While we never got a depth chart from the UConn Huskies football team after spring practice, we now know what it’ll be when the team takes the practice field on Saturday, August 2.

It’s totally understandable as to why new head coach Bob Diaco waited until now to release it. He only had 15 practices to evaluate an entire college football team.

So as the Huskies get ready for their first practice of 2014, there is still no confirmed starter at quarterback as Casey Cochran, Chandler Whitmer and Tim Boyle are listed as the No. 1 QB. Really no surprise there at all in my opinion.

We do know that Diaco has said he would like to name his QB1 a few weeks into camp so this threesome will be doing battle as there will be at all positions as well.

Besides at quarterback, there are three positions where players are listed as co-starters (OR on the depth chart below). They are Max Delorenzo and Joshua Marriner at running back,  Zach Rugg and Gus Gruz at left guard and Andreas Knappe and Dalton Gifford at right tackle.

Right now, defensively the depth chart is set for a 4-3 alignment. But as we’ve been told over the spring, the Huskies will be switching to a 3-4. So we could see changes there as well.

There is only one true freshman listed on the depth chart and that’s Jamar Summers who is the backup to Jhavon Williams at cornerback. He is the only one listed because he enrolled for the spring semester and was able to compete in spring practice with the team.

It’s still entirely possible that other true freshman could crack the two-deep before the opener against BYU on August 29. They’d have to be awfully impressive to get on it though.

Here’s a full look at the depth chart:

OFFENSE

LT 71 Richard Levy (RSo., 6-6, 305)
62 Thomas Hopkins (RFr., 6-6, 298)

LG 76 Zach Rugg (RSo., 6-3, 285) OR
65 Gus Cruz (RSr., 6-4, 296)

C 73 Alex Mateas (RSr., 6-4, 309)
68 Bryan Paull (RSr., 6-4, 303) OR
70 Kyle Bockeloh (RSo., 6-3, 284)

RG 60 Tyler Samra (Jr., 6-2, 288)
68 Bryan Paull (RSr., 6-4, 303)

RT 53 Andreas Knappe (RSo., 6-8, 300) OR
78 Dalton Gifford (RJr., 6-4, 304)

TE 49 Sean McQuillan (RJr., 6-3, 239)
80 Tommy Myers (RFr., 6-5, 238)

FB 34 Jazzmar Clax (RSo., 5-11, 241)
36 Matt Walsh (So., 6-1, 227)

TB 44 Max DeLorenzo (RJr., 5-11, 210) OR
26 Joshua Marriner (RFr., 5-9, 193)

WR 85 Geremy Davis (RSr., 6-3, 216)
88 Thomas Lucas (RFr., 6-2, 198) OR
5 Noel Thomas (So., 6-1, 187)

WR 4 Deshon Foxx (Sr., 5-10, 173)
1 Dhameer Bradley (So., 5-10, 170)

QB 12 Casey Cochran (RSo., 6-1, 224) OR
10 Chandler Whitmer (RSr., 6-0, 192) OR
14 Tim Boyle (So., 6-3, 216)

DEFENSE

DE 56 Angelo Pruitt (RSr., 6-2, 287)
95 Kenton Adeyemi (RJr., 6-4, 268)

DT 97 B.J. McBryde (RSr., 6-5, 304)
93 Folorunso Fatukasi (RFr., 6-4, 307)

NG 90 Julian Campenni (RJr., 6-0, 299)
92 Mikal Myers (RSo., 6-1, 312)

DE 47 Reuben Frank (RSr., 6-4, 246)
57 Cole Ormsby (RFr., 6-3, 248)

LB 2 Graham Stewart (RJr., 6-1, 227)
10 Cameron Stapleton (RFr., 6-4, 226)

LB 32 Jefferson Ashiru (RJr., 6-2, 230)
54 Omaine Stephens (RSo., 6-3, 223)

LB 46 Marquise Vann (RJr., 6-0, 226)
55 Jon Hicks (RSo., 6-2, 233)

