Storrs — There's a good chance at least one future Husky participated in Friday's UConn football camp.

Might be someone already on the coaching staff's recruiting radar and in Storrs for close-up and thorough evaluation.

Or maybe a previously unknown player's athleticism jumps out, turning him into a hot prospect.

"There are guys that have shown up that we really didn't know about," coach Randy Edsall said. "All of a sudden, you see them moving around and you say, 'Wow, who is that guy?' And some guys grow on you as camp goes on."

Eleven members of this fall's incoming recruiting class, including Khyon Gillespie and Oneil Robinson II of Capital Prep Magnet School in Hartford, previously attended UConn football camp.

The camp experience provides a terrific opportunity for high school players to showcase their abilities and polish their skills as well as check out the football facilities and campus. It also serves as a valuable recruiting tool.

Camp is basically UConn's version of a combine.

"It's a chance for us to work with young men and help them improve the fundamentals and techniques of the positions that they play," Edsall said. "It also gives us an opportunity to evaluate their skill level, to evaluate their competitiveness, their coach-ability and just to see if there are guys we might feel can help us become better.

"You do the film evaluation. In camps like this, it gives you a little better idea being up close and personal to see them do different drills. ... It's just another tool in the evaluation process of what you do to recruit a prospective student-athlete."

Friday was the third of five one-day UConn football camps.

About 100 campers started the day off with testing in the Burton Family Football Complex. Players had their height, weight, 40-yard dash time, broad jump, agility and flexibility scores recorded. Then they headed outside for drills with position coaches.

Parents and high school coaches looked on from the sidelines. Killingly coach Chad Neal was there while senior Nsaiah Harriet, a defensive end, worked out.

"It's very well organized," Neal said of camp. "It's important that it's not just UConn coaches here. They're bringing in a lot of other schools, from Division I to Division III. A lot of kids get looks."

Edsall roamed the practice field and stopped to chat with coaches. He watches for more than just athleticism and skill level.

"I like this because I really find out about the little things about the kids," Edsall said. "How they work, how they conduct themselves. Are they the first one in line? Are they giving maximum effort? Those are the things I look for that you can't get without having those kids here at the camp."

Participating in camp helped several incoming Huskies earn a scholarship.

Take Elijah Jeffreys, who's from Somerville, Mass., and Gillespie, a running back from Hartford.

Neither player had a scholarship offer from any Division I programs before attending camp but both left with one from Edsall.

"I really wanted to show coach Edsall what I could do," Gillespie said. "I knew he was coming back to (UConn) and it was going to be a bright future for UConn. ... And I'm from Connecticut, so it meant a lot to me. ... It was crazy. I couldn't believe I was sitting in the head coach's office and he told me he liked my personality and that I had earned a scholarship to come to a Division I school. I had never thought of it."

Edsall saw Jeffreys' athleticism and recruited him as a wide receiver. Jeffreys was a quarterback in high school.

"I came out here and gave it my all and just prayed that someone would see the potential in me and someone did," Jeffreys said.

Robinson also received an offer at camp and committed the next day. He was sold on everything that UConn to offer. He appreciated the honesty of the coaching staff.

"All the coaches here are straight forward with everything," Robinson said. "UConn, the school, once you graduate, it opens the door for new opportunities."

New opportunities await for the next group of campers set to arrive on Sunday. About 300 players were signed up as of Friday.

g.keefe@theday.com