Outbound Talent to CSU vs Inbound Talent from Toledo

[giddyup]

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.

Legit concern. But you have to expect him to fish his own pond for momentum. I presume he was hired to produce better than a glorified MAC squad but we might look a lot like that for a season or 2. I didn’t think Mora hit stride until year 3. Lots of work to do…again.

 

[CL82]

It's still very early, I'm not worried. I think the fact we've already landed a recruit the caliber of Fred Johnson shows what Candle is capable of bringing in. Also think we're seeing a run in Toledo guys just because he has familiarity with them and they at least provide a floor for him if he swings and misses on bigger targets in the portal

Exactly. Right now we need to triage to rebuild the portal losses and lost high school players. I haven't been watching closely, and I profess no particular expertise, but it seems like Candle is doing exactly what he needs to do, rebuilding his staff, and then getting portal players to rebuild the roster.

 

[Jetskies]

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.

i got thumbed down majorly here, for saying "i don't want to be a MAC team".
this ^ is what i was meant. but i guess the boneyard sees it differently than me.

it is too early to tell. the coach knows everything we do and more. I will stay quiet on judgment until next season. fingers crossed, man... fingers crossed.

 

[UConnJim]

i got thumbed down majorly here, for saying "i don't want to be a MAC team".
this ^ is what i was meant. but i guess the boneyard sees it differently than me.

it is too early to tell. the coach knows everything we do and more. I will stay quiet on judgment until next season. fingers crossed, man.

Take this as you may, but we are in the early stages of portal commits as there are a ton of holes to fill. The Toledo players were first to be courted due to relationships, etc. After this first phase of commits, you will see portal recruits from all over.

 

[Jetskies]

Take this as you may, but we are in the early stages of portal commits as there are a ton of holes to fill. The Toledo players were first to be courted due to relationships, etc. After this first phase of commits, you will see portal recruits from all over.

thx Jim. hoping this is the case and that there are some more diverse commits to come.
I am ok with finding MAC talent and FCS/D2 talent, there are dogs at all levels of the game; we know this.

my little heart hopes to see some proven P4 talent continue making its way over here in the coming months.

 

[DoctorWho85]

Well might as well start it now 13-0 next year. Finish at 13 to keep us out of the playoffs because no one will want to play us.

 

[formerlurker]

Well might as well start it now 13-0 next year. Finish at 13 to keep us out of the playoffs because no one will want to play us.

@UConnDan97 ,what say you?

 

[B1GEast]

I think it's normal for players to seek cohesive consistency.

To have to learn a new system, and have to gain trust from a different coach is so something players don't want to deal with.

That transition is challenging to learn a new vocabulary and terminology, different play sets and procedure.

This is no surprise and it's beneficial to us to have guys that know what to, where to be on the field and know what to expect.

For the guys in that end up staying it's a chance to earn some playing time.

All in all, I'm very pleased that there will be some sort of foundation in place to help everyone else figure it out.

 

[Bongo Fury]

Is there incentive for proven P4 talent to go to UConn? My concern is that it might be more difficult to get good OH/MI talent to UConn as some may have gone to Toledo because it was close to home.

 

[Patman]

The guy clearly has a plan, I'm sure he's not bringing in any Toledo guys that he doesn't think can help him win. I don't understand the agita. Are people saying he's bringing these guys in instead of other, better players? This kinda reminds me of the host of folks here insisting Fagnano got the starting job originally because of his relationship to the new OC, not merit. Again, Hurley's first roster was 15% guys he brought with him from Rhody. And one of those guys in the NBA now.

I'm loving this. is he going to have to bring in other guys? sure. That he's gotten this many to cross over is a very good sign because it shows you how many of them believe in this coach.

 

[UConnJim]

Is there incentive for proven P4 talent to go to UConn? My concern is that it might be more difficult to get good OH/MI talent to UConn as some may have gone to Toledo because it was close to home.

What people don't realize is that there is a ton of football talent in the Northeast defined as New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In 2025, there were 2 5*, 21 4*s, and 141 3*s from those states which have 5 P4 programs. Many of them commit to other P4 programs, but they want to transfer closer to home. And, here is another fact that people miss out on. There are about the same number of schools playing college football at all levels in New England/NY as there are in Texas and Florida combined. As Randy Edsall showed us again and again, there are tons of underdeveloped high school football players in New England/New York that are not ranked by recruiting services compared to other areas in the country.

 

[JMick]

We have to fill basically an entire roster. Anyone complaining about "too many Toledo players" is clueless

 

[Slick]

I have friend who is a season ticket holder at Penn State. They're saying the exact same thing you are regarding Matt Campbell. But when you are losing close to 50 players between portal and graduation I think this is absolute right approach. Bring in guys you already recruited because you know their football talent and have a better feel for the type of character they have and thats important for the team culture you're trying to have.

Very good point

 

[UConnDan97]

@UConnDan97 ,what say you?

It's difficult to say.

On the one hand, I think DoctorWho85 might be right that we can go 13-0 and fall just shy of the playoffs due to bias.

On the other hand, I think he's wrong... we're winning the whole thing...

 

[Patman]

It's difficult to say.

On the one hand, I think DoctorWho85 might be right that we can go 13-0 and fall just shy of the playoffs due to bias.

On the other hand, I think he's wrong... we're winning the whole thing...

look, just win every game by 50. that way they have to include us

 

[DoctorWho85]

Is there incentive for proven P4 talent to go to UConn? My concern is that it might be more difficult to get good OH/MI talent to UConn as some may have gone to Toledo because it was close to home.

There's plenty of incentive to come to UConn. The ability to play instantly right now, great school, great fans, 2 hours from NYC and Boston, Dairy Bar and so one. Someone that wants playing time from say a mid tier SEC or ACC school can come to UConn and get playing time pretty much from the get go. Not to mention, we can point to success of kids after they transfer and in the NFL.

 

[Windham4th]

If a player commits because of the Dairy Bar, I dont want them on the team.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

It's difficult to say.

On the one hand, I think DoctorWho85 might be right that we can go 13-0 and fall just shy of the playoffs due to bias.

On the other hand, I think he's wrong... we're winning the whole thing...

You should sue him for stealing your theme.

Give Business Lawyer a call.

 

[CL82]

i got thumbed down majorly here, for saying "i don't want to be a MAC team".
this ^ is what i was meant. but i guess the boneyard sees it differently than me.

it is too early to tell. the coach knows everything we do and more. I will stay quiet on judgment until next season. fingers crossed, man... fingers crossed.

For every journey, there is a first step. These are the first few steps of the Candle era. For the time being, I am content with progress.

 

[gioff2323]

Having guys who know the coach, the culture, the playbook, and the overall expectations is not only expected, but needed.

 

[Bongo Fury]

I have no idea but wondering if Indiana fans were concerned that recruits were coming from JMU or to Vandy from New Mexico State. Iowa State to PSU. There is a trend to hire a team. Hopefully there is success at UConn. It looked like a re-build even if Mora hadn’t left.

 

[UConnJim]

I appreciated what Mora did for UConn as the last 2 seasons have been a great success. But, I don't think Mora was building a sustainable model for winning and Candle is now dealing with fixing it. What do I mean? Mora really deemphasized high school recruiting and depended too much on the transfer portal. His HS recruiting class sizes his last 3 years averaged about 13 players per year which is too low in my opinion due to normal attrition which has increased due to the transfer portal. During the same 3 years, Candle brought in ~21 high school recruits per year at Toledo which I think is a much better number.

 

[HuskyNan]

If a player commits because of the Dairy Bar, I dont want them on the team.

It was a joke

But really, what’s not to like?

 

[UCan3]

Focusing on how many P4 guys we bring in means NOTHING.

Nick Evers came from P4. Joe Fagnano came from FCS: Who was the better quarterback?

Candle needs to focus on ability, and potential to fit his scheme…not the brand of school the recruit comes from.

Toledo was able to be competitive against Louisville in their bowl game. Toledo had a backup QB. Louisville had their starting senior QB. The finale score was 27-22. Meanwhile UConn was getting dog walked by Army (who loss to an FCS team).

If you look at recruiting rankings. Toledo has consistently ranked higher than us with their recruiting classes.

Because of that I’m gonna trust that Candle will bring in some guys.

I agree. Mora did have a way of identifying talent but his recruiting classes / portal activity were not all that impressive.

Candle has to level up now and try to get some key talent positions filled but I think we he is in a slightly better situation and expect him to bring some talent into Storrs.

 

[Chuck]

It was a joke

But really, what’s not to like?

View attachment 115647

My wife absolutely pushed our son to go to UConn because of the Dairy Bar and Jonathan (the live mascot). When schools are similar in quality (my kid is NOT a college athlete), something has to be the tie breaker! It may as well be great ice cream and a dog.