The 1988 UConn Football Guide (Thanks to Glenn Antrum) lists Linebacker Troy Ashley from Jersey City, New Jersey...5-11, 225lb who attended Synder H.S. and was a four year standout. Turns out he'd be a four year standout at UConn as well...
I reached out to Glenn and asked about his teammate...undersized, mentally tough, knows the game,,,found the ball and made plays...Per the 1988 Media Guide, Troy Ashley redshirted in 1985..before his climb up the ladder. Started 8 games in 1986 where as an outside linebacker, made 71 tackles (42 solo) good for 4th on the team where he also recorded a pair of interceptions...The Huskies, were Yankee Conference Co-Champs in an 8-3 season under Tom Jackson.
The 87' season saw the Huskies go 7-4. But again Ashley was outstanding with 86 total tackles (64 solo) which was second behind Mike Jansen....Three picks, three fumble recoveries and 5 pass breakups. All this and he missed the season finale win over New Hampshire due to injury....
While just 5-11, 225, Ashley was quick and agile...He used that to his advantage in 1988 in another 7-4 year...a blocked FG at New Hampshire, helping force 6 turnovers in a win at Yale, helped the defense get a big stop in the Huskies come from behind win over Northeastern and more....4 more picks as a redshirt junior..131 tackles (72 solo) and 5 TFL that earned Troy Ashley All Yankee Conference Honors...
His 5th Year in Storrs would be rock solid....the 8-3 Huskies were Tri-Champs of the Conference...10 tackles in the opener against CCSU, 11 in a loss at SMU, 14 against UNH and 11 more at Yale...But in a 39-33 OT win over UMass in October, Ashley tied the UConn Single Game Record with 24 Tackles. In all, 140 total tackles in 1989, 6th best in program history (Tied w Alfred Fincher & Lawrence Wilson) that not only earned him All Conference, but Yankee Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Div 1, Small School All American honors....Joining Dorsey on the defensive side of the ball to be awarded that honor...
His 428 career tackles remains #3 on the All Time List (Dorsey & Bama)...and in 1991, was named to UConn's All Century Team. At last check, Troy Ashley lives in the Syracuse Area, where not that long ago, had his nephew move up there to get a better education and a chance to play college football. Zaire Ashley played at Walsh University in North Canton,Ohio...
Troy Ashley, a standout linebacker at Old Memorial Stadium, a 1989 All American and a UConn Legend