football
01/08/2022 12:10:00
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August 1, 2022
STORRS – When Marquez Bembry transferred from the University of Kentucky to the University of Connecticut, it was clear to him that he was arriving in an environment that would help him truly appreciate the sport of football.
“Coming here, it’s a brotherhood,” said Bembry, a graduate student. “I’m just trying to take it all one day at a time and come out here with my helmet on, ready to work.”
However, it was more than just a change of scenery for the veteran linebacker. From seeing the connection with alumni at the program’s alumni barbecue, to the dedication of his teammates to working every day at their craft, the program’s commitment to growing its athletes quickly became apparent.
Bembry, who had nine tackles for Kentucky in 2021, is sure to be a dangerous weapon for UConn coach Jim Mora’s defense, an area of the team that has seen numerous players come to the team with talent Bembry says he’s always had a chip on his shoulder to compete. Only on the third day of fall camp, he says he’s already felt the love and encouragement from his teammates to keep giving it his all on the field.
“I love my teammates,” Bembry said. “I’m a very supportive guy. I embrace the young guys and try to get them up to the speed level that the coaches want, but also the speed level that I want to be at.”
That love and encouragement that Bembry has received and reciprocated as a UConn transfer is part of a new culture that has come to Storrs. It is a football culture that pushes players to achieve their personal goals by emphasizing hard work, dedication to brotherhood and mentorship.
“Everybody gets a chance to play,” Bembry said. “It’s all about how you train, how you approach (football), and that’s the most important thing. You come here and you give it everything you’ve got. The coaches see it. The coaches notice it.”
As a veteran player for the Huskies, he has been able to take advantage of the opportunity to help his teammates improve every day. Bembry prides himself on the ability to make an impact on the program.
“That’s why I’m so hard on the younger guys,” he said. “We’re trying to build a foundation through them. I don’t want anything to be easy for them. I want everything to be difficult.”