Some new rules are on the verge of being implemented and count UConn coach Randy Edsall among those applauding the expected move to an early signing period as well as the addition of a 10th assistant coach and capping the number of players on scholarship in one class to 25.

Here's the release on the rules changes that were approved by the NCAA Division I Council and still need to be ratified at the Division I Board of Directors meetings which end on April 26.

"I think they got it right,' Edsall said after Tuesday morning's spring practice, "I think there are more things that they can do. I was pleased that the proposal got passed. It is steps in the right direction, I do like the early signing period. We were getting to a point where people were just throwing offers out there because other people offered kids and now what happens, it will be interesting to see how many kids want to sign or commit to a school that offered and say, 'no you can't commit.'

"I am for all those things, the 10th coach, having the (limits on) camps on campus, all that. They just have to get back to civility in recruiting, let these kids be kids, tell them the truth, don't fill them with things that aren't there. Now I wish they would stop where you couldn't offer kids early enough. Having official visits in April, May and June, that will be different especially when they talk about the academic part when you bring kids in when you don't even have six semesters in of grades on them. That will be interesting to see how those things turned out."

There's not a ton to report off today's practice.

Tyler Davis was moved from tight end to receiver (his third position since arriving at UConn). It was his first day working with the receivers.
"Anybody who can help us win and help us score is welcome," receiver Hergy Mayala said. "Today was his first day so he has a lot to learn obviously but I think he is going to all right by the time fall (camp) comes along. He's a great worker, he's going to add to what we are doing so far."

Edsall said that Davis would probably be considered the fourth-string tight end and now he has a better chance to stepping onto the field as a receiver.

"He is not strong enough to play tight end so I think he is athletic, he runs well," Edsall said. "In terms of what we do in the offense, I think he fits better there right now. Right now he would probably be fourth in terms of where we are at tight end so now moving to where we are going to move him, he has a chance to come in and challenge that guy to be a starter or be the backup. I am worrying about trying to put the best team that I can together for this coming year and as I looked at it and evaluated it, I felt that would be the best spot for him for 2017."

Edsall also announced that Nazir Williams moved to the middle linebacker slot (likely caused by the injury to E.J. Levenberry) and Tyler Coyle is now at safety. Coyle was out there with the starting defensive backs along with fellow freshman Omar Fortt at the very end of the portion of practice open to the media. Williams looked impressive in the pass rushing drills when linebackers went up against running backs.

Arkeel Newsome, Quayon Skanes and Keyion Dixon all got work returning kickoffs today.

Edsall said that Friday's spring game will be more of a scrimmage that actual game. It will start off with the first-team offenses and defenses going head to head followed by the second team units squaring off. There could be live punting but no punt returns. Offensive linemen Ryan Crozier and Tommy Hopkins as well as defensive end Luke Carrezola remain in red no-contact jerseys so don't look for them to take part in Friday's 7 p.m. scrimmage.

Admission and parking will be free to the spring game at Rentschler Field.

There is one more practice in the spring and that is on Thursday but it is not open to the media.

I will also be filing a story on defensive back Jamar Summers, who many people thought might be preparing for the NFL draft right about now instead of returning for his senior season.

With UConn commit Quayvon Skanes running for four touchdowns and throwing for another as Phillips Academy High School became the first team from the Chicago Public League to win a football state title.

Phillips rolled to a 51-7 win over Althoff in the Illinois 4A title game to finish with a 14-0 record while outscoring its opponents 587-90.

Skanes had scoring runs of 41, 31, 3 and 36 yards as he finished with 149 yards on 13 carries.

Closer to home, the Connecticut playoffs begin on Tuesday with the quarterfinals. Jasen Rose's Southington team is the No. 3 seed in Class LL and will host No. 6 Conard while Keyion Dixon's Glastonbury squad is seeded fifth and will play at No. 4 Newtown. Both games are set for 6:30 p.m.

TOUGH NIGHT TO BECOME BOWL ELIGIBLE
Seven teams took the field on Thursday or Friday with a chance to either become bowl eligible or put themselves in position to play next week to pick up the sixth win needed to reach bowl eligibility. If not for some costly turnovers by Tulane resulting in a Tulsa win those teams would have gone 1-6 as Buffalo, Missouri, Nebraska and San Jose State fell to 5-7 and Texas' record dropped to 4-7 with losses.

Tulsa posted a 47-34 win to improve to 6-6 and Washington did the same with a 45-10 win over Washington State.

If my math is correct that means 73 teams are bowl eligible. Seven more 5-6 teams (East Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Old Dominion and Virginia Tech) and two squads with 4-6 records and two games left (Kansas State and Louisiana Lafayette) are in action today.

There are 81 bowl slots available so unless every team mentioned above wins out which would be beyond improbable, it looks like teams with losing records will be get bowl invitations.

Another result of note to the AAC is Toledo's loss to Western Michigan which could result in the winner of the AAC championship game getting a bid to a New Year's Day bowl. Ironically, UConn could blow up those plans because if the Huskies upset Temple it would put unranked South Florida in the AAC championship game. If USF were to beat Houston it would be rather interesting to see which of the Group of Five teams gets that bid. If Temple wins tonight I would think the winner of the Houston/Temple game gets that prime bowl spot.