UConn Football Class of 2022 NLI Early Signing Day Thread/Info (12/15/21>12/17/21) | Page 8 | The Boneyard

UConn Football Class of 2022 NLI Early Signing Day Thread/Info (12/15/21>12/17/21)

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My understanding is that when They enter the portal they are removed from the team. They can remain in school until the end of the Semester on scholarship. If you complete the first semester and enter the portal they can stay on scholarship till may
Well that would answer the question of why several didn't enter the portal until today (assuming today marked the end of the semester). For those not sure about next year yet, they're just leaving all options open.
 
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Down from prior mid sixties prior? But of course that number was going down anyway from natural causes since it was an early assessment and there was a lot of volatility in the interim..
No Sallis, no jean and a number of unranked players. But, it'll get better.
 
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Well that would answer the question of why several didn't enter the portal until today (assuming today marked the end of the semester). For those not sure about next year yet, they're just leaving all options open.
That's a good explanation. Thank you, I was unaware of the scholarship rule.
 
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That's a good explanation. Thank you, I was unaware of the scholarship rule.
Thanks, but really it was jayfromfla who gave the insight, I just added to it about why the flurry of activity today. ;)
 
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->While Mora’s resume grabbed Branch’s attention, that’s not what sold him on recommitting.

“He was very sincere,” Branch said. “The thing I liked about him is that we both have some things in common: one, confidence; two, a chip. When I’m coming into UConn, yeah, I already made a name for myself (in Florida), but I haven’t been to the pros, and that’s where I want to be. And even if I get to the NFL, I don’t want to just be in the NFL, I also want to be in the Hall of Fame.

“We’re both motivated. I’m trying to get to UConn and play my first year, play as soon as I get there. He was very sincere. He was a very good guy. He’s the reason why I committed. When you get a coach with motivation like that, with energy like that, it flows, it’s contagious.”

Branch announced on Dec. 5 that he had re-upped his pledge with the Huskies, tweeting, “I’m coming home.” He officially signed Wednesday, the first day of the NCAA’s early signing period.

That Branch decided to return was a big win for the new staff. He’s the top-rated recruit in UConn’s 2022 class, ranked 67th at his position and 1,329th overall by 247Sports, whom Mora sees as a potential difference-maker. This past season, Branch had 56 tackles (20 for loss), 11 sacks and four forced fumbles for Foundation Academy, earning First Team All-Conference honors at defensive end. He also played offensive tackle.

“He’s a guy that’s a playmaker that can come off the edge and create havoc in the backfield,” Mora said. “He’s also a good run-stopper. He was a guy that decommitted and came right back in when he saw the vision that we have for this football team.” <-
 
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No Sallis, no jean and a number of unranked players. But, it'll get better.
Right. Plus other programs didn’t have all their signees yet. I expect when it is all said and done we will be pretty happy with this year’s group between incoming frosh and transfers.
 
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No Sallis, no jean and a number of unranked players. But, it'll get better.
Even without the coaching turnover we would have lost a few commits. Remarkable job by Mora to salvage the class. Love to get back Jean and McGill also.
 
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Even without the coaching turnover we would have lost a few commits. Remarkable job by Mora to salvage the class. Love to get back Jean and McGill also.
I said it in another thread. I think Mora used this class to add depth at some thin positions. He had what a month? That's not much to hire a staff, evaluate current roster and target, evaluate and recruit kids out of high school. We have the pieces to win next year. We showed we have an offense with the right scheme in place (Wyoming and Vandy). Mora knows football and has hired a phenomenal coaching staff (including Spanos).
 

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I said it in another thread. I think Mora used this class to add depth at some thin positions. He had what a month? That's not much to hire a staff, evaluate current roster and target, evaluate and recruit kids out of high school. We have the pieces to win next year. We showed we have an offense with the right scheme in place (Wyoming and Vandy). Mora knows football and has hired a phenomenal coaching staff (including Spanos).
17 days between November 28 and December 14.