CB 16 Byron Jones (RSr., 6-1, 196)
11 Javon Hadley (So., 5-10, 164)

S 20 Obi Melifonwu (RSo., 6-3, 210)
19 Ellis Marder (RSo., 6-1, 193)

S 22 Andrew Adams (RJr., 6-0, 197)
23 Wilbert Lee (RJr., 6-0, 214)

CB 6 Jhavon Williams (RSo., 5-10, 190)
21 Jamar Summers (Fr., 6-0, 180)

SPECIAL TEAMS

P 42 Justin Wain (RSo., 6-3, 204)
17 Bobby Puyol (RSo., 5-10, 174)
82 Blake Feagles (RFr., 5-10, 205)

K 17 Bobby Puyol (RSo., 5-10, 174)
42 Justin Wain (RSo., 6-3, 204)

LS 66 Dominick Manco (RJr., 6-1, 203)
67 Adam Mueller (RSr., 6-1, 212)

PR 4 Deshon Foxx (Sr., 5-10, 173)
Dhameer Bradley (So., 5-10, 170)
89 Nick Vitale (RSo., 5-8, 176)

KR 4 Deshon Foxx (Sr., 5-10, 173) AND
26 Joshua Marriner (RFr., 5-9, 193)
6 Jhavon Williams (RSo., 5-10, 190)

This probably isn’t the biggest surprise in the world given the fact that the UConn Huskies football team went 3-9 in 2013 but the 2014 version has been picked to finish 9th in the 2014 American Athletic Conference Preseason Poll.

The Cincinnati Bearcats were picked to finish first followed by UCF and Houston. The highest ranked newcomer to the league was the East Carolina Pirates at number 4.

Here’s how the voting breaks down:

I honestly think that the Huskies are going to surprise some people this season.

With new head coach Bob Diaco at the helm, the culture has changed around Storrs. And while the players remain the same for the most part, they are different in that they actually look like football players now.

Diaco and his staff along with the strength and conditioning program have reshaped the entire football team physically and mentally. I think that the bodes well for the long-term.

Here’s the full release from the American:
NEWPORT, R.I. – The Cincinnati Bearcats have been one of the most consistent programs in college football in the last decade. It should be no surprise, then, that Cincinnati has been tabbed as the favorite in the 2014 American Athletic Conference preseason football media poll.

The Bearcats received 17 of a possible 30 first-place votes and had 311 points in the preseason voting of media representatives. UCF, which went 8-0 in The American last season, received seven first-place votes and was second in the poll with 296 points, while Houston had six first-place votes and took third 268 points.

Cincinnati has won at least nine games six times in the last seven years and has reached double digits in wins five times in that stretch. The Bearcats went 9-4 in 2013 – the first year at Cincinnati for veteran head coach Tommy Tuberville, who has 16 starters returning. The Bearcat offense returns starters at quarterback, running back and wide receiver and has an anchor on the offensive line in the form of offensive tackle Eric Lefeld, who was a unanimous all-conference selection last year. The defense loses three all-conference players from last year, but has veterans across the board, including second-team all-conference defensive end Silverberry Mouhon (9.5 sacks in 2013).

UCF was the runner-up to Cincinnati in the 2014 preseason poll, but the Knights were the outright American Athletic Conference champions in 2013. UCF went 12-1 last season, capped by a 52-42 win against Big 12 champion Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl, and finished the season ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press poll. Head coach George O’Leary has 17 starters returning from that team, but will have to replace the 2013 American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year as quarterback Blake Bortles declared for the NFL Draft and was selected with the third pick. Linebacker Terrance Plummer, the Defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl, leads a group of nine returning defensive starters.

Houston went 8-5 overall and was 5-3 in the American Athletic Conference last year and has the benefit of 19 returning starters and the brand new TDECU Stadium for third-year head coach Tony Levine. While Houston made its name on offense in recent years, it was defense that carried the Cougars last season as Houston led the nation with 43 turnovers gained in 2013. Safety Trevon Stewart had four interceptions and six fumble recoveries on his own and will lead a defense that returns 10 starters. Quarterback John O’Korn was the 2013 American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year after he threw for 3,117 yards and 28 touchdowns.

