UMass Football Recruiting 2018--Patrick Walsh verbals to UMass

Inside the huddle Massachusetts image

Mike Traini reports Michael Walsh, a 6-5 290 pound OL from Sterling , MA has verbaled to UMass.

Traini's article here.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

Inside the Huddle Massachusetts profiles Walsh.

The Minutemen were the first FBS team to offer Walsh. He is the second player in the 2018 recruiting cycle to commit to UMass.

UMass Football News--June 30th, 2017

Fan Sided has a feature on UMass TE Adam Breneman.

The current UMass roster has the following TE's, Note that Blogger does not do columns.

Adam Breneman #81 TE 6-4 250 RSSR
Taylor Edwards #18 TE 6-4 260 RSFR
Kyle Horn #85 TE 6-5 230 RSSO
Jon Lucier #40 TE 6-6 217 RSSO
Cole Morrison #46 TE 6-4 248 RSFR
Avien Peah #19 TE 6-2 251 RSFR
Travis Reynolds #87 TE 6-5 252 RSSO

Breneman is UMass' first ever five-star player and he showed it last year going 70-808 and leading the nation in receptions by a TE. As the article states, his NFL future is cloudy do his injury history. However, Brenenman is going to have a successful life with or without the NFL. Being a AP All-American would be something to tell his grandchildren about and it would also sooth the battered psyche's of Minutemen fans. He should be the #1 TE for UMass in the 2017 season.

Travis Reynolds has shown good hands. He went 6-61 in 2016. As long as Breneman is playing he should soak up most of the targeted TE attempts, but Reynolds should contribute in 2017 and the future.

Taylor Edwards was a three-star recruit and he has gone from 228 to 260 since he was recruited. Edwards was coming off a knee injury in his senior season. As with Reynolds, he is not likely to generate a lot of numbers this year, but he could be the featured TE post 2017. I've heard good things about Edwards.

Of the other TE's on the squad Alvin Peah was a somewhat lightly recruited three-star recruit from R.I. He red-shirted in 2016.

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ESPN says college football conference realignment could happen in 2023.

KTVB.com says 2023 is not that far away.

Revenue sharing is the driving force for Power Five schools.

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CBS Sports looks at the project win totals for USF, Temple and the rest of the AAC including UConn.

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Athlon Sports previews Georgia Southern. You will remember the Eagles are returning to their flexbone offense that dominated FCS football for a number of years.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2018--Julius Welschof & Zavier Scott

Welschof center Brandon Collier right

Julius Welschof, a 6-6 248 pound DE from Germany has Tweeted he's received an offer from UMass.

247Sports page here.

Zavier Scott's 247Sports page here.

Hero Sports reports on Welschof's and Scott's recruiting tour of the US.

Mike Traini has a post on the duo leading with WR Scott.

American Football International has a story on Welschof and Scott.

Both Welschof and Scott have gained multiple FBS offers.

UMass Football News--June 29th, 2017

A trio of articles from Phil Steele.

Over and under for all 130 FBS teams. Vegas expects UMass to have between 2 and 3 wins.

UMass is #56 in experience returning in 2017.

Phil Steele's stock market indicator is mildly bullish on the Minutemen.

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The Orlando Sentinel thinks Old Dominion can contend for Conference title again this year.

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Liberty spent more on athletics than Boise State or any school in Conference USA during the last academic year.

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UMass Football News--June 28th, 2017

Boston Globe image

Mike Trani reports Leonard Hankerson will join the UMass football staff.

Hankerson's Wikipedia bio.

Hankerson's Miami bio.

Hankerson played HS football for south Florida power St. Thomas Aquinas in Broward County. This has been prime recruiting territory for Whipple during his previous tour with the Minutemen. Hankerson should have some recruiting connections is south Florida.

Some Whipple's FCS recruits from south Florida:

Jeremy Cain St Thomas Aquinas

Keron Williams Palm Beach Gardens

Mike Ziccardi St Thomas Aquinas

Adrian Zullo St Thomas Aquinas 

Mikel Miret South Miami

O.J. McBride Sunrise, FL

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West Hawaii Today says Hawaii is already thinking about UMass.

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Saturday Down South has a story about five non-conference RB's who could rush for 100 yards against a SEC opponent. They think Marquis Young could do it against Tennessee.

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Athlon ranks Tennessee's 2017 opponents.

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Ball Parks Digest has a post on college football in MLB parks including UMass playing Maine in Fenway.

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A UConn site laments the Huskies having to play a money game.

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Maisen Knight, a JUCO OL who had a UMass offers verbals to Arizona.

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Willem Froumy, a OT from Exeter, NH who had a UMass offer verbals to Syracuse.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2018-- Jaret Pallotta verbals to the Minutemen

Julie Vennitti image

While I was away UMass received its first verbal of the 2018 recruiting season. Jaret Pallotta, a 6-5 200 pound pro-style QB from Canton, Ohio.

247Sports two-star recruit.

Hudl.com has video.

Partial quote from a 03/30/17 article from Scout.com by Michael McCammon:

"As a junior, the 6-foot-5 Pallotta threw for 18 touchdowns with a school record 2,041 yards to earn All-League, All-County and All NEO Inland District honors."

Mike Traini has a post on "Fight Massachusets" on Palotta's verbal to UMass.

Just yesterday (good timing from the blog's point of view) The Surbanite has an article on Pallotta verbaling to the Minutemen.

Friday Night Ohio has a story from November of 2016 that features Pallotta.

Pallotta chose UMass over an FBS offer from Western Kentucky.

FBS teams usually recruit at least one QB per recruiting cycle. UMass added JUCO Michael Curtis for 2017.

Palotta needs to grow into that 6-5 frame. He looks like a player with a big upside. This is a good start to the 2018 recruiting class.

UMass Football Recruiting 2017--Zac Simon

Press-Enterprise image

While I was away UMass added a significant recruit to the Minutemen's 2017 recruiting class.

Zac Simon, a 5-10 172 pound WR from Temecula Valley, CA verbaled to UMass.

His 247Sports page.

Mike Traini has a post on his signing with the Minutemen.

Max Preps has stats.

This article from January 2017 features Simon.

Hudl.com has video.

Simon chose UMass over Idaho, San Diego State and Wyoming.

Simon's verbal moved UMass out of the cellar in 247Sport Independent recruiting rankings. With Simon, UMass's 115.83 aggregate recruiting score would have placed UMass 9th in the MAC and 8th in average recruit ranking, 247Sports now have UMass as #106 nationally, but since they include number of recruits, the Minutemen's 78.89 average recruit power ranking would be higher. UMass is now solidly in the middle of Sun Belt and C-USA recruiting rankings.

Adding Simon gives UMass two three-star WR recruits along with JUCO Jacoby Herring.

UMass' 2017 WR recruits also include two-star Jesse Britt and Melvin Hill