HS QB Casey Cochran Commits To UConn

Last Friday, the first day of training camp for a UConn football team still undecided on their 2011 starting quarterback, we wrote about the program offering a scholarship to local high school QB standout Casey Cochran. He won't provide the Huskies any relief this season, but going forward, the QB situation could be settled for the next few years. That has to be a comforting thought given the current circumstances.

For now, though, the Huskies will have to take satisfaction in knowing that Cochran, the Gatorade State Player of the Year, chose UConn over Boston College, Yale and Princeton. And not only is he the biggest name in a 2012 recruiting class that now numbers 15 players, he is, as the Hartford Courant's Desmond Conner writes, arguably the biggest in-state recruit headed to Storrs since Dan Orlovsky in 2000.

"It's an unbelievable feeling, just starting to sink in now and I'm starting to get excited," Casey Cochran told Conner Sunday night. "Playing in my home state is going to be exciting. A lot of kids have to leave the state to play. I'm excited to be a Husky. I get to play in front of family and friends; there's some big teams coming to the Rent [Rentschler Field] down the road. I'm just really excited."

Last week, Cochran sounded like he wanted to decide on a college before he started his senior season of high school. He wasted little time settling on UConn.

"The Ivy League schools are great, of course," Casey Cochran said. "But it's always been my goal to play football at the BCS level."

Cochran's never been to a UConn football game but says Rentschler Field has "an awesome atmosphere," adding "When we were there, there were like 6,000 people there and I was like 'wow.' I can only imagine what it's like when the place is full."

According to ESPN's scouting report on Cochran, "The ball really comes off his hand with velocity and authority … (he) can make all the throws when on time." The only downside is Cochran's height (he's listed at 6-0), but if he "were taller, he would be receiving a lot more attention early in the process because he is competitive and shows a very gifted arm."

Conner writes that Cochran led Masuk to the CIAC Class L title last season, throwing for over 2,600 yards and had 36 touchdown passes.

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