The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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124 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CLAYTON SAYFIE First-year head coach Jim Mora has quite a task on his hands, taking over a UConn pro- gram that hasn't enjoyed a winning season since 2010. The Huskies were 1-11 last season and saw head coach Randy Edsall step down after the second game. Their 11 losses came by an average of 22.7 points per contest, with only two single-digit setbacks and six by 28 points or more. Out of 130 FBS teams, UConn ranked worse than 100th nationally in total offense (128th), scoring offense (129th), passing of- fense (116th), rushing offense (123rd), total de- fense (115th), scoring defense (123rd), passing defense (105th) and rushing defense (108th). It's set to be an upward climb, but Mora has some coaching chops. He was the head coach of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons from 2004-06 and Seattle Seahawks in 2009, and he won 46 of his 76 outings during his time leading UCLA from 2012-17, with four bowl appear- ances. Mora and Co. have quite a bit returning — 75 percent of the team's production per ESPN.com, which is the 29th-most in the country. He also hit the transfer portal in an ef- fort to boost a passing offense that ranked last in the land with 4.9 yards per attempt last sea- son, bringing in former Penn State signal-caller Ta'Quan Robinson, a redshirt sophomore who appeared in just six games in three seasons with the Nittany Lions. Sophomore wide receiver Keelan Marion led the squad with 474 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns on 29 catches last season. He headlines a receiving corps that returns four of its top five playmakers from a year ago. Redshirt sophomore Kevens Clercius scored 3 touchdowns in 2021, and classmate Cameron Ross is expected back healthy after missing all but two contests due to injury a year ago. He racked up 60 catches (71st nationally) for 723 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2019. Sophomore Nathan Carter was the Huskies' leading rusher in 2021, registering 578 yards and 2 touchdowns. He'll run behind an of- fensive line that features redshirt junior right guard Christian Haynes — the lone Huskie up front to register an above-average Pro Football Focus grade last season — and transfer-portal import Jake Guidone, a graduate center from Dartmouth. While the defense brings back 10 players who started six or more games last year, defen- sive tackle Travis Jones — the No. 76 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to the Baltimore Ravens — will be tough to replace. He posted 7.5 tackles for loss on a group that ranked 95th in the country with just 5.1 stops behind the line of scrimmage per game. Linemate Lwal Uguak was responsible for 3.5 of those, but he transferred to TCU this offseason. UConn still has experience on defense, with its top six tacklers from last season leading the way. Junior linebacker Jackson Mitchell to- taled 120 stops (16th in the country), including 6.5 for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 2 pass breakups and 1 interception last season. All four starters in the secondary are also back, highlighted by sophomore safety Durante Jones (59 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 inter- ception and 1 pass breakup). Notes UConn became an independent in 2020, after being a member of the American Athletic Conference from 2013-19 … UConn lost 38-28 to FCS Holy Cross in the second game of last season, triggering head coach Randy Edsall's immediate departure from the program … The Huskies' 2020 campaign was canceled … UConn has ranked 98th or worse in national recruiting rankings each of the last five years, per the On3 Consensus. ❑ Struggling Huskies Enter A New Era Under Jim Mora 2022 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2021 Result Aug. 27 at Utah State — Sept. 3 CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE — Sept. 10 SYRACUSE — Sept. 17 at Michigan — Sept. 24 at NC State — Oct. 1 FRESNO STATE L, 45-0 Oct. 8 at Florida International — Oct. 15 at Ball State — Oct. 29 BOSTON COLLEGE — Nov. 5 UMASS L, 27-13 Nov. 12 LIBERTY — Nov. 19 at Army L, 52-21 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Cameron Ross, R-So., WR The 5-10, 180-pounder's 5.5 catches per game and 60 total receptions ranked second nationally among true freshmen in 2019. Defense: Kevon Jones, Sr., DE The 6-3, 230-pounder led UConn with 8 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hurries and 27 pressures in 2021, with 7 hits on the quarterback per Pro Football Focus. GAME 3 • UCONN HUSKIES • SEPT. 17 • 12 P.M. (ABC) QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 2-0 First Meeting: U-M 30, UConn 10 (Sept. 4, 2010 at Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: U-M 24, UConn 21 (Sept. 21, 2013 at East Hartford, Conn.) Head Coach: Jim Mora, 0-0 (1st year) at UConn, 46-30 overall (7th year) 2021 In Review: 0-11 Final 2021 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 19 (7 offense, 10 defense, 2 spe - cialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2015 (St. Petersburg Bowl vs. Marshall, L 16-10) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Steven Krajewski (1,217 yards, 7 TDs) Rushing: Nathan Carter (578 yards, 2 TDs) Receiving: Keelan Marion (474 yards, 5 TDs) Tackles: Jackson Mitchell (120) Sacks: Kevon Jones (2) Interceptions: Tre Wortham (2) Linebacker Jackson Mitchell's 120 tackles in 2021 were the most by a UConn player in a season since 2012. PHOTO COURTESY UCONN ATHLETICS