Gaulden gets his shot

EAST HARTFORD - Throughout his four years at UConn, Ellis Gaulden has always been known for his triumphs on the track, where he is the reigning Big East high jump champion. But to Gaulden, he's always been a football player. The only problem is no one else knew it.

With a myriad of injuries limiting the 6-foot-2, 192-pound receiver to appearances in only nine career games, all of which came last season, Gaulden has spent more time on the sidelines in sweats than in pads. But Thursday, Gaulden finally made the impact head coach Randy Edsall expected when he signed him out of Tallahassee, Fla., hauling four catches for 62 yards - all career highs.

"I just try to keep myself anxious and hungry," Gaulden said. "Now that I've been out there, I'm just more anxious to get out there and help my team again to another win." With Terrence Jeffers now at Vanderbilt and Brad Kanuch sidelined with a leg injury of his own, Gaulden was injury-free for the first time in summer practices and moved up the depth chart and is currently listed as the first receiver.

But for Gaulden, the promotion isn't really important. After sitting out year after year, he's happy just playing alongside his teammates once again.

"It's been a long time since I've been able to say I've had fun on the field," Gaulden said. "Sometimes it feels like I'm more of a track guy than a football player. But I've been doing football since I was 9-years-old. Football is my first love, and I'm going to keep going at it until I can't go any more." Gaulden wasn't the only one making up for lost time.

Fresh off a knee scope, Aaron Bagsby, playing in his second career game, recorded his first interception off of Cory Christopher in the fourth quarter.

Bagsby blew out his knee in last season's opener against Duke and has been battling injuries ever since.

"He's not showing the effects of that knee scope," Edsall said.

Endres Gets The Call

Despite receiving reps with the first-team offense a few back, redshirt freshman Zach Frazer wasn't the one getting the call when the wide lead led to Tyler Lorenzen's curtain call.

Instead, another freshman quarterback, Cody Endres, got the call. Edsall said the second-string position could be up in the air the entire season, with the player who performs best in practice getting the spot on the two-deep depth chart.

"Cody might get fat and happy this week and Zach might have a better week," Edsall said. "Cody just had a better week of practice this week."

Endres finished 4-for-5 for 49 yards while playing only in the final quarter.

Dixon Should Return

Despite sitting out Thursday's game with an injured ankle, Andre Dixon should be back in time for next Saturday's game against Temple, according to Edsall. Dixon turned his ankle in practice Tuesday and was unable to play.

Freshman running back Jordan Todman also didn't see the field after injuring his shoulder a few weeks ago.

Quick Hits

Hofstra quarterback Bryan Savage was forced to sit out the game with a hurt back, which was announced just minutes before kickoff … Lindsey Witten, who had a career-high two sacks, was looked at by the medical staff after the game … Anthony Sherman's 33-yard reception in the first quarter was the longest of his career … Former UConn forward Donyell Marshall watched the game from the press box.