East Carolina was fourth in the preseason poll with 262 points, just six points behind Houston. Coach Ruffin McNeill led the Pirates to a 10-3 season last year, including a win against Ohio in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl, but East Carolina has just 11 starters back from that team and faces a schedule that includes two top-10 teams from last year (UCF, South Carolina). Quarterback Shane Carden, who ranked second nationally in completion percentage last season (70.5 percent) returns after he was named the Conference USA Most Valuable Player.

SMU edged USF for fifth in the poll as the Mustangs had 158 points to the Bulls’ 157. SMU saw a streak of four consecutive postseason appearances end with last year’s 5-7 season, but coach June Jones has never had back-to-back losing seasons in 15 years as a head coach. Wide receiver Darius Joseph had 108 receptions last year, good for second in The American, and was eighth nationally in receptions per game (8.6).

USF was sixth in the poll, one point behind SMU. The Bulls went 2-10 in Willie Taggart’s first year in Tampa, but return 16 starters that will be augmented by a recruiting class that was projected as the strongest in The American. Wide receiver Andre Davis returns after he set a school record with 735 receiving yards, despite having four different starting quarterbacks deliver the ball last year.

Memphis was tabbed for seventh in the preseason poll with 133 points. Coach Justin Fuente welcomes 18 starters back from last year, including eight from a defense that ranked 12th nationally against the run last year. Defensive end Martin Ifedi is a contender for national honors after he registered 11.5 sacks last year, while cornerback Bobby McCain led The American with six interceptions despite missing three games due to injury.

Temple was eighth in the poll with 105 points. The Owls went 2-10 overall and 1-7 in The American in the first year for head coach Matt Rhule, a record that belied how competitive Temple was in 2013. The Owls have just seven seniors on their 2014 roster, but have no shortage of top-end talent. Quarterback P.J. Walker ranked third in The American in pass efficiency (150.8) as a true freshman, trailing only Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles. Linebacker Tyler Matakevich led the nation in solo tackles (8.8 per game) and is a strong candidate for national honors.

UConn and Tulane tied for ninth in the poll with 98 points each. The Huskies welcome first-year head coach Bob Diaco, the former Notre Dame defensive coordinator, who inherits a team that won its last three games of the 2013 season. Wide receiver Geremy Davis is a standout on offense following a season in which he registered 71 catches for 1,085 yards.

Tulane has 14 returning starters from last year’s team that went 7-6 as Curtis Johnson’s squad improved by five wins from the previous season. The Green Wave will christen the new Yulman Stadium this season as All-America cornerback Lorenzo Doss leads Tulane against seven teams that played in bowl games last season.

Tulsa was pegged for 11th in the poll with 94 points, but the Golden Hurricane was just 11 points away from the No. 8 spot in the ranking. Recent history suggests that Tulsa will outperform its projection – the Hurricane won the Conference USA title just two years ago and Bill Blankenship has 19 returning starters back from last year’s squad. Defensive back Michael Mudoh, who had 133 tackles last year, leads a group of 10 returning starters on defense.

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut currently has 21 former players on NFL rosters as league training camps open across the nation this week.

The players range from quarterback Dan Orlovsky, who is entering his tenth NFL season and is back with his original team in the Detroit Lions, to drafted rookies Yawin Smallwood with the Atlanta Falcons and Shamar Stephen with the Minnesota Vikings.

