Keyion Dixon is part of a prolific pass catching freshman class at UConn

When Noel Thomas walked off the field after a season-ending loss to Tulane, it was a foregone conclusion that the receptions would be distributed much differently during the 2017 season after Thomas hauled in a UConn program record 100 catches as a senior.

While returnees Arkeel Newsome, Aaron McLean, Hergy Mayala and Tyraiq Beals have combined for more receptions than they had a season ago, the impact of the freshman class has been a bit of a revelation as they have helped UConn's fast-paced offense get rolling.

With Keyion Dixon (17 catches, 211 yards), Quayvon Skanes (19-167), Mason Donaldson (13-176), Kevin Mensah (5-41) and Nate Hopkins (2-7) getting into the act, the class has 56 catches for 602 yards. Heading into this week's game, only Ball State gets more receptions per game from freshmen than the 9.3 by UConn's frosh while the Huskies join Louisville, Nevada and Ball State as the only FBS programs with freshman classes combining for at least 100 receiving yards per game.

In terms of UConn freshman classes, in 2002 which was UConn's first FBS season, Jason Williams, Terry Caulley, Brandon Young, Deon Anderson and Tim Lassen combined for 78 receptions and 858 receiving yards. This current class is second on that list.

I would think that Kashif Moore's 27 receptions, a UConn record by a freshman, is in serious jeopardy. Here's the breakdown of top marks in UConn history by freshmen for receptions and receiving yards

RECEPTIONS27 Kashif Moore 2008
25 Terry Caulley 2002
24 Tyraiq Beals 201523 Ryan Griffin 2009
23 Jason Williams 2002
22 Glenn Antrum 1985
22 Brandon Young 2002
19 Lyle McCombs 2011
19 Quayvon Skanes 201718 Brian Kozlowski 1989
17 Keyion Dixon 201717 Terence Jeffers 2006

RECEIVING YARDS354 Jason Williams 2002
315 Glenn Antrum 1985
288 Brad Kanuch 2006
281 Carl Bond 1995
275 Tyraiq Beals 2015273 Kashif Moore 2008
272 Ryan Griffin 2009
269 Brandon Young 2002
267 John Fitzsimmons 1996
211 Keyion Dixon 2017205 Terry Caulley 2002
200 Terence Jeffers 2006