Linebacker Junior Joseph is UConn’s lone representative on All-AAC team

By Jim Fuller

Updated 11:48 pm, Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Photo: Jessica Hill / Associated Press

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Missouri running back Ish Witter, right, is pursued by Connecticut linebacker Junior Joseph, left, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) less

Missouri running back Ish Witter, right, is pursued by Connecticut linebacker Junior Joseph, left, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP ... more

Photo: Jessica Hill / Associated Press

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UConn linebacker Junior Joseph breaks up a pass intended for Tulsa wide receiver Keenen Johnson in the final seconds Oct. 21 in East Hartford.

UConn linebacker Junior Joseph breaks up a pass intended for Tulsa wide receiver Keenen Johnson in the final seconds Oct. 21 in East Hartford.

Photo: Stephen Dunn / Associated Press

Linebacker Junior Joseph is UConn’s lone representative on All-AAC team

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Senior linebacker Junior Joseph was the only UConn player named to the All-American Athletic Conference football postseason all-star team. Joseph was an honorable mention selection.

Joseph led the Huskies with 55 solo tackles and 91 total stops. He also had 6 1/2 tackles for loss, four sacks, forced a fumble and had three pass breakups including one in the end zone to clinch the 20-14 win over Tulsa.

Joseph finished his career with 306 tackles, 15th in UConn history.

UConn was the only team not to have an offensive player named at least as an honorable mention selection. The Huskies averaged 95.2 more yards per game than a season ago. Only undefeated Central Florida saw a bigger jumper in total offense and the three teams to finish below UConn in total offense (Tulane, Temple and Cincinnati) each had one second-team selection.

The good news is that UConn started more freshmen on offense or defense (14) and had more games started by freshmen (60) than any other AAC team.

Quayvon Skanes had 35 catches, the most by a UConn freshman while Keyion Dixon had 33 receptions giving UConn the top two freshmen in the AAC in terms of catches. Dixon’s 360 receiving yards are not only the most for any AAC freshman, but a UConn freshman mark as well.

Kevin Mensah was second among AAC freshmen wth 561 rushing yards and Nate Hopkins second with seven rushing touchdowns while Tyler Coyle’s 67 tackles were more than any freshman in the conference. The right side of the UConn offensive line was manned by freshman for most of the season as guard Cam DeGeorge started all 12 games and true freshman Ryan Van Demark started the final nine at right tackle.