Previewing NC State’s Opponent: UCONN

NC State beat UCONN at home 41-10 last year in Carter-Finley Stadium, but the Wolfpack will be facing a different team tonight.

UCONN was one of the most improved teams throughout the season in 2022. After losing 4 of their first 5 games, the Huskies went on to win 5 of their last 7 regular season games, and went on to play in the Myrtle Beach Bowl against Marshall.

This year, the Huskies QB is Graduate Transfer Joe Fagnano from Maine. In a similar situation to NC State, UCONN’s Quarterback is reuniting with his former Offensive Coordinator (Nick Charlton’s first year in UCONN was last year).

Fagnano completed 57.1% of his passes for 2,231 yards with 15 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in 2022. Over his career, his passing efficiency rating is a solid 138.6, throwing for 45 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions. He also has the ability to hurt you with his legs a little bit, rushing for 296 yards and 3 touchdowns last year.

UCONN’s rushing attack is formidable. They return a tandem that combined for 1,214 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2022. Junior Devontae Houston is listed as the starter. Last year, he didn’t have as many carries as Victor Rosa (So.), but he averaged 6.9 yards per carry. Rosa rushed for 11 touchdowns, and averaged 4.5 yards per carry. Houston’s PFF grade was an impressive 79.9.

NC State’s secondary will pretty much be facing a new receiving attack. Starters Brett Buckman (Delaware) and Geordon Porter (New Mexico) are Graduate Transfers. Buckman had 39 receptions for 470 yards in 2022, and Porter had 22 receptions for 312 yards. Junior Cameron Ross was injured last year when the Huskies came to Raleigh, and for that matter he’s been hurt for most of the past two seasons, but don’t sleep on him. In 2019, as a Freshman, he had 60 receptions for 723 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was an Honorable Mention All-American in 2019 according to ProFootballFocus.

The Huskies basically return 4 starters on the Offensive Line. The 2 Guards Haynes and Ofori-Nyadu are very impressive, posting PFF grades of 83.9 and 82.2 respectively. Left Tackle Valentin Senn’s grade in 2022 was 75.4.

On defense, UCONN returns 10 of their 11 starters. A couple of these fellas are studs. Middle Linebacker Jackson Mitchell (Sr.) led the team with 140 tackles. He also had 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, to go along with 2 forced fumbles and 5 fumble recoveries. His PFF grade in ’22 was 76.5.

Redshirt Junior Free Safety Malik Dixon-Williams posted an audacious grade of 84.1 last year. He had 90 tackles, 2 interceptions and 6 pass breakups. Senior Defensive End Eric Watts had  7 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in ’22.