Different Recruiting Philosophy??

[Chin Diesel]

UConn's at 17 HS commits for 2026. And summer has barely started.
The past few years UConnhad trended downward on HS recruits and had been increasing transfer portal recruits.

It's not an accident UConn has a large number of HS recruits this year. Recruiting is intentional on how to build a roster.

Is the NIL settlement creating a new or different balance for HS vs Transfer recruits at schools.like UConn?

I feel like there is a simple explanation for this, but I'm not seeing it yet.

 

[CCSUblue]

UConn's at 17 HS commits for 2026. And summer has barely started.
The past few years UConnhad trended downward on HS recruits and had been increasing transfer portal recruits.

It's not an accident UConn has a large number of HS recruits this year. Recruiting is intentional on how to build a roster.

Is the NIL settlement creating a new or different balance for HS vs Transfer recruits at schools.like UConn?

I feel like there is a simple explanation for this, but I'm not seeing it yet.

If I recall correctly, Mora mentioned that it would be a bigger HS class this year because better recruits are taking the time to look at UConn. No doubt that's one part of it, but surely not the whole explanation.

 

[huskymedic]

If I recall correctly, Mora mentioned that it would be a bigger HS class this year because better recruits are taking the time to look at UConn. No doubt that's one part of it, but surely not the whole explanation.

Yup… from the Urban Lodge Brewing Meet & Greet:

Mora mentioned that having a winning season last year has helped in recruiting high school players. He talked about about focusing a little more on high school recruiting and less on the transfer portal because they are starting to get better high school recruits. This might explain our larger and higher rated 2026 recruiting class.

New staff members w/ different recruiting areas and relationships to mine is a component as well.

 

[Samoo]

Zigging when everyone else is zagging; I like it.

 

[Kembafan]

I think it’s a direct result of bigger programs using the portal more rather than developing players. Since hs recruits have no chance of playing at those schools, why not go to UConn for a year or two where you can get game experience, show what you can do, and then hit the portal?

Seems like a good strategy for the kids, but I’m not certain it’s good for UConn. We’ll see.

 

[ScottVib]

With the increased scholarship limits there could be more spots available for talented high school recruits, while using the portal to backfill departures.

 

[UCFBfan]

It's likely a result of what the portal is creating. Schools will take higher end results, develop them over a year or two, and then the big boys swoop in and take them. Rinse and repeat. It's a minor league system within the NCAA. If we can be a successful program with this strategy and maybe hold on to a few of these successful recruits, I'm all for it.

It's the new reality for the G5.

 

[gioff2323]

I think you have to recruit like this. Sadly, we could lose 1 or 2 before they ever get here. More, you have to assume kids will leave each year. It will take a village.

But I love the look of this class so far.

 

[Waquoit]

Just when others think they have the answer, Jim Mora changes the question.

 

[UConnJim]

This is year 4 of the Mora era. I have thought that he had to flip the roster to become more competitive and you can do that in the portal era. So, he focused on players that could play now (portal) vs development guys (HS). I think he has gotten UConn football to a place where you can have more balance between portal and HS kids and I do think more HS kids are available to UConn due to better on field performance and some schools taking fewer HS recruits.

 

[huskymedic]

Where we stand today:

2026 UConn Commit Only List:

1. Jayden Fox (RB/ATH) - Cherry Creek High School, Greenwood Village Colorado (UConn Commit 6/1/25)
2. Luke Hatfield (OL) - Battlefield High School, Haymarket Virginia (UConn Commit 6/2/25)
3. Carter Emanuel (QB) - Edgewater High School, Orlando Florida (UConn Commit 6/2/25)
4. Malichi Greaves (RB) - St. Thomas More School, Oakdale CT (UConn Commit 6/8/25)
5. Jayden Jones (LB/DL) - Millville High School, Millville New Jersey (UConn Commit 6/9/25)
6. Cason Dash (WR/DB) - Lake Gibson High School, Lakeland Florida (UConn Commit 6/9/25)
7. Liam Fuller (DL/TE) - Bishop McDevitt High School, Harrisburg PA (UConn Commit 6/9/25)
8. Westen Ard (TE/LB) - Houston County High School, Warner Robbins Georgia (UConn Commit 6/10/25)
9. Delano Brown (DL) - St Thomas More School, Oakdale CT (UConn Commit 6/10/25)
10. Max Viver (OL/DL) - St James School, Hagerstown Maryland (UConn Commit 6/12/25)
11. Kallen Martinez (DB) - Armwood High School, Seffner Florida (UConn Commit 6/14/25)
12. Deion Thomas (WR) - Westlake High School, Atlanta Georgia (UConn Commit 6/17/25)
13. Luke Van Auken (TE/DL) - Delsea High School, Franklinville New Jersey (UConn Commit 6/18/25)
14. James Tilus (LB/DL) - Auburndale High School, Auburndale Florida (UConn Commit 6/24/25)
15. Jacquey Ferguson (DL) - Northside Christian School, St Petersburg Florida (UConn Commit 6/24/25)
16. Xavier Wimbush (DB) - Stone Bridge High School, Ashburn Virginia (UConn Commit 7/4/25)
17. Quayd Hendryx (WR/K) - Burlington Township High School, Burlington New Jersey (UConn Commit 7/4/25)

Geographic spread is nice to see.

Colorado - 1
Connecticut - 2
Florida - 5
Georgia - 2
Maryland - 1
New Jersey - 3
Pennsylvania -1
Virginia- 2

 

[Chin Diesel]

Just when others think they have the answer, Jim Mora changes the question.

- Piper, Roddy

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Just when others think they have the answer, Jim Mora changes the question.

Mora is beyond impressive with his ability to adjust his strategy as things change. Many coaches (cough…Edsall) are stubborn and think what has worked in the past will work in the future.

We have to give DB credit…he made the right call with Mora. it was a risky move…Mora had been out of the game for a few years…he wasn’t young. But DB saw a program changer. I think most of us were skeptical. But Benedict was right…Mora was exactly what the program needed. He has delivered in every way.

 

[Hoophound]

Mora is beyond impressive with his ability to adjust his strategy as things change. Many coaches (cough…Edsall) are stubborn and think what has worked in the past will work in the future.

We have to give DB credit…he made the right call with Mora. it was a risky move…Mora had been out of the game for a few years…he wasn’t young. But DB saw a program changer. I think most of were skeptical. But Benedict was right…Mora was exactly what the program needed. He has delieved in every way.

I was nervous in 23’ and thought Mora was making excuses. He worked the school and donors, got people on board to pay players and fixed it for 24’. I doubted and he proved me wrong. Great job, great guy.

 

[Kembafan]

I was nervous in 23’ and thought Mora was making excuses. He worked the school and donors, got people on board to pay players and fixed it for 24’. I doubted and he proved me wrong. Great job, great guy.

Yeah, I think about this a lot. He really did a full post mortem of the program in 23 and went all in on the solutions, including calling out the administration and AD, scheduling, NIL, etc. Then he fixed the DC and OC situations. An absolutely incredible job. Can't give him enough credit for all that.

So whatever his new strategy is with hs recruits, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. It's not like we can't recruit hs AND hit the portal at the same time.

 

[huskymedic]

So whatever his new strategy is with hs recruits, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. It's not like we can't recruit hs AND hit the portal at the same time.

-> Mora, who worked in the NFL for 24 years before he became the head coach at UCLA in 2012, feels quite at home in unlimited transfer/NIL era because it resembles the environment he grew up in as a coach. “My background is the National Football League, which really is somewhat similar to the new structure of college football,” he said. “Your portal resembles free agency. Your draft resembles recruiting. So it doesn’t faze me one bit that there’s been this transformation in college football where money has become an issue. So I’m able to operate in this world very comfortably because I’ve been in it most of his career.”

 

[rich1122]

- Piper, Roddy

Rowdy

 

[champs99and04]

It could be a byproduct of longer-term deals becoming more prevalent now that we've officially entered the rev share era. I think Texas Tech agreed with a 2026 5-star OT on a 3 year deal worth around $5 million the other day. UConn obviously won't be paying that much, but if there's a 2 or 3 star kid you think might give you the production of a 4 or 5 star, you'd be wise to sign him to a multi-year deal. Otherwise the big boys will swoop in and take him as soon as he breaks out.

Mora's correct that it's become a lot more like the NFL in that regard - you have your rookie contract and then they get to hit the open market. In other words, the transfer portal will still be a significant part of the game, but maybe less so now that everyone's not a free agent every year.