UConn notes: Nate Carter lands on a long list of Huskies injuries with shoulder separation
The last thing the UConn football team could afford was another injury, and especially this one. Running back Nate Carter, the Huskies’ most effective offensive weapon, suffered a second-degree right shoulder separation in the Huskies’ 59-0 loss at Michigan on Saturday.
Carter, who has rushed for 384 yards in four games, came out of the game with the injury. Then after treatment, he tried to return in the second quarter, but he didn’t play in the second half.
Nate’s incredibly tough,” Mora said. “Man, it killed him not to play. They worked on him with several different pads, trying to get him comfortable, and he went out there and went after it. I mean, it was not he right thing to do to leave him in the football game. He could not protect himself, and we’re not going to do that.”
It’s not clear how long Carter might be out.
UConn is running out of running backs. Freshman Victor Rosa, from Bristol, got most of the work against Michigan, 14 carries for 37 yards. Late in the week, UConn moved Cam Edwards, a star runner during his days at Norwalk, from safety to running back.
“We were down to two backs, really one back, because [Robert Burns] is a fullback, but he played halfback,” Mora said. “We’ll see what it looks like when we get out of here.”
Carter joins a list that includes Ta’Quan Roberson, UConn’s original starting quarterback, who is out for the season with a torn ACL, as is receiver Cam Ross. Another receiver, Keelon Marion, is out with a fractured collarbone.
Big day for Bouyer-Randle
Linebacker Brandon Bouyer-Randle, grad transfer from Texas Tech, had a productive afternoon at Michigan, getting in on eight tackles, including 2 1/2 for a loss, and a sack.
“We’re going to try to get better on the details,” he said. “What we’re supposed to be doing, our execution. Any game gives you another chance to evaluate yourself.”
Jackson Mitchell led the Huskies with 10 tackles, and was in on one for a loss.
Time for youth
Mora said he used the opportunity of a blowout game to play a lot of his younger players.
“This is not the situation where you want to play a lot of young guys, but we got to play a ton of young guys and we’re going forward with some of those young guys,” he said. “W brought in a good recruiting class and we’re going to give them a chance to play. I’m not saying they’re going to start or be supplanting anybody, but there are some good young athletes on this team that we’re going to start force-feeding.”
Catch for Schoonmaker
Luke Schoonmaker, Michgan’s senior tight end from Hamden, had one catch for 31 yards, setting up a first-half touchdown. Schoonmaker played at Hamden Hall.
Dom Amore can be reached at damore@courant.com
