Huskies Bolster WR Room with Transfer Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman
The Husky receiver room experienced some turnover during the spring, losing Jasaiah Gathings and Zack Drawdy to the transfer portal, while Caleb Burton III stepped away from the team. However, they added Rice transfer Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman.
Chiaokhiao-Bowman began his career at "Dream U" — Independence Community College — before transferring to Florida, where he spent two seasons primarily contributing on special teams and serving as a reserve wide receiver. In 2022, he recorded seven receptions for 138 yards. The following year, he appeared in just two games (on special teams), redshirted, and later entered the transfer portal.
At Rice, Chiaokhiao-Bowman saw his first game action in East Hartford, a 17-10 loss. He caught three passes for 10 yards on a night where the Husky defense held freshman QB Drew Devillier to 88 yards on 14-30 passing. Chiaokhiao-Bowman broke out in the season finale against USF, catching three passes for 58 yards with a season-long 33 yard reception and his first collegiate TD.
Chiaokhioa-Bowman is no stranger to Connecticut, spending a year at St Thomas More in Oakdale for a prep year after four years at Armstrong HS in Minneapolis. While at STM, he picked up offers from USF, and UMass, then received offers at Independence from Illinois, Ole Miss, Nebraska, before ultimately picking Florida. Chiaokhioa-Bowman was a three star recruit per 247Sports, the tenth best JUCO WR nationally, and 59th overall JUCO prospect. He joins a Husky WR room that has star returnee Skyler Bell, as well as Shamar Porter, and fellow transfers Reymello Murphy and Chris Parker. He has two years of eligibility remaining.