STORRS, Ct. — After failing to expand to a power-four conference, Jim Mora is switching things up in Connecticut, and that includes his coaching staff. There’s two new coordinators in 2024; and the one running the defense is Matt Brock, the former DC at Mississippi State. With some intriguing talent, what can Brock do to improve this defense this coming year? And what is the reasonable expectation for UConn football on that side of the ball?
Let’s Learn About Brock
Matt Brock has been a football coach on the defensive side since 2011, and has spent a good majority of his career with well-known programs.
First he was a position coach at Texas Tech, then Bowling Green and then Washington State. Brock was quickly making a name for himself working with linebackers. He eventually found a job at Mississippi State in 2020, where he worked with the linebackers up until his departure last spring.
However, in his final season, he was promoted to become the team’s defensive coordinator, a role he now will serve with Connecticut. Getting a coach who was a high-level assistant at an SEC school sounds like a huge win for Connecticut. And it is – but only to a certain extent.
While he ran a unit with not as much talent as other SEC schools like Georgia or Alabama, the unit wasn’t successful. The Bulldogs allowed over 26 points per game, the 10th-best mark of 14 SEC teams last year. Granted, he didn’t have as much talent, but it’s still not ideal.
Brock is an intriguing coach because we saw he could build his way up to run an SEC defense. UConn isn’t playing the kind of competition of the SEC, which will make Brock’s job much easier. And he does have some intriguing talents to work with on this defense. Because of that, fans should be excited for the defense this year.
Defensive Captain: Pryce Yates
Rising redshirt-junior Pryce Yates is coming off of a successful sophomore season. Many expect him to, “take a huge step into being the captain of the defense,” according to UConn student reporter Ava Inesta.
Yates started all 12 games last year, leading all UConn defensive lineman with 42 combined tackles and 25 solo tackles. He also led the team with 14 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, while totaling two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups.
Yates can even throw the ball, completing a pass on a fake punt last season against James Madison. That’s pretty dominant for a redshirt-sophomore at the time. It’s expected, just like Inesta believes, that Yates will become that defensive captain and star that the Huskies have been looking for.
East-West Shrine Bowl Watchlist: Jelani Stafford
While Yates may have been the captain of the defensive line, Jelani Stafford was right there with him in 2023 during his junior campaign. And it’s remarkable how he did it.
Stafford played running back in all four years of high school, rushing for over 1,600 yards and 28 touchdowns in his junior year. He didn’t start playing defensive tackle until his senior season. However, that did not affect his play for Connecticut last year.
He totaled 40 tackles, eight of which for a loss, along with two forced fumbles and two pass-breakups. Stafford was even used as a runner at times, rushing 15 times for 22 yards and a team-high six rushing touchdowns.
That’s why he’s been recognized on the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Watchlist. This honors 1,000 players to watch who could participate in the East-West Shrine Bowl game. Stafford was one of only three Huskies and their only defensive player recognized on the list. They have high expectations for Stafford in 2024, and UConn football fans should too.
Polynesian Player of the Year Watchlist: Tui Faumuina-Brown
Tui Faumuina-Brown is one of the more underrated pieces on this UConn football team. He played all 12 games at linebacker last season, totaling 61 tackles and four tackles for loss. He also posted his first career sack and an interception. It all went unnoticed – until now.
Faumuina-Brown was named by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame to the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year watchlist, with a chance to join some great company.
Other winners of this award include Marcus Mariota, Tua Tagovailoa, Talanoa Hufanga, Zach Wilson, and many others. Faumuina-Brown has the potential to take home this prestigious award as a key player on this defense.
Overall
UConn football has some talent on their defense this year. They also had some NFL products in years before this, including Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Travis Jones and Carolina Panthers linebacker Jackson Mitchell. And the Huskies have some great talent currently, and they’re being recognized in that way.
UConn wasn’t exactly successful on defense last year. They allowed over 32 points per game, the 28th worst mark in FBS. However, with pieces now a year older and a brand new coordinator, things look bright on the defensive side of the ball.
Chase Coburn
Chase Coburn is an aspiring sports reporter and journalist who's already achieved some great things in the industry. At just 13 years old, Chase has already started his own podcast, interviewing celebrities such as ESPN's Adam Schefter, Baltimore Ravens' Justin Madubuike, ESPN's Dan Graziano, and many others. Chase is even experienced in writing for his websites, chasessportsnews.com & chasecoburn.substack.com. He runs his schools broadcast department, and is also a freelance writer for The League Winners, covering Ravens football and UConn football.Chase, who resides in Fairfield, CT, hopes to continue his dream as a broadcaster, and inspire others to CHASE their dreams like he has.