2017 UConn Football National Signing Day Primer: Part 1
Today UConn Football is expected to announce the signing of 17 incoming freshmen. At some point, we will also hear about a promising junior college player and a graduate transfer as well. There may be some surprises in store too, as some targets have not yet announced.
Though David Benedict has steered the Husky football program in a decidedly positive direction by making a change at head coach, about the work recruiting this quality incoming class started with Bob Diaco and the previous coaching staff.
Though it received heavy criticism, especially late in his tenure, Bob's recruiting was fine. There are future stars who joined during his tenure and it was way too early to expect major impact players from his first full recruiting classes of 2015 and 2016. His results on the field and flawed management of the program are much bigger reasons for his departure than recruiting.
Nine players signing with UConn in 2017 were recruited by Diaco and his staff. Of the five who committed to Diaco and have committed elsewhere, three will be signing with "power five" schools.
Diaco’s first contribution came in April with Jordan McAfee, a prototypical modern quarterback. He has ideal size, mobility, and arm strength. The Everett, Massachusetts native also had an offer from Boston College and interest from across the ACC.
We took a closer look at his film, giving him high marks:
“McAfee has a quick release, great feet, and a strong arm, allowing him to make some really tough throws… shows good anticipation and, against pressure, keeps his eyes downfield and consistently makes difficult passes…he would be the most physically talented passing prospect (on the roster) should he sign and come to UConn.”
UConn is lucky to hold on to such a talented quarterback prospect through the coaching transition. Most recently listed as 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, McAfee completed his senior season at Everett High by winning his second Division 1 state title. He’s an extraordinary student as well.
The Huskies added seven more commitments over the summer, but only four will be signing.
Rob Saulin committed after attending the spring game, but eventually flipped to Temple and then followed Matt Rhule to Baylor. Ryan Dickens was another summer commit but he and UConn parted ways after the coaching change in a story which received intense national criticism. He ended up receiving three offers and will be signing to play at FCS Lafayette. Jacob Byczko also de-committed from UConn after the coaching change, ostensibly because the new defensive scheme was not an ideal fit for him, and will be signing with UMass.
The four who will end up at UConn are Bebe Olaniyan, Ryan Fitton, Ian Swenson, and Omar Fortt.
Olaynian plays for Woodberry Forest High in Virginia and has an older brother who played at UCLA. He became UConn’s second commitment and the first defensive player with his announcement in June. He first visited UConn as a youngster while on a recruiting trip with his brother and ended up committing to the school on his second visit after receiving an offer.
Rivals analyst Adam Friedman offered some input on the defensive back who played for a Virginia high school power.
"Bigger defensive back with quick feet and good length. He breaks on balls thrown in front of him well and has good closing speed, could end up playing safety in college because of his size and physicality."
He mentioned UConn’s business school and history of putting defensive backs in the NFL as key factors in his decision. Those characteristics remained and the new staff showed interest, so Olaniyan will be one of the many talented defensive backs coming to Storrs.
Ryan Fitton became the first verbal commitment from Connecticut in July. The Staples High standout will be playing tight end for the Huskies. Standing 6-foot-5, 235 pounds and also a baseball star, he is an impressive in-state athlete who has great potential to be a difference-maker at the next level.
READ: Ryan Fitton Discusses UConn Commitment
The Huskies closed out the summer by adding two defensive backs.
Ian Swenson hails from the Chicago area and chose UConn over Iowa State, Louisville, Nevada, Western Michigan, and others. The three-star cornerback follows a lineage of UConn players who were among the most talented in their recruiting class coming from his area in Vontae Diggs (2014), Aaron Garland (2015), and Quayvon Skanes (2016). He made a visit to UConn in June and made his commitment a month later.
Fortt, an early enrollee who is already on campus, became the Huskies’ second in-state commit in August. He’s a big athlete from St. Luke’s who can make plays all over the field and projects as a safety at the next level. His older brother Khairi plays in the NFL and attended Penn State before graduating from Cal. Omar chose UConn over offers from Army and Navy while fielding serious interest from Pitt, Rutgers, and West Virginia and was a standout performer two years in a row at the New York vs. New England All-Star Challenge.
After four quiet months on the recruiting front during the season, the Huskies hosted a swarm of prospects on official visits over the weekend of the team banquet in mid-December. The guest list included committed and uncommitted players and ultimately netted six verbal commitments before Diaco’s firing on December 26.
Of those six, four will be signing with UConn. Max Cummins will be going to Texas and Dallas Hobbs accepted an offer from Washington State after making a visit there.
Of the four signing with Edsall’s Huskies, three are offensive linemen: James Tunstall, Ryan Vandemark, and Stanley Hubbard. Tunstall and Vandemark are big tackles, both standing over 6-foot-6, while the 6-foot-3 Hubbard will likely play guard.
Tunstall went up against Virginia Tech commit Nate Proctor, one of many Division 1 prospects on his team at Indian Head High, in practice every day. He chose UConn over offers from Bowling Green, Toledo, Stony Brook, and Dayton.
Hubbard is from nearby Washington DC, where he played for local power St. John's College High. He aspires to work in an NFL front office job after his playing career. He and Baltimore-area defensive back Jordan Swann committed on the same day. Both had offers from regional rival and reigning conference champion Temple as well.
Vandemark is from New Jersey while Hubbard, Tunstall and Swann hail from the DMV (Washington DC - Maryland - Virginia) area.
UConn’s next commitment would be from that area as well, but it would be with a whole new coaching staff. Stay tuned for Part 2 of our National Signing Day Primer!
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