On the other hand, I think he was appointed as an assistant coach as of the introductory Zoom conference. He wasn't performing on-field duties, but between public appearances, I'm sure he was doing a monster-load of personnel evaluation.
 
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17 days between November 28 and December 14.

On the other hand, I think he was appointed as an assistant coach as of the introductory Zoom conference. He wasn't performing on-field duties, but between public appearances, I'm sure he was doing a monster-load of personnel evaluation.
I do think the four days in Montana had a lot more to do with roadmapping the pathway forward and possible staff though. Four solid days in Idaho sounds like the perfect way to get started. I am sure the staff back home held all of DB's calls.

Reminds me when Shawn Walsh and Jeff Jackson got together on the Lake State campus during the dog days of summer 1991. Just to brainstorm as two coaches at two schools. Jackson won the national championship in 1992 with Lake Superior State, and Walsh in 1993 with Maine.
 
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17 days between November 28 and December 14.

On the other hand, I think he was appointed as an assistant coach as of the introductory Zoom conference. He wasn't performing on-field duties, but between public appearances, I'm sure he was doing a monster-load of personnel evaluation.
If u watched Houston game on tv, he had someone next to him all game with an iPad that they’d view together. one can imagine they were pouring over recruit videos.
 
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I do think the four days in Montana had a lot more to do with roadmapping the pathway forward and possible staff though. Four solid days in Idaho sounds like the perfect way to get started. I am sure the staff back home held all of DB's calls.

Reminds me when Shawn Walsh and Jeff Jackson got together on the Lake State campus during the dog days of summer 1991. Just to brainstorm as two coaches at two schools. Jackson won the national championship in 1992 with Lake Superior State, and Walsh in 1993 with Maine.
And I forgot that Jackson won again in 1994.
 

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I do think the four days in Montana had a lot more to do with roadmapping the pathway forward and possible staff though. Four solid days in Idaho sounds like the perfect way to get started. I am sure the staff back home held all of DB's calls.

Reminds me when Shawn Walsh and Jeff Jackson got together on the Lake State campus during the dog days of summer 1991. Just to brainstorm as two coaches at two schools. Jackson won the national championship in 1992 with Lake Superior State, and Walsh in 1993 with Maine.
If u watched Houston game on tv, he had someone next to him all game with an iPad that they’d view together. one can imagine they were pouring over recruit videos.
Anyway you slice it, Mora did a tremendous job putting the early signing period class together....and without naming defensive coordinator. I can't help but think he was telling recruits and verbal-commits that Spanos was coming back, and only had to clear a few paperwork hurdles.

If nothing else, bringing in a combined seven offensive and defensive linemen indicates that Mora knows how to put together a squad. They have about a dozen open slots left. Really interested what's ahead over the next six weeks.
 
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Onto February 2nd...
  1. Timothy Passmore (DL) - Cocoa High School, Cocoa Florida (UConn Commit 6/10/21) (Edsall)
  2. Brady Wayburn (OL) - Gastonia North Carolina>The Loomis Chaffe School, Windsor CT (UConn Commit 6/20/21) (Edsall)
  3. D’Mon Brinson (DB) - Dillard High School, Ft. Lauderdale Florida (UConn Commit 6/22/21) (Edsall)
  4. Victor Rosa (RB/ATH) - Bristol Central High School, Bristol CT (UConn Commit 7/14/21) (Edsall)
  5. Donovan Branch (DL) - Foundation Academy, Winter Garden Florida (UConn Commit 6/20/21>Decommitted 10/2/21>Recommitted 12/5/21)
  6. Nathan Voorhis (DL) - Stroudsburg High School, Stroudsburg PA (UConn Commit 6/11/21>Decommitted 10/17/21>Recommitted 12/6/21)
  7. Derek Spearman (DB) - Cornelius North Carolina>The Loomis Chaffee School, Windsor CT (UConn Commit 12/5/21) (Mora)
  8. Denzel Mountali-Johnstown (ATH) - Vancouver BC>The Loomis Chaffee School, Windsor CT (UConn Commit 12/5/21) (Mora)
  9. Kylish Hicks (WR) - Mergenthaler Vo-Tech High School, Baltimore, Maryland (UConn Commit 12/12/21) (Mora)
  10. Ben Murawski (OL) - Harleysville PA>St Thomas More School Oakdale CT (UConn Commit 12/12/21) (Mora)
  11. Nigel Fitzgerald (WR) - Greensboro, North Carolina> ODU (UConn Commit 2/13/21) (Grad Transfer) (Mora)
  12. Justin Joly (TE) - Iona Prep H.S., New Rochelle New York (Delaware Commit>Decommitted 11/29/21>UConn Commit 12/13/21) (Mora)
  13. Bo Estes (TE) Tulsa Oklahoma>Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (JUCO), Miami Oklahoma (UConn Commit 12/13/21) (Mora)
  14. Matt Hoffman (DL) - Cheltenham High School, Wyncote PA (VaTech Commit 6/19/21>Decommitted>UConn Commit 12/15/21) (Mora)
  15. Cale Millen (QB) - Snoqualmie, Washington>Northern Arizona University. UConn Commit 2/15/21) (Transfer Portal) (Mora)
  16. Jake Guidone (OL/TE) - East Walpole MA>Dartmouth College, Hanover New Hampshire (UConn Commit 11/15/21) (Grad Transfer) (Mora)
 

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While I'm still excited for the Mora era, reality is setting in for on the recruiting/ transfer results. This is still a broken class filled with question marks and flyers. Other than perhaps QB and maybe a spot on DL, I'm not seeing any sure upgrades or impact players for next season.
 
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While I'm still excited for the Mora era, reality is setting in for on the recruiting/ transfer results. This is still a broken class filled with question marks and flyers. Other than perhaps QB and maybe a spot on DL, I'm not seeing any sure upgrades or impact players for next season.
Next year's improvements are going to come from coaching staff improvements and stability, added experience across the board, getting a couple of WR's back from injuries, and maybe a surprise from one or two of the incoming players (I think Rosa could do that as a slot receiver, hopefully Guidone, and maybe one of the DL's). Next year won't be a drastic improvement but it could be a 3 or 4 win season, which would be a good first step.
 
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While I'm still excited for the Mora era, reality is setting in for on the recruiting/ transfer results. This is still a broken class filled with question marks and flyers. Other than perhaps QB and maybe a spot on DL, I'm not seeing any sure upgrades or impact players for next season.
True. However, don’t forget what Mazzone did with these guys. Competence is going to get us some wins, which will be a huge improvement. We don’t need to do anything next year but be good enough that we can all be excited about where we are headed. I said it on the chat vs Wyoming and Vandy, it was so much fun to watch our guys compete that even losing was ok in those games. I just enjoyed seeing us be presentable.

Mora will make us presentable and I think for now, that will please most of us. Next year’s recruiting results will be a different animal. That’s when we’ll see if we’ve made a significant jump. Him having us looking much improved in the fall will be a big factor in how successful he is signing kids next December and beyond.

For now, pray for transfers and some big late signings. He still has plenty of time to improve the current roster
 
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While I'm still excited for the Mora era, reality is setting in for on the recruiting/ transfer results. This is still a broken class filled with question marks and flyers. Other than perhaps QB and maybe a spot on DL, I'm not seeing any sure upgrades or impact players for next season.
In the cold light of dawn things look different. A lot more realism. Not sure what everyone was expecting in the short time available. If UConn gets a decent number of SAs out of the portal, it will look a bit better. We are still looking at 2-3 wins next year tops. You don't lose guys like TJ and RV and expect to get a whole lot better the following year.
 
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While I'm still excited for the Mora era, reality is setting in for on the recruiting/ transfer results. This is still a broken class filled with question marks and flyers. Other than perhaps QB and maybe a spot on DL, I'm not seeing any sure upgrades or impact players for next season.

