4. College Football News Preview 2020: UConn Huskies Defense 3 Things To Know
– Baby steps. 2018 UConn could make a terrific case in the Worst College Football Defense Ever argument – allowing 605 points and allowing 49 or more in 10 of the 12 games – and the 2019 version was a bit better.
The Huskies couldn’t get behind the line, allowed 467 yards and 40.5 points per game, and got whacked around for 48 points or more in six of the last nine games, but … it was a bit better. However …
– The transfer problem is a big deal for the UConn offensive line, and it’s hitting the secondary really, really hard, too, starting with the loss of leading tackler safety Tyler Coyle to Purdue. The Huskies aren’t totally depleted at corner, but they’re close – they’re going to be really, really young. Junior Robert King will have to be the new leader at safety with Coyle done.
– Omar Fortt is back. He’s built like a smallish corner, but he’s the team’s leading linebacker and was the second-leading tackler last season. Jackson Mitchell is a promising option after coming up with a 65-tackle freshman season, and there are just enough other young linebackers to be fine – even with transfer issues hammering the depth. They’ll be busy behind a leaky defensive front.
6-4, 336-pound junior Travis Jones is a keeper. He’s decent at getting into the backfield, and he’s got the size to gum things up a bit. Now he needs help from someone to make something happen behind the line for a D that only generated 19 sacks. 270-pound junior Lwal Uguak was the team’s leading sacker with just four.