Whitmer No. 1 on UConn QB depth chart

Chandler Whitmer, a junior college transfer, will begin training camp as the No. 1 quarterback on UConn's depth chart, football coach Paul Pasqualoni announced Thursday.

The Huskies begin their preseason today in Storrs and open their 2012 season on Thursday, Aug. 30, against UMass at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.

Whitmer, a redshirt sophomore from Newnan, Ga., began his college career at Illinois, but spent only the 2010 season with the Illini as a redshirt. He attended Butler Community College in Kansas last fall, completing 180-of-316 passes for 3,022 yards and 25 touchdowns with 14 interceptions.

He joined the Huskies last semester and played well in the Blue-White spring game in April, finishing 18 for 27 for 187 yards and throwing a pair of touchdowns.

Pasqualoni also announced that Scott McCummings, who was in the mix to start at quarterback, has been excused from the start of training camp for personal reasons, leaving senior Johnny McEntee and sophomore Michael Nebrich to battle for the No. 2 spot behind Whitmer.

Casey Cochran, a true freshman, is recovering from wrist surgery suffered during a freak bike accident last month and will miss the start of training camp.

- Chuck Banning