Jim Mora was prepared with a succession plan even before the ink dried on former offensive coordinator Nick Charlton‘s new contract with the Cleveland Browns following the 2023 season.
He didn’t have to look very far for a new OC, choosing to elevate offensive line coach Gordie Sammis.
“There was never even a hesitation. As soon as Nick Charlton decided to leave it was immediately decided,” he told reporters Tuesday. “When Nick started to talk to Cleveland, and of course I was already communicating with him and thought it might be an option, Gordie was already alert to the fact that, ‘Hey, if he leaves, you’re the guy.’ There was never a question for me because I think he’s brilliant. I think he’s incredibly smart, I think he’s incredibly hard-working, he’s got great leadership skills, he cares desperately. He is an absolute rising superstar in the coaching profession. I think he’s fantastic. He’s as good as I’ve been around.”
Sammis came to UConn to coach the offensive line when Mora took over the program in 2022, having played on the O-line at Virginia before coaching the position group at VMI, Lafayette and William and Mary.
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The Huskies had great success in his first year as coordinator last fall, setting a new program record for points in a season (415) with the program’s second-most rushing yards all-time (2,590) and third-most total yards (5,169). He played a significant role in helping offensive linemen Christian Haynes and Chase Lundt hear their names called in the last two NFL Drafts.
UConn’s offensive line unit has remained strong with the assistance of Christian Pace, who had some crossover with Sammis on the staff at Lafayette and is now also in his fourth year with the program.
Sammis’ second year as OC has been even more explosive for the Huskies, who are currently No. 17 in the nation, averaging 37.1 points per game, and 16th with 468.1 yards per game. Quarterback Joe Fagnano, the only quarterback in the nation with at least 200 pass attempts and no interceptions, is thriving and clearly comfortable in the system as the offensive line gives him time to go through his progressions and digest opposing defensive coverages.
The Huskies have both a running back and a receiver in the top-15 nationally in rushing and receiving yards in Cam Edwards (No. 13, 694) and Skyler Bell (No. 4, 687), respectively, and have nine different players with at least 100 yards from scrimmage through seven games.
“Gordie is brilliant,” Mora continued. “Gordie might not look like your prototypical offensive coordinators are looking these days with their scruffy beards and hats pulled down and the t-shirts on with the sleeves rolled up, shirts untucked and all that – there’s kinda this stereotype of what an offensive coordinator looks like if you look at the television. But Gordie is brilliant. Everyone thinks, ‘Well he’s an offensive line coach, what’s he gonna know about the pass game?’ Well, just look at what we’ve been able to accomplish so far in the pass game.
“Rhythm comes from players making plays. An offensive coordinator’s job, along with the staff, is to put players into position where you can maximize their abilities and minimize their deficiencies, and he does a good job of that.”
UConn, riding a four-game winning streak into Houston, where it’ll meet Rice on Saturday, has scored at least 35 points in four games this season.
Dom Amore: Never a hint of panic, Joe Fagnano guides UConn football with extraordinary performance
Fagnano named to Manning Award watch list
Joe Fagnano’s success in his third year at UConn continues to earn him national recognition.
Among the national leaders in almost every statistical category – 11th in passing yards (1,918), 13th in pass yards per game (274.0), 18th in passing efficiency (161.3), 18th in passing TDs (15), 20th in total offense (287.4), 22nd in completions per game (22.0), 25th in completion percentage (.681), and 27th in points responsible for (102) – the Williamsport, Penn. native was named to the watch list for the Manning Award, the team announced Thursday.
Setting a new UConn career-high with 362 passing yards last week at Boston College, Fagnano was named a Manning Award “Star of the Week” for the second time this season.
Finalists for the Manning Award will be determined by a select panel of national media covering college football, as well as each of the Mannings. That list will be released on Dec. 4 and the winner is scheduled to be announced following the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Former star defensive lineman Pryce Yates leaves UNC
It was reported this week that Pryce Yates, who spent four years in the UConn defensive line room and transferred to North Carolina after his defensive MVP performance against the Tar Heels in the Fenway Bowl, is no longer with the UNC football team.
Yates dealt with recurring head injuries last season with the Huskies, missing the first six games after suffering a concussion in preseason camp. He had another concussion this year in camp with the Tar Heels and only played in one game for Bill Belichick and Co. this season before he was removed from the roster.
Yates made 108 tackles, 12.5 sacks and forced three fumbles in his three seasons as a starter for the Huskies.
