Zion Turner’s freshman growth spurt lands him and the UConn football team in a bowl game
Ten plays into the season Ta’Quan Roberson, the more experienced quarterback who had won the starting job, went down with a knee injury.
For Zion Turner, true freshman, the future arrived earlier than expected. And so has UConn’s arrival in a bowl game, against Marshall in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Monday at 2:30 p.m..
“It’s been great to see how far our offense has come,” Turner said after practice on Friday.
Turner was a dynamic quarterback who won nearly every game he played at St. Thomas Aquinas High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.. But when was thrust into the starting role so early in college, a game often dominated by grad transfers at the position, he had to become more of a “game manager,” the game plans were cautious and grew more so with several of his top receivers out.
For the most part Turner avoided devastating “freshman mistakes” that could have sabotaged the season, and he made enough plays with his legs (84 carries, 237 yards), and enough big throws to get the Huskies to 6-6. Now with Keelan Marion and Cam Ross expected back at wide receiver, Brian Brewton back and Devontae Houston at full speed in the backfield, Turner will be surrounded by players with the ability to separate and the Huskies’ offense could open up.
“It’s going to be dangerous,” Turner said. “I really think it’s going to be dangerous and it’s up to me to keep these guys motivated, keep these guys going and get these guys the ball in open space. It’s all on me. It’s great to see those guys back having fun, doing what they love. It’s great to see, I’m just happy for these guys and the opportunity we get to come down to Myrtle Beach and display our talents.”
It helped that UConn managed an effective running game without more downfield passing to stretch the defense. Turner, though, completed 60.6 percent of his passes for 1,241 yards, a modest 103 per game, 5.4 per attempt, with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. Those numbers reflect the short, often horizontal approach to the passing game, but at key moments, he did hit big downfield passes against Fresno State, during the winning drive, Boston College, a 62-yard TD to tight end Justin Joly, and Liberty, a 30-yard game-winner to Kevens Clercius.
Showing the pocket presence to throw the ball away when no one was open, Turner was sacked 25 times in 12 games, and with the help of the offensive line and the game plans, was able to stay healthy, even as the Huskies were overmatched in losses at Michigan and NC State and at home vs. Syracuse.
“He’s improved exponentially,” offensive coordinator Nick Charlton said. “It’s a big growth process, and he got thrown in the fire. He stepped in, and credit to him, too. We played that three-game stretch where it was tough sledding, but he never backed down, never lost confidence, so I’m very proud of him. To step into that role, there are things we want to do better in the passing game and we’re going to do that, but Zion Turner has won the most games as a starting quarterback here in the last seven years, and if we get this done, it’ll be 12 years.”
Ross, out with a knee injury since training camp, has watched as the freshman grew in poise and stature during the season. If the future arrived early for Turner, there is still a future that looks ever brighter due to this experience.
“He’s developed tremendously since August for sure,” Ross said. “Each week, he’s gotten better. We watched film seven days a week, 100 times a week and he’s only getting better. As we go into the season, the more teams we’re playing, the more looks you’re seeing, you need that as a freshman. Not everybody gets that experience as a freshman, but he’s seen just about everything and that’s only going to help him going forward.”
Special guest
Jordan Todman, who rushed for 3,179 yards as a Husky between 2008 and 2010, was a guest at practice on Friday, taking in the action and chatting with coach Andy Baylock, who handles alumni relations. Todman, after several NFL seasons, separated his shoulder and retired in 2017, and has been coaching and mentoring since.
Out of the portal
Jim Mora, who has been juggling a hectic recruiting schedule with the transfer portal as he prepares for the game, landed another. Linebacker Eriq Gilyard, a grad transfer from Kansas, committed to UConn on Friday. Gilyard, 5 feet 11, 228 pounds, who began his career at Central Florida, spent the 2022 season at Kansas, playing in all 12 games, getting 24 tackles in 255 snaps on defense. “Man of few words. See y’all in 2023,” Gilyard said via Twitter. Earlier this week, Mora landed defensive back Zakhari Spears, transferring from Washington.
Blanket bet
What’s a big game without a bet from politicians? Governor Ned Lamont challenged West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin to a wager on the game between UConn and Marshall, based in Huntington, W. Va. Lamont is offering The Connecticut Blanket, a locally made wool product. ... Activities for UConn fans making the trip include a watch party for the UConn-Butler men’s basketball game Saturday at a place called Calli Baker’s Bar and Grille, a watch party for the women’s basketball game against Florida State Sunday at the Hilton Myrtle Beach resort, a pep rally Saturday at 4 p.m. at The Hangout, followed by a UConn Fan Welcome Gathering back at the Hilton at 6 p.m.
Dom Amore can be reached at damore@courant.com
