UConn senior offensive lineman Alex Mateas is a projected No. 1 overall pick.
That is if you are paying attention to the upcoming Canadian Football League draft.
The 6-foot-4, 300-pound center is atop Justin Dunk’s 2015 CFL Mock Draft and is considered one of the top offensive linemen in the draft, mostly due to Mateas’ Canadian roots.
Mateas served as one of the four captains last year and started in every game of the 2013 and ‘14 seasons. He won’t be the only one leaving this offensive line unit from UConn this season, as a long time assistant coach will also not be returning next year.
After nine seasons with the Huskies, offensive line coach Mike Foley will not be retained with the program. Foley was the only coach left over from the Randy Edsall and Paul Pasqualoni eras.
During the 2008 season, Foley built up and coached an offensive line that allowed Donald Brown to become the country’s leading rusher. Having a future second round pick in Will Beatty at left tackle helped a lot, but in recent years the talent just hasn’t been there.
I mentioned last week in UConn’s Offseason To-Do List that the offensive line was the weak link of the team early in the season. Even with four of the five starters returning for next season, changes are coming to the front five, and the program made it clear with the departure of Foley.
Andreas Knappe (RT), Richard Levy (LT), Tyler Samra (RG) and Ryan Crozier (LG) are the likely group of suspects to start on the offensive line next year, but three incoming recruits are on their way to provide a more physical upfront presence.
Bryan Cespedes, a hometown kid from New London, CT, is an offensive tackle that stands out (and by stand out, I mean really stand out) at a towering 6-foot-7 and 260 pounds. Roll the tape.
It’s refreshing to see that the Huskies still recruit from inside Connecticut, and with added weight and technique coaching, Cespedes could supply some powerful run blocking with opening B and C-gap run lanes.
There may be some shuffling along the O-line to fill in for the outgoing senior center Mateas, but what was once a flimsy attempt to protect the quarterback and produce run blocking, the front five might needs to construct some chemistry and become a strong base for an offense that desperately needs one.
Mateas will finish his collegiate career as a participant in the College Gridiron Showcase all-star game on January 31st.
If you need some Husky football in your life before the end of the month, then you can watch wide receiver Geremy Davis in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl all-star game on Saturday. He’ll likely be drafted too — in the NFL that is.
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