Previewing UConn’s Defensive Depth Chart

Last week I wrote about the offense that Bob Diaco and Frank Verducci will have to work with next season.

This time, the defense will be magnified and we’ll look into the hybrid formation that the Huskies run.

During the 2014 campaign, UConn’s defense helped them compete in close games, but it was usually the offense that couldn’t capitalize and give them the win. The defense is losing three starters, but they played almost half the season without captain Byron Jones as their top cornerback, getting a preview of life without him going forward.

Cornerback:

Jhavon Williams (RS JR)

Jamar Summers (SO)

Brice McCallister (SO)

John Green (RS JR)

No, the returning cornerbacks may not have world-record like leaping abilities, but Williams and Summers did step up in Jones’ absence. In the first game without Jones, Williams held UCF’s Breshad Perriman to only two receptions and only 43 yards in UConn’s lone conference win last season.

Green, a converted wide receiver, played in all 12 games last year alongside Summers who was a true freshman. There is no doubt that the first few games will be a test with different levels of non-conference opponents on the slate, but once the conference schedule begins we should be seeing more of a consistent level of play.

Safety:

Andrew Adams (SS) (RS JR)

Junior Lee (FS) (RS SR)

Obi Melifonwu (RS JR)

Jordan Floyd (RS JR)

Adams was one of the highlights of the Husky defense in 2014, leading the team with four interceptions and second on the team in tackles. He’s due for a breakout year as one of the leaders of the defense which led to Jones’ move to corner in his senior season.

Melifonwu wasn’t listed on the depth chart for UConn’s final game of the year vs. SMU due to a shoulder injury he underwent surgery for. It’s unclear what his status is for spring practice, but he should be another leader in a strong secondary group for the Huskies.

Linebackers:

Marquise Vann (RS JR) (ILB)

Junior Joseph (RS SO) (ILB)

Graham Stewart (RS SR) (OLB)

Vontae Diggs (SO)

Jon Hicks (RS JR)

UConn’s defense will switch from a 3-4 style to a 4-3 depending on how their opponent plays, which requires linebackers with a unique blend of speed and strength. Vann and Stewart served as the core of the group, starting in every game last year. Together, they combined for three forced fumbles and 17.5 tackles for loss. Stewart, a former transfer player from the University of Florida, came to UConn to be closer to home and is now playing like the all-star he was at Xavier High School in Connecticut. (The same Xavier Tim Boyle graduated from).

Great to see Xavier grads @T_Boyle_14 + Graham Stewart pull off the upset v UCF! #FalconNation #UCONN @NoEscalators pic.twitter.com/ncfkWFrMlO

— Falcon Talk (@falcon_talk) November 1, 2014

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With the departure of Jefferson Ashiru, Junior Joseph filled the void in the final four games of the year and certainly held his own. JJ finished the year against SMU with a career-high seven tackles, six of them solo. There is a chance one of the incoming recruits can see some limited playing time in the hybrid defensive end spot for pass rushing opportunities, but for now the core is set with Vann, Stewart and Joseph holding down the middle of the field.

Defensive End:

Kenton Adeyemi (RS SR)

Cole Ormsby (RS SO)

The lack of depth at defensive end plus the talent at linebacker has me thinking that the UConn defensive will mostly be in a 3-4 set in most early downs next year, as the defense will miss Reuben Frank who started all 12 games last year. The promising size of some of the freshman make it an interesting case to see what Diaco will do on later downs to apply pressure to opposing quarterbacks.

Defensive Tackle:

Julian Campenni (NT) (RS SR)

Folorunso Fatukaso (DT) (RS SO)

Mikal Myers (RS JR)

B.J. McBryde is no longer at UConn after playing in all 12 games last year and providing a consistent attack, and it will be up to Campenni to pick up where he left off. The Huskies are desperately hoping for no injuries to the D-Line as Campenni and Myers both showed flashes of improved play last year. The sack numbers may not be there for this group, but consistency and a tough run defense is what UConn strived on last season to keep games in winning conditions — even if they didn’t always end in a W.