When it comes to the Huskies' offense, there here hasn't been much to celebrate this season. At least not until last Thursday, against 18th-ranked ECU. Quarterback Chandler Whitmer finished with 303 yards in the loss -- still the team's best game of the season -- and he did it thanks to big games from senior Deshon Foxx (four receptions, 120 yards, 1 TD) and freshman Thomas Lucas (two receptions, 80 yards).
Then there was sophomore Noel Thomas (3 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TD), sophomore Dhameer Bradley (4, 21), freshman running back Josh Marriner (3, 15) and sophomore Brian Lemelle (1, 10).
The takeaway: Young skill position players are getting involved, and that's good news as the offense continues to grow.
"They are going to continue to play more and more," UConn coach Bob Diaco said, via the New Haven Register.
"They now collectively need to grow up and mature, mature with how they prepare, prepare all week, prepare on the practice field, prepare in the meetings, prepare in their volunteer time and what (time) they spend studying, we just need to take that next step. They are passionate about (football).
"Here's what you've got, you have four guys, all four of them, they love to compete, they are passionate about football. They like to play football, love to play football. You would like to say that is inherent for everyone, it is not. Those four guys definitely are that way and they are talented. Now what we have to do is hone in on the professionalism as far as what it takes to become a productive player and how to become a good to great player," he told the Register.
