Last week, UConn football coach Paul Pasqualoni admitted that the program had yet to land a single recruit for the 2014 class, but he also said he wasn't concerned. The plan, in part, was to use three June football camps to bring players to Storrs, evaluate them as college prospects, and offer some scholarships.
The rest of the plan, no doubt, included the more common approach: traveling the country and out-recruiting the competition for the best players. Giovanni Negron is one such talent. The Huskies have offered a scholarship to the Clearwater (Fla.) Countryside offensive tackle, according to UConnReport.com.
Not surprisingly, competition is stiff for the 6-4, 280-pound Negron. According to his Twitter feed, he has been offered scholarships by Georgia State, Tulane and Western Kentucky. And UConnReport.com also lists Arizona, South Alabama, Miami-Ohio, Middle Tennessee State, Florida International and Ohio University.
The good news: It sounds like Negron's short list includes the Huskies.
"I'd say my favorites are Arizona, Ohio and UConn," he said, via UConnReport.com. "I heard Arizona is going to have a new training facility and the program and coaches look really good. I wanted to take a visit down there over the summer. Ohio, they were really the ones that had the first interest in me so I want to stay true to that school. The football program's really good, too. UConn is just because I love the team and I want to go up there and see what it's like."
UConn hasn't been recruiting Negron long but it's clear they've made an impression. That said, the rising senior doesn't have a trip planned to Storrs at this time, writes UConnReport.com.
The BigCountyPreps.com scouting report for Negron includes adjectives like "mean streak, aggressive, solid pass blocker, really good run blocker and good feet."
And you can see that in the YouTube clip below:
