Three former UConn Huskies join CFL teams

Three former Huskies are camping in Canada this summer.

Three former UConn football players will represent the Huskies in the Canadian Football League ahead of the league’s 2026 training camp.

Jordan Wright

On April 23, four days before the 2026 CFL draft, the Ottawa Redblacks signed Wright to the roster. Before joining the CFL, Wright spent the 2025 NFL preseason with the Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles at minicamp, but never landed on the 53-man roster.

Wright played three seasons at Fullerton College (2019-2021), then transferred to the Kansas State Wildcats (2022-2023) and finished his career at UConn (2024).

In his lone season with Connecticut, the Tennessee native tallied 46 tackles (32 solo, 14 assisted), a sack and a fumble recovery. His most notable play came in UConn’s 29-20 victory over the Temple Owls on Oct. 5, 2024. On fourth-and-goal with three seconds left in the game, Temple quarterback Tyler Douglas fumbled the ball, allowing Wright to return it for a 96-yard touchdown.

Jelani Stafford

The Redblacks not only added to their defensive back room, but also their defensive line, as they inked Stafford on Dec. 4, 2025.

Before becoming a Husky, Stafford spent the 2021 stretch with the Youngstown State Penguins. However, the Pennsylvania native only appeared in one meeting. In three years with Connecticut (2022-2024), the defensive lineman racked up 109 tackles (54 solo, 55 assisted), two fumble recoveries and a sack. Offensively, Stafford lined up in the backfield 15 times and plowed through for six touchdowns.

In his final UConn season, Stafford registered 39 tackles and was named to the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List.