In a few months, Kyle Weiss will juggle the demands of a Division I football assistant coach with new dad duties.

He's unsure how that's going to work with his wife Jenna's due date in the middle of the UConn football season.

"I don't know," Weiss said recently. "We're going to have to ask the baby. Hopefully, the baby comes Sunday to Friday and not at noon on Saturday. The due date is Oct. 14, so the only away game around there is UMass, so I can always get in a car."

Weiss, an East Lyme High School graduate, will just do what he's done as running backs coach, especially in the last year, for the Huskies.

He will make the necessary adjustments.

If the new member of Team Weiss arrives on schedule, the baby — a girl — would enter the world two days before UConn's home game against Yale on Oct. 16 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.

"Great timing," Weiss said with a smile.

Weiss has learned that some things are just out of his control.

Take 2020.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging, UConn decided to cancel its football season, one of a handful of college programs in the country to do so.

The Huskies wisely used the time off, spending countless hours on skill work, strength and conditioning and evaluating the team.

The coaching staff is thrilled with the results.

"We're excited," Weiss said. "There's a different energy around here."

Weiss, who's in his fourth season on Randy Edsall's staff, can't wait to see his running backs in action, starting in the season opener Aug. 28 at Fresno State.

This is the deepest group of running backs in recent years, according to Weiss.

"These guys have been working hard, really hard," Weiss said. "If you see pictures online, they look totally different. They've changed their bodies. We got to spend a full year of just worrying about what we do, not about any opponent or anything.

"I've never in my life been able to teach football from the ground up like we have in the past year and a half. I think that's the most advantageous thing we've had is not having the pressure of having to get all this stuff in on time for a game. We can break down everything. We took a unique situation and turned it into a positive for us."

Preseason camp is underway in Storrs.

Senior Kevin Mensah anchors a backfield group that includes Robert Burns, a graduate transfer from Miami, freshmen Nate Carter, Brian Brewton, Devontae Houston and Max Modeste.

Mensah is the frontrunner for the starting job, coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2018 and 2019. Burns, who saw limited action at the University of Miami and has two years eligibility remaining, will push for playing time. It's hard to say how much of an impact the young backs will have given their lack of experience.

"Kevin has been very productive for us in the last few seasons," Weiss said. "Nate Carter, it seems like he is a sophomore already, he's been here so long. We just haven't had a season with him. He's done a great job changing his body.

"Young guys like Devontae and Brian Brewton bring speed that we're really excited about. To add Rob Burns, some experience from Miami, he's around 230 right now, so that's another addition to the toolbox. Adding Max from Texas, who I haven't had a chance to work with

, but he was here all summer working out, he's tall, long and over 200 pounds.

"Those are my six guys. It's awesome. I'm very confident with the depth."

Weiss will have the next few weeks to sort out the depth chart at that position.

The competition is making them all better and bringing them together. They've already formed a close bond.

"We had them over for dinner at the house not too long ago," said Weiss, who lives in Manchester. "Those six backs that I've got in the room, they're as thick as thieves. ... Amazing the way they are together. They're so much closer than they ever have been since I've been here."

Without a proven quarterback, the Huskies will need a reliable running game to be effective on offense. With improved depth, the offensive line has a chance to be one of the team's strengths.

Weiss has faith that his running backs will do their part to help the team have a successful season.

He has two countdowns underway — one until the season opener and the other until the arrival of his first child.

He's fortunate to have his parents still living in Niantic, so they can help out.

His life-changing event — the birth of his first child — will be here before he knows it.

"It's going to be crazy," Weiss said.

g.keefe@theday.com