Walk-on provides surprise on UConn two-deep

STORRS – UConn football coach Bob Diaco released the post-training camp two-deep for the Huskies at media day Thursday. Diaco emphasized that the chart was not the two-deep for the season opener against BYU on Aug. 29.

But one surprising development comes from the area of special teams. Chase Briley, a walk-on freshman from Hartford, will be the back-up kicker and punter. Briley, listed at 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds, comes to the Huskies from the Capital Prep Magnet School. He will provide the support behind sophomore kicker Bobby Puyol and punter Justin Wain.

That’s a change from the post-spring practice depth chart, where Wain and Puyol were listed as backups to each other.

“Bobby can punt but Wain will not kick,” Diaco said. “Wain just punts. If Chase continues to improve, then Bobby wouldn’t even need to be used as a punter.”

The Huskies need to replace kicker Chad Christen and punter Cole Wagner, two four-year letter winners at UConn. Kicking is a strange spot for recruiting but there was some hype when Christen arrived at UConn because he was considered one of the top 10 high school kickers in the country. He made his only field goal attempt and two extra points in 2012. Last season he redshirted and even though he has gained a lot of knowledge from Dave Teggart and Christen, he has basically been waiting in the wings in Storrs.

Bobby Puyol (17) kicking in practice (Ken Davis Photo)

“Listen, he’s not going to make every kick,” Diaco said of Puyol. “But he’s more than some. He makes a bunch. He’s got a nice trajectory and works quickly. He’s trying hard. And he’s our field goal and placement specialist. That’s it.”

Senior wide receiver Deshon Foxx, is listed as punt returner and kick returner.

“They’re a work in progress; they’re doing a good job,” Diaco said specials teams. “The protection is good, the communication is good, timing is good.”

UConn Football Post-Training Camp Two-Deep
Head Coach Bob Diaco Released The Post-Training Camp Two-Deep Following Media Day

Aug. 21, 2014

Offense

LT:    71    Richard Levy (RSo., 6-6, 305)
74    Paul Nwokeji (RJr., 6-6, 287)
LG:    65    Gus Cruz (RSr., 6-4, 296)
77    Trey Rutherford (Fr., 6-5, 289)
C:    73    Alex Mateas (RSr., 6-4, 309)
70    Kyle Bockeloh (RSo., 6-3, 284)
RG:    60    Tyler Samra (Jr., 6-2, 288)
63    Ryan Crozier (Fr., 6-4, 297)
RT:    78    Dalton Gifford (RJr., 6-4, 304)
62    Thomas Hopkins (RFr., 6-6, 298)
TE:    49    Sean McQuillan (RJr., 6-3, 239)
80    Tommy Myers (RFr., 6-5, 238)
WR:    85    Geremy Davis (RJr., 6-3, 216)
8    Thomas Lucas (RFr., 6-2, 198) OR
5    Noel Thomas (So., 6-1, 187)
QB:    12    Casey Cochran (RSo., 6-1, 224)
10    Chandler Whitmer (RSr., 6-0, 192)
FB:    34    Jazzmar Clax (RFr., 5-11, 241)
36    Matt Walsh (So., 6-1, 227)
TB:    44    Max DeLorenzo (RJr., 5-11, 210)
26    Joshua Marriner (RFr., 5-9, 193)
WR:    4    Deshon Foxx (Sr., 5-10, 172)
9    Kamal Abrams (RJr., 5-11, 182) OR
1    Dhameer Bradley (Fr., 5-9, 166)

Defense

DE:   56   Angelo Pruitt (RSr., 6-2, 287)
93   Folorunso Fatukasi (RFr., 6-4, 307)
NG:   90   Julian Campenni (RJr., 6-0, 299)
92   Mikal Myers (RSo., 6-1, 312)
DT:   97   B.J. McBryde (RSr., 6-5, 304)
95   Kenton Adeyemi (RJr., 6-4, 268)
DE:   47   Reuben Frank (RSr., 6-4, 246)
57   Cole Ormsby (RFr., 6-3, 248)
LB:   46   Marquise Vann (RJr., 6-0, 226)
55   Jon Hicks (RSo., 6-2, 236)
LB:   32   Jefferson Ashiru (RSo., 6-2, 233)
39   Junior Joseph (RFr., 6-1, 242)
LB:   2   Graham Stewart (RJr., 6-1, 227)
10   Cameron Stapleton (RFr., 6-4, 226)
CB:   16   Byron Jones (RSr., 6-1, 196)
7   John Green (RSo., 5-10, 179)
S:   22   Andrew Adams (RJr., 6-0, 197)
28   Jordan Floyd (RSo., 6-0, 206)
S:   20   Obi Melifonwu (RSo., 6-3, 210)
23   Junior Lee (RJr., 6-0, 214) OR
19   Ellis Marder (RSo., 6-1, 193)
CB:   6   Jhavon Williams (RSo., 5-10, 190)
21   Jamar Summers (Fr., 6-0, 180)

Special Teams

K:    17    Bobby Puyol (RSo., 5-10, 174)
94    Chase Briley (Fr., 5-11, 165)
P:    42    Justin Wain (RSo., 6-3, 204)
94    Chase Briley (Fr., 5-11, 165)
HL:    82    Blake Feagles (RFr., 5-10, 205)
12    Casey Cochran (RSo., 6-1, 224)

KR:    4    Deshon Foxx (Sr., 5-10, 172)
26    Joshua Marriner (RFr., 5-9, 193)
PR:    4    Deshon Foxx (Sr., 5-10, 172)
18    Brian Lemelle (So., 5-10, 165)
LS:    66    Dominick Manco (RJr., 6-0, 213)
67    Adam Mueller (RSr., 6-1, 212)

Walk-on provides surprise on UConn two-deep

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