Here’s the complete list:

William Beatty – NY Giants
Tyvon Branch – Oakland Raiders
Donald Brown – San Diego Chargers
Darius Butler – Indianapolis Colts
Marcus Easley – Buffalo Bills
Dwayne Gratz – Jacksonville Jaguars
Ryan Griffin – Houston Texans
Danny Lansanah – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Robert McClain – Atlanta Falcon
Kashif Moore – Pittsburgh Steelers
Sio Moore – Oakland Raiders
Dan Orlovsky – Detroit Lions
Kendall Reyes – San Diego Chargers
Anthony Sherman – Kansas City Chiefs
Yawin Smallwood – Atlanta Falcons
Shamar Stephen – Minnesota Vikings
Donald Thomas – Indianapolis Colts
Jordan Todman – Jacksonville Jaguars
Nick Williams – Washington Redskins
Trevardo Williams – Houston Texans
Blidi Wreh-Wilson – Tennessee Titans

In addition, there are three former Huskies who are playing North of the Border in the Canadian Football League.

photo credit: uconn huskies

UConn Huskies football coach Bob Diaco addresses the crowd before the 2014 Blue/White Spring Game at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT.

STORRS, Conn. – The Greater Hartford Chapter of the UConn Alumni Association will host “An Evening With Head Football Coach Bob Diaco” on Tuesday, July 29 at Rentschler Field. Diaco is entering his first year as the Husky head coach and will be making his debut at the group’s annual football kickoff event.

The event begins at 4:45 p.m. when fans can take to the playing field and have a football toss and get their pictures taken. A buffet dinner will then be served in the Club Level at Rentschler Field with a cash bar and silent auction.

Diaco will then address the group, including a question and answer period.

The event is an annual fundraiser for the UConn Alumni Association Greater Hartford Chapter. Proceeds from the dinner have provided thousands of dollars in academic scholarships to undergraduate students and has funded a variety of alumni and student programming events in the Greater Hartford area.

Tickets are priced at $45 for dues paying members of the UConn Alumni Association and $55 for the non-dues paying attendees.

For additional information or to register, visit www.uconnalumni.com or contact the UConn Alumni Association toll-free at 888-822-5861.

photo credit: ian bethune – sox & dawgs

From UConn:

STORRS, Conn. (July 16, 2014) – University of Connecticut redshirt sophomore quarterback Casey Cochran (Monroe, Conn.) has been named a nominee for the 2014 Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team.

The team recognizes players whose charitable involvement and community service contributions stand out among others. Since its establishment in 1992, the award has existed to pay tribute to the good in college football that extends beyond the wins and the losses. The final roster of 22 award recipients will be unveiled in September.

Cochran is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at UConn, which oversees community service projects for the entire University and also serves as a voice between student-athletes and the athletic department.

He has regularly spoken to students at the Stafford Springs (Conn.) Elementary School about athletics and academics. Cochran has also been part of a group of football student-athletes that visit elementary schools in East Hartford and Manchester, Conn.

Cochran has volunteered at the New London (Conn.) Community Meal Center helping prepare and serve food and as an Athlete-Reader at the New London Elementary Schools.

He has also volunteered at the New London Youth Football Skills Clinic three times and was a coach/counselor with the Monroe Lions Youth Football Program.

Cochran was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic team following the 2014 season. He played in eight games in 2013, starting the final four of the year – three of which were wins. Cochran set the UConn single-game passing record of 461 yards against Memphis on Dec. 7.

STORRS, Conn.  – University of Connecticut senior wide receiver Geremy Davis (Lawrenceville, Ga.) has been named to the 2014 Biletnikoff Award Pre-Season Watch List. The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the outstanding receiver in college football and is presented by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc.

Davis enters the 2014 season ranked ninth in UConn career history in receptions with 121 and is 10th in receiving yardage at 1,771.

He had one of the most prolific seasons for a receiver in UConn history in 2013, starting all 12 games and finishing with 71 receptions, 1,085 yards and three touchdowns. Davis was UConn’s first 1,000 yard receiver in the FBS era and first since Carl Bond in 1998. The 1,085 yards rank sixth-highest in a season in UConn history and the 71 receptions place fifth. He had a single-game program-record 15 catches for 207 yards, fifth-most ever, and a touchdown against Memphis on Dec. 7.

The 2014 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented live on December 11, 2014, on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show to be broadcast from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. on ESPN. College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff will announce the 2014 winner on the show.

