The Huskies add two on defense and one on offense
UConn football has added three more transfers in the past few days: defensive lineman Ben Smiley, linebacker Tyquan King, and wide receiver Chris Parker.
Smiley and King are the 11th and 12th defensive transfers to announce their commitments to Storrs. Parker is the sixth offensive player and second receiver coming by way of the portal, bringing the Huskies’ total to 18 transfers since the window opened in early December.
Smiley spent six years with UVA starting initially in 2019, but injuries and lack of playtime early in his career won him a few extra years of eligibility. He saw regular playing time starting in 2021 and was a mainstay on the Cavalier defensive line through 2024. He played in 11 games this past season, making 12 tackles and one and a half tackles for loss. In 2023, he ranked second on the team in sacks with two. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
King had an impressive 2024 with the Temple Owls, recording 111 total tackles, six tackles for loss, and three sacks in 12 games played en route to being named First-Team All-AAC as a linebacker. It was his first full season since 2021 — his freshman campaign — when he played in nine games and made one start. King played in just two games across 2022 and 2023 and now joins the Huskies with one year of eligibility remaining.
Parker, a Central Michigan product, is a redshirt junior who spent four years with the Chippewas. During that time, he caught 56 passes for just over 800 yards and six touchdowns. He played in 31 games and made 20 starts, averaging 14.3 yards per catch. His best performance of 2024 came in a late September game against Ball State when he hauled in five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns, all statistical season highs.
The Huskies continue to show aggressiveness in the transfer portal, with even more recruits potentially on the way in the coming weeks. UConn has also kept up its visiting, hosting potential transfers on visits, not to mention it still has a few outstanding transfer offers for potential incoming players.