Robbie Frey scores his first collegiate touchdown in UConn's 35-3 victory over Hofstra.

Football: Frey, freshmen play important roles

By: Justin Verrier

Posted: 9/4/08

Standing on the sidelines awaiting the call, Robbie Frey knew he was in his first collegiate game in his career. His nerves told him as much.

But it took a wakeup call from Hofstra's Deron Mayo in the third quarter of the Huskies' season-opener against the Pride Saturday for him to realize it.

Frey, a redshirt freshman seeing time in the backfield with Andre Dixon, who was sidelined with an ankle injury, took a handoff up the middle on first down and was promptly met by Mayo.

The run was just two yards, but the gain was much more substantial.

"When I got that first hit, I was like, 'OK, it wasn't that bad, I'm alive, I'm still here, I can do this," Frey said Tuesday. "I think that's what got me going."

The carry was the start of an impressive showing for the running back. Along with getting a game ball for his special teams play, Frey finished with 34 yards on nine carries in mop-up work and scored UConn's final touchdown in its 35-3 victory.

Although he didn't save the ball, he said his first touchdown was exciting.

Frey wasn't the only one working out and through his nerves Saturday. Fifteen freshmen and redshirt freshmen saw their first action on the field. Wide receivers Kashif Moore and Michael Smith, the only true freshman on the two-deep depth chart, each recorded their first catches, while quarterback Cody Endres threw his first career pass.

Non-freshmen such as sophomore Greg Lloyd also saw increased action. Thrust into the starting spot at middle linebacker, Lloyd finished second on the team with six tackles.

Although some fared better than others, head coach Randy Edsall was generally pleased with what he saw from his young players

"All these young kids, for their first game, it wasn't exactly what they wanted, it wasn't as bad as it could've been," Edsall said. "But I know this: they work hard and they're going to get better with more repetitions and game experience."

After redshirting and working on the scout team all of last year, Frey wanted to get all the experience he could.

After constantly asking Edsall during the offseason how to see more time on the field, the coach put him on special teams as a gunner.

In his first chance, Frey confirmed his decision, recovering a muffed punt by returner Anthony Nelson at the 1-yard line 13:03 into the game, setting up the game's first score.

"He just goes about his business, he's pretty quiet, but he loves to play the game. He's a coaches' dream," Edsall said. "We feel comfortable with him on the field on special teams and also offensively and carrying the ball."

"This was just a good game to get all [the nerves] out," Frey said. "Now, we'll just see how the season goes."

Nixon Sees Familiar Faces

After having gone to prep school at Bridgeton Academy in Maine, James Nixon, a 6-foot, 185-pound speedster from New Haven, signed a letter of intent in 2007 to play defensive back in Storrs.

But instead of lining up alongside Darius Butler and others in the secondary, he'll be lining up across the field.

After academic ineligibility forced Nixon, 20, to never step foot on the field for UConn, he ended up at Temple, where he now plays wide receiver.

Although seldom used while learning his new position, Nixon recorded his first career reception against Army last Saturday.

However, even though Temple coach Al Golden said he is the fastest player on the Owls' roster and he would like to use him in the return game, he may not see much action this weekend, as he's buried on the team's depth chart.

"James has all the attributes," Golden said. "His football IQ, work ethic - all have to catch up to his athletic prowess."