely versatile linebacker, strong in pass coverage and aggressive enough to make 18 TFLs. Middle linebacker Alfred Fincher was third on the team with 92 tackles and, like Lloyd, is strong at both defending the run and dropping back into pass coverage. These two are a large reason UConn was able to stay in (and even win) so many big games.

There are no gaping holes in UConn's defense. They won't give up a lot of big plays. Playing well as a unit got their opponents to commit 32 TOs. They are not particularly athletic, but they are versatile and well schooled. It is a group that should be able to hold their own against most.

DE Uyi Osunde