Neither the offensive game plan, nor plays will be installed or called by inexperienced career position coaches and/or defensive specialist.
 
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In the cold light of dawn things look different. A lot more realism. Not sure what everyone was expecting in the short time available. If UConn gets a decent number of SAs out of the portal, it will look a bit better. We are still looking at 2-3 wins next year tops. You don't lose guys like TJ and RV and expect to get a whole lot better the following year.
2-3 wins next year will be a HUGE disappointment. Well, maybe 3 I could stomach, but I expect 4+. I Know our schedule is no cupcake, but there are plenty of winnable games.
 

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The December class is a decent start.

What I like;
1) The full on engagement of all the programs in the northeast. That’s great. That’s coming in a with a short and long term plan. It’s time to heal these wounds. We have landed not one area kid in the portal and that has a lot to do with the undercurrent of bad feelings.
2) Important commits; well they are all important - really, but certainly retaining the CT state player of the year was ultra important. Cale Millen would be my second most important player and maybe Guidone third. As we are seeing (Edsall tried too), landing seasoned OL transfers is hard- very hard. Honorable mention Branch with his legit burst and Joly with large hands and cut ability for this size. Dark horse would be Hoffman.
3) Visibility; got to love Mora’s willingness to be the face- to be out there and to spread good vibes. There are few other hires we could have landed that could open doors like Mora has been. And he is playing the game on social media.. which has to happen.
4) Speed; like it or not, Mora appears to be much more willing to get offers out there. He’s moving faster than the prior staff. We’ll see if this pace continues- but indications are he’s more willing to make offers before perhaps having all the info on a recruit. I think Mora would rather take shots than take perfect shots.

As for this class- well it’s a start. I want to wait to reserve judgement until we see what we get in Feb and what transfers actually enroll. One under the radar issue is retainage. I have no inside info on this- but Mora has to be constantly recruiting our own players- especially the ones that should be starters in 2022. Let’s hope the impact players we already have are on board with the Mora-Charlton-Spanos 2022 game plan.

And I look forward to hearing a little about spring practice plans and what changes Mora plans to make with both the offense and defense. Obviously he won’t say much, but he should put our a little scheme info - a couple kernels.
 
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2-3 wins next year will be a HUGE disappointment. Well, maybe 3 I could stomach, but I expect 4+. I Know our schedule is no cupcake, but there are plenty of winnable games.
You need to manage your expectations. Of course we COULD recruit a game changer or two. But best not to expect that.

Hark back to the bigger faster stronger days of August and recall the change in tone of those gushing about getting to six wins as soon as the Fresno two deep came out. It was PALPABLE and profound. Holy excrement, these guys are all redshirt juniors, seniors, and grads. And look at their SIZE. How the hell is UConn gonna compete with THIS team. Just to paraphrase some of the comments.

My recommendation is to take off the rose colored glasses, set realistic expectations, and be head over heels surprised and excited if they are exceeded. Four wins is not a reasonable expectation.
 

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. I can't help but think he was telling recruits and verbal-commits that Spanos was coming back, and only had to clear a few paperwork hurdles.
Or did he wait until after they signed to announce it?
 
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You need to manage your expectations. Of course we COULD recruit a game changer or two. But best not to expect that.

Hark back to the bigger faster stronger days of August and recall the change in tone of those gushing about getting to six wins as soon as the Fresno two deep came out. It was PALPABLE and profound. Holy excrement, these guys are all redshirt juniors, seniors, and grads. And look at their SIZE. How the hell is UConn gonna compete with THIS team. Just to paraphrase some of the comments.

My recommendation is to take off the rose colored glasses, set realistic expectations, and be head over heels surprised and excited if they are exceeded. Four wins is not a reasonable expectation.
I certainly don’t want to clutter up this thread with this discussion, but don’t really see it as rose colored. I see two expected wins and three others that are doable. we easily left wins on the field this year that coaching and injuries impacted. You certainly are allowed to expect only 2 wins, I’ll hope for 4. :)
 
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