The only way to truly compete in college football these days is to add talented, experienced players in the transfer portal.

Sure, college coaches will never stop recruiting high school kids because the boost in camps and clinics across the country has young studs at QB and wide receiver getting developed as early as age eight or 10. Talent is everywhere. Young players are still valuable, but if you’re a team that needs to either make an immediate splash or feel like you’re closer to CFP contention, a portal guy may take you over the hump.

In UConn’s case, they’re still a long way from any kind of New Years 6 Bowl talk like it’s 2008, but after making a bowl in 2022 and falling on its collective face in 2023, Mora adamantly talked about the NIL game and everything that goes into recruiting these days in a press conference during UMass week.

The portal is the Huskies’ best shot to get back to regular bowl berths and then we’ll talk 12-team tournament in a few years,

On Tuesday, Mora officially announced the addition of 10 transfers. These 10 guys (listed below) join the six transfers and 12 incoming freshman that were previously announced on NSD for Mora’s 2024 class. The 10 new additions will be joining the program this spring and getting an early start on the acclimation process.

There is no longer an offseason in college football and Mora – along with his staff – is waiting no time trying to get UConn back on the national radar as quickly as possible.

Reggie Akles, Defensive Back – 6-1 / 190 – Portland, Ore. / Reynolds HS / New Mexico State

Skyler Bell, Wide Receiver – 6-0 / 195 – Bronx, N.Y. / The Taft School / Wisconsin

Jasaiah Gathings, Wide Receiver – 6-0 / 190 – Statesville, N.C. / Statesville HS / Akron

Chris Freeman, Kicker – 6-2 / 205 – Zionsville, Ind. / Zionsville HS / Indiana

Logan Frederic, Long Snapper – 6-3 / 210 – Littleton, Colo. / Heritage HS / TCU

Aaron Key, Linebacker – 6-2 / 232 – Decatur, Ga. / Tucker HS / Western Kentucky

Malachi McLean, Defensive Back – 5-11 / 175 – Manvel, Texas / Manvel HS / New Mexico State

Durell Robinson, Running Back – 6-1 / 200 – Seat Pleasant, Md. / Saint Francis Academy / Charlotte

Julien Simon, Linebacker – 6-1 / 227 – Tacoma, Wash. / Lincoln HS / Tulsa

Jarvarius Sims, Defensive Back – 6-0 / 190 – Decatur, Ga. / Myrtle Beach / Central Michigan