Football Has Recruiting Work to Do for 2012

Earlier today we wrote about the final spring depth chart for the UConn football team. Not surprisingly, the biggest issue is quarterback. Because without one (especially when there is no proven running back, either), a team at this level has very little chance for success in the upcoming season. (This is why we wrote earlier this month that the Huskies might want to make run at former NC State QB Russell Wilson.)

Thinking beyond 2011-2012, the other means for insuring UConn remains competitive is through recruiting. It's a constant struggle -- trying to win games on the field and jockeying for high school talent with every big-name program in the country.

Not helping: a coaching change. Randy Edsall left for Maryland in January and was replaced by Paul Pasqualoni. According to ESPN.com, the Huskies have 16 incoming freshman for the 2011-2012 season, most of whom were recruited by Edsall. That's a good haul, but when it comes to recruiting there is no rest for the weary.

That's why it's a little troubling that the Huskies don't yet have one player committed for the 2012-2013 season (Rivals.com agrees). Yes, we know, it's only May 2011; there's plenty of time to target these rising high school juniors. One problem: other schools are busy getting verbal commitments, which effectively shrinks the pool of available talent.

In the Big East, ESPN.com reports that Cincinnati has seven commitments for 2012-2013, Louisville has two, Rutgers four, South Florida six, Syracuse three, and West Virginia four. Pittsburgh is the only other program without any commitments.

More sobering (and perhaps less surprising): the truly big-time programs are well on their way to wrapping up their 2012 classes. Alabama and Florida State have nine commitments, Florida has 10, and every SEC school has at least a couple players committed.

Despite the BCS Bowl appearance in January, the Huskies aren't yet in the same stratosphere as the schools mentioned above, but the quickest way to close that gap is by out-recruiting everyone else. UConn has a lot of work to do.

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