UConn Football

2025 Position Group Breakdown: DL

By Graham Chamberlain

July 29, 2025

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Two positions have been in precarious spots in terms of roster management over the past few years: defensive line and linebacker — and those chickens came home to roost this offseason. It was clear that a bunch of guys were going to graduate all at the same time, and brining in some one or two year portal options weren’t going to help build depth. As a result, the staff has leaned on a mix of super seniors, portal additions, and high school recruits waiting in the wings. Still, a wholesale change at both positions seemed unavoidable.

Gone are veterans and emotional leaders Jelani Stafford and Dal’Mont Gourdine, as is one year Georgia Tech/Furman transfer Jack Barton, and Pryce Yates decided to re-enter the portal after withdrawing from the portal to go to UNC (after the bowl game, and UNC and Bill Belichick most definitely did not tamper, no way). If that weren’t enough, EDGE Langston Hardy transferred to Wake Forest. It’s no surprise, then, that the two units were the focal point of transfer portal additions this offseason.

Let’s first take a look at who is returning. Kervins Choute, the UCF transfer, is the most experienced of the returnees along the DL proper. He played in eight games last year, including the bowl game, totaling 113 snaps. Per PFF, he had a solid tackle rating, but was lacking in the pass rush. Some of those HS recruits mentioned in the opening return, including Matt Hoffman, Brady Fodor, and Brandon Kelly. Of those, Hoffman got the most run last year, playing in seven games, including the bowl game, where he recorded his first career sack.

Amber Searls-Imagn Images

The big addition out of the portal was Virginia transfer, Ben Smiley, someone who DC Matt Brock was very interested in. This will be his seventh year of college football, gaining extra years of eligibility due to the COVID pandemic, and the fatal shooting on a university bus trip in 2022 that caused the cancellation of the final two games of the season. Over those six years in Charlottesville, he totaled 35 tackles, and four sacks. Joining Smiley on the line will be Vincent Carroll-Jackson, the Pennsylvania native, and Nebraska transfer. He played in nine games for the Huskers last year, mainly in a backup role, and had five tackles.

To round out the potential starters on the line, is well-traveled Stephon Wright, who has been at Arizona State, SMU, and Texas Southern. Wright blossomed during his one season at TSU, notching 16 tackles, four sacks, 15 hurries, and two forced fumbles. He did have eight missed tackles, however. Nevertheless, he brings a veteran prescence, as he is someone who like Smiley, also started their career in 2019. The Huskies also added Iowa State transfer, Trent Jones II. He began his career in Ames as a walk-on, and worked his onto scholarship. A great story, but Jones II is planning on contributing more than that. After starting the opener against North Dakota, he played mainly as a backup the rest of the way, playin significantly less than in 2023, when he played in all 13 games. During his time in Ames, he amassed 21 tackles and two sacks.

Michael Brunt, 247Sports

Not content with one Nebraska transfer, Marquis Black makes his way to Storrs, after stops in between at Gardner-Webb and Western Kentucky. He played in two games at Nebraska in 2021, but did not see any action for WKU after transferring in for the 2023 season. He’d get his shot at Gardner-Webb, totaling 27 tackles and two sacks. Another transfer that will be in the mix is New Mexico transfer Antoineo Harris Jr. He spent time at a JUCO and Indiana State before heading to Albuquerque. Last season he had 29 tackles in ten games, including two for a loss against Auburn. He generated 18 pressure situations, including eight QB hits and nine hurries. A tweener, he may also be spending time at the EDGE.

There is some youth on the roster, including one of the highest recruits ever per 247Sports in Aubrey Melvin. His stock rose as his senior season went on, but stayed loyal to the Huskies, when he could’ve gone to a P4. He had 60 tackles, 15.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries as a senior. Joining Melvin is Nykobi Brown, another true freshman who played at national powerhouse Valdosta (GA). He had 31 tackles as a senior, including ten for a loss. Redshirt freshman Cooper Ackerman returns, a year after the Shrewsbury, MA native chose the Huskies over Rutgers. The staff will look for these guys to develop and fill in the roles from some of the transfers who will be exhausting their eligibility.