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UConn Football Not Worried About State of Quarterback Battle Yet
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- UConn Football Not Worried About State of Quarterback Battle Yet
With less than one month to go until the regular season opener against Lafayette, University of Connecticut football coach Jason Candle isn't sweating the biggest question facing his team: Who the starting quarterback will be.
In the wake of losing record-setting quarterback Joe Fagnano to the NFL , the Huskies are in need of a new signal-caller, and while they have several options, they don't have any clearcut favorite as of yet.
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Speaking with reporters this weekend , Candle said the media is far more worried about the quarterback battle than he is, and the quarterbacks themselves said they aren't worried either. They understand it's a battle that they all want to win, but they all like and respect each other and want what's best for the group.
Candle seemed to imply that the conversation will solve itself throughout camp, where it will be come apparent which player can move the offense and who the team gravitates to.
Let's take a look at the candidates:
Tucker McDonald
A rising redshirt junior from Massachusetts, McDonald played in three games last season, attempting just two passes. He completed one of them for 45 yards against Central Connecticut.
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Tyler Smith
A rising redshirt sophomore from Connecticut, he made one appearance last season, which came in the Fenway Bowl. UConn lost the game to Army as Fagnano didn't play. It was the final UConn game for All-American wide receiver Skyler Bell, who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills , and for running back Cam Edwards, who transferred to Michigan State.
Jake Merklinger
A rising redshirt sophomore who appeared in four games for the Tennessee Volunteers in 2025, Merklinger hails from Savannah, Ga. He went 13-of-24 for 173 yards for two touchdowns and no interceptions last season, and he has three years of eligibility left.
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Given his SEC pedigree and his former status as a top high school recruit, he seems to have a strong case for this job.
Kalieb Osborne
Another candidate to start, Osborne is following Candle from Toledo to Connecticut.
He was a three-star recruit out of Waterford Mott (Mich.) High School in the Class of 2024 and redshirted that season. In 2025, the 6-foot-3, 204-pound Osborne appeared in seven games with the Rockets, completing 32 of 52 passes (61.54%) for 427 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Osborne has three years of eligibility remaining as well, and his familiarity with Candle is a major benefit to him.
Toledo Rockets quarterback Kalieb Osborne (7) passes against the Louisville Cardinals during the third quarter of the Boca Raton Bowl at Flagler CU Stadium. Jeff Romance-Imagn Images
Bo Polston
A true freshman who is coming in from Indianapolis , Ind., Polston could also make some noise in the quarterback competition.
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Polston played his high school ball at Decatur Central High School. Rated as a three-star, he also had offers from Indiana, Liberty, Miami (OH), Minnesota , and West Virginia, among others. On3 lists him at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds.
As a senior this past season, Polston (was) 87-of-132 (65.9%) for 1,059 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also ran the ball 72 time(s) for 411 yards and six more scores. The year prior as a junior is where Polston really took off, throwing 158-of-248 (63.7%) for 2,069 yds, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions to go along with 301 rushing yards and seven scores.
