University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Close Out Spring Practice at The Rent
4/11/2026 6:19:00โฏPM | Football
EAST HARTFORD, CT โ The UConn football put a wrap on their 2026 spring workouts on Saturday afternoon with a spring game at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.
Head Coach Jason Candle met the media after Saturday's game and was appreciative of the chance to have his team on their home field for the first time under his direction. "I mean obviouslyย I'mย really proudย of our team to get to a point in time where we could have a great weather day andย inย anย unbelievableย environment, stadium atmosphere.ย Soย our firstย timeย being inย there, my first timeย being inย there for a gameday atmosphere,ย bringingย the Spring Game back, letting the fans see our kids work, and that was one of 15.ย That'sย a small snapshot of what 15 practicers were, and I think thatย we'veย improved steadily from the beginning of springย ball, butย I'mย notย naiveย enoughย to think thatย we'reย aย finishedย product.ย
"We'veย got a lot of work to doย here,ย we got four and a half, five more months here. We got to get moving and getย goingย andย steadilyย improve if we want to be where we want to be this fall."ย
The Huskies, who welcomed 65 new players to the roster this spring, used their final practice of the spring to run through plenty of situational football while have the offense and defense match-up in several segments as well. Most of all, it was a chance to get everyone acclimated to The Rent and a UConn gameday experience.
"We'reย putting guys in specific spots to see howย they'reย going to act, move, andย whatย they'reย going toย see compared to just going out, putting the ball down and playing. You want to get as many reps for as many guys as possible, so there were some situational things there, weย did some kicking things where we back the punt up. One thing is being out in the elements, we've been indoors for really all of spring until today, soย to get out in the wind, be in front of the crowd, and hear the band playing, all the things that a gameday would bring, it is a lot of different learning for guys."ย
Tight end Matt Ragan met with the media after the game and talked about how a team with so many new faces is coming together. "Iย mean,ย we have 60 newย guys,ย andย I thinkย starting with winter workouts to early spring,ย it'sย about figuring out and seeing what everyone can do.ย We'reย all learning a new offense.ย We'veย got guys from Toledoย coming inย thatย know it a little bit. I thinkย it'sย kind of justย starting with the basicย stuff andย seeing what we can handle and what guys canย do andย finding the guys' strengths and weaknesses.
"The coaches did an excellent job getting us all ready and putting guys in different spots," stated Ragan. "I'mย excited for summerย and intoย camp andย seeing what we got."ย
ย Saftey Braedyn Mooreย talked about what it was like to play at home today. "It'sย always good toย actually getย on the game field and just compete against each other. ?And it was big for the guys that are new, just getting that gameย feeling out at the Rent. Andย I think everybodyย enjoyed it."ย
Moore also talked about what's got him excited to be part of new defensive coordinator Ryan Manalac's defense scheme. "I loveย the defense. I love my teammates. We have some great depth. I feel like we get a goodย rotation inย between the safety room and even linebackers and down. We all couldย playย and I feel like it would be aย really goodย rotation and a lot of bodies out there on the field this year."ย
The 2026 season kicks off a new era under head coach Jason Candle, as the Huskies open their campaign on Saturday, September 5 hosting the Lafayette Leopards in the first of seven home games at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Season tickets for the 7-game home schedule are on sale now atย UConnHuskies.com/Football.
