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STORRS – The UConn offensive line to the NFL pipeline is still going strong.
Chase Lundt, a mainstay in the Huskies’ trenches at the tackle position, headlined a group of 49 prospects who took to the Shenkman Training Facility for UConn’s Pro Day on Tuesday. The group included 16 graduating (or graduated) UConn players in addition to prospects from area schools like Yale, New Haven, Central Connecticut, Sacred Heart and others. Nearly every NFL team was represented, all except the Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals.
After his recent trip to the NFL Combine, Lundt was the main attraction.
“He’s got a bright future. He’s got the size, athletic ability, I think he could be really successful at a lot of places,” said Gordon Sammis, UConn’s offensive line coach turned offensive coordinator. “A lot of the NFL is getting the right fit, too, so I think he needs that. But I think with his preparation and how he works, he’s got a really good shot to be a longtime pro.”
Lundt, a native of Arlington, Texas, listed at 6 feet 7, 304 pounds on his NFL prospect profile, is widely projected in mock drafts to hear his name called in the fourth or fifth round in late April. Sammis believes he could play tackle or guard at the next level despite his height because of his short area quickness and his ability to bend.
He would be the second UConn offensive lineman drafted in as many years, joining former teammate Christian Haynes, who was a third-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks last year. UConn has multiple other offensive linemen in the pros, including Matt Peart (Denver Broncos) and Ryan Van Demark (Buffalo Bills), who were teammates of Lundt’s during his 2019 redshirt season.
“It’s great to have a guy like (Haynes), because he pretty much went through the same exact thing I did,” Lundt said. “Just talking to him every day, kind of relaying the message like what to expect, how to go about my business whether it’s getting ready for my Pro Day or getting ready for the Combine, things like that. Having an influence like that sure does help make everything easier.”
Injured in the Huskies’ Fenway Bowl victory, Lundt wasn’t able to participate in the Senior Bowl or in workouts at the NFL Combine, aside from the bench press. He participated in the 40-yard dash and the positional drills on Tuesday and wasn’t sure about his times, but felt good about his performance.
“Trying to get out here and prove to teams that I can move around and everything, I think I did that with the O-line drills,” he said. “I know all these other guys did really good as well – (Chris) Fortin, Val (Senn), some of the other kids out here, it was just great to see them out there performing at their best, too.”
There were CFL teams present and scouting Fortin, a Quebec native who started all 13 games at guard. Senn, who played tackle opposite Lundt, said he was hoping he made his case Tuesday to slide into the late rounds and give UConn multiple draft picks for the first time since 2015 (Byron Jones, Geremy Davis).
“It’s definitely a big shout out to Coach Sammis and the work he’s been doing,” said Senn, a native of Austria. “Sometimes people will want to write you off, but Coach Sammis, when he came in here he took a good look and he trusted his instinct. He saw what potential people like Chase and I and Fortin had. It was definitely great to play for him and know that he gets the absolute most out of you.”
Senn was in Miami training for the Pro Day and is one of a handful of players who’s staying at head coach Jim Mora’s house. He plans on staying there for the next month since he can’t go back and forth to Austria.
“(Mora) just said the most important thing is to make us feel at home, and it’s been great,” Senn said. “Coach Mora changed everything. He’s the one who brought a winning coaching staff in, a coaching staff that cares about their players. He’s the one that lays the foundation day-in and day-out.”
UConn’s outside zone running and blocking scheme is at the forefront of the pipeline, preparing linemen for the professional level.
“One of the big selling points is always, ‘This is what we do,’ and the first thing I’ll show these guys – and shoot, nowadays you’ve got to recruit them here as well when they’re already here – is these X amount of teams, this is their Day One install play and this is our play. So they are going to be able to see you do everything they need you to see.”
The Huskies will have their work cut out for them in replacing the three starters for the 2025 season, but Sammis believes they’ll be just fine.
“I’ve coached the O-line now for 12, 13 years and I’ve never had anybody like them or Christian Haynes. And not just the ability, I’m talking the attitude, so you can’t replace them,” Sammis said. “But what we can do is kind of in the aggregate, getting better as a whole. Because in the end, the O-line is only as good as the weakest link with those five guys.”
Defensive lineman Dal’Mont Gourdine, who broke his foot and missed the end of the Huskies’ season, was back to 100 percent on Tuesday and felt he proved he could move around and earn at least a training camp invite. … Jelani Stafford is still working to be a defensive lineman at the next level, but teams are interested in him potentially playing fullback after his six-touchdown season in 2023. … Overall, it was an impressive day for the Huskies. “Such a great opportunity to come out here and just prove yourself one more time and just come out here and show what Connecticut football is all about,” Senn said. “That 9-4 season was not a fluke, it happened for a reason.”
