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Athlon Sports
UConn Football: 2024 Huskies Season Preview and Prediction
By Athlon Sports,
20 days ago
UConn head coach Jim Mora has already won more games in two years than his predecessor did in four, not counting the canceled 2020 schedule. Now, it’s a matter of how he and his staff can adjust to the current state of college football, which Mora has been critical of in the last calendar year. The Huskies bring back 10 starters and enough winnable games dot the schedule to push for a quick rebound after a 3-9 campaign last fall.
Like many of its peers in the Group of 5 in 2024, UConn needs to find replacements for several of its top players from the 2023 season, including its quarterback. Ta’Quan Roberson was the full-time starter in 2023, throwing for 2,075 yards with 12 touchdown passes and six interceptions and adding two rushing touchdowns, but he entered the portal in the offseason. Expect FCS Maine transfer Joe Fagnano to push for the job along with Wisconsin transfer Nick Evers.
All-America guard Christian Haynes needs to be replaced. Former Michigan signee Jack Stewart is a candidate to do so after appearing in 11 games last season, but it will likely take a village to make the line successful. The Huskies were one of the best pass-blocking teams in football in 2023, allowing only 12 total sacks.
UConn also has the unfortunate task of replacing tight end Justin Joly, now at NC State. Joly was the Huskies’ leading receiver last season with 578 yards. However, Wisconsin transfer wide receiver Skyler Bell could fill the production void nicely. Bell caught 69 passes for 755 yards and six touchdowns in two seasons for the Badgers.
New defensive coordinator Matt Brock is expected to move the Huskies to a 3-3-5 scheme, which he had some success with at Mississippi State. It’s a move that adds a bit more pressure to defensive tackles Pryce Yates and Jelani Stafford, who combined for 22 tackles for a loss last season. Stafford also made a name for himself on offense, picking up six rushing touchdowns as a 300-pound situational running back.
Brock is the team’s first full-time defensive coordinator since Jim Mora became head coach in 2022, which adds stability to the group.
UConn will also need to replace arguably their most consistent player in linebacker Jackson Mitchell after three consecutive seasons with more than 100 tackles. Mitchell finishes his NCAA career at No. 29 on the FBS all-time list with 432 total tackles. Finding a performer in the middle who can live up to that standard will not be easy.
The Huskies bring back six starters from a defense that allowed 29.8 points a game last season.
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Previewing UConn's Specialists for 2024
The Huskies will have new faces at both kicker and punter in 2024. Grad transfer placekicker Chris Freeman joins the Huskies from Indiana, where he was 10-for-14 on field goals in 2023 and 29-of-30 on extra points. Punter Connor Stutz joins from FCS Sacramento State, where he booted it just 10 times in 26 games for 45.6 yards per punt.
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