Say what you want about Lyle McCombs. His off-the-field issues were well documented, and though it may have been a surprise when Bob Diaco dismissed him from the team earlier this spring, it was far from a shock.
Even so, one thing is for sure: He leaves a helluva void on the field.
His 670 rushing yards in 2013 were nearly double what anyone else on the team compiled (Max DeLorenzo had 349). He had 159 carries, 60 more than DeLorenzo, and the two of them ended up tied for the team lead with five rushing touchdowns apiece.
So where do the Huskies go from here?
Thankfully for UConn, DeLorenzo returns, so he will be the unquestioned go-to, at least to start. The rising junior had his best games toward the end of last year, highlighted by his 52-yard, two touchdown running game against Rutgers in the season’s penultimate contest.
The Berlin product is known as a reliable force on the team, though there’s room for him to improve on his 3.53 yards per carry a year ago.
After DeLorenzo, however, the team’s ground game is filled with question marks. With the graduation of Martin Hyppolite, the Huskies do not return another player with significant experience at running back.
Of the incoming freshmen, Arkeel Newsome might be the one with the most hype, mainly because he’s the in-state star as Connecticut’s all-time leading high school rusher (10,672 yards, 187 touchdowns). Though he doesn’t have much size (5’8, 180 pounds), Newsome is said to be quick and smart, allowing him to find holes in the defense and potentially rack up significant yardage in what might first look like a doomed play.
But Newsome is not alone in the players who come to UConn already with expectations. He’s one of several three-star freshman for the Huskies as ranked by ESPN.com, and he will be joined by Ron Johnson, who was ranked the 70th best running back in 2014 and Brice McAllister, a Suffield native ranked at 100. Both are seen as being ready for playing time now and will likely be forced into action immediately with the Huskies’ lack of depth at the position.
Beyond DeLorenzo and the new guys, Josh Marriner might be the next best option. He redshirted last year, but piled up the accolades at Western Branch High School in Virginia. The only collegiate action he’s seen was in the Blue and White game this spring, where he ran a touchdown in from 11 yards out for the blue squad.
Jazzmar Clax picked up 18 yards in the annual exhibition and will also see the field in 2014 at fullback. He redshirted in 2012 and played just three games last year, picking up a high of 11 yards against Memphis.
Of course we’ll have a clearer idea of the depth chart once practice gets underway and Diaco gets to see them battle each other. With so much playing time to be handed out, some competition in the early season can be beneficial for all. Expect the Huskies to make each other better and to see a rapid improvement among the freshmen and others who may not have had as much of a chance in the past. DeLorenzo will carry the load for sure, but he can’t do it alone. The Huskies need to figure out who else they’re going to lean on.