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Chase Lundt, a mainstay in the Huskies’ trenches at the tackle position, headlined a group of 49 prospects who took to the Shenkman Training Facility for UConn’s Pro Day on Tuesday. The group included 16 graduating (or graduated) UConn players in addition to prospects from area schools like Yale, New Haven, Central Connecticut, Sacred Heart and others. Nearly every NFL team was represented, all except the Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals.
After his recent trip to the NFL Combine, Lundt was the main attraction.
“He’s got a bright future. He’s got the size, athletic ability, I think he could be really successful at a lot of places,” said Gordon Sammis, UConn’s offensive line coach turned offensive coordinator. “A lot of the NFL is getting the right fit, too, so I think he needs that. But I think with his preparation and how he works, he’s got a really good shot to be a longtime pro.”
Lundt, a native of Arlington, Texas, listed at 6 feet 7, 304 pounds on his NFL prospect profile, is widely projected in mock drafts to hear his name called in the fourth or fifth round in late April. Sammis believes he could play tackle or guard at the next level despite his height because of his short area quickness and his ability to bend.
He would be the second UConn offensive lineman drafted in as many years, joining former teammate Christian Haynes, who was a third-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks last year. UConn has multiple other offensive linemen in the pros, including Matt Peart (Denver Broncos) and Ryan Van Demark (Buffalo Bills), who were teammates of Lundt’s during his 2019 redshirt season.
“It’s great to have a guy like (Haynes), because he pretty much went through the same exact thing I did,” Lundt said. “Just talking to him every day, kind of relaying the message like what to expect, how to go about my business whether it’s getting ready for my Pro Day or getting ready for the Combine, things like that. Having an influence like that sure does help make everything easier.”
Injured in the Huskies’ Fenway Bowl victory, Lundt wasn’t able to participate in the Senior Bowl or in workouts at the NFL Combine, aside from the bench press. He participated in the 40-yard dash and the positional drills on Tuesday and wasn’t sure about his times, but felt good about his performance.
“Trying to get out here and prove to teams that I can move around and everything, I think I did that with the O-line drills,” he said. “I know all these other guys did really good as well – (Chris) Fortin, Val (Senn), some of the other kids out here, it was just great to see them out there performing at their best, too.”
There were CFL teams present and scouting Fortin, a Quebec native who started all 13 games at guard. Senn, who played tackle opposite Lundt, said he was hoping he made his case Tuesday to slide into the late rounds and give UConn multiple draft picks for the first time since 2015 (Byron Jones, Geremy Davis).
“It’s definitely a big shout out to Coach Sammis and the work he’s been doing,” said Senn, a native of Austria. “Sometimes people will want to write you off, but Coach Sammis, when he came in here he took a good look and he trusted his instinct. He saw what potential people like Chase and I and Fortin had. It was definitely great to play for him and know that he gets the absolute most out of you.”
Senn was in Miami training for the Pro Day and is one of a handful of players who’s staying at head coach Jim Mora’s house. He plans on staying there for the next month since he can’t go back and forth to Austria.
“(Mora) just said the most important thing is to make us feel at home, and it’s been great,” Senn said. “Coach Mora changed everything. He’s the one who brought a winning coaching staff in, a coaching staff that cares about their players. He’s the one that lays the foundation day-in and day-out.”
UConn’s outside zone running and blocking scheme is at the forefront of the pipeline, preparing linemen for the professional level.
“One of the big selling points is always, ‘This is what we do,’ and the first thing I’ll show these guys – and shoot, nowadays you’ve got to recruit them here as well when they’re already here – is these X amount of teams, this is their Day One install play and this is our play. So they are going to be able to see you do everything they need you to see.”
The Huskies will have their work cut out for them in replacing the three starters for the 2025 season, but Sammis believes they’ll be just fine.
“I’ve coached the O-line now for 12, 13 years and I’ve never had anybody like them or Christian Haynes. And not just the ability, I’m talking the attitude, so you can’t replace them,” Sammis said. “But what we can do is kind of in the aggregate, getting better as a whole. Because in the end, the O-line is only as good as the weakest link with those five guys.”
Other Huskies working hard
Defensive lineman Dal’Mont Gourdine, who broke his foot and missed the end of the Huskies’ season, was back to 100 percent on Tuesday and felt he proved he could move around and earn at least a training camp invite. … Jelani Stafford is still working to be a defensive lineman at the next level, but teams are interested in him potentially playing fullback after his six-touchdown season in 2023. … Overall, it was an impressive day for the Huskies. “Such a great opportunity to come out here and just prove yourself one more time and just come out here and show what Connecticut football is all about,” Senn said. “That 9-4 season was not a fluke, it happened for a reason.”
Continue reading...
