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UConn enters Jason Candle's first season with 70-plus newcomers, deep transfer talent, position battles and a challenging 2026 schedule.
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The quarterback position sees a competition between holdover Tucker McDonald and transfers Kalieb Osborne (Toledo) and Jake Merklinger (Tennessee). Tucker has a good arm and can make all the throws but has dealt with some injuries. Osborne is a fantastic dual threat and an amazing athlete. While Merklinger almost won the job at Tennessee last season.
The running back room is almost all transfers. Kenji Christian (Toledo), Cyncir Bowers (West Virginia), Trey Cornist (Central Michigan), Dashun Reeder (Northwestern), Jaden Hart (Syracuse), and Shawn Simeon (Toledo) will all see action. Bowers and Reeder have speed and burst, Cornist has power, and Christian can do it all.
The wide receiver room returns Shamar Porter, but we’ll see what his future holds. The additions of Javon Brown (Toledo), Kamren Flowers (Toledo), Jadiyah Willoughby (Toledo), Zy’marion Lang (Toledo), Ryder Treadway (Toledo), Julian Allen (Toledo), Emanuel Ross (Syracuse), Cam Abshire (Oklahoma State), Ky “Flash” Wilson (Youngstown State), and tight end Matt Regan (Boston College), among others, will sort it out on the field. Wilson could miss the season with a knee injury, but we will see.
The offensive line room returns experience in Ty Chan and Tamarus Walker. There are several young returners as well. The additions of Christian Richter (Marshall), Hannes Hammer (Virginia Tech), Dominic Rivera (Toledo), Ben Mulholland (Houston Christian), Fred Johnson (Louisville), Mason Howard (Wofford), Terrence Moore (Toledo), Isiah Switzer (Toledo), Raphael Greene-Nyarko (Toledo), and Nathan Pahanich (Wake Forest) will all take time to gel.
The defensive line room returns Matt Hoffman amongst a slew of transfers. The additions of Joshua Mickens (Ohio State), Chamberlain Campbell (Toledo), Tahjae Mullix (Oregon State), Desmond Aladuge (Duke), Avery Dunn (Toledo), Odera Orizu (NC State), Anas Luqman (Ohio), Esean Carter (Toledo, All-MAC), Zakaih Saez (Oregon State), Andrew Laurich (Colorado State), Melvin Hills III (Texas), and Shamar Riser-Pressley (Buffalo) will also take time to gel, but the talent is here.
The linebacker room will be highly influenced by new Defensive Coordinator Ryan Manalic, who coached the linebackers at Pittsburgh. The additions of K’Von Sherman (Toledo, All-MAC), Luke Murphy (Coastal Carolina), Terris Dudley (NC State), Rickey Williams (Toledo), John Lista (Penn), and true freshman Tyrique Harris help make this the best unit on the team.
The secondary has a few holdovers in Kylish Hicks and Saxton Suchanic, among others. The additions of CJ Bell Jr. (Iowa), Moussa Kane (Duke), Tyler McKinstry (Toledo), Jayden Price (Toledo), Renick Dorilas (Rutgers), Jayden Davis (Fresno State), Zion Paret (Florida Atlantic), Tracy Revels (Michigan State), and Steve Miller (USC) bring quantity to the room. The room lacks experience.
Both the punting and kicking roles will belong to new players. Kicking duties will belong to either freshman Jack O’Conner or Ole Miss transfer Mike Baker. While the punting duties will belong to either Spencer Sullins or Division 2 Northwest Missouri State transfer Tommy Warner.
9/5 Lafayette
9/12 Maryland
9/19 at Southern Miss
9/26 at Miami (OH)
10/3 Syracuse
10/10 at Temple
10/23 UMass
10/31 at Air Force
11/7 North Carolina
11/14 James Madison
11/21 Old Dominion
11/28 at Wyoming
The foundation is in place for UConn to remain a more than competitive program. Jason Candle has never had a losing season as a head coach and even with over 70 new players that will continue in Year One at UConn. Candle is the right man for the job of helping the Huskies take the next step in the program’s development.
