UConn Football Strikes Gold with Three Commitments in Busy Weekend
A busy first recruiting weekend for the class of 2026 in Storrs has already paid early dividends, with three recruits committing to UConn. Eleven prospects were on campus, and a similar number is expected to visit this upcoming weekend. But for now, take a look at the trio of new Huskies
RB Jayden Fox
Fox was the first to commit, announcing his decision early Sunday afternoon. It was a quick process for the Denver native—UConn offered him on Easter Sunday, and just five weeks later, he committed. A dual-sport athlete who also competes in track, Fox is explosive, as shown by his 10.67-second 100-meter dash and his 1,815 rushing yards for Colorado’s state champions in the state’s largest division. After dropping the season opener to Skyridge (UT), the Bruins rattled off 13 straight wins. Fox finished fourth in Colorado in rushing yards, averaging an astounding 9.8 yards per carry, 129.6 yards per game, and scoring 19 touchdowns. He’ll join a UConn running back room that has found success in recent years, with current offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis coaching the offensive line.
OL Luke Hatfield
The big offensive lineman from Virginia was the second commitment of the weekend. Like Fox, UConn came in later in his recruitment—offering on May 1st—but now has its first offensive lineman in the class. Standing at 6’6” and 285 pounds, Hatfield received multiple FCS offers and also drew FBS interest from Old Dominion, Buffalo, Liberty, Memphis, Charlotte, Army, Delaware, Air Force, Navy, Temple, and Rice. He was named First Team All-Region in both 2023 and 2024 for a Battlefield High School team that went 11-1 last season, with its only loss coming in the second round of the state tournament. Hatfield will join an offensive line that helped produce nearly 200 rushing yards per game last season and has a reputation for protecting the quarterback. With expected attrition, the competition for spots should be open, giving Hatfield time to learn the playbook and develop in the weight room ahead of the 2026 season.
QB Carter Emanuel
The Huskies landed their quarterback for the class in Orlando native Emanuel. Three QBs were originally set to visit: one, Xavier Stearn, committed to Rutgers over the weekend, and the other, Qu’ran McNeill, will presumably no longer be making the trip. Emanuel played in just six full games this past season but still managed to throw for 2,086 yards and 25 touchdowns, along with 465 rushing yards and five scores on the ground. He held a long list of offers, including UCF, Pitt, West Virginia, ECU, Memphis, USF, Liberty, UMass, and several other Group of Five and FCS programs. Quarterback has been an unsettled position for the Huskies in recent years, with a new starter in each of Coach Mora’s seasons. Emanuel will join a 2026 QB room that is expected to include Nick Evers, Tucker McDonald, and K’Saan Farrar.