2026 UConn Football Commit - Shmar Akande (West Park, Florida)

[huskymedic]

h/t: Storrs Central



Shmar Akande is a 6-2 180lb DB from West Broward High School, Pembrook Pines Florida. Previously committed to Toledo. Other offers from Auburn, Buffalo, FAU, FIU, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Liberty, LSU, Maryland, Miami, Missouri, NC State, Syracuse, Troy, Tulane, UCF, USF, Wake Forest and WKU.

Here is Shmar’s recent write up by Toledo on their recent signing day recap

“Shmar Akande is ranked as the No. 67 cornerback in the country and the No. 63 player in Florida's 2026 class by Rivals. He is listed as a three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports. Akande played three varsity years at West Broward High School, tallying 63 tackles, 39 pass deflections, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries.“

 

[uconnbaseball]

Another recruit with p4 offers.

The handwringing we were all doing a few weeks ago looks a bit silly now.

 

[RitzLuce1]

Toledo’s class had 24 signees. This is our 6th commit from that class. Anyone know how many commits from their class reopened?

 

[husky429]

Some legit offers in there. Good size. This kid and the big TE look like we are elevating our hs recruiting already

 

[UConnDan97]

Welcome to the Dog Pound, Shmar!!!

 

[AllHusky]

Some legit offers in there. Good size. This kid and the big TE look like we are elevating our hs recruiting already

The QB was flip recruit #1, doubt that was an accident

 

[DW1361]

Merry Christmas to all!!!!

 

[Chin Diesel]

Names sounds like a WWE wrestler from the 1980's.

 

[Husky15]

https://x.com/shmarakande/status/1802343601348780173?s=46&t=KckR8sTw-X0La6qla3eBMA

Some tweets from his initial recruitment

 

[DoctorWho85]

Welcome to the pound dawg

 

[NEforceUConn]

Thank you Santa!

 

[uchusky32]

Welcome to the Pound, Shmar!

 

[gsmooth]

Welcome to UConn Nation, Shmar 🙂 ! You are one of us, dawg!!

 

[SubbaBub]

These are great, the portal matters more. Half these HS recruits will probably never start a game for UConn. If they do, that's also great but it's a new world order.

 

[FightOnCT]

Portal matters for sure but even having depth pieces with these recruits is a huge plus. We’ll probably lock in more on the portal right now to cover short-term losses from this year but having guys who will develop here long term is also crucial to sustaining success.

 

[BlueWolf25]

Portal matters for sure but even having depth pieces with these recruits is a huge plus. We’ll probably lock in more on the portal right now to cover short-term losses from this year but having guys who will develop here long term is also crucial to sustaining success.

We’ll certainly have to add a lot of starters through the portal, but I agree, I’ll take as many recruits as we can get. Need the depth, especially with all the seniors graduating, transfers out, and decommits after the coaching change.

 

[Rocktheworld]

I’m a relatively casual FB follower. How often have we nabbed a recruit with that kind of offer list?

 

[WestCoastHusky]

I’m a relatively casual FB follower. How often have we nabbed a recruit with that kind of offer list?

Not very often. It is a great get. At the end of the day, these type of recruits commit to the coach not the school.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Not very often. It is a great get. At the end of the day, these type of recruits commit to the coach not the school.

Can I get a name on a player we’ve recruited before who had offers from multiple SEC schools including LSU (or something equivalent)? Not giving you a hard time; genuinely curious

 

[JMick]

Can I get a name on a player we’ve recruited before who had offers from multiple SEC schools including LSU (or something equivalent)? Not giving you a hard time; genuinely curious

Probably Zion Turner and Tim Boyle. There haven't been a ton in recent memory. Candle is already recruiting at a higher level than any other time in program history

UConn All Time Football Recruits

UConn

247sports.com

 

[Buffett10]

Can I get a name on a player we’ve recruited before who had offers from multiple SEC schools including LSU (or something equivalent)? Not giving you a hard time; genuinely curious

Jarrell Miller had a Bama offer.

 

[huskymedic]

Can I get a name on a player we’ve recruited before who had offers from multiple SEC schools including LSU (or something equivalent)? Not giving you a hard time; genuinely curious

One of the more recent UConn commits coming out of high school that had mutiple comparable high end offers was 2025 DB Osiris Gilbert from Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanne Georgia. He held offers from AppState, Arizona State, ArkState, Austin Peay, Cincinnati, Delaware, Duke, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, Liberty, Michigan State, Murray State, Syracuse, Tulane, UAB, UCF, USF and WMU.

 

[Jimdish255]

Hopefully this means we keep scheduling in S FL so I have an excuse for the extra trip. Welcome Shmar!

 

[Purple Stein]

Just a reminder that Candle has a reputation not only for recruiting, but for retaining these kinds of players.

 

[huskymedic]

-> Akande had a long-standing relationship with the UConn program; his transition was logical given the coaching change. “UConn is the pick for me because I feel like I have a better opportunity to grow within the program and make a name for myself. The relationship with UConn developed after my 10th-grade year, but at the time, Toledo was showing more love, so when Coach Candle came over as the new Head coach at UConn, it was a no-brainer for me to be there.” <-