Ryan Griffin and Nick Williams were teammates and classmates at UConn as well as underutilized offensive options with the Huskies. They have something else in common, they both had touchdown catches and led their teams in catches in yesterday's preseason games highlighting a day when 11 former UConn products were not only in action by many of them played starring roles.

Griffin had five catches (on five targets) for 71 yards and a 31-yard touchdown reception with 59 seconds remaining in the Houston Texans' 18-17 win over Denver. Griffin's TD pulled the Texans within a point and Tom Savage connected with Travis Laphart for the go-ahead two-point conversion.

Williams caught three passes (on four targets) for 17 yards highlighted by a 7-yard touchdown with 5:03 left to play in Washington's 23-17 loss to Baltimore. It was the second straight game with a TD catch for Williams who is making a late bid for a roster spot among a very crowded group of receivers in Washington.

On the other side of the ball, Danny Lansanah and Shamar Stephen earned starts to help Tampa Bay and Minnesota post victories.

Lansanah had five tackles, one shy of the team lead, and a tackle for a loss in the 27-14 win over Buffalo. I've been a Buccaneers fan since living in Florida in the mid-1980s and I cover UConn so perhaps I'm paying more attention to this than most people but I think Lansanah is one of the better stories to emerge out of the preseason as he has been bouncing around trying to land a spot in the NFL and it certainly looks like he will be there when the Buccaneers select their 53-man roster.

Stephen, a seventh-round pick by the Vikings, has been opening eyes in Minnesota's camp. He drew the start in place of an injured Linval Joseph and had three solo tackles in the 30-12 win over Kansas City.

Lawrence Wilson had three tackles in the St. Louis Rams' 33-14 win over Cleveland 

There are multiple reports that Paul Pasqualoni, who posted a 10-18 record in 2 1/2 seasons as UConn's head coach, has landed the gig as the linebackers coach for the Chicago Bears.

Before being hired at UConn, Pasqualoni spent the previous six seasons as an assistant coach in the NFL as he worked with the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins.

Pasqualoni will have plenty to work with with the Bears led by perennial Pro Bowl LB Lance Briggs, last year's leading tackler James Anderson and talented young players like Jon Bostic and Kasheem Greene (who Pasqualoni coached against when Greene starred at Rutgers). Former UConn linebacker Lawrence Wilson could also be one of the linebackers Pasqualoni will work with.

The Bears finished 30th out of 32 teams in total defense, surrendering an average of 394.6 yards per game while ranking last in rushing defense and yards per rush.

DORSEY HONORED BY PFWA
John Dorsey, one of the greatest players in UConn history, was named the 2013 Executive of the Year by the Pro Football Writers Association.

Dorsey's personnel moves in his first season as the general manager (including trading for former UConn fullback Anthony Sherman) helped the Chiefs go from a 2-14 squad during the 2012 season to finishing 11-5 and reaching the playoffs this season.

Kendall Reyes records one of his two tackles in Thursday's preseason game

Three former UConn players had multiple tackles as this week's NFL preseason schedule began with four games.

Cornerback Robert McClain had three solo tackles in Atlanta's 27-23 loss to Baltimore.

Lawrence Wilson had two solo tackles including a tackle for a loss as the Chicago Bears defeated San Diego 33-28. In the same game Kendall Reyes also had a pair of solo tackles for the Chargers.

There are four more games tonight with the chance of seeing a former Husky in each of the games.

Marcus Easley looks to build on a seven-catch performance in his preseason debut when the Buffalo Bills plays Minnesota.

Dan Orlovsky is a reserve quarterback with Tampa Bay which plays at New England tonight. Orlovsky did not get into the preseason opener so it will be interesting to see how the quarterback snaps are distributed.

Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith going up against his former team is the top story line in the KC/San Francisco game but it will also be the second game with the Chiefs for  former UConn fullback Anthony Sherman.

Last but certainly not least, Sio Moore and Tyvon Branch lead Oakland against New Orleans.

Just a quick recap of how former UConn stars fared in exhibition games on Thursday night

WR Marcus Easley, Buffalo: Had one catch for 12 yards in 7-6 loss to Washington
DB Robert McClain, Atlanta: Tied for team lead with five solo tackles and six overall tackles and had an interception in 31-17 loss to Baltimore
DT Kendall Reyes, San Diego: Had four total tackles and 1/2 a sack in 21-13 win over Green Bay
OG Donald Thomas, New England: Got start at LG in 7-6 win over New Orleans
LB Lawrence Wilson, New Orleans: Had four total tackles in 7-6 loss to New England.

There will be six more preseason games on Friday although there are reports that former Huskies Will Beatty (New York Giants OT) and Jordan Todman (Minnesota Vikings RB) will be held out because of back and ankle injuries respectively.

In the Canadian Football League Larry Taylor returned eight punts for 88 yards, had 85 yards on four kickoff returns and ran once for 13 yards in Calgary's 31-20 win over Hamilton. Taylor added to his league league in combined return yardage. He has 1,228 yards between kickoff, punt and missed field goal returns and no other CFL player has hit the 1,000-yard mark.

Former UConn linebacker Lawrence Wilson has been suspended for one game and fined for an additional game check according to a report on the NFL.com site.

Wilson was taken by Carolina in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft. He played in all four preseason games in 2011 making a tackle in the preseason final against Pittsburgh. Wilson did not play in any regular season games. He was released in November after an arrest for speeding and misdeanor marijuana possession.

Wilson would be able to take part in training camp but would miss the Sep. 9 game against Washington and be eligible to return to the team on Sep. 10.

Here is a link to the report http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82a5f0e4/article/lawrence-wilson-saints-lb-suspended-fined-by-nfl