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc., will announce the ten Biletnikoff Award semifinalists on November 17, 2014, following the vote by the 221 members of the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee. Likewise, the three finalists will be declared, following another vote, on November 24, 2014.

Biletnikoff, a member of the pro and college football halls of fame, was an All-Pro receiver with the Oakland Raiders and an All-America receiver at Florida State University

After going 2-7 on the nine game road trip, the Boston Red Sox return home for seven games where I expect they’ll go 0-7. In all seriousness, they’ll kick it off tonight with the first game of a four-game set with the Tito Francona’s Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Indians television market, you can catch the game on SportsTime Ohio. If you don’t live in either market you’re in luck as the MLB Network will have coverage of the game (outside of Red Sox and Orioles television markets). And if you can’t catch the game on television, you can always listen on the 2014 Red Sox Radio Network.

Jon Lester toes the slab for the 14th time in his walk year. In his previous 13 starts, Lester is 6-7 with a 3.52 ERA. He made two starts against the Tribe in 2013 and was 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA (6 ER/14 IP). He’s made 13 career starts against them and is 6-1 with a 3.43 ERA. Five of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA.

Josh Tomlin makes his seventh start (eight appearance) of the 2014 season for the Erie Warriors. In his previous seven appearances (six starts), Tomlin is 4-2 with a 3.12 ERA. He last faced the Red Sox in 2012 when he allowed seven runs in 1.1 innings of work out of the bullpen. He’s made four career appearances (three starts) against the local nine and is 1-1 with a 7.17 ERA. Two of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA (9 ER/13 IP).

33-33		29-36
1. Michael Bourn	CF	1. Brock Holt	3B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera	SS	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Michael Brantley	LF	3. David Ortiz	DH
4. Jason Kipnis	2B	4. Mike Napoli	1B
5. Carlos Santana	1B	5. Daniel Nava	LF
6. Ryan Raburn	RF	6. Grady Sizemore	RF
7. Nick Swisher	DH	7. David Ross	C
8. Yan Gomes	C	8. Jonathan Herrera	SS
9. Mike Aviles	3B	9. Jackie Bradley, Jr.	CF
Josh Tomlin	SP	Jon Lester	SP

NOTES:

Here is how the hitters have fared against the starting pitchers during the regular season over their careers.

More links (bolded) will be added if/when they become available so please check back often.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

Brock Holt, baBIP, and Reality [sox & dawgs]

Orsillo & Remy To Get Mid-Season Vacation [sox & dawgs]

If Sox have an answer, it’s already here [csn new england]

Xander Bogaerts on whether playing third has contributed to slump [full count]

David Ortiz on The Bradfo Show: ‘I only think about the Hall of Fame when you guys talk to me about it’ [full count]

Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona on D&H discusses relationship with Sox owners, ’04 celebration, return to Fenway [full count]

Lester set to battle Tomlin, Indians in opener [red sox gameday]

Too early to count out defending Series champs [red sox]

Struggle for the ages? Red Sox’ offensive futility reaches unfamiliar depths [alex speier – weei]

Argue If You Want, But You’ll Be Wrong: The Ultimate Red Sox Roster Must Begin With … [touching all the bases]

photo credits: getty images, getty images

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a DAILY basis.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

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UConn Football links

Month of Bob Continues At Buffalo Wild Wings Tonight in Manchester [sox & dawgs]

Video: UConn’s Matt Balis Talks About Summer Strength & Conditioning Program [sox & dawgs]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Geno On WTIC: UConn Made Mistakes With ACC; XL Has Problems [hartford courant]

Stanford to host UConn championship basketball teams [san jose mercury news]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Stanford to host UConn championship basketball teams [san jose mercury news]

Other UConn related links

W. Soccer. Women’s Soccer Releases 2014 Schedule [uconn huskies]

UConn Soccer Coaches And Former Players Share Their Thoughts On This Year’s World Cup [uconn huskies]