College Football Previews #63 and #64 - Connecticut and UMass
Connecticut hopes to take the next step forward in 2023 after finishing 6-7 last season and qualifying for a Bowl game for the first time since 2015. Head Coach Jim Mora enters his 2nd season at the helm with moderate expectations. Connecticut welcomes back six starters on Offense including four starters on the Offensive Line. The Wide Receiving Unit only brings back one starter in sophomore Kevens Clercius and will need several experienced returnees to step up including senior Geordon Porter and sophomore Cameron Ross. Look for three Quarterbacks to battle it out for the starting job in Fall Camp in senior Joseph Fagnano (Maine transfer), sophomore Ta'Quan Roberson, and freshman Zion Turner. The Huskies will use a Running Back by committee approach this season with freshman Victor Rosa - the final returning starter on Offense - and sophomore Devontae Houston sharing the carries. Connecticut does return eight starters on Defense including all four starters on the Defensive Line which will be anchored by a pair of Defensive Ends in junior Eric Watts and freshman Pryce Yates. The Linebacking Unit only brings back one starter in junior Weakside Linebacker Jackson Mitchell who is poised for another remarkable season. The Secondary returns three starters including a pair of elite Safeties in sophomores Durante Jones and Malik Dixon-Williams. The Special Teams Unit returns intact with sophomore Kicker Joe McFadden and sophomore Punter George Caratan both back. Connecticut fans need to remain patient with Jim Mora as wins will be even more difficult to come by this season as the Huskies won't be able to sneak up on anyone. The Huskies have an extremely difficult schedule which includes road games at Boston College, at Tennessee, and at James Madison. Connecticut will be even more competitive this season than they were in 2022 but it won't show in their final record. I predict Connecticut to go 7-6 in 2023 and qualify for a Bowl Game for the 2nd straight season. The Huskies will win their Bowl Game this time to cap off a tremendous campaign. Even better days are ahead for the Huskies and their legion of fans.
UMass hopes to improve on last season's 1-11 record in 2023. The Minutemen have severable winnable home games this season against non Power 5 Teams and their Head Coach will have time to build the team back up but the fans and alumni need to be patient. Head Coach Don Brown enters his 2nd season at the helm in his 2nd stint with low expectations but hope for the future. UMass only welcomes back five starters on Offense including four starters on the Offensive Line. The Wide Receiving Unit only returns one starter in junior George Johnson III. Look for senior Quarterback Taisun Phommachanh (Georgia Tech transfer) to battle fellow senior Carlos Davis (Western Carolina) for the starting job. Junior Running Back Kay'Ron Adams will be a bright spot for the Offense and will be spelled by sophomore Greg Desrosiers, Jr. UMass brings back seven starters on Defense including three starters on the Defensive Line which will be anchored by senior Nose Tackles Billy Wooden and Cletus Mathurin. The Linebacking Unit doesn't return any starters and will need several experienced returnees to step up most notably sophomore Linebacker Gerrell Johnson and senior Linebacker Jerry Roberts, Jr. (Arizona transfer). The Secondary returns four starters and will be led by a pair of shutdown Cornerbacks in senior Josh Wallace and junior Jordan Mahoney. The Special Teams Unit returns intact with junior Kicker Cameron Carson and junior Punter CJ Kolodziey both back. UMass hopes they hit rock bottom in 2022. The Minutemen have a manageable schedule this season even though they have six road games including trips to Auburn and Penn State. UMass also has a Neutral Site game against UConn on Thanksgiving weekend. I predict UMass to improve ever so slightly and go 2-10 this season. The Minutemen have a tough road ahead of them but their new Head Coach is in it for the long haul.
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