Kalieb Osborne puts on ‘warrior’ performance as UConn football comes up just short against Syracuse

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EAST HARTFORD — Kalieb Osborne has taken some shots in his first year as a starting quarterback.

But the UConn QB, who played a whole season through a torn ACL his senior year at Waterford Mott High in Michigan, just keeps getting up.

“It looks like, sometimes when he gets up off the ground, it’s over for him,” UConn head coach Jason Candle said after Saturday’s 42-41 overtime loss to Syracuse. “But he comes over to the sideline, he gets a drink of water and he’s looking at me like, ‘Hey, am I gonna run the football again?'”

The Syracuse defense was, well, seeing red and a bullseye on Osborne’s chest Saturday afternoon. Fending off a season-high 22 pressures, according to PFF, he was hit four times as he threw, and sacked three more, in addition to the six hits he took as a runner. The Orange defense was called for two roughing the passer penalties and a facemask as he was swung around by his helmet at the hands of the menacing, 275-pound edge rusher, Tunmise Adeleye, in the second quarter.

“I guess (the toughness comes from) how I grew up and the people I grew up around. We were always in the backyard playing, we called it ‘Kill ’em,’ and my cousins got on me to be tough, so that’s what I did,” Osborne said. “Just knowing I’ll do anything for my teammates, that’s on my mind. I’ve got to get back up, get on my feet, and (get to the) next play. And to get those hits off of me, like my coach says, I’ve got to build my IQ even more and just keep going from here and learn from my mistakes today.”

At 6 feet 4, 218 pounds, Osborne has proven he can hold his own.

Dom Amore: Kalieb Osborne got into the end zone more ways than one in UConn debut: ‘Man, he’s crazy’

His personality as a football player and exceptional athleticism was on display early into his time with the Huskies, when he unnecessarily leapt to hurdle a Lafayette defender and get into the end zone during the Week 1 blowout. That was athletic instinct and a play his high school coach, Chris Fahr, has seen plenty.

“He’s jumped over people standing straight up,” Fahr told The Courant earlier this month. “He was so nice that he was a savage. Like he would get the ball and he’s so hard to tackle because he doesn’t look he’s going fast, but he’s always just slithery and if you don’t get pads on him, he’ll run you over. I’ve always said it from the first time I met him and watched him play, he’s as close to Cam Newton as people are gonna get.”

Newton was an inch taller and about 30 pounds heavier when he left Auburn as a Heisman Trophy winner, a national champion and one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time. But the comparison of skillset and play style is fair. Osborne is a dual threat unlike UConn has had since David Pindell.

On Saturday, after all of the hits and a 20-point comeback to force overtime, Osborne lofted a perfect 25-yard touchdown pass to Trey Cornist, who hauled it in one-handed, but it wasn’t enough as Syracuse answered on 4th-and-17 and won with a 2-point conversion.

Osborne finished the game 19 of 39 passing for 314 yards and three touchdowns. He was credited with nine carries for 23 yards, but that includes the three sacks, which counted for a loss of 25 yards rushing.

“He was a warrior out there (Saturday). And we are, we’re allowing him to get hit too much,” Candle said. “He was able to add an element to the run game and I think did a good job reading those, and he put some passes in places right in the guys’ hands where they were tough, contested catches. I mean, can you make a better throw on the ball in overtime, to the running back out of the backfield?

“If he can continue to value the importance of timing and ball placement and continue to raise the football IQ pre-snap, like a young quarterback has to do no matter where you’re at and who you are, that guy’s gonna be really special. His toughness and his ability to keep playing and take some of those hard hits. … We’re in the game because of him.”

Mora makes headlines

Former UConn head coach Jim Mora, who helped build the program to where it is now, turned some heads this weekend as his new Colorado State team was in the midst of a 56-26 loss at home to Oregon State.

In the first half, after the Beavers scored touchdowns on their first two drives, Mora relieved defensive coordinator Tyson Summers – a holdover from the previous staff under Jay Norvell – of his play calling duties. According to Mora, Summers decided to leave the field midgame and is no longer with the program.

Kenny McClendon, the former UConn defensive line coach who went with Mora as assistant head coach and defensive line coach for the Rams, was promoted to defensive coordinator.

Ky ‘Flash’ Wilson shines in season debut

Receiver Ky “Flash” Wilson, a senior who transferred in from Youngstown State, made his season debut on Saturday after recovering from an ACL injury he suffered in spring practice. He lived up to the nickname, flashing his potential as he caught a team-high four passes for 52 yards, including a 27-yard, one-handed catch at the end of the third quarter. UConn scored a touchdown on the next play to cut its deficit to seven.

“It was great seeing him out there. He was trying to get a feel, get a couple trucks in to get a feel of getting hit again,” Osborne said, more than qualified to speak on the topic. “Even when he wasn’t playing, he had great energy on the sideline and it fuels the whole team when he’s out there. It’s definitely great to have him.”

Osborne connected with 10 different receivers on Saturday.

“It’s really mostly scheme and where my eyes are at, and like Coach says, I’ve got to build my IQ a little bit more, there’s always room to improve,” he said. “But they always show up and they make plays when I do get it there in the right spot.”

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