UConn football losing Justin Joly, Mumu Bin-Wahad, and several others to the transfer portal

UConn will looking to replace a lot of outgoing talent this offseason.

UConn football will be dealing with multiple departures from the roster, as quarterback Zion Turner, cornerback Mumu Bin-Wahad, and tight end Justin Joly are among the names that have announced their intention to transfer, along with veteran corner Malik Dixon-Williams, who has entered the portal as a graduate transfer.

Jim Mora and his staff are certainly hoping the flow goes both ways, as multiple players from the FCS and junior college ranks and other FBS programs have claimed offers from UConn. The market will really open up once the transfer portal window officially begins for underclassmen on December 4.

Joly was one of the bright spots in UConn’s 2023 campaign as the team’s leading pass catcher, hauling in 56 receptions for 578 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The tight end initially committed to UConn in large part because it was the only school to offer him coming out of Iona Prep in New York. He made a quick impact as a freshman with 24 catches for 288 yards in 2022 to start his UConn career.

With two years of eligibility remaining, Joly will likely take his significant talents to a Power 5 program.

Turner quarterbacked the Huskies to a 6-7 record in 2022 as a true freshman, ending in the program’s first bowl appearance since 2015. The St. Thomas Aquinas graduate threw for nine touchdowns and ten interceptions on the year, completing 149 of 258 passes for 1,407 yards.

Turner entered spring ball as the starter, but faced stiff competition from Ta’quan Roberson, who was named starter in 2022, and Joe Fagnano, who was eventually named starter to begin 2023.

Roberson ended up as the full-time starter under center starting with the FIU game after Fagnano’s injury, while Turner made two appearances off of the bench. Turner will likely be looking for a chance to start somewhere.

Dixon-Williams was a three-year starter for the Huskies, with 191 tackles and four interceptions through 30 games played.

Mora has been publicly supportive of the outgoing players, praising their character and ability, while also noting that Joly is “about to be a pretty wealthy young man.”

Bin-Wahad transferred into the program from West Virginia before the 2023 season and started all 12 games as one of the more impressive members of the UConn secondary, allowing zero touchdowns on 290 coverage snaps per PFF.

Kicker Noe Ruelas is also set to leave the program after spending two seasons as the Huskies’ starting kicker. Ruelas made 15 of 20 field goals attempted and was responsible for 76 points in a UConn uniform.

Also on their way out are running back Jalen Mitchell, who saw snaps in nine games in 2023, and defensive lineman Carter Hooper, who rotated in on the defensive line and earned 14 tackles in 2023. Running backs Devontae Houston and Brian Brewton as well as wide receiver James Burns stopped playing in the middle of the season with the intention to transfer.