QB Leon Transfers From N.C. State
The Story: Former N.C. State quarterback Micah Leon will transfer to UConn, making him the third player at the position to join the football team on scholarship for the 2019 season.
WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-5, 215-pound quarterback from Boynton Beach, Florida, Leon will be a redshirt sophomore in the fall and is able to play for the Huskies immediately because he joined N.C. State as a non-recruited walk-on in summer 2018. He did not appear in a game for the Wolfpack in either of his two seasons, decided to transfer late last month and visited UConn just shy of two weeks ago, at which point he was offered the scholarship.
TO THE DEPTH CHART: The Huskies will return two quarterbacks in Marvin Washington, who will be a sophomore, and Steven Krajewski, who will be a redshirt freshman. They also added Mike Beaudry, a graduate transfer from West Florida with two years of eligibility remaining; Jack Zergiotis, a true freshman from Montreal; and Miles Foerster, a preferred walk-on from St. Thomas More.
By virtue of being in attendance for spring workouts, Washington and Krajewski are the favorites to compete for the starting role. The summer session begins on Monday and players will begin spring workouts in mid-July, at which time the battle to replace David Pindell will truly begin.
ALL ABOUT TALENT: Coach Randy Edsall suggested late last week that there would be additional players joining UConn after Memorial Day, and he said after the spring signing day that the coaching staff would continue to monitor the transfer portal in order to get players they believe will fit in at the school become available. That also happened in early April when D.J. Morgan, a linebacker from Notre Dame, announced his intent to transfer to UConn.
Feole Feels the Heat as NCAAs Arrive
The Story: Junior left-hander Mason Feole will get the start for the Huskies when they face Nebraska in their first NCAA tournament game in Oklahoma City tomorrow.
READY FOR ACTION: Feole made 13 starts and went just 3-3 with a 3.50 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 72 innings this season. It was a bit of a departure from 2018, when he dominated opponents to the tune of a 9-2 record, 2.50 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 100 innings.
Still, there’s no doubt that he’s who coach Jim Penders wants on the mound to set the tone this weekend, especially because the Cornhuskers have struggled against left-handed pitching this season. “I expect him to be great,” Penders said. “It’s an unrealistic expectation, but that’s how great he has been for us over his three years. When we hand him the ball in high-leverage situations, he comes through. We have a ton of confidence in him.”
BATTLING THROUGH: A number of injuries have prevented freshman catcher Pat Winkel from reaching his full potential this season, but he still managed to hit .300/.351/.467 across 44 games with a team-high six home runs. He has hit .362 with three home runs since returning from a concussion on May 10 and will lead the Huskies’ offense into the weekend.
ABOUT NEBRASKA: The Huskies (36-22) could also face Oklahoma State and Harvard this weekend, but they’ll start with the Cornhuskers (31-22), who were the runners-up in the Big Ten and are in the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in the past six seasons.
Coached by Darin Erstad, the former Los Angeles Angels first baseman, Nebraska has been led offensively by sophomore outfielder Aaron Palensky, who hit .324/.426/.481 with six home runs in starting every game this season. A pair of senior pitchers, left-hander Nate Fisher and right-hander Matt Waldron, have put together spectacular seasons and one of the two will get the start against UConn.
Morning Read
A FAMILY AFFAIR? With Aubrey Griffin set to join the women’s basketball team as a freshman this fall, her brother A.J., one of the top players in the Class of 2021, is considering joining her. (Journal Inquirer)
BUILDING A CONTENDER: The Charlotte Hornets could consider offering Kemba Walker less than a supermax contract in order to build a playoff contender this summer, but doing so may alienate their star. (Charlotte Observer)
