COLLEGE FOOTBALL UConn inks 16 on national signing day
The UConn football team is hoping its new recruits are a Sweet 16.
Twelve high school players have signed letters of intent and four players have been added through the transfer portal, UConn coach Jim Mora announced Wednesday. Ten states and two countries are represented.
“We are excited to announce the newest additions to the UConn football family,” Mora said in a statement. “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.”
UConn finished 3-9 in Mora’s second season, winning its last two games.
UConn’s early signing day commitments
Cooper Ackerman (6-foot-3, 240 pounds, Shrewsbury, Mass.): Ackerman, a defensive lineman, finished his high school career at Shrewsbury High under coach Joe Pittorino. He was the Mid-Wach Defensive MVP and all-star as a senior.
“Cooper brings great pride for this school and this area being a Northeast guy, which we love,” UConn assistant coach Kenny McClendon said. “He also brings a great attitude and determination to always work, get better, and develop.”
Kervins Choute (6-3, 302 pounds, Coconut Creek, Fla.): Choute joins the Huskies as a transfer after three years at UCF and will have two years of eligibility remaining. As a junior, the defensive lineman appeared in six games and totaled seven tackles for the Knights.
Ethan Hogg (6-2, 210 pounds, Glenview, Ill.): Hogg, a linebacker, helped lead Loyola Academy to a 14-0 record and back-to-back state championships. He completed his high school career with 122 total tackles, including 22 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in 26 games played.
“Ethan has great growth potential and is another successful high school player that knows how to win,” UConn assistant coach Siriki Diabate said. “We love his size and what he has the potential to become. Excited to have him.”
Oliver Lundberg Coleman (5-9, 197 pounds, Gothenburg, Sweden): Lundberg Coleman, a running back, played at RIG Academy in Sweden. Hen won the Nordic Championship and was named the MVP of the Championship. In 2022, he was named MVP of the European Championships for the second straight season.
“Oliver is a versatile all-purpose running back that with a great combination of size, speed, quickness, power, and physicality,” UConn assistant coach Antonio Wilcox said. “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 (6-3, 285 pounds, Park Ridge, N.J.); McLaughlin, an offensive lineman, was a two-time all-Bergen County selection and helped lead Park Ridge High to a 7-3 record his senior year.
“Deron is an athletic three-sport athlete,” UConn assistant coach Gordon Sammis said. “He projects as a center or guard and is a smart and tough New Jersey kid.”
Brock Montgomery (6-1, 195 pounds, Lebanon, Tenn.): Montgomery, a wide receiver, helped lead Riverdale High to a 10-3 record as a senior and had 76 receptions for 1,295 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was named the Region 3-6A wide receiver of the year.
“Brock Montgomery is an exciting wide receiver that has a combination of good size and great speed,” UConn assistant coach Kashif Moore said. “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.”
Jon Morris (6-2, 191 pounds, Fairfield): Morris finished his high school career playing for Keith Hellstern at Fairfield Prep. He was named All-State and an all-SSC Tier 1 defensive back as a senior as he compiled 110 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and two interceptions. UConn lists him as a linebacker.
“Love his versatility, long athlete that is physical at the point of contact,” Diabate said. “Local talent that has a promising future.”
Clemens Richter (6-5, 228 pounds, Dresden, Germany): Richter, a tight end, helped lead the Dresden Monarchs in Germany to an 11-3 record and was a featured player in an offense that averaged 40.1 points per game and 337.1 yards per game.
“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,” UConn assistant coach Christian Pace said. “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. 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.”
Diego Rodriguez (6-4, 270 pounds, Hillside, N.J.): Rodriguez, an offensive lineman, helped lead Hillside High to a 6-3 record behind an offense that averaged 143.3 rushing yards per game.
“Diego is a long, athletic, and tough New Jersey kid,” Sammis said. “He has played football for only two years and his best football is ahead of him.”
Jayden Simon (6-3, 330 pounds, Tacoma, Wash.): Simon, a defensive lineman, has one year of eligibility left as a graduate transfer. He had 32 tackles and a forced fumble in 13 games at Tulsa last season after transferring there after three years at
Colorado.
Terrence Smith (510, 165 pounds, Aiken, S.C.): Smith, listed as a wide receiver by UConn, was a four-year player at South Aiken High. He finished his career throwing for 2,616 yards and 20 touchdowns while also rushing for 3,648 yards and 47 touchdowns on only 367 carries. He set the school record for allpurpose yards (6,396), all-purpose touchdowns (67), and yards per catch (9.9).
“He is an elusive playmaker out of South Carolina with lightning speed,” Moore said. “He led his high school team as their quarterback and set school records for allpurpose yards and TDs and will be transitioning to the wide receiver position with many natural skills relative to the position.”
Kaleb Stewart (5-11, 198 pounds, Miramer, Fla.): Stewart, a linebacker, helped lead Chaminade to a 14-0 record in his senior season and a second straight state championship. In his career he had 257 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, and 13 quarterback sacks.
“Kaleb has a championship pedigree, with a nose for the ball and takes command,” Diabate said. “Coming from south Florida as an early enrollee we’re excited to have him.”
Connor Stutz (6-1, 217 pounds, Seattle, Wash.): A punter, Stutz comes to UConn after playing at Sacramento State and will have two years of eligibility remaining. In two seasons at Sacramento State, Stutz appeared in 26 games and averaged 45.6 yards on 10 punts.
“We are excited by his talent, work ethic and character that he brings to our program,” UConn assistant coach Doug Shearer said. “He will be an essential asset to our success the next two seasons.” Dominic Toy (6-4, 218 pounds, Chester, Pa.): Toy, a tight end, was a two-year letterwinner at Chester High and finished with 56 receptions for 981 yards and 19 touchdowns.
“Dom is a big athlete that can make an impact for us as a complete tight end,” Pace said. “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.”
Cole Welliver (6-6, 210 pounds, Flower Mound, Texas): Perhaps the top recruit in the Huskies’ class. As the quarterback at Liberty Christian High, he led his team to a 14-0 record and a state title by throwing for 3,082 yards and 50 touchdowns. Welliver was named first team All-State and All-District.
“Cole is a proven winner,” UConn offensive coordinator/assistant coach Nick Charlton said. “He has elite accuracy with over a 70-percent 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 (5-10, 171 pounds, Cordova, Tenn.): Wright, a defensive back, joins UConn as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility following stops at Kansas State and Fullerton College.