University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Football Welcomes Eight Transfers to the Program for 2023
1/25/2023 9:54:00 AM | Football
STORRS, Conn. – UConn head football coach Jim Mora announced the Huskies have added eight transfer student-athletes who will join the Huskies for the spring semester.
Mumu Bin-Wahad - Cornerback
5-10/179 - Atlanta, Ga./Grayson HS (West Virginia Univ.)
Will have three years of eligibility…In 2022 saw action in five games as a true freshman and finished with four tackles…Was credited with a punt return for no yards at Texas…Named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll…In high school, played corner back at Grayson High…Named 2020 GACA 7A South All-State First Team Defense…Helped Grayson (10-4) advance to the final four of the Class 7A playoffs during his senior season while logging 40 tackles, including 35 solo stops, and three interceptions…Was also a special teams threat, totaling 205 yards on kickoff returns…As a junior, he recorded 24 total tackles, including 16 solo stops, three interceptions and three tackles for loss…Helped Grayson to a Class 7A State Championship title with a 14-0 record.
Ray Eldridge – Defensive Line
6-4/310 – McDonald, Pa./South Fayette (Univ. of Richmond)
Will have one year of eligibility…Comes to Storrs for his final year of eligibility after wrapping his career at Richmond…Played in 37 career games and totaled 71 tackles, 10.5 for a loss with six sacks…Is coming off his best season in 2022 where he finished with 34 tackles, 8.5 for a loss, and was second on the team with 4.5 sacks…Had 18 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, in nine games in 2021…High school teammate with fellow incoming transfer Noah Plack (Delaware).
Joseph Fagnano - Quarterback
6-3/225 - Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport (Univ. of Maine)
Will have two years of eligibility…Comes to UConn from the University of Maine where he played three seasons under Huskies offensive coordinate Nick Charlton…In 2022 he posted career high passing totals, completing 208 passes for 2,231 yards and 15 touchdowns against just six interceptions…He averaged 202.8 yards per game…Fagnano also had career-best rushing numbers last fall, running for 296 yards on 93 carries for three scores…Had 794 yards passing and six touchdowns in four games in the fall of 2021…In the spring 2021 COVID-19 season, he earned All-CAA Second Team honors after finishing the short season with 795 yards and eight touchdowns while running for two more…Won the team's Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2019 after passing for 1,835 yards and 17 touchdowns in eight games.
Eriq Gilyard – Linebacker
5-11/230 - Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian Academy (University of Kansas)
Will have one year of eligibility left…Transferred to Kansas in 2022 for his r-senior season after four years at UCF…In 2022 he saw action in 12 games for the Jayhawks, recording 24 tackles, 2.0 for a loss, with an interception and a pair of passes defended…Helped lead KU to a 6-6 record and spot in the Liberty Bowl…Spent four seasons at UCF…He started 22 of 23 games during his sophomore and junior seasons…In 2019 he was tied for third on the team with 77 total tackles, 5.0 for a loss and an interception…In the 2020 season, he had 59 tackles, 8.5 for a loss, in the 10-game COVID shortened season…Played in four games in 2021 before using redshirt season…Was a Campbell Trophy Award nominee before the season…In his collegiate career, he has appeared in 49 games with 24 starts, made 221 tackles, 21 for a loss, with three interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Louis Hansen – Tight End
6-6/252 - Dover, Mass./St. Sebastian's (Univ. of Michigan)
Will have three years of eligibility...Comes to Storrs from the University of Michigan where he appeared in three games over 2021 and 2022 at tight end…In 2022 saw action against Hawaii and the Huskies and in 2021 made his collegiate debut against Northern Illinois…Earned Academic All-BIG TEN honors…Was a four-year varsity starter in football and basketball at St. Sebastian's School where he captained both teams in 2020…Had his senior season cancelled due to COVID-19 but as a junior in 2019 caught 39 passes for 548 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games…Named to the Super 26 All-State Football Team as a junior, becoming the only junior to earn the honor…Named All-ISL first team and All-NEPSAC first team during junior season.
Jalen Mitchell – Running Back
5-10/221 – Rockledge, Fla./Rockledge HS (Univ. of Louisville)
Will have two years of eligibility…Saw action in 26 games over three season of play at Louisville…Carried the ball 217 times for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns and caught 16 passes for 154 yards in his career…Saw action in five games in 2022…Had his best season running the ball in 2021 when he finished second on the team with 722 yards and five touchdowns…Ranked 12th in the ACC in rushing while also catching 12 passes for 121 yards…He finished third on the team in rushing in 2020, running for 347 yards and two scores in the 10-game shortened season…He averaged a team-best 6.7 yards per carry.
Noah Plack – Defensive Back
6-2/215 – Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette (Univ. of Delaware)
Will have one year of eligibility…Will finish his collegiate career at UConn after finishing his time at Delaware…He played in 43 career games with the Fighting Blue Hens, making 269 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, with three career interceptions, 17 pass break ups, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries…Is coming off his best season in 2022 where he was second on the team in tackles with a career-best 93 stops, 45 solo in helping Delaware return to the FCS Playoffs…Was named an All-CAA first teamer…Earned All-CAA Second Team accolades in 2021 and in the shortned COVID-19 spring 2021 season…As a r-freshman in 2019 was second on the team in tackles with 73 stops, including 37 solo tackles.
Zakhari Spears - Safety
6-1/195 - Los Angeles, Calif./Loyola HS (Univ. of Washington)
Will have four years of eligibility…Did not see any game action in 2021 or 2022 and decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal following the end of the 2022 regular season…Played defensive back and wide receiver for three years at Loyola High School, losing his senior season due to COVID-19…Earned first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division 4 at cornerback as a junior in 2019…Despite a 3-6 regular-season record, the Cubs came back in the playoffs and advanced all the way to the championship game of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs.
