UConn Football: Spring Ball Standouts – Part III
STORRS—The morning warm front brought upon a morning mist, which kept the fifth practice of UConn spring ball indoors at the Mark R. Shenkman Training Facility during Thursday’s session. We have mentioned on numerous occasions the constant presence of intensity and competition—this day was no different with the coaching staff not allowing any letup.
Once again, there were several repeat players who performed well such as graduate senior wideout Nigel Fitzgerald, who continues to make highlight-reel type catches and sophomore wide receiver Keelan Marion, who made the catch of the day on a beautiful fade route thrown by redshirt sophomore quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson over senior defensive back Tre Wortham.
In the backfield, ‘Agent 0,’ junior running back Will Knight has had a quietly good succession of consecutive practices and could look to be the Huskies between the tackles bruiser/short yardage runner. On defense, junior linebacker Jackson Mitchell continues to draw praise from the coaching staff for his work ethic and leadership, as he looks to build upon his team-leading 114 tackle season of a year ago.
Make sure you keep it locked to UConn Illustrated for continuous updates from Storrs on Huskies spring ball. If you missed any of our previous standout articles, you can catch them here: Part I | Part II. In the meantime, here are 10 more players who stood out on Thursday:
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#12 Tyler Phommachanh, Quarterback, rFr.
The Stratford native started three games last season before a season-ending knee injury, which has kept Phommachanh limited early on during the spring. He has been the ultimate team player, participating in any way possible, whether lining up on scout team or encouraging others. Phommachanh was more active during this particular practice and was able to increase his quarterback reps, connecting on several well-thrown balls.
#26 Nathan Carter, Running Back, So.
Last year’s leading rusher (578 yards), Carter brings excellent quickness and vision. The ‘Rochester Rocket’ has been praised for his maturity since his arrival at Storrs and proved to be an immediate impact player as a freshman. Carter is also a capable pass-catcher and willing blocker, making him a strong candidate to start once again in 2022.
#5 Aaron Turner, Running Back, So.
Built more like a running back then a wide receiver, Turner has flashed his speed in the spring. He seems to make at least one play per practice that grabs your attention, which Huskies fans should be accustomed to, as the Maryland native led the team with 33 receptions in 2021. This is one player that the staff will look to get the ball in his hands and let him go to work—whether as a receiver, return man and who knows, possibly in the backfield.
#48 Kevon Jones, Defensive End, Sr.
Look for Jones to serve as a jack-knife in the Huskies ‘Razor’ position, which will feature the East Hartford native in a defensive end/linebacker hybrid-type role. Head coach Jim L. Mora stated that Jones could be utilized as a blitzer and roam the line of scrimmage but also carries heavy hands in the run and can set the edge, or is athletic enough to drop back in coverage if needed. The senior figures to be a key cog.
#6 Ian Swenson, Linebacker, Sr.
After redshirting as a freshman, Swenson has been a productive player for UConn, registering at least 40 tackles in each of the past three seasons. He can often be seen lining up with the starting unit on defense and he brings a sense of veteran experience on a group where there are lots of new faces.
#11 Marquez Bembry, Linebacker, Gr.
A transfer from Kentucky, Bembry brings the swag and has seemed to emerge as one of the more vocal leaders. When the coaches preach intensity, the Georgia product is sure to get the memo. His motor runs non-stop, as he knocked over one coach during bag drills and brought that juice all day long.
#33 Hunter Webb, Linebacker, rJr.
The Huskies linebacker corps is shaping up to be one of the deeper positions on the team and Webb figures to be a part of that mix. A three-sport athlete in high school (football, basketball, baseball), the Pennsylvania native collected 59 tackles a year ago, including a handful of double-digit tackle games. His footwork and ability to cover ground laterally have stood out thus far in the spring.
#46 John Bechtle, Linebacker, So.
This is more of a whim than anything because Bechtle is a relative unknown with limited playing experience but he has drawn our eye in each practice with his footwork, movement skills and demeanor. The New Jersey native played under former New York Giants Super Bowl Champion Rich Seubert at Watchung Hills and brings a very workman-like approach. It would not be surprising to see Bechtle emerge as a valuable backup this season.
#17 Stan Cross, Cornerback, Jr.
A JUCO transfer (Iowa Central CC) who hails from Nashville, Cross filled in admirably during his first season in Storrs a year ago, when called upon to step-in and start due to injuries in the secondary. He has lined up on either side of the field, which could serve as a valuable asset, whether he starts or plays backup.
#20 Deon McLean Jr., Safety, rFr.
Based on gut instinct, McLean Jr. looks like he can play a bit. He was used sparingly in two games last year, so there is not much body of work to go off. However, the New Jersey native appears to have some exceptional athleticism, along with natural instincts and above average change of direction skills. Hence, it was not surprising to learn that he was a state champion track runner in the 400-meter dash. Don’t sleep on McLean Jr., who could be primed for a safety/slot role on defense.
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