2026 UConn Football Spring Game - Saturday, April 11 @2p at Rentschler Field

[RSTuthill]

Merklinger throwing ropes in warmups.

Not surprised from the vids we saw of him this spring.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[ScottVib]

Here’s the scoring if it’s readable

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[BugsyCT]

The 3 QBs rotating today were McDonald, Osborne and Tyler Smith.

 

[Palatine]

Field was in great shape. Merk threw three passes then was done for the day. Thought the big satety, Jayden Price looked pretty good.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[milfordct]

How could 15 reporters not ask the most important question of the day! What happened to Jake's wrist?

 

[CL82]

How could 15 reporters not ask the most important question of the day! What happened to Jake's wrist?

I thought they did and Candle answered that he didn't know

 

[Viet Vet]

Disappointed that this was advertised and promoted as the “Spring Game”. Not a game, a practice with points.

Several people sitting around me agreed.

 

[milfordct]

How does the head coach not know his starting qb was hurt? Im not buying that at all. Better to happen now then in fall! Something fishy with i dont know lol

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

How could 15 reporters not ask the most important question of the day! What happened to Jake's wrist?

I thought they did and Candle answered that he didn't know

How does the head coach not know his starting qb was hurt? Im not buying that at all. Better to happen now then in fall! Something fishy with i dont know lol

 

[gopher2]

Team looks to have some decent speed and athleticism. I liked the energy and effort on the field. Wish we could have seen more of Merklinger. I left with a good feeling about this team's potential. Looking forward to September!

 

[Woof 101]

Merklinger threw 2 passes in the first drill and is no longer on the field. Anyone know what happened to him?

Someone paying better attention than me said he hit his hand on someones helmet.

I thought they did and Candle answered that he didn't know

Strange to say the least.

 

[milfordct]

Someone paying better attention than me said he hit his hand on someones helmet.

Strange to say the least.

Strange because there weren't any lineman on the field and no pass rush! Just odd, just saying

 

[milfordct]

Team looks to have some decent speed and athleticism. I liked the energy and effort on the field. Wish we could have seen more of Merklinger. I left with a good feeling about this team's potential. Looking forward to September!

If enthusiasm is a marker I think crowds will be great! Best crowd is can remember atva spring game! Also where was the other 200 members of the band? Seemed like the basketball pep band.

 

[milfordct]

Team looks to have some decent speed and athleticism. I liked the energy and effort on the field. Wish we could have seen more of Merklinger. I left with a good feeling about this team's potential. Looking forward to September!

Out of curiosity, why does music never stop playing at ridiculous volume everytime there is a spring game or last time on soccer field? It is really annoying. I mean music doesn't blare through an actual game. Older gentle next to me said this constant music was so loud he got up and left. He wasnt a happy guy , and frankly he is 100 % right.

 

[jdb50]

The Oline looked like we have the size to compete. #58 Moore from Toledo was the main center. Ty Chan at guard. RBs Trey Cornist from Cent Mich and Cyncir Bowers WVU looked good. The D line we are in the 4 man front. Might be undersized but hard to tell at this point. Will have to see who plays D end and if they can get pressure. At LB #0 K'Von Sherman Toledo is a serious dude. #13 at safety Jayden Price made some nice plays. He is a R-fr from Toledo. There was no tackling so hard to judge some things. The players who have come from Toledo are going to be a big part of our first and second groups.

 

[huskymedic]

-> Candle said he’s rotated the quarterbacks “pretty equally” throughout the spring, giving them all opportunities to work with what could be perceived as the first, second or third units.

“You put ones, twos and threes on a tag for guys to get reps, but I don’t have a depth chart right now,” he said. “We head to the next phase of summer, we turn the team to the quarterbacks, we figure out who’s leadership skills will surface and who we can count on when things get hard because they’ve really invested in their teammates.” <-

 

[Marbles90]

I wasn’t going to give my thoughts but what the heck…

Shocked by the crowd for a Spring game. It felt similar to what we would get for an actual game during the dark days of RE2.

Really disappointed with the format. I mean if it is an open practice, then say that. Don’t promote as a game. And if it’s a practice, give the crowd some insight into what is going on. I am sure everyone on the field knew what they were doing but nobody in the crowd did. People sitting around us were either chatting with each other or heading to 45 minute merchandise line. It was tough to stay focused on what was happening on the field.

My first impression when I entered the stands and looked out on the team warming up was they seemed to lack size. Did anyone else have the same impression?

But what I will say what they lacked in size they seem to make up in overall team speed.

Like the Spring practice in 2024, the defense looked better than the offense.

We didn’t get enough reps to evaluate Merklinger, but I was not impressed with the other 3 qbs. So many over thrown balls missing wide open guys. I saw Osborne during Toledo’s bowl game and I know he is better than what he showed today and he did make a few good throws mixed in with bad ones.

As for Merk, how do you get hurt in a game when there is no contact? I think the same thing happened to Evers during the open practice. Hopefully it’s not a sign he is injury prone. Some guys are.

Finally, sticking with Merklinger a couple of weird observations: 1) I was surprised that when he came back on the field in shorts, he didn’t stay very long to watch the rest of the practice along with other players not in pads. And 2) when he did leave the field, he had his right hand hidden under his shirt as if not show the brace he was wearing. I thought that was weird. Candle’s comment that he didn’t know what was going on with him was also weird.

 

[hardcorehusky]

Fun and windy day. Merlinger rolled out on a drill and hit his hand in a DL helmet and was done. He has a big big arm.

McDonald looked spotty and Osborne has a big arm as well as wheels and some wiggle. Even Smith had nice throws. The QB room looks better as a group than I can ever remember. Not expecting Fagnano numbers from anyone, but there is talent

The team physically looks taller and there appears to be some really good athletes at each position sans TE. Not saying anything negative about our TE, just couldn't see it today.

Lista stood out at LB and the Toledo transfers look like they belong. The feeling of doom before the Fenway Bowl is gone for me. Candle has a huge coaching staff and they seem to hone in on basics like foot placement, not just hand placement on certain drills.

Can't wait for the 2026 season!
Go Huskies!

 

[whiffnutmeg]

I went today. First time I had been to an event like this but wanted to support the start of the Candle era.

Are these usually more of a “game”? It was definitely more of a big practice with a bit of a complicated scoring rubric. Couldn’t really tell what was going on at most times.

Kids seemed to really enjoy running up to players to get autographs after the game. Was a good community event - hope they keep things like this up but perhaps the advertising could use a little tweaking.