The future of UConn football is here

The UConn football team announced yesterday, during their first ever National Signing Day event at Rentschler Field, that the incoming class will be composed of 25 new players.

The highlighted recruit of the class is, without question, quarterback Casey Cochran. Cochran is a two-time Gatorade high school player of the year in Connecticut, won state titles for New London and Masuk High, and is quite possibly the most high-profile quarterback recruit at UConn since Dan Orlovsky, who is currently in the NFL playing for the Indianapolis Colts. Orlovsky also happens to hold the school records for most pass completions (916), pass attempts (1,567), yards passing (10,706), touchdown passes (84), interceptions (51), total plays (1,710) and total yards (10,421).

He also joins five other quarterbacks on the depth chart, including incumbents Johnny McEntee, Scott McCummings, Michael Nebrich and junior college transfer Chandler Whitman. Coach Paul Pasqualoni has already stated there will be an open competition for the starting job, despite the fact that McEntee already has some experience under his belt.

Other highlighted recruits include linebacker Jazzmar Clax of Freehold, N.J., defensive end Brendan Battles of North Eastham, Mass, and – interestingly enough – son of former Red Sox shortstop by the same name, Ricky Gutierrez. You may remember his father on the World Series team in 2004. Gutierrez also appears to be a pretty decent receiver who Pasqualoni has been clear that he is excited about.

Clax was recruited as a linebacker, but could start off playing both sides of the ball, doubling as a fullback on offense.

Battles played both end and quarterback as a senior in high school, but is definitely more proficient on defense. He recorded 70 tackles last year and 2 sacks, and was named to ESPN Boston's all-star team.

Pasqualoni was also happy that he was able to address the team need of a kicker that arose with the graduation of David Teggart. The answer: West Palm Beach native Bobby Puyol. Puyol was 22-27 with a long of 54 (his school's record) and had a touchback percentage of 82 percent throughout his high school tenure.

This year's class consisted of nine 3-star recruits, according to rivals.com.

While the new recruits look realistically promising, there are gaps. Pasqualoni's only regret of the class: not signing more interior defensive linemen and corners.