Xavier defensive end Sean Marinan, Jr. confirmed Friday that he’s been accepted at UConn and will join the football team as a preferred walk-on.

Sean Marinan, Sr., the Falcons’ head coach and Sean’s father, said Huskies coach Paul Pasqualoni contacted the family on National Signing Day (Feb. 1) and extended the offer to Marinan, Jr.

“My son wanted to speak to him directly,” Marinan, Sr. said. “That night they were able to talk and my son gave him the answer a couple of days after that.”

Under preferred walk-on status, a player is promised a roster spot and reports with the scholarship players for fall camp a few weeks before classes start. If money becomes available, then a scholarship could be awarded to that player.

This past fall, Marinan, Jr. (6-foot, 250 pounds) made 64 tackles and three sacks and led Xavier in quarterback knockdowns while leading the Falcons to their second straight Class LL state title.

Marinan, Jr. was considering attending Yale before former coach Tom Williams resigned in December. Since, Marinan, Jr. said the Bulldogs appeared to have lost interest in him. Marinan, Jr. then contemplated attending Wesleyan, until UConn offered.

“I was going to commit to Wesleyan, but I couldn’t pass up the offer (from UConn),” Marinan, Jr. said. “Everyone says I’m too short (to play Division I football), but now I have this shot to try to prove everyone wrong.”