Box to leave UConn football program

UConn’s Michael Box, the only quarterback in the program to start a collegiate game, will leave the Huskies and transfer to another school, sources told The Day on Thursday.

Box, a redshirt sophomore from Suwanee, Ga., was one of four players competing to become UConn’s starting QB this fall. First-year coach Paul Pasqualoni said Wednesday he would not announce the name of his starter until prior to the kickoff of Thursday’s season opener against Fordham at Rentschler Field.

But Box, who made his only career start last Oct. 23 against Louisville (he later left the game with a concussion), practiced with the scout team during Wednesday’s open portion of practice, and sources said the 6-foot-3 Box was informed by the coaching staff that he was no longer in the running to start.

Redshirt junior walk-on Johnny McEntee, redshirt freshman Scott McCummings and true freshman Michael Nebrich are the other three QBs vying for the starting job.

A UConn athletic department spokesman could not confirm the report. The Huskies completed training camp on Wednesday and were to begin their game-week preparations on Thursday.

Box appeared in five games last season, completing 6 of 17 passes for 65 yards with one interception. The sources did not know whether Box planned to transfer to another FBS program or look to a FCS (formerly Division I-AA) school.