Over the 2026 offseason, the UConn football team lost one of the most productive receivers in the country to the NFL and the rest of its depth here hit the transfer portal. Skyler Bell racked up a career-high 1,278 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns last season, good enough to be a Biletnikoff finalist and the 125th pick in the fourth round of the NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills.
Additionally, Reymello Murphy hauled in 455 receiving yards, the second most on the team, for three touchdowns. Connecticut native John Neider, who posted a breakout season last year, transferred to West Virginia. Despite Connecticut departing with key downfield threats, Head coach Jason Candle brought in a lot of replacements and retained one former Husky in Shamar Porter.
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“We are definitely different than last year. Last year, we were more of a route-running team,” Porter said. “This is one of the fastest receiver rooms I’ve ever seen. We have four or five guys running over 22 miles per hour.”
Porter, who joined UConn in 2024, logged 234 receiving yards and a touchdown last year. It should come as no surprise to see an increase in production from the junior.
Here are some of the other expected contributors at the position.
Ryder Treadway, Sophomore
After spending his freshman year at Toledo, Treadway joined Candle in Connecticut. In the Rockets’ 2025 campaign, the Texas native experienced limited playing time due to a stacked wide receiver room. In seven outings, the 6-foot-3, 193-pound receiver recorded 176 yards for three end zone appearances, coming on towards the end of the season. Now, Treadway will get the opportunity to showcase his skills as a primary option for the Huskies.
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“Contested catches; going up and getting the ball and coming across the middle; route running for sure,” Treadway said when discussing his best traits.
Heading into the 2026 season, Treadway was named to the 2026 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List. The sophomore was selected alongside Texas quarterback Arch Manning, Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy and Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed. The award is given to the top offensive player in Division I football.
“Ryder’s really smart,” defensive back Saxton Suchanic said. “He knows how to get to a spot, settle down and run. He runs very crisp routes.”
Zy’Marion Lang, Junior
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Lang also joined Candle at Connecticut, but while playing for Toledo, the Florida native suffered injuries that derailed his collegiate career. Before the 2025 campaign began, Lang endured an undisclosed season-ending injury. The last time the junior took the field was in 2024, when he participated in three of the Rockets’ games. In total, Lang logged four receptions for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Now, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound receiver will look for a bounce-back year.
JD Willoughby, Junior
Another Toledo transfer who did not play much, Willoughby was expected to start for the Rockets last year until an early-season injury derailed his 2025. He’s looking to have his breakout one year later on Jason Candle’s new team, where he’ll have a chance to be a factor in the rotation.
Javon Brown, Redshirt Junior
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Brown also comes from Toledo, where he redshirted his freshman year and played last season but saw limited time. In 2025, Brown reeled in eight receptions for 156 yards and a touchdown, averaging 19.5 yards per catch in four clashes.
Ky “Flash” Wilson, Senior
Wilson started his career at Slippery Rock (Division II) for the 2023 and 2024 season. The Pennsylvania native was a lethal kick returner, posting a combined total of 1,635 kick-return yards and three touchdowns. In 2024, Wilson also compiled 679 receiving yards and crossed the goal line four times. He also rushed for 113 yards and plowed into the end zone twice.
After transferring to Youngstown State for 2025, the all-purpose player continued his dominance. In 13 games, the senior accumulated 883 kick-return yards for a touchdown. As a wideout, the senior snatched 64 receptions for 652 yards and six touchdowns.
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Raymond Liggins III, Freshman
During the Huskies’ open practice, Liggins took the opportunity to showcase his speed and did not disappoint. In the offseason, the freshman needed to learn the playbook quickly as he reclassified from 2026 to the class of 2027, then returned to the class of 2026.
“Ray’s got a lot of talent; very torchy; very fast. When he accelerates, it excites you,” Candle said. “It’s a very extensive playbook and they [the team] have months of work in advance. I’m proud of him.”
Dec 30, 2023; Tucson, AZ, USA; Toledo Rockets wide receiver Jediyah Willoughby (15) against the Wyoming Cowboys in the Arizona Bowl at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Similar to the wide receiver room, the UConn football team departed from key tight ends who exhausted their collegiate eligibility or entered the transfer portal. In total, Head Coach Jason Candle retained three Huskies here from the Huskies’ 2025 roster.
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After former head coach Jim Mora left for Colorado State, Juice Vereen committed to the Rams. Over the course of 2025, Vereen became a crucial part of moving the chains and crossing the goal line. The senior snagged 22 receptions for 310 yards and five touchdowns in eight games. This was the fourth-most receiving yards on the team and the most by a tight end in the 2025 campaign.
Alex Honig also entered the portal and transferred to Northwestern. In two years with the Huskies (2024-2025), Honig racked up 221 receiving yards and six TDs. As for Louis Hansen, the Massachusetts native signed with the Texans as an undrafted free agent, but was released on Saturday, Aug. 29, later signing to the practice squad. In three years with Connecticut (2023-2025), the former Husky hauled in 46 passes for 463 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He was also seen as a strong run blocker.
Now, Candle will need to rely on a couple veterans and newcomers at the tight end position.
“Matt Ragan has been phenomenal and these young guys are coming along,” Offensive Coordinator Nunzio Campanile said back in April. “I think they’re gonna be really good. Matt’s a little bit more experienced senior guy and he’ll do a great job for us.”
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Matt Ragan, Fifth Year
Heading into 2026, Ragan is looking for a comeback year, as past injuries have prevented him from reaching his full potential. Before UConn, the 6-foot-5, 246-pound tight end played at Boston College. He redshirted in 2023 and made one appearance in 2024. In April 2025, Ragan medically retired from football due to injuries taking a toll on his body. In December 2025, he decided to come back, enter the transfer portal and eventually joined the Huskies.
Mike Burton, Redshirt Junior
Burton is one of the few who decided to finish his career at UConn. The veteran started at Georgetown, where he logged 15 appearances.
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Jackson Mangham, Freshman
In Mangham’s senior year of high school, the Ohio native posted 32 receptions for 412 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 12.9 yards per catch. The three-star recruit also earned Second-Team All-Ohio Capital Conference his senior year and placed No. 39 of 50 tight ends in the class of 2026 national rankings. Mangham originally committed to Toledo, but flipped to UConn once Candle was named head coach.
Alex Godavitarne, Fifth Year
Before transferring to Connecticut, Godavitarne suited up for Wheeling University (Division II). In 2024, the 6-foot-4, 247-pound tight end was hardly targeted, contributing just five catches for 48 yards and a touchdown in 2024. However, in the 2025 stretch, Godavitarne broke out and registered 19 receptions for 255 yards and five end zone appearances, landing him on All-MEC.
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Troy Walson, Freshman
Walson committed to UConn on April 7, 2026. In his senior year at Burton High School (VA), the true freshman snatched seven receptions for 121 yards, averaging 17 yards per catch in 13 games.
