UConn Football: Lyle McCombs and the Top 4 Huskies of 2011

With a 38-31 loss to Western Michigan, Saturday afternoon, the UConn Huskies now sit at 2-3 on the season but without certain players they could be off to a much worse start.

The team has struggled to find its identity, needs players to step up and go above and beyond to inspire the team.

Luckily, the Huskies have had a group of players that has stepped up. Here are the top five Huskies of the 2011 season, thus far. 

With the quarterback position in limbo for most of the season, Lyle McCombs has been able to step it up in the run game to give the Huskies some sort of offensive attack.

He has surpassed the 100-yard mark in three of the five games to go along with four touchdowns, all scored in the first game of the season against Fordham.

An injury to battery-mate DJ Shoemate has put the load of the offense on McCombs' shoulders and he has answered by stepping up to the plate. 

One of the four captains for the Huskies, Kendall Reyes has come up big, time and time again in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball. 

He has totaled 14 tackles on the season to go along with two sacks from the defensive tackle position.

Reyes' superior play and leadership ability makes him one of the top Huskies players in the 2011 season. 

After starting off the season with a few unimpressive performances, Johnny McEntee has come into his own in the past two games.

He has thrown for 513 yards in the past two weeks to go along with six touchdowns and no interceptions.

Against Western Michigan, yesterday, he was leading a drive to tie the game in the fourth quarter and the Huskies were on the brink of scoring before Ryan Griffin coughed the ball up.

McEntee has shown growth over the length of the season and he is only going to get better, making him one of the top Huskies of the 2011 season. 

The junior linebacker out of Alabama has stepped up for the Huskies after taking the starting spot left vacant by former Husky, Scott Lutrus.

Johnson leads the team in tackles with 44 and also has intercepted two passes.

In a defense that has been one of the best in the country, up until Saturday, Johnson has been the engine that has kept it going. 

Without Johnson, the defense would not be as dynamic, making him one of the top Huskies of the 2011 season. 

Another linebacker, Sio Moore had a breakout season in 2010 and hasn't let up since. 

He is third on the team in tackles with 28, eight for a loss, and has three and a half sacks. He also has a fumble recovery.

Moore is one of the emotional leaders of the Huskies and could very well be a fifth captain if the team had five, making him one of the top Huskies in 2011.