UConn football lands three 2027 commits

Dec 2, 2023; Detroit, MI, USA; Toledo Rockets head coach Jason Candle puts on his head set before the MAC Championship game against the Miami RedHawks at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images Over the weekend, the UConn Huskies added three new 2027 recruits to the roster, bringing the class total to 21 players.

class="wp-block-paragraph">De’Shawn Wylie, Safety

class="wp-block-paragraph">Wylie announced his commitment flip from Tulane to UConn on Instagram on Sunday. The Georgia native announced his verbal commitment to the Green Wave on March 18, 2026, and took an official visit on June 4. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound safety received 15 offers, including from Navy, Cincinnati, and Wake Forest. As for Connecticut, Wylie took his official visit on May 29.

class="wp-block-paragraph">During the 2025 season, Wylie played in the secondary for Calvary Day HS (GA). In 14 matches, the highly-rated defensive back registered 56 tackles (24 solo, 32 assisted), four tackles for loss, and an interception. Wylie is considered a dynamic player who can play at safety, nickel, or corner.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Curtis “Curt” Ellis Jr., Wide Receiver

class="wp-block-paragraph">Ellis Jr. announced his verbal commitment to UConn on X on Saturday night. The Blountstown, Florida native received 21 offers, including from Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, and Mississippi State.

class="wp-block-paragraph">In the wideout’s 2025 season with Blountstown HS (FL), Ellis Jr. played on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the 5-foot-11, 165-pound receiver hauled in 17 receptions for 317 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 18.6 yards per catch in 13 games. In the backfield, Ellis Jr. rushed for 293 yards for five endzone appearances and accumulated 12.7 rushing yards per attempt. Between the team’s 2024 and 2025 campaigns, the dynamic player tallied a total of 83 carries for 892 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Defensively, Ellis Jr. racked up a combined total of 27 tackles (17 solo, 10 assisted). As for special teams, the soon-to-be senior saw 7 kickoff returns for 172 yards. Compared to his sophomore year, he ran back 17 kickoff returns for 511 yards. While Ellis Jr. can play many positions, UConn is expected to use him as a wide receiver.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Football is not the only sport Ellis Jr. plays, as he participated in five basketball games in the 2025 season, contributing 7.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. The Florida native also runs track and recorded a 10.5-second 100-meter, a 21.9-second 200-meter, and a 49.8-second 400-meter in the 2026 stretch.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Raymond Liggins III, Wide Receiver

class="wp-block-paragraph">Liggins III announced his verbal commitment to UConn on X on Monday. The Illinois native received 13 offers, including from Kentucky, Miami, Missouri, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Before transferring to The Peddie School (NJ) and reclassifying to the 2027 class, the 5-foot-10, 165-pound receiver played for Simeon HS (IL). In the 2025 season, Liggins III lined up as both a receiver and a running back. In 10 games, the senior rushed for 50 yards in 12 attempts and hauled in 20 receptions for 393 yards and six touchdowns. The wideout averaged 19,7 yards per catch. On special teams, the 2027 prospect returned three kickoff returns for 39 yards. While the dynamic player can have an impact in multiple positions, he is expected to play wide receiver for Connecticut, as WR coach Kerry Dixon II recruited him.