UConn Huskies

Head Coach: Jason Candle (1st year)

Offensive Coordinator: Nunzio Campanile (1st year)

Defensive Coordinator: Ryan Manalac (1st year)

Spring Game: 11-Apr-2026

2026 Schedule

Most Likely: 7-5(expected 7.2)badge = team's win probability; ⚡ = toss-up (45-55%)

LafayetteSep 5W

MarylandSep 1230% +13.5

@ Southern MissSep 1955% -3.5

@ Miami (OH)Sep 2658% -5.0

SyracuseOct 371% -14.5

@ TempleOct 10⚡ 49% +1.0

UMassOct 2468% -12.5

@ Air ForceOct 3160% -6.5

North CarolinaNov 7⚡ 50% +0.5

James MadisonNov 1468% -12.5

Old DominionNov 2158% -5.5

@ WyomingNov 2858% -5.5

The Huskies enter 2026 with new head coach Jason Candle and new offensive coordinator Nunzio Campanile and new defensive coordinator Ryan Manalac.

Jason Candle's Huskies lost QB Joe Fagnano and WR Skyler Bell (both NFL Combine) but return K Chris Freeman (114), RB Kenji Christian (94), and LB Tyquan King (93). Fifteen transfer starters as UConn rebuilds in the AAC.

Key Games

Toss-up: trails North Carolina (ACC)50% win

Toss-up: trails Temple (AAC)49% win

Toss-up: edges Southern Miss (Sun Belt)55% win

Toss-up: edges Miami (OH) (MAC)58% win

Toss-up: edges Old Dominion (Sun Belt)58% win

Toss-up: edges Wyoming (Mountain West)58% win

Toss-up: edges Air Force (Mountain West)60% win

Predicted upset over Syracuse (ACC)

70Total Players

33Transfers

21Returning

16Freshmen

Starter Quality (out of 100)

Overall

Returning

Transfer

Quarterbacks(3)

Jake Merklinger

6'2" · 200 lbs · Age 20

Transfer

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Starter

#12Tucker McDonald

6'2" · 200 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Bo Polston

6'2" · 200 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Running Backs(6)

Kenji Christian

6'2" · 207 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

Cyncir Bowers

5'10" · 191 lbs · Age 20

Transfer

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Starter

Dashun Reeder

5'10" · 195 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup

Trey Cornist

5'11" · 210 lbs · Age 20

Transfer

R-Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Backup

Jaden Hart

5'11" · 210 lbs · Age 20

Transfer

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Rotation

Shawn Simeon

5'10" · 180 lbs · Age 19

Transfer

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Wide Receivers(9)

#4Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman

6'0" · 205 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Key Reserve

#13Chris Parker

6'3" · 195 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#10Griffin Koch

6'2" · 190 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#9Naiem Simmons

5'10" · 185 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#6Reymello Murphy

6'0" · 185 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#85Drew Kron

6'1" · 185 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#5Shamar Porter

6'3" · 210 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Backup

Logan Barnes

6'4" · 180 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Zikhere Leaks

6'2" · 190 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Tight Ends(3)

#81Louis Hansen

6'5" · 240 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#42Mike Burton

6'2" · 280 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Jackson Mangham

6'7" · 235 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Offensive Line(8)

#79Danny Antolovich

6'7" · 300 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#58Kyle Juergens

6'5" · 275 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#50Tank Green

6'6" · 295 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#69Ty Chan

6'5" · 320 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

#73Wes Hoeh

6'4" · 275 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#74Jayden Bass

6'6" · 315 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#56Tamarus Walker

6'3" · 320 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Owen Winder

6'6" · 270 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Defensive Line(12)

#58Antoineo Harris Jr.

6'3" · 255 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#1Ben Smiley III

6'4" · 245 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#33Kervins Choute

6'4" · 295 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#96Marquis Black

6'5" · 313 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

Jamel Howard Jr.

6'3" · 290 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#94Matt Hoffman

6'5" · 250 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#89Trent Jones II

6'3" · 285 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#91Brady Fodor

6'3" · 270 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

James Tilus

6'3" · 225 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Makijah Latiker

6'6" · 250 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Mateo Kipke

6'5" · 240 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Rodarion Tellez

6'3" · 235 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Linebackers(9)

#5Aaron Key

6'2" · 230 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#11Donovan Branch

6'4" · 245 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

John Lista

6'1" · 225 lbs · Age 23

Transfer

Graduate

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#9Amir Renwick

6'2" · 220 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#6Bryun Parham

5'11" · 223 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#8Sione Moa

6'1" · 230 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#10Tyquan King

6'2" · 225 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

Jayden Jones

6'2" · 210 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Tyrique Harris

6'1" · 210 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Defensive Backs(17)

#3D'Mon Brinson

5'10" · 180 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#15Kamo'i Latu

6'0" · 195 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#14Tyrece Mills

6'1" · 210 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#2Devin Pringle

5'10" · 182 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#31Diandre Harris

5'11" · 170 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#26Jeremiah Lomax

6'0" · 190 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#4Kolubah Pewee Jr.

5'11" · 170 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#18Kylish Hicks

6'1" · 200 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#12Chris Hudson

5'10" · 175 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#23Diondre Glover

5'11" · 180 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#7Malachi McLean

5'10" · 185 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

Steve Miller

6'2" · 185 lbs · Age 19

Transfer

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Cason Dash

6'1" · 185 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Elijah Whitaker

6'0" · 175 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Grant Blascak

6'3" · 205 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Martece Smith

6'1" · 165 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Shmar Akande

6'1" · 180 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

Role: Reserve

Kickers(1)

#28Chris Freeman

6'1" · 200 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

Punters(1)

#17Connor Stutz

6'3" · 220 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

Long Snappers(1)

#47Zach Christinat

6'1" · 210 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Backup