Joe Fagnano

Early life

Fagnano grew up in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and attended Williamsport Area High School. During high school, he was named an All-State player, the Wyoming Area Offensive Player of the Year and an East-West All-Star Game participant. He committed to play college football at Maine over an offer from Bucknell.

Maine

Fagnano arrived at UMaine as a walk-on, but earned a full scholarship and the backup quarterback job after an impressive fall training camp. Fagnano made his collegiate debut on October 12, after incumbent quarterback Chris Ferguson sustained a foot injury during the first quarter of a 24–17 loss to Richmond. The following week, Fagnano was named the starter. Against FBS opponent Liberty, he threw five touchdowns, completing 67% of his passes for 445 yards in a 59–44 loss. He played in eight games and started in six finishing the season with completing 121 out of 184 passing attempts with 1,835 yards and 17 touchdowns. By the end of the season, he was named the CAA Rookie of the Week for two weeks, the New England Football Writers Gold Helmet Award Winner and the team's Thurlow Cooper Offensive Rookie of the Year. During the spring 2021 season, he appeared in all four games and finished the season with completing 67 out of 116 passing attempts with 795 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception. By the end of the season, he was named the CAA Player of the Week for two weeks. During the fall 2021 season, he appeared in four games and finished the season with 65 completed passing attempts with 794 yards and six touchdowns. By the end of the season, he was named to the 2021 CFPA FCS National Player of the Year Trophy Watch List. During the 2022 season, he played in all 11 games and finished the season with a career high 208 completed passing attempts for 2,231 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. On December 5, 2022, Fagnano announced that he would be entering the transfer portal. On January 16, 2023, he announced that he would be transferring to UConn.

UConn

During the 2023 season, Fagnano was named as the starting quarterback. On September 12, 2023, after only two games, head coach Jim L. Mora announced that Fagnano would be out for the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury. He finished the season with completing 18 out of 35 passing attempts for 173 yards and one interception. Fagnano was named the Offensive MVP of the 2024 Fenway Bowl. In 2025, he did not throw an interception until Week 12 against Air Force.