Randy Edsall was given a chance to be a head coach again after being fired from Maryland in the middle of the 2015 season. Last December, UConn gave Edsall an opportunity to return to the program he coached for 12 years.

But Edsall’s second stint in Storrs isn’t off to a great start, at least publicly.

According to a story from NJ.com, Edsall pulled a scholarship from a committed recruit 17 days before National Signing Day.

On Sunday night, Edsall reportedly called up New Jersey linebacker Ryan Dickens. He was being honored with the 2016 Mini Max Award for his football excellence, strong academics and devotion to community service, which includes roles in teen suicide prevention, breast cancer awareness and fundraisers for families in crisis.

Dickens, who had been verbally committed to UConn for seven months, got the call from Edsall while he was in the parking lot leaving the awards banquet.

“And the next thing you hear is Ryan’s like, ‘You’re kidding, right?’” Dickens’ mom, Patti, said to NJ.com. “And then he put the phone on speaker and Edsall said, ‘No, Ry, we just decided we’re going to go in another direction. We don’t have a spot for you.’”

RELATED: Former Maryland coach Randy Edsall takes over at UConn

Dickens originally committed to previous UConn coach Bob Diaco before the start of his senior year. Diaco was fired by UConn in December, and is now the defensive coordinator at Nebraska.

According to NJ.com, Dickens got a call from Edsall on New Year’s Day and told him that his scholarship was safe. A few days later, that was no longer the case.

Apparently that wasn’t the first time Edsall did that. At Maryland in 2013, he reportedly pulled a scholarship from Demetri McGill of Ocean Lakes High in Virginia Beach.

Unfortunately for Dickens, he was latest victim of college football’s cutthroat recruiting world.

Fortunately, though, he received an offer from FCS Rhode Island. If Dickens does commit to Rhode Island, he might have a date to mark on his calendar.

The Rams play UConn in 2018.