Outbound Talent to CSU vs Inbound Talent from Toledo

[AllHusky]

As the dust settles over the next few weeks and the new players and new staff transition in to spring ball, I'd love to see the staff take a returning Husky and a transferred Toledo player from each position group and have them take ownership of the players at each position.
The Husky player can show the new transfers the ins and outs of UConn and Storrs- where to eat, who does the hair cuts, where not to park if you want to avoid tix and getting towed, etc.
The Toledo players can take the lead in show returning Huskies how coach wants stuff done for meetings, drills, workouts, check ins, etc.
Each group has something to show the other group to make the transition for all the players and staff as smooth as it can be in the portal/NIL era with a new coaching staff.

Ahhh, that CULTURE thing. That is always a focus for you Mr Diesel. Have a feeling that Candle and gang are going to be good at that. Thought Mora developed a pretty damn good culture also. Previous few folks not so much.

 

[DoctorWho85]

You know what, I'm a little skeeved how Mora left, but he has left UConn infinitely better than when he started. Candle has a solid foundation to work with and continue the momentum. I hope he smacks the poop out of Colorado when ever they play.

 

[How Sway?!]

Last season we were more talented than Toledo. The Duke game showed how good we were, the Rice and Delaware losses showed the limitations of Coach Mora. Getting all of these Toledo transfers will help ensure the step back next season is not that bad. It also helps Coach Candle set up the HS recruiting so we are not as overly reliant on the transfer portal as we were.

 

[UConnJim]

Last season we were more talented than Toledo. The Duke game showed how good we were, the Rice and Delaware losses showed the limitations of Coach Mora. Getting all of these Toledo transfers will help ensure the step back next season is not that bad. It also helps Coach Candle set up the HS recruiting so we are not as overly reliant on the transfer portal as we were.

UConn was more talented on offense, but I think Toledo was more talented on defense.

 

[How Sway?!]

UConn was more talented on offense, but I think Toledo was more talented on defense.

I can agree to this, though I think the gap between our offense and their offense is bigger than our defense and their defense.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I can agree to this, though I think the gap between our offense and their offense is bigger than our defense and their defense.

If you were to look at each school's prospective 2026 prior to the coaching changes I'm not sure Toledo wasn't ahead of us on both offense and defense.

The major reason our offense was well ahead of theirs was due to exceptional seasons from our QB and our #1 WR. We knew in August that they wouldn't be back for 2026.

Toledo was better than a lot of people on this forum realize.

 

[husky429]

I can agree to this, though I think the gap between our offense and their offense is bigger than our defense and their defense.

Part of the difference (to me at least) is that our offense was one of Edwards, Fagnano or Bell away from being a cluster f%#k. Toledo had more depth of talent IMO. Do we win an FBS game with Bell injured?

 

[Chin Diesel]

If you were to look at each school's prospective 2026 prior to the coaching changes I'm not sure Toledo wasn't ahead of us on both offense and defense.

The major reason our offense was well ahead of theirs was due to exceptional seasons from our QB and our #1 WR. We knew in August that they wouldn't be back for 2026.

Toledo was better than a lot of people on this forum realize.

Part of the difference (to me at least) is that our offense was one of Edwards, Fagnano or Bell away from being a cluster f%#k. Toledo had more depth of talent IMO. Do we win an FBS game with Bell injured?

Even is Mora stayed, he'd have a helluva off-season replacing Fagnano and Bell. And whomever else would have entered the portal.

 

[How Sway?!]

If you were to look at each school's prospective 2026 prior to the coaching changes I'm not sure Toledo wasn't ahead of us on both offense and defense.

The major reason our offense was well ahead of theirs was due to exceptional seasons from our QB and our #1 WR. We knew in August that they wouldn't be back for 2026.

Toledo was better than a lot of people on this forum realize.

That's my point lmao. Without the Toledo transfers, the step back next year would have been more severe. Not because there wasn't talent remaining, but what was being lost was generational (in UConn terms)

 

[businesslawyer]

Last season we were more talented than Toledo. The Duke game showed how good we were, the Rice and Delaware losses showed the limitations of Coach Mora. Getting all of these Toledo transfers will help ensure the step back next season is not that bad. It also helps Coach Candle set up the HS recruiting so we are not as overly reliant on the transfer portal as we were.

I just find this so funny. We lose a coach, so then all the good wins were because of the players and all the bad losses were because of the coach.

Really helpful analysis.

 

[How Sway?!]

I just find this so funny. We lose a coach, so then all the good wins were because of the players and all the bad losses were because of the coach.

Really helpful analysis.

So you don't think the Delaware and Rice losses had anything to do with bad coaching? Especially on defense? Or the Cuse loss and the scared coaching in the second half?

And I did give credit to coach Mora, the Duke win showed our potential when everyone is firing on all cylinders, coaches and players.

Really helpful comment.

 

[Kolumbo]

Just about every time I see an interesting post, you have already provided it here. must be those internet algorithms. Thanks!!!!

 

[Waquoit]

I just find this so funny. We lose a coach, so then all the good wins were because of the players and all the bad losses were because of the coach.

Really helpful analysis.

You never heard of blaming everything on the guy who left? What business are you in?

 

[NEforceUConn]

I’m really enjoying this thread. Classy educated posts with little smack talk. Keep it up BY.

I never realized Toledo was that good, but I don’t get out much. Coach Candle seems to be a hell of a coach to get so many former players. CSU hasn’t announced too many Huskies going west to smoke weed.

Regarding Cam Chadwick, I hope Vaginal Tech paid him serious money. I will miss him and wish him well.

Bleed Blue!

 

[gioff2323]

IMO, we barely beat ball state and buffalo. I’m not sure we were better than Toledo.

 

[NobodyKnows]

IMO, we barely beat ball state and buffalo. I’m not sure we were better than Toledo.

That such a good point. We only beat Ball State by 6 points, 31-25. While Toledo blew them out 29 points, 38-9.

 

[RitzLuce1]

IMO, we barely beat ball state and buffalo. I’m not sure we were better than Toledo.

The 9 wins was due to Joe, Skyler, Cam, and the offensive line primarily. Everyone got a good hard look what we looked like without them vs Army and it wasn't pretty.

 

[FightOnCT]

Yes the offense as a whole was the key part in our success (I’m mostly kidding)

 

[Coach J]

I’m really enjoying this thread. Classy educated posts with little smack talk. Keep it up BY.

I never realized Toledo was that good, but I don’t get out much. Coach Candle seems to be a hell of a coach to get so many former players. CSU hasn’t announced too many Huskies going west to smoke weed.

Regarding Cam Chadwick, I hope Vaginal Tech paid him serious money. I will miss him and wish him well.

Bleed Blue!

It probably helped that our former special teams coach ended up there as well.

 

[uconnyankee]

Please stop. If we open next season with what would have been Toledo’s roster but for the coaching change, I will be concerned. But does it really take being a rocket scientist to understand the quite obvious reasons why the FIRST group of transfers who are going to come here are going to be those who played for, or are otherwise close to, Candle?

lol…. Coach leaves and players put name in portal. It’s obvious why Candle is going after his players from Toledo, and it’s telling even more that many players are following him.

do people really think that Candles only ability to recruit moving forward will be from the Toledo Rockets?

These same people will also be first to point out if Candle didn’t get any Toledo players, and UConn was forced to recruit low G5 caliber talent just to fill roster

 

[AllHusky]

Low hanging fruit, pick em first. I would imagine as the roster slowly fills up, more and more energy will be dedicated to finding those next level kids, real difference makers. Off the top of my head, the linebacker looks like he may be that, not sure if we have anyone on the offense who fits the bill. We may be talking about Osborne, the QB as that in a year(let's hope), he sure projects that potential.

 

[How Sway?!]

IMO, we barely beat ball state and buffalo. I’m not sure we were better than Toledo.

They also lost to Bowling Green. I would say that if we played itd be 55-45 in favor of the good guys.

 

[RSTuthill]

It’s nice to see Candle bringing over some of the better players he recruited. However, we aren’t Toledo, but this roster looks to be Toledo’s roster just from the list of portal transfers. We need other players from other levels. I’m not doubting the talent but I’m a little worried that the only portal guys, minus two, that we’ve landed are guys from Candles Toledo team. Sorry for saying out loud what I think a lot are thinking inside.

The early transfers in were likely already sold on this HC and Staff so that is what the pipeline is providing at the moment. Gotta think locking down those players has to be one of the priorities. Notice that I do not use the term low hanging fruit, as that phrase has a connotation we want to avoid. The class of players you are talking about will take time if for no other reason than to take their visits and evaluate their full set of options. Takes time. But I am confident it will happen.

 

[Coach J]

I'd add this to the discussion, between graduation and portal departures HCJC is looking at filling roughly 70 spots on the roster. Yes, the majority of portal guys right now are from Toledo, 11 out of 13 announced and 6 out of the 12 incoming freshmen were flipped from Toledo - but there are still roughly 45 spots to fill. I would think because he already had established relationships with these guys that he was able to get them to commit quicker than guys he is just now getting to know.

Also, it is a nice base on both sides of the ball to establish the culture he wants along with the majority of the guys who were here and decided to stay that seem to be high character type of guys. That's not a bad way to get a program moving on a solid footing and establishing a great culture.

 

[drayenob]

Using the 247 class calculator we currently have a projected team score of 186.48. That would place us at 68th overall. Colorado state is
67th overall but that is with 25 recruits to our 21.