The 2014 season may be some seven months off, and spring practice still weeks into the future but that doesn't mean new UConn football coach Bob Diaco and his staff aren't currently hard at work. The program received four commitments over the weekend, which now gives the Huskies 13 recruits for the Class of 2014. Commitments can sign their National Letters of Intent beginning Feb. 5.
The four players (via the Hartford Courant):
RB Rob Johnson (5-11, 212), Palmetto (Fla.) HS
OT Steve Hashemi (6-6, 290), St. Joseph-Trumbull
WR Anthony Watkins (6-1, 185), Lawrenceville (NJ) School
DE Sheridan Lawley (6-5, 265), Lawrenceville (NJ) School
Johnson had previously committed to Louisville but once coach Charlie Strong left for Texas, the running back decided to reconsider his option. The Huskies were the beneficiaries.
Hashemi, a Shelton native, is headed to UConn thanks, in part, to all the new faces on the coaching staff.
"It was the coaching change," St. Joe's Coach Joe Della Vecchia told GametimeCT (via the Courant. "Quite honestly … every kid we've thought we've had with them they have kind of told us no. When the new coaches came in I called them, sent tape up there and immediately they got back to us and wanted to know about him. This all happened in about the last two weeks when they brought him up (for a visit)."
The other current Huskies recruits:
Alec Bloom: 6-7, 242, tight end, Ligonier (Pa.), Valley High
Lamont Bradford: 6-4, 265, offensive guard, Timber Creek (N.J.) High
Luke Carrezola: 6-3, 245, tight end, Neshaminy (Pa.)
Logan Marchi: 6-0, 180, quarterback, St. Paul-Bristol
Brice McAllister: 5-11, 195, running back, Suffield Academy
Arkeel Newsome: 5-8, 184, running back, Ansonia
Tom Rodrick: 6-3, 220, running back/linebacker, Leicester (Mass.)
Trey Rutherford: 6-5, 274, offensive tackle, Kent School
Jamar Summers: 6-0, 180, wide receiver, Milford Academy
