UConn coach Bob Diaco said on a Friday afternoon teleconference that senior cornerback Byron Jones will miss the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury he suffered in last night's 31-21 loss to East Carolina.

Surgery will be scheduled at a later date and Diaco said Jones will come back "better than new."

"It wasn't some kind of catastrophic thing there but it does need to be addressed," Diaco said. "Once it is addressed he will be better than new."

"He is very highly thought off (by NFL teams). There are (NFL) executives in our building and they think very highly of him. This will actually help from a time frame standpoint. That is not why the decision is being made. The decision is being made because it needs to be made but this will help him."

Jones made his 38th career start against East Carolina, the most of any active UConn player and his 43 games played is tied with Geremy Davis and Reuben Frank for the most of the team. His 223 tackles and eight interceptions are also tops among the current UConn players.

With Jones out of the picture, UConn is extremely young at the cornerback position. Jhavon Williams got some time last year and has started at the other cornerback position all season but at this point last year John Green was a reserve receiver with the Huskies and Jamar Summers was at Milford Academy.

"They are totally not ready," Diaco said. "They are completely not ready and they are going to play like freshmen like they did last night. We are going to play more freshmen and they will play like freshmen."

Among those freshmen suddenly in the mix is former Suffield Academy star Brice McAllister, who hasn't played in a game all season.

"He is going to get ready to play," Diaco said. "That is a good thing. all these guys playing in games is going to be positive plusses in the ledge book for '15 (season)."

Senior receiver Geremy Davis was also knocked out of last night's game with an ankle injury. Diaco said Davis has a mild ankle sprain and is day to day. Freshman running back Arkeel Newsome missed practice due to a lower leg issue and only played in one second-half series but Diaco said he is 100 percent. While freshman linebacker Junior Joseph did not make the trip as Diaco said there was some academic work he had to take care of.