Quarterback Casey Cochran’s football career is over after multiple concussions, UConn announced on Monday.
Cochran played the Huskies’ opener against BYU, but sustained an injury during that game and sat out against Stony Brook on Saturday. After the game, head coach Bob Diaco declined to say when he would be available again.
His concussion issues have spanned years, going back to his days playing youth football, according to Ed Daigneault of the Waterbury Republican-American.
Cochran reached the decision to stop playing after consulting with his family, the football program and the UConn medical staff.
“A silver lining in this matter is that Casey has an interest in pursuing a career in coaching,” Diaco said in a release. “We can now accelerate his development in that area as he transitions from a player role to a mentor role as he continues to serve the team.”
Cochran will retain his football scholarship for the remainder of his time at UConn.
The sophomore QB earned the starting role late last season and held onto it after competition from Chandler Whitmer and Tim Boyle. In eight games last year, he completed 111 passes for 1,293 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also started each of the Huskies’ three wins in 2013.
With Cochran’s playing career now over, UConn will likely turn to Whitmer to take over the starting role. The Huskies hoped to redshirt Boyle this year, but he will now have to slide into the backup spot.
UConn hosts Boise State Saturday at noon in East Hartford.
