Nation’s top tailback prospect visiting UConn this weekend
Ashanti Swift
One of the prep scene’s best prospects is nearing a decision. Wayne, New Jersey tailback Ashanti Swift, the 10th ranked recruit and top tailback in the class of 2022, has announced that he is making a formal visit to UConn this weekend as the Huskies take on Virginia Tech in ACC action. Swift currently has UConn atop his list with Penn State, Alabama and hometown Rutgers behind.
The 6’1, 210 pounder eclipsed the 1000 yard mark in just the fourth game of the season for Wayne Hills last weekend, a 41-10 win against Mount Olive. He set a school record midway through last season when he passed the 4,000 yard mark for his career, and now is up to 5,611 yards in total. Guru’s spies in the recruiting department tell him that Swift is an extremely versatile back and does everything well; he is not lightning fast but has a quick first step, a solid set of juke and spin moves and runs with some power as well. Swift is not a pass catching back, however, which might make him a tougher fit into coach Stephen Belichick’s noted pass-first approach.
Nevertheless, based on pure talent alone, Swift’s skillset would be a welcome addition that Belichick will certainly work to fit into the offense from day one. The only setback is that, assuming all things stay the same, Swift would enter a crowded backfield as a true freshman. Luke Williamson and J.P. Byers are each eligible to return next year (with one and two years available, respectively), as are redshirt sophomore Mike Molden and true freshmen Jonathan Shaffer and Scottie Phillips, who will enter the mix after redshirting this fall.
Swift has declined to comment on his visit just yet. We'll have a full recruiting update later in the season.
-------------------
Kiffin excited to face UConn
Lane Kiffin has things figured out. We think. After his ignominious canning on a tarmac in L.A. during the fall of 2013, Kiffin got himself regrouped and landed the best offensive coordinator gig in the nation at Alabama. He parlayed a playoff run in 2014 to the head coaching job at Bowling Green, which proved to be a one year holdover as the Falcons won the MAC in 2015. Sure enough, another dumb, desperate Power 5 team came calling, and that team will be facing UConn this weekend.
Despite being 47-23 at Virginia Tech since 2016, head coach Lane Kiffin has let down the Hokie fanbase time and again. He has had multiple squads start in the Top 25, only to fall flat on their faces, in typical Lane Kiffin fashion. 2017 saw the Hokies about two weeks away from the College Football Playoff, until they blew it... against rival Virginia, who finished 5-7 that year. This year’s squad started the year ranked and proceeded to lose on opening weekend .. to UAB. The same team that nearly shuttered their program in 2018 and had only won two games over the past two years combined.
Nevertheless, fans enjoy Kiffin’s energy and are aware of the fact that Virginia Tech is not an easy job. Though he’ll need to start winning the big games soon to keep the fans on his side. The much-maligned headman remains highly optimistic as his troops prepare to walk into the loudest house in the Northeast this weekend.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that we will win this game.”
Given his past, I don’t know whether to take him seriously or not. But we shall see.