Jason Candle isn’t wasting any time in his first offseason at the helm of UConn football. Since taking over for Jim Mora, the former Toledo head coach has been in overdrive, reshaping the Huskies’ roster through the transfer portal. Now that the portal window has closed for most players across the country, we’ve got a clearer picture of what this new-look UConn squad will look like heading into spring.
Let’s break down the key additions, the notable departures, and what it all means for Candle’s first year in Storrs.
The Newcomers: A Transfer Class with Familiar Faces and Fresh Talent
Candle’s first haul is a mix of proven veterans, intriguing upside, and-unsurprisingly-a heavy dose of players from his old stomping grounds in Toledo. In total, eight former Rockets followed Candle to UConn, giving him a core of players already familiar with his system and expectations.
Here’s the full list of incoming transfers:
- K'Von Sherman, LB (Toledo)
- Jake Merklinger, QB (Tennessee)
- Trey Cornist, RB (Central Michigan)
- Emanuel Ross, WR (Syracuse)
- Kalieb Osborne, QB (Toledo)
- Avery Dunn, LB (Toledo)
- John Lista, LB (Penn)
- Ky Wilson, WR (Youngstown State)
- Tahjae Mullix, DL (Oregon State)
- Zakaih Saez, DL (Oregon State)
- Christian Richter, OL (Marshall)
- Steve Miller, DB (Southern California)
- Matt Ragan, TE (Boston College)
- Melvin Hills III, DE (Texas)
- Cam Abshire, WR (Oklahoma State)
- Cyncir Bowers, RB (West Virginia)
- Zy'marion Lang, WR (Toledo)
- Kamren Flowers, WR (Toledo)
- Renick Dorilas, DB (Rutgers)
- Dominic Rivera, OL (Toledo)
- Raphael Greene-Nyarko, OL (Toledo)
- Jamel Howard Jr., DL (Wisconsin)
- Nathan Pahanich, OL (Wake Forest)
- Jediyah Willoughby, WR (Toledo)
- Alex Godavitarne, TE (D-II)
There’s a lot to unpack here, but a few trends stand out.
Wide Receiver Reload
UConn is bringing in six wide receivers via the portal-a clear signal that replacing the production of graduating All-American Skyler Bell is a top priority. Not all six will crack the rotation, but Ky Wilson and Emanuel Ross arrive with significant experience and could be immediate contributors. Wilson, in particular, brings a physical presence and playmaking ability that should help stabilize the passing game.
Quarterback Competition Incoming
The Huskies added two quarterbacks-Jake Merklinger from Tennessee and Kalieb Osborne from Toledo. Osborne has more game reps under his belt, but Merklinger is expected to have the early edge in the QB battle. He’s got the arm talent and upside to push for the starting job right away, and how this competition shakes out will be one of the biggest storylines of the offseason.
Toledo Pipeline
It’s no surprise that Candle leaned on familiar faces from his time at Toledo. Players like Sherman, Dunn, Lang, and Rivera already know the system and should provide leadership in the locker room. While there’s no guarantee they’ll start, their familiarity with Candle’s expectations gives them a head start.
Who’s Out: Key Departures from the 2023 Roster
As with any coaching change, there’s been a wave of outgoing transfers. Some players are chasing bigger opportunities, others are looking for a fresh start. Here’s a look at the notable departures:
- Cam Edwards, RB (Michigan State)
- Ben Murawski, OL (Michigan State)
- Carsten Casady, OL (West Virginia)
- Cam Chadwick, DB (Virginia Tech)
- Brady Wayburn, OL (UCF)
- John Neider, WR (West Virginia)
- Mel Brown, RB (Colorado State)
- Stephon Wright, DL (Colorado State)
- Victor Rosa, RB (Ohio)
- Lee Molette III, DB (Arizona)
- Javonte Vereen, TE (Colorado State)
- Alex Honig, TE (Northwestern)
- Nick Evers, QB (Missouri)
- Toriyan Johnson, OL (Colorado State)
- Vincent Carroll-Jackson, DL (Georgia Tech)
- Dominic Toy, TE (Colorado State)
The running back room took a hit with Cam Edwards, Mel Brown, and Victor Rosa all heading elsewhere. That’s a lot of production out the door, which helps explain why Candle brought in Trey Cornist and Cyncir Bowers to help restock the backfield.
The offensive line also saw several departures, including Murawski, Casady, and Wayburn, but the additions of Richter, Pahanich, Rivera, and Greene-Nyarko should help offset those losses.
What It All Means for UConn Football
This is a full-scale roster renovation, and it’s happening fast. Candle has brought in experience, depth, and players who already understand his philosophy.
The heavy Toledo influence isn’t just about familiarity-it’s about setting a cultural tone in the locker room. These are guys who’ve won under Candle before, and that matters.
There’s still plenty to sort out-especially at quarterback-but UConn is clearly trying to accelerate the rebuild. With the transfer portal window closed, the core of the 2024 roster is now in place.
The next step? Spring ball, where we’ll start to see how these pieces fit together.
Also on Campus
While the football program is in full transition mode, there’s plenty of excitement elsewhere in Storrs.
- The No. 3 UConn men’s basketball team is back on the court Saturday afternoon against Georgetown.
- The top-ranked UConn women’s team returns to action Monday night in a high-profile matchup with Notre Dame.
So while the football program retools under new leadership, the Huskies’ hoops teams continue to carry the banner. But don’t sleep on Candle and company-they’re building something, and they’re doing it fast.