STORRS – Max DeLorenzo comes from a family that represents. It’s all about state pride, cheering for State U., and gearing up for game day.
Their location of choice is Rentschler Field in East Hartford, where the UConn Huskies play football. And with DeLorenzo starting at tailback in UConn’s season opener against BYU (7 p.m., ESPN), he is in need of tickets to satisfy requests from family and friends in Berlin and the surrounding area.
“Got extras?” DeLorenzo asked earlier. He flashed a boyish grin but it is more than obvious that the 5-foot-11, 210-pound junior has matured and could make an important contribution to the Huskies this season.
Right now, he is option No. 1 out of the backfield. UConn needs him.
DeLorenzo knows the starting tailback spot was reserved for three-year starter Lyle McCombs, the fourth-leading rusher in school history. But McCombs, with a history of off-the-field trouble, was a true drag on team chemistry and not a good match for new coach Bob Diaco.
Diaco gave the decision time but eventually dismissed McCombs, who has now walked on at Rhode Island.
DeLorenzo admits the dynamic of the season changed when McCombs exited Storrs.
Max DeLorenzo (UConn photo)
“Maybe a little mentally,” he said. “It meant more opportunity and more for me, to be ‘that guy.’ I’m excited for it. It did [surprise me]. I saw it on Twitter or a text and it was surprising. Luckily he’s back at a school and that team is lucky to have him as a players. He’s going to do well.
“We worked well together, me and him. It’s unfortunate. People say that I must be thrilled. But you never want to see a teammate go through what he went through and get kicked off like that.”
Unlike McCombs, DeLorenzo won’t be a workhorse or one-man show for UConn’s offense. Diaco said Monday in his weekly press conference that the game plan calls for DeLorenzo to get about 10 carries. Redshirt freshman Josh Marriner is second on the depth chart with freshmen Ron Johnson and Arkeel Newsome fitting into the picture as well. Diaco would like the other three to get the ball “a half-dozen times each.”
“It starts with the [offensive line] up front,” DeLorenzo said. “If we could run the ball, we have a great chance of winning. Our offense has been going against the top defense all spring and in camp. It’s going to be much easier for us when we see another color [uniform].”
DeLorenzo gained 349 yards and scored five touchdowns on 99 carries last season. He’s a grinder, who can push defenders back and gain extra yards after the initial hit. But he can also get outside and show bursts of speed. He said he sensed the opportunity when he arrived for preseason camp, but never forgot the importance of hard work.
“I felt maybe a little advantage because I’ve played before, I’m the older leader, experienced guy in the room,” he said. “But none of that really mattered when I came out because nothing is just given to you. I had to earn it. I came out every day wanting that. My coach from back home and my family texted me every day to go work and go every rep.”
Taking that approach has earned him points with his teammates. DeLorenzo isn’t one of UConn’s four captains, but Diaco revealed that a lot of votes were cast for the power back from Berlin.
“Max does all the jobs good,” Diaco said. “He’s a leader. The players on the team respect him. He blocks. He has good, soft hands. He runs the ball hard. At this point, he’s the most complete back of the four guys.”
DeLorenzo believes in his young and inexperienced front line. So if you see him getting results, it will be a logical conclusion that the line is doing its job. And that would be the best possible outcome for a UConn offense that ranked 119th out of 123 teams nationally, averaging 84.4 yards in 2013.
No one on the offense wants to hear those stats again.
“I feel good, I feel quicker, I feel fast,” DeLorenzo said. “The sky is the limit against BYU, on a Friday night on ESPN. There’s something wrong with you if you can’t get excited about that.”
It’s time for DeLorenzo to represent. In this time of change at UConn, he’s never going to have a better chance.
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