STORRS, Conn. – UConn head football coach Jim Mora announced the program has received National Letters of Intent from 12 student-athletes as well as the addition of four transfers who have signed a grant-in-aid with the Huskies. The newest members of the program represent 10 states and two countries.
"We are excited to announce the newest additions to the UConn football family," said Mora. "Our coaching staff has put in a lot of hard work and done a great job of bringing in a strong group of young men who will help us to continue building our football program. This is a solid start, but we still have work to do in the coming weeks as we build our roster for next season."
Here is a look at the future Huskies:
Cooper Ackerman
Freshman – Defensive Line – 6-3 / 240 – Shrewsbury, Mass. / Shrewsbury HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Finished his high school career playing for head coach Joe Pittorino at Shrewsbury high school in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts… Was honored as a Mid-Wach Defensive All-Star and Mid-Wach MVP in 2023.
Assistant Coach Kenny McClendon (DL) on Ackerman - "Cooper brings great pride for this school and this area being a Northeast guy, which we love. He also brings a great attitude and determination to always work, get better, and develop."
Kervins Choute
Transfer – Defensive Line – 6-3 / 302 – Coconut Creek, Fla. / Deerfield Beach HS / UCF
PRIOR TO UCONN: Joins UConn after three seasons at UCF and will have two years of eligibility remaining… As a junior, appeared in 6 games and totaled 7 tackles… Was honored as AAC All-Academic and made UCF Dean's list as a freshman in 2020… Prior to his time at UCF, played for head coach Jevon Glenn at Deerfield Beach High School in Deerfield Beach, Florida… Helped lead Deerfield Beach to a 10-4 overall record as a senior… Posted 40 tackles and seven sacks as a senior in 2019.
Ethan Hogg
Freshman – Linebacker – 6-2 / 210 – Glenview, Ill. / Loyola Academy
HIGH SCHOOL: Finished his high school career playing for head coach Robert "Beau" Desherow at Loyola Academy in Wilmette Illinois. Helped lead Loyola to a 14-0 overall record and back-to-back state championships… Finished his high school career with 122 total tackles, including 22 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in 26 games played.
Assistant Coach Siriki Diabate (LB) on Hogg - "Ethan has great growth potential and is another successful high school player that knows how to win. We love his size and what he has the potential to become. Excited to have him."
Oliver Lundberg Coleman
Freshman – Running Back – 5-9 / 197 – Gothenburg, Sweden / RIG Academy
HIGH SCHOOL: Before UConn played for head Robert Johansson at RIG Academy in Sweden… Lundberg Coleman won the Nordic Championship and was named the MVP of the Championship... Won the 2021 National Championship with the Taby Flyers and the 2022 National Championship with the Gothenburg Marvels... In 2022 Lundberg Coleman was named MVP of the European Championships for the second straight season.
Assistant Coach Antonio Wilcox (RB) on Lundberg Coleman - "Oliver is a versatile All-Purpose Running Back that with a great combination of size, speed, quickness, power, and physicality. He possesses all the tools and skills you look for in a successful back. He has been successful competing at the highest level internationally and we're excited to have him a part of the Husky Family."
Deron McLaughlin
Freshman – Offensive Line – 6-3 / 285 – Park Ridge, N.J. / Park Ridge HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Finished his high school career playing for head coach Thomas Curry at Park Ridge high school in Park Ridge, New Jersey… A two-time All Bergen County lineman, in his senior season, helped lead Park Ridge to a 7-3 overall record and a 4-0 record in conference action.
Assistant Coach (OL) Gordon Sammis on McLaughlin - "Deron is an athletic three-sport athlete. He projects as a center or guard and is a smart and tough New Jersey kid. He will be a great addition to the OL room!"
Brock Montgomery
Freshman – Wide Receiver – 6-1 / 195 – Lebanon, Tenn. / Riverdale HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Finished his high school career playing for head coach Will Kriesky at Riverdale high school in Murfreesboro, Tennessee… Helped lead Riverdale to a 10-3 overall record and a 5-0 record in conference action… Honored as Region 3-6A wide receiver of the year, Montgomery finished his senior season with 76 receptions for 1,295 yards and 17 touchdowns… Additionally, Montgomery led Riverdale in Receiving yards per game (107.9), and total touchdowns and receiving touchdowns (17).
Assistant Coach Kashif Moore (WR) on Montgomery - "Brock Montgomery is an exciting wide receiver that has a combination of good size and great speed. He leaves his high school as the leading receiver in school history and had one of the best seasons statistically in the state of Tennessee. We can't wait to have Brock join our brotherhood!"
Jon Morris
Freshman – Linebacker – 6-2 / 191 – Fairfield, Conn. / Fairfield Prep
HIGH SCHOOL: Finished his high school career playing for Keith Hellstern at Fairfield Prep in Fairfield Connecticut… Honored as Connecticut All-State Top 28 Football players list and was honored as an All-SCC Tier 1 Defensive Back in 2023… Morris finished his senior season with 110 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 2 interceptions.
Assistant Coach Siriki Diabate (LB) on Morris - "Love his versatility, long athlete that is physical at the point of contact. Local talent that has a promising future. Excited to have him."
Clemens Richter
Freshman – Tight End – 6-5 / 228 – Dresden, Germany / Dresden Monarchs
HIGH SCHOOL: Before UConn, played for head coach Greg Seamon at the Dresden Monarchs in Germany… Helped lead Dresden to an 11-3 overall record and a 10-2 record in conference action…Richter was featured in an offense that averaged 40.1 points per game, and 337.1 yards per game.
Assistant Coach Christian Pace (TE) on Richter - "Clemens is coming to us from Germany as pretty much a blank slate, which we prefer because he has no real bad habits as a player. We can immediately begin building him up as a tight end. He has primarily played wide receiver for his teams in Germany in which he showcased his abilities to be a difference maker in the pass game. At 6'6" and almost 240 lbs, we expect him to come in and be physically prepared to add value as a blocker in the run game in addition to his pass game production. We are excited to have Clemens be joining our TE room."
Diego Rodriguez
Freshman – Offensive Line – 6-4 / 270 – Hillside, N.J. / Hillside HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Finished his high school career playing for head coach Barris Grant at Hillside High School in Hillside, New Jersey… Helped lead Hillside to a 6-3 overall record and a 4-0 record in conference action… Helped Hillside rushers game 1,290 yards on the season and 143.3 yards per game.
Assistant Coach (OL) Gordon Sammis on Rodriguez - "Diego is a long, athletic, and tough New Jersey kid. He has played football for only two years and his best football is ahead of him. He is a great addition to the OL room!"
Jayden Simon
Transfer – Defensive Line – 6-3 / 330 – Tacoma, Wash. / Lincoln HS / Tulsa
PRIOR TO UCONN: Joins UConn following stops at Colorado and most recently Tulsa…A grad transfer with one year of eligibility remaining… Simon registered 32 total tackles and 1 forced fumble in 13 games played... Prior to his time at Tulsa, Simon spent three seasons at Colorado… Saw action in eight games at Colorado and recorded 3 tackles during the 2021 season… Prior to his time at Colorado, played for head coach Masaki Matsumoto at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington… Posted 54 tackles, 9 sacks, and 20 tackles for loss as a senior… Honored as Honorable mention All-State, and Defensive Lineman of the Year for the 3A County District.
Terrence Smith
Freshman – Wide Receiver – 5-10 / 165 – Aiken, S.C. / South Aiken HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Finished his high school career playing for head coach Chris Hamilton at South Aiken high school in Aiken, South Carolina… A four-year letter winner, Smith finished his high school career throwing for 2,616 yards and 20 touchdowns… Additionally, Smith finished his career with 3,648 rushing yards on 367 carries, for 47 total touchdowns… Honored as 4A Region5 Offensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons, Smith set the school record for all-purpose yards (6,396), all-purpose touchdowns (67), and yards per catch (9.9).
Assistant Coach Kashif Moore (WR) on Smith - "Terrence Smith Jr. is an elusive playmaker out of South Carolina with lightning speed. He led his high school team as their quarterback and set school records for all-purpose yards and TDs and will be transitioning to the wide receiver position with many natural skills relative to the position. We can't wait to get Terrence up to Storrs!"
Kaleb Stewart
Freshman – Linebacker – 5-11 / 198 – Miramer, Fla. / Chaminade Madonna Prep
HIGH SCHOOL: Finished his high school career playing for head coach Dameon Jones at Chaminade high school in Hollywood, Florida… Helped lead Chaminade to a 14-0 overall record in his senior season which included a State Championship for the second year in a row… Stewart finished his high school career with 257 total tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 8 pass deflections and three forced fumbles.
Assistant Coach Siriki Diabate (LB) on Stewart - "Kaleb has a championship pedigree, with a nose for the ball and takes command. Coming from south Florida as an early enrollee we're excited to have him."
Connor Stutz
Transfer – Punter – 6-1 / 217 – Seattle, Wash. / Bishop Blanchet HS / Sacramento State
PRIOR TO UCONN: Joins UConn after playing at Sacramento State and will have two years of eligibility remaining… In two seasons at Sacramento State, Stutz appeared in 26 total games, punting for a total of 456 yards on 10 attempts for an average of 45.6 yards per punt… Prior to his time at Sacramento State, played for head coach Dominic Salle at Bishop Blanchet high school in Seattle, Washington… Was named to the Washington Class 3-A All-State team.
Assistant Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Doug Shearer on Stutz - "Connor is coming to us from Seattle, Washington and we are excited by his talent, work ethic and character that he brings to our program. I can't wait to get to work with him on a daily basis! He will be an essential asset to our success the next two seasons."
Dominic Toy
Freshman – Tight End – 6-4 / 218 – Chester, Pa. / Chester HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Finished his high school career playing for head coach Dennis Shaw at Chester high school in Chester Pennsylvania… A two-year letter winner finished his high school career with 56 receptions for 981 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Assistant Coach Christian Pace (TE) on Toy - "Dom is a big athlete that can make an impact for us as a complete tight end. He has the size, length and toughness to produce as a blocker in the run game as well as the athletic ability and receiving skills to be a weapon in the pass game. He was a two-way starter as a tight end and defensive end for Chester, as well as a starter on the basketball team which attests to his athletic ability and versatility. We are really excited about Dom and his future as a Connecticut tight end."
Cole Welliver
Freshman – Quarterback – 6-6 / 210 – Flower Mound, Texas / Liberty Christian HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Finished his high school career playing for head coach Jason Witten at Liberty Christian high school in Argyle, Texas… In his senior season, helped lead Liberty Christian to a 14-0 overall record… Honored as First Team All-District, First Team All-State, District MVP, and Academic All-State in 2023… Welliver finished his senior season throwing for 3082 yards and 50 touchdowns… A three-year letter winner, Welliver finished his high school career throwing for 4,457 yards, 60 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
Offensive Coordinator Nick Charlton on Welliver - "Cole is a proven winner. He has elite accuracy with over a 70% completion percentage. Cole made big throws down the field and accounted for 50 touchdowns this past fall. He represented his team as captain, finished his senior season undefeated for the first time in school history, and won a Texas state championship. We are excited he is joining Husky Nation this January."
Jordan Wright
Transfer – Defensive Back – 5-10 / 171 – Cordova, Tenn. / Collierville HS / Kansas State
PRIOR TO UCONN: Joins UConn after stops at Kansas State and Fullerton College…A grad transfer with one year of eligibility remaining… Appeared in 13 total games at Kansas State, registering 8 total tackles and 2 pass deflections… At Fullerton College, Wright posted 21 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions and 10 pass deflections during the 2021 season earning him All-Region and All-Conference honors… Prior to his time at Kansas State and Fullerton College, Wright finished his high school career playing for head coach Mike O'Neil at Collierville high school in Tennessee… Over his high school career, Wright registered 41 tackles, 2 interceptions and 22 pass deflections.
Print Friendly Version
