Jim Mora said he was going to hit the transfer portal hard as UConn coach, and he lived up to his word bringing in a host of players who will play a key role in 2023. (Ian Bethune for The UConn Daily)
Huskies Look For Impact From Transfers
The Story: UConn released its depth chart ahead of Thursday’s season opener against N.C. State, and it includes five starting players who came to Storrs through the transfer portal this past offseason.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: If you’re wondering which of the Huskies’ newcomers are likely to have the greatest impact on the field, the depth chart is the first place to look. And the following five players will be counted on to provide immediate help against a 15-point favorite at Rentschler Field.
- Joe Fagnano, QB: Jim Mora calls the former University of Maine product a “strong but quiet leader” and there’s no question UConn’s fortunes will either rise or fall based on Fagnano’s play at the most important position on the field.
- Brett Buckman, WR: Fagnano has plenty of receiving experience on the outside, starting with his split end. Buckman caught 61 passes in four seasons for Delaware, where he made the team as a walk-on with a chip on his shoulder.
- Geordon Porter, WR: Once recruited by Mora at UCLA, Porter is now in his sixth year of college football (one season with New Mexico and four at Arizona State) and has amassed a total of 36 receptions.
- Noah Plack, WLB: The Huskies needed linebackers to complement All-America candidate Jackson Mitchell, and they got one in Plack, a graduate transfer who was an all-CAA performer as the second-leading tackler for Delaware.
- Armauni Archie, LCB: Archie comes to UConn from Washington State, where he played four seasons and appeared in 17 games, including 11 a year ago after a season-ending injury in 2021.
OTHERS TO WATCH: Because of injuries, the backups often see as much playing time as the starters, so the following transfers should get plenty of opportunity to showcase their skills.
• James Burns, who backs up Cam Ross at one receiver spot, had a productive season at Austin Peay a year ago, with 39 receptions for 517 yards and five TDs. With Burns, Buckman, and Porter, UConn has three receivers who’ve combined to play 13 seasons of college football.
• Eriq Gilyard is listed as the backup to Mitchell at inside linebacker and is expected to play a key role after producing 221 tackles in five seasons (one at Kansas, four at UCF). Between him and Plack, the Huskies believe they have sufficiently filled their holes at linebacker.
• Louis Hansen (from Michigan) is among seven players listed at tight end on the depth chart, yet according to Mora, he could be used as a back in short-yardage situations.
• Raashaan “RJ” Wilkins Jr., the backup at nose tackle, should help fortify UConn’s experienced and deep defensive front. He’s played 24 games in three seasons – first at Vanderbilt and then Illinois.
— David Kull
📰 MORNING READS
• Former UConn forward Tyler Olander, a two-time national title winning player, has pushed the limits of what a post-college career looks like as he currently is a volunteer assistant basketball coach at St. Joseph’s University in West Hartford.
• NC State quarterback Brennan Armstrong, a starter at Virginia the last two years, is taking the reins of the Wolfpack in 2023, his sixth college season. Armstrong passed for 4,400 yards and 31 TDs in 2021 before regressing to 2,261 yards and 7 TDs and getting benched last season at Virginia.
• UConn football is +15 Thursday, and at +500 on the money line are we crazy here? Some think the line is disrespectful. Advice? Take the Huskies +15 and if you have some extra cheddar, use the grater and sprinkle some cheese on the money line.
• Jim Mora has known Jim Pagano since he was 6 years old, and as a special assistant, the longtime coach is an invaluable resource who brings more than a quarter century of experience as a former NFL defensive coach.
