UConn Football 2026 season preview: The RB Room
· Yahoo Sports
Like most position groups, every major contributor at running back from last year is gone. Cam Edwards, Mel brown, Victor Rosa, Oliver Lundberg Coleman and MJ Flowers transferred out. Those five backs accumulated 1,870 rushing yards and 21 of the team’s 26 rushing touchdowns, with Edwards leading the way, racking up 1,240 yards and hitting the end zone 15 times.
Despite the significant departing production, the rebuilt RB room has lots of potential playmakers. Head coach Jason Candle recruited several players with proven production and others looking to prove themselves.
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“There’s a couple of guys in that room that can score a 70- or 80-yard touchdown,” Candle said in a recent media appearance.
Kenji Christian, Redshirt Senior
Christian started his college career at North Carolina A&T (2023-2024) before transferring to Toledo last season. As a freshman, the Alabama native contributed 718 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 11 games. He suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3 of the 2024 season.
“My coach always told me, just put everything together,” Christian said. “I feel like I was always missing stuff like that. My coach kind of helped me with my process last year…taking care of my body.”
Following his rehab year, Christian joined Toledo and bounced back. He was behind running back Chip Trayanum on the depth chart, but still got in on the action. In 13 appearances, the 6-foot-2, 207-pound running back carried the ball 105 times and produced 528 rushing yards for four touchdowns. He also hauled in 193 receiving yards and a touchdown last year.
“He feels like it is his time,” Candle said when discussing Christian. “You can only judge off of what you’ve seen from January to now and until this point in time, he’s done a really, really good job with that. So, I’m excited for him.
Heading into 2026, Christian ranked No. 81 on The Athletic’s 2026 Freaks List.
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Cyncir Bowers, Junior
Prior to becoming a Husky, Bowers fought his way into the FBS conference as he began his collegiate career in junior college. At Iowa Central Community College in 2024, the Pennsylvania native played 11 games, Bowers compiled 1,008 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He also snagged 24 receptions for 363 yards and two end zone appearances.
“I would say explosive or the home-run-hitter type,” Bowers said when describing his run game.
After an incredible 2024 season, Bowers transferred to West Virginia the following year. In 10 games, the 5-foot-10, 191-pound running back notched 249 yards for two touchdowns.
“My last call was very tempo, so I’m kind of used to it. It’s not anything that’s out of the ordinary for me,” Bowers said when discussing Candle’s fast-paced offense.
Trey Cornist, Redshirt Senior
Before arriving in Connecticut, Cornist attended Tulane for two years (2023-2024). In 2024, the Ohio native logged 149 rushing yards with one TD in six contests. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound running back transferred to Central Michigan for this past season, logging 470 yards and a TD in 13 appearances.
“Trey Cornist is a big guy who had a great spring. It took him maybe a couple of practices to get comfortable,” Offensive Coordinator Nunzio Campanile said. “He’s like a bowling ball; you don’t want to tackle that guy.”
Jaden Hart, Junior
Before coming to UConn, Hart experienced Campanile’s coaching abilities in his two years at Syracuse (2024-2025). During his time there, Hart saw limited time in the backfield, posting 18 carries for 71 yards.
“He’s a really versatile back,” Campanile said. “He can do a lot of things; he can catch the ball; he can block.”
Dashun Reeder, Redshirt Junior
Before joining UConn, Reeder spent two seasons with Northwestern (2024-2025). Last season, the South Carolina native accumulated 222 rushing yards for a touchdown.