UConn Releases Depth Chart

Coach Paul Pasqualoni has released the UConn depth chart ahead of Thursday's season-opener against UMass and, in general, there aren't many surprises.

Chandler Whitmer remains the starting quarterback after Pasqualoni made the official announcement a few weeks ago. But we do learn who will back him up: Johnny McEntee, who got won the job coming out of training camp a year ago. Now, with a year's experience, he'll serve as the No. 2 behind Whitmer. Pasqualoni said one of the benefits to naming a starter early was that it would allow him to focus on the backup job because there's the real possibility that said backup would be called on to play at some point during the season.

Michael Smith, who missed last season because he was declared academically ineligible, tops the depth chart at wide receiver. Shakim Phillips, the Boston College transfer, is UConn's other No. 1 WR. Behind them: Nick Williams, also one of the conference's best return men, and Geremy Davis.

Perhaps the lone shocker on offense: tight end Ryan Griffin, considered to be the Huskies' best NFL prospect, is listed as John Delahhunt's backup. We're not sure if this is a misprint or intentional but the reality is this: Griffin could show up on the depth chart as the fourth-string kicker and he'd still be one of Whitmer's most important offensive weapons.

On the other side of the ball it's all chalk (to borrow a phrase from the NCAA Tournament): Trevardo Williams, Sio Williams, Jesse Joseph, Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Dwayne Gratz, etc. -- they're all starters. Finally, junior Chad Christen will be tasked with replacing Dave Teggart. Bobby Puyol, the freshman who came to Storrs as Florida's best kicker (we wrote about him last summer), is currently listed behind Christen.

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