UMass Transfer Portal News--How we did--Offensive Line

 If you missed it, all the original starting offensive linemen from 2025 left/graduated. LT Luke Painton, LG Sullivan Weidman, C Benjamin Roy, RG Mao Glynn and RT Ryan Mosesso all are gone.

The offensive line was not a strong point last year. I went to most of the games and watched 'em all on DVR. I can't think of a game where we dominated the line of scrimmage. I've blogged about our nearly last in FBS rushing totals. 

For the season, UMass went 54-172 31% on third downs. The Minutemen went 6-26 on fourth downs 23%. Those are really bad numbers. A stop on fourth down is a turnover. Stops on 3rd downs are effectively turnovers. A first down at the end of the game would have won the Bryant and Buffalo contests. A lot of that was due to offensive line play.

Brock Taylor started some games later in the season. Jaxon King, Payton Miller and Zachary Franks are probably the top returning offensive linemen.

UMass added Aitor Unionabarrenechea from Colorado State. Greg Knox from McNeese State, and Greg Klingensmith from William & Mary. All three will probably start.

Still, I think this leaves the O-line room pretty thin. I would grade the potential improvement here as a "C" (primarily because of numbers). 

If I was coach and I had enough NIL money for two additional players, I'd spend it on two offensive linemen. If I had NIL for three, I'd spend it on three offensive linemen. 

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--

 

Hudl.com image

UMass has offered to Josiah Wallace, a 6-8 300 pound OT from Glen Ellyn, IL

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video. 

This article covers his offer from Northwestern. 

Wallace has Power Four offers from Cincinnati, Kansas State, Northwestern and Purdue. Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Toledo and Western Michigan have offered from the MAC. UMass needs offensive linemen and Wallace could be in the mix early in Amherst. 

UMass Football News--February 6th, 2026

 

UMass formerly announces hiring Max Warner as offensive coordinator.

Hopefully, Warner will have a lot more offensive talent to work with this year. Former Minuteman OC Mike Bajakian directed the worst offense in college football, but was hired away by Power Four Michigan State, which leads to the conclusion the problem was talent, not coaching.

The Daily Collegian has a post on Warner's hiring. 

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Western Michigan's DC is hired as defensive coordinator for the Los Angles Chargers. 

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Miami (of Florida) signs an OT with a $1.9 million NIL tag.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Don Spillers

USA Today image

  UMass has offered to Don Spillers, a 6-2 195 pound WR from Detroit, MI

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video highlights. 

This article covers his recruitment by Michigan State. 

This article discusses his recruitment by Power Four teams. 

Spillers has fifteen offers including Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State and more. Bowling Green, Toledo, Miami (Ohio) and Western Michigan have offered from the MAC. Spillers is a versatile athlete and he would have a chance to play early in Amherst.

UMass Transfer Portal News--How we did--Receivers

 Like every other stat for 2025 receiving totals were dismal. UMass lost T.Y. Harding for the season early and that made a big dent in playmaking. Harding accounted for 719 total yards in 2024 (receiving 334, punt returns 109 and kickoff returns 276). 

Jacquon Gibson was the only WR threat in 2025. Gibson went 63-613 9.8 yards/catch. But he had ZERO TD's. Of UMass' 8 receiving TD's, four were caught by TE's. Gibson left in the transfer portal and ended up with Virginia. 

I think UMass made a big signing with Joe Griffin Jr. He had a productive career with Boston College.  I think he has the size and skills to to make an impact for the Minutemen.

The T.Y. Harding, Joe Griffin combo should give UMass an effective passing threat.  

UMass also added DII Devin Matthews. He went 36-649 yards and 7 TD's in 2025. Matthews is 5-9 and probably will play the slot receiver.

The Minutemen also signed a talented freshman class with Drew Alsep,  Tavian Dashell, David Moore and Kai Owens. I can see several of those players contributing in 2026. Wide receiver is one position a true freshman can play.

Owens is one of the highest-rated true freshmen ever to sign with UMass. If he gets in and is productive, I'd burn his redshirt (if he agrees) if needed.

I'm excited about the 2026 WR room and I think that room added the most talent on offense. 

I'd give the 2026 WR additions a potential grade of "A". 

UMass Transfer Portal News--How we did--Running backs

 Last year's rushing results for the Minutemen were horrifying. We finished #131 out of 134 in rushing offense.

Against Temple, (who finished 5-7 in 2025) we had 103 net yards rushing and 41 of those 103 came on one rush by Rocco Griffin (who had a good opening quarter against the Owls and then disappeared for the rest of the year). 

Against a 3-8 FCS team Bryant, we rushed for 101 yards and 19 (one fifth) came on one play by Grant Jordan. One rushing first down at the end of the game would have won it for UMass.

Against Buffalo, the game we came the closest to winning, we rushed for 187 yards, but 90 of those yards came on one play by Brandon Hood. For the rest of the game we rushed 43 times for 97 yards.

In the last game of the season in the "Bottom Bowl" against Bowling Green, on our own field, UMass rushed 29 times for 69 net yards,  2.4 yards/rush.

Being unable to run the ball makes the QB look bad. If the defense can disregard the running game, they can pin their ears back and rush the passer, which they did with abandon in 2025.

Fixing the run game will make a major impact on UMass' chances in 2026.

UMass added Jordan Washington. He has good size and had a decent season for the Racers in 2025.

The Minutemen also added Justin Williams-Thomas a transfer from Cal/Marshall.  Williams-Thomas was a highly rated RB out of HS, but so far has been unable to generate much playing time in college. 

I really like true freshman recruit TK Davis. I'm also high on true freshman Justin Lewis.

A freshman can play in four games without burning their redshirt. If I  were the UMass coach, I'd get Davis and Lewis reps in eight games this year. We need production.

I'd give the potential upgrade here as a B minus. We did not sign an instant All-MAC running back , but the expectation is UMass will move up from awful. I think Davis and Lewis have talent to move the meter even further in future years.

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Chad Willis

On3.com image

 UMass has offered to Chad Willis, a 6-2 185 pound WR/Athlete from Orchard Lake, MI.

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video. 

This article covers his recruiting by Michigan. 

This article writes about his offer from Michigan State. 

Willis has over 20 offers including Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, Cincinnati and more. Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), Toledo, Western Michigan and  Kent State have offered from the MAC. Willis would have the opportunity to start early in Amherst and also get an East Coast education.