Positive vibes, outlook for UConn football at spring practice

Apr. 3—STORRS — There was something in the air.

You could feel it.

Feel the energy inside the Mark R. Shenkman Training Center Saturday as the University of Connecticut football team headed into its second full week of spring practices.

Junior linebacker Jackson Mitchell felt it was the best workout since practice started on March 24.

"Everyone came out really excited," Mitchell said. "It was Saturday, you don't have class and that type of thing. It was get the energy up and get to work."

There was plenty of competition across the board at various positions as veterans along with new faces took part in simulated situational scrimmages competing for spots.

"The difference this year is that we know what to expect, obviously last year coach (Jim) Mora was new," Mitchell said. "We were getting our feet under us and figuring things out in both our offense and defensive systems.

"There are some new guys that are still learning but we really go over things. Now we can really work on the little intricacies that we were struggling with during the season and have a chance to perfect our technique."

At the end of the close to three-hour session, the offense ran two-minute drills with last year's starting quarterback Zion Turner and Maine transfer Joseph Fagnano taking part.

What is Turner working on?

"Decision-making and getting through progressions faster," Turner said. "Getting the ball out of my hands and learning the offense better. This will be my second year in the offense. I can say now that I feel way more comfortable than I did. I can just point things out and correct guys."

Fagnano, who posted career highs in touchdowns (15), passing yards (2,231) and completed passes (208) during his junior season at Maine, showed poise in the pocket.

Two completions stood out.

The first was a long throw down the sideline to Keelan Marion for a touchdown and the second on a throw over the middle that connected with running back Brian Brewton.

Joining Turner and Fagnano in the group of quarterbacks are freshman Tucker McDonald and Ta'Quan Roberson.

Roberson, who transferred from Penn State last season, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter of UConn's season-opening game at Utah State. He is still going through rehab with his knee, but is throwing.

"This group is really great," Turner said. "We keep pushing each other every day. In meetings we learn from one another and it's great to build off each other's experiences. There are three of us who have played college football in the quarterback room.

"It's great to get out here and work with the guys, be out here in the spring on the field and doing what I love."

Turner also noted the competitiveness of things not just at quarterback.

"There's a lot of competing out here, a lot of people fighting for jobs," Turner said. "It's really intense with a lot of guys giving it their all.

"They're coming out here, locked in. Everyone wants a spot. Not everyone gets to come out here and do this. I'm just blessed to be in this position and grateful to come out here, put in the work and just get better as a football player."

Mitchell is also getting familiar with some of his new teammates at linebacker. That includes two ansfers — Noah Plack (Delaware) and Eriq Gilyard (Kansas).

"I expect really big things from our linebacker group," Mitchell said. "Playing with anyone new is difficult at first. I played next to [Ian] Swenson for three years, so we had really good communication and that takes time.

"We switched some things up with the schemes and we're all learning and getting the work in together. So we're still a close group and I know those new guys are going to step up and help."

Last year, in Mora's first season, UConn went 6-7 and became bowl eligible for the first time since 2015. It's a good beginning and initial bar. The expectation now is to build on that progress and continue to raise that bar.

"Coach Mora has stressed that last year was the bottom line, that was our standard, but now we have to be better than that," Mitchell said. "(A record of) 6-7 isn't good enough for us, that is a losing season really. We want to beat that, and we know what we need to do to do that. We have to do other things that teams aren't doing. we got to work harder and hopefully do better."

The spring practices will culminate with the Spring Showcase at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday April 22 at Morrone Stadium that will be open to the public.

Final Four excitement

Mitchell said things have been buzzing on campus throughout the last three weeks with the UConn men's basketball team and itss dominating march to the NCAA Championship game tonight against San Diego State.

"After the way they won those first two games, I think that's when everyone here started to think, 'We've got to be the favorites at this point.' And then after the way they beat Gonzaga — by like 30 points — I really can't see them losing at this point."

Turner, who was planning on going to the watch party inside Gampel Pavilion on Saturday, had no doubt what the outcome of their national semifinal against Miami was going to be.

"When we win tonight, the school is probably going to go crazy and then go for it and win a championship. It will be crazy. I won't lie. Everyone's excited. There's going to be good times."