The UConn football program isn’t waiting around for spring to make noise - it’s already reshaping its secondary with a pair of new additions from the transfer portal. Over the weekend, the Huskies landed two defensive backs in CJ Bell (Iowa) and Moussa Kane (Duke), continuing a busy offseason that’s seen the roster get a serious injection of talent.
Kane Brings Experience, Versatility to UConn’s Secondary
Let’s start with Moussa Kane. A redshirt sophomore out of Harlem, N.Y., Kane arrives in Storrs with two years of eligibility and 18 college games under his belt.
His time at Duke saw him flash the kind of skills that can translate well in the Huskies’ defensive scheme: 10 solo tackles, seven assisted, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, and a pair of pass breakups - all in 2025. That’s a stat line that tells you he’s not just a body on the depth chart - he’s a playmaker with proven production in Power Five football.
And if the name sounds familiar, it should. His older brother, Sanoussi Kane, was a 2024 seventh-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens. So there’s pedigree here, and Moussa’s game shows the same kind of physicality and instincts that made his brother NFL material.
For UConn, Kane’s arrival is timely. The Huskies are looking to build a more aggressive, turnover-hungry defense, and Kane fits that mold. He’s rangy, experienced, and not afraid to step up in run support - all traits that should give him a real shot at contributing early.
Bell Adds Depth and Long-Term Upside
Then there’s CJ Bell, a Massachusetts native who comes in from Iowa with a clean slate - literally. Bell saw the field once this past season in a game against Indiana but didn’t register any stats. Still, he’s got all four years of eligibility remaining, giving UConn a developmental piece with plenty of upside.
Bell’s addition is less about immediate production and more about long-term planning. He’s a local product with Big Ten training under his belt, and the Huskies are betting on their ability to develop him into a contributor down the line. With the way college football rosters churn these days, having young, moldable talent like Bell in the pipeline is a smart play.
UConn’s Transfer Portal Haul Keeps Growing
Bell and Kane are just the latest in a long list of transfer additions for UConn this offseason. The Huskies have been aggressive in the portal, pulling in reinforcements across the board - from quarterbacks to linemen to skill positions. Here’s a look at the full list of portal pickups so far:
Defense:
- Linebackers: K’Von Sherman (Toledo), Avery Dunn (Toledo), John Lista (Penn)
- Defensive Line: Tahjae Mullix (Oregon State), Zakaih Saez (Oregon State), Melvin Hills III (Texas), Jamel Howard Jr. (Wisconsin)
- Defensive Backs: Desmond Aladuge (Duke), Steve Miller (USC), Renick Dorilas (Rutgers), CJ Bell (Iowa), Moussa Kane (Duke)
Offense:
- Quarterbacks: Jake Merklinger (Tennessee), Kalieb Osborne (Toledo)
- Running Backs: Trey Cornist (Central Michigan), Cyncir Bowers (West Virginia)
- Wide Receivers: Emanuel Ross (Syracuse), Ky Wilson (Youngstown State), Cam Abshire (Oklahoma State), Zy’marion Lang (Toledo), Kamren Flowers (Toledo), Jediyah Willoughby (Toledo)
- Tight Ends: Matt Ragan (Boston College), Alex Godavitarne (D-II)
- Offensive Linemen: Christian Richter (Marshall), Dominic Rivera (Toledo), Raphael Greene-Nyarko (Toledo), Nathan Pahanich (Wake Forest)
It’s a group that reflects UConn’s clear strategy - build depth, raise the talent floor, and find guys who can help now and later. With a mix of proven producers and long-term projects, the Huskies are building a more competitive and complete roster.
Around the UConn Campus
It’s not just the football team making waves. The UConn men’s basketball team - currently ranked No. 3 - pulled out a gritty 64-62 win over Georgetown on Saturday.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough to keep their Big East record perfect at 8-0 and improve to 18-1 overall. Expect them to climb in the next AP Top 25 poll.
Meanwhile, the top-ranked UConn women are gearing up for a marquee matchup with No. 23 Notre Dame on Monday night at Gampel Pavilion. The Irish have taken the last three meetings, so this one carries a little extra weight - both for bragging rights and for the rankings, with a new women’s poll due out the same day.
Final Thoughts
With Kane and Bell now in the fold, UConn’s secondary has more depth, more competition, and more upside. Kane brings immediate impact potential, while Bell gives the coaching staff a long-term project with a high ceiling. And with a transfer class that’s loaded with talent from top to bottom, the Huskies are making it clear - they’re not just rebuilding, they’re reloading.