CFB transfer portal update: How UConn’s offense is coming together for 2026

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A coaching change in this age of college football often means a complete refresh.

That was the case in Storrs, where Jason Candle came in to replace Jim Mora with a clear focus on bringing over several of his players and coaches from Toledo to establish a base culture within the UConn football program. Over the last seven weeks, Candle signed an entirely new staff and got on the recruiting trail, adding around 65 players from both the high school ranks and the transfer portal to put together his first Huskies’ team.

With the 2025 season officially concluded Monday night, national champion Indiana and coach Curt Cignetti having proven that, with the right people in the building and the right investment, any program can succeed in this new era, here is a look at what Candle has done with a canvas that was essentially blank in early December.

How UConn’s offense is shaping up for the 2026 season:

Quarterbacks

There will be a healthy competition for UConn’s starting quarterback job.

Former Tennessee backup Jake Merklinger, a four-star prospect out of high school, seems to be a frontrunner for the spot after two years with the Volunteers, where he completed 19 of his 36 passes (57.6%) for 221 yards and two touchdowns in five total appearances against Group of Five opponents. Kalieb Osborne, who made seven appearances this season and started for Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl, figures to also have a shot. A rising sophomore, Osborne completed 32 of 52 passes (61.5%) for 427 yards and three touchdowns while also running 51 times for 282 yards and two scores in 2025.

The Huskies have decent depth at the position in three-star incoming freshman Bo Polston, who was the first of several players to flip his commitment from Toledo, and Tucker McDonald, who pulled his name from the portal to stay in Storrs for his redshirt junior season. Tyler Smith, a Fairfield Prep alum and Shelton native, also remains on the roster.

Dom Amore: Jason Candle’s UConn quarterback room getting crowded with talent

Running backs

With Cam Edwards leaving for Michigan State, Victor Rosa off to Ohio University, Mel Brown, Malichi Greaves and Oliver Lundberg-Coleman following Mora to Colorado State and MJ Flowers headed to Tennessee Tech, there was some reloading to do in the running back room.

It started with Kenji Christian, Toledo’s second-string running back as a junior in 2025, who ran 105 times for 528 yards and four touchdowns and caught 17 passes for 193 yards and an additional score out of the backfield. He has over 1,500 career rushing yards, including two seasons at North Carolina A&T.

The Huskies also added the speedy Cyncir Bowers, who had 249 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 63 carries, and caught eight passes for 134 yards and a score at West Virginia last year, Jaden Hart from Syracuse (15 carries, 53 yards), Northwestern’s Dashun Reeder (22 carries, 222 yards, TD) and Trey Cornist from Central Michigan (105 carries, 470 yards, TD). Former Killingly star Soren Rief also announced he is sticking with the Huskies.

Wide receivers

There are some big shoes to fill in the receiver room with Skyler Bell headed to the NFL Draft after one of the best seasons ever for a UConn pass-catcher. But Candle and his staff made some splashy additions with great potential, including former Syracuse receiver Emanuel Ross, who had 10 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown despite injuries during his redshirt freshman season.

UConn added five receivers from Toledo, including Ryder Treadway (13 catches, 176 yards, 3 TD) and Javon Brown (8 catches, 156 yards, TD) along with Jediyah Willoughby, Zy’marion Lang and Kamren Flowers, who didn’t catch any passes in 2025. The Huskies added Cam Abshire, a former Division II star and 1,000-yard receiver at Emory & Henry who caught 10 passes for 92 yards at Oklahoma State last year, and Kylon “Flash” Wilson, who had 64 catches for 652 yards and six touchdowns at Youngstown State in 2025.

The freshman receiver class includes former Syracuse commit Zikhere Leaks, former FIU commit Carson Dash and former Toledo commit Logan Barnes. Candle was able to retain former four-star Shamar Porter for his third year in the program and, it appears, Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman, Teddy Williams, Griffin Koch, Daniel Rose, Rashard Williams, Drew Kron and Trace Bratten.

Tight ends

UConn’s talented tight end room was gutted as Juice Vereen, Dominic Toy and Nader Chirchi followed Mora to Colorado State, Alex Honig went off to Northwestern and Louis Hansen began preparation for the NFL Draft.

Candle started with a flipped commitment from 6-foot-7 three-star recruit Jackson Mangham, who had previously decided on Toledo. He added Michael “Alex” Godavitarne from Division II Wheeling and Matt Ragan from Boston College. It also appears three Huskies – Mike Burton, Xavier Watson and Clemens Richter – opted to stay.

Offensive line

One of the most notable announcements that he is sticking around came from Ty Chan, who started at tackle for the Huskies in the Fenway Bowl and spent the 2025 season mostly in a reserve role since coming over from Notre Dame. Guard Kyle Juergens also appears to be staying along with Deron McLaughlin, Danny Antolovich, Tamarus Walker, Hill Greenlee, Finn Wilkins, Joe McGann and Christos Zigoumis.

Candle’s haul includes three Toledo transfers in Isiah Switzer, Raphael Greene-Nyarko and Dominic Rivera. He also added a pair from Power Four programs in Louisville’s Fred Johnson and Wake Forest’s Nathan Pahanich, along with Christian Richter from Marshall and Ben Mulholland from FCS Houston Christian.

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