UConn Huskies football linebacker Marquise Vann is happy to be going home to Cincinnati. After all, he’ll have over 50 family members and friends in attendance at Nippert Stadium.

The last time Vann played at Nippert Stadium, the UConn Huskies football team fell 41-16 to Cincinnati Bearcats in 2013.

The hometown UConn Huskies football LB did have himself quite a game back in 2013 as he had four tackles and a 40 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown.

This time around, he hopes the result is different. He would love nothing better to help the UConn Huskies football team get a win.

“It’s hard to not give the ball or throw the ball to Arkeel right now.”

Judging by the statistics, the above statement about UConn Huskies football RB Arkeel Newsome by head coach Bob Diaco is a very true statement. But what has gotten Newsome to that next level?

Let the UConn Huskies football coach tell you how Newsome has grown as both a person and player:

True blue UConn Huskies football fans should remember back to 2009 when the team almost beat Cincinnati on national television in a 47-45 shootout loss.

The UConn Huskies football team scored 35 points in the second half and had 462 yards of total offense in the game.

The defensive coordinator for the Bearcats that season was now UConn Huskies football head coach Bob Diaco.

ESPN Classic showed the 47-45 loss by the UConn Huskies football team and head coach Bob Diaco reflected on that game when asked about it:

If there was any hangover from last Saturday’s emotional loss to USF for the UConn Huskies football team, it wasn’t evident at practice on Tuesday.

It was almost like the UConn Huskies football team hadn’t lost the game. But we know they did.

The UConn Huskies football team were a very spirited bunch at practice as they prepared for Cincinnati. They seemed even more cohesive as a team then they had in the past.

And that’s saying something as this is the closest UConn Huskies football team I’ve seen in a while.

After practice, I asked Noel Thomas, Marquise Vann, Andrew Adams, Jesse Joseph and Bryant Shirreffs how they thought the team had responded in the two days of practice.

When the UConn Huskies football team heads to the Queen City for a matchup with the Cincinnati Bearcats, it will be a homecoming of sorts for head coach Bob Diaco.

The UConn Huskies football coach spent the 2009 season with the Bearcats as their defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach after being at Virginia for three years. He then moved on to Notre Dame with former Cincinnati and now Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly.

When asked about his time in Cincinnati on Tuesday, the UConn Huskies football coach reflected back on the time he spent there.

With the UConn Huskies football team taking to the road this weekend against the Cincinnati Bearcats, there’s one player on the team who doesn’t mind that at all, Bobby Puyol.

One thing to me that has stuck out over the past three UConn football games is the improved play of CB Jhavon Williams. And I’m not just saying this because he has had some key interceptions as of late.

He always seems to be in the right spot by making great reads and is rarely; if it all getting burned by an opposing receiver. That’s not to say that he’s denying everything because he isn’t but that’s due to the coverage called by the UConn football defensive coordinator. If something is thrown his way, the odds are he’s been knocking it down.

The UConn football  5’10 cornerback also is usually found covering the opposing teams best receiver who could sometimes have six inches on him.

Watch and/or listen below as UConn football coach Bob Diaco and Williams talk about the improved play.

While the UConn football depth chart for this Saturday’s homecoming game vs USF says that running backs Arkeel Newsome and Ron Johnson are in an “OR” situation, one thing is clear. The job is Newsome’s to lose.

Newsome is a huge weapon for QB Bryant Shirreffs in UConn football offensive coordinator Frank Verducci’s offense. He can use his speed and elusiveness on a running play or a pass play.

The Ansonia, CT native led the UConn football team in rushing yards and receiving yards in the teams’ 40-13 road win over UCF this past Saturday.

Newsome has also become a huge part of the kick UConn football kick return game as the primary returner because of his speed and vision to find the opening. It helped him earn American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors after the win vs UCF.

But according to UConn football coach Bob Diaco, it is still a two-headed monster in the back field.

When you go back and look at the video of the UConn football win over UCF this past Saturday, you’ll notice a few things from the offensive line.

First you’ll notice the holes the UConn football offensive line were opening up for RBs Arkeel Newsome and Ron Johnson as well QB Bryant Shirreffs when he decided to run. Secondly, you’ll notice the time they gave Shirreffs to throw the ball.

Sure there were five sacks by UCF in the game, but not all can be attributed to the UConn football offensive line.

According to UConn football head coach Bob Diaco, some of those sacks could be attributed to the tight ends, running backs, the quarterback or even the coaches.