Storrs — Much has happened since the UConn football season ended in late November.

After playing their last American Athletic Conference game, the Huskies have been transitioning to life as an independent.

They've seen a parade of players, approximately 21, transfer out of the program. They announced a new recruiting class in December and will introduce a few more additions on Wednesday.

Opponents have been added to future schedules.

Inside the UConn football family, it's been business as usual. The Huskies held their first spring practice Tuesday at the Mark R. Shenkman Training Facility on campus.

Coach Randy Edsall stuck to his familiar script, preferring to keep his focus on making his team better. He'll let athletic director David Benedict and others deal with the transition to independent status.

"I've got to make sure that I stay focused on what my job is and what the job is with these kids," Edsall said. "It's other people's responsibilities and jobs to make sure all those other things are taken care of. I don't want all that responsibility. I'm the head coach here and all I want to do is coach this team and get this team to be the best it can be.

"All that other stuff, that's for David (Benedict) and his administration and Ryan Steinberg, my director of football operations, to handle. My focus and attention is on these kids, recruiting and now spring ball. ... If I'm focused on that, then the kids are going to be focused on that."

UConn's roster has undergone some significant changes in recent months. Transfer losses include last year's leading tackler and top defensive back Tyler Coyle and starting offensive linemen Cam DeGeorge and Nino Leone.

When asked if he's concerned about the number of transfer departures, Edsall responded: "I don't even get into that. All I'm concerned about is just coaching the guys that are here."

The Huskies are taking the changes in stride.

"We want the best for all the guys that came here that decided to leave," veteran linebacker D.J. Morgan said. "It's a business at the end of the day. For the guys that stayed, it's just an opportunity for those guys to step up and get more of a playing role that maybe they didn't have last season."

The Huskies will rely on young players to fill some holes. Eleven newcomers are on campus participating in spring workouts. They'll gain valuable experience working out with the team and get a jump start on improving their fundamentals.

They're all eager to turn the program around after going 2-10 overall last season.

"Everyone has the right mindset," senior Luke Magliozzi said. "Everyone wants to win. Our mindset is to take it one day at a time in spring ball and just get better each day."

The spring practice schedule calls for UConn to practice three times a week for the next five weeks, ending on March 6.

The Huskies kick off the 2020 season by hosting UMass on Sept. 3.

Just don't ask Edsall to talk about the fall schedule.

"I won't talk about the schedule or anything like that," Edsall said. "I'll worry about that when we get closer and when we're going to have to play."

Edsall did say that the Huskies will be using Atlantic Coast Conference officials for their games. He only spoke about that because UConn needed to address that issue this spring.

"That's who we're going to go with from an officiating standpoint," Edsall said. "All the other things don't really affect us."

News and notes

Morgan, who's recovering from shoulder surgery, will sit out spring practice. "I'm just trying to get my strength back and getting my shoulder back to 100%," he said. "I can't control it, so I'm trying to take a positive attitude." ... Edsall praised defensive back Malik Dixon. "He's a different looking kid now than when he was when he left here (for winter break)." ... Edsall on Anthony Sherman, the former Husky who plays for the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs: "I'm just so happy for him. There's a guy that epitomizes what we're all about. All he did was come here and just work. He worked harder than anybody else and he was very unselfish."

g.keefe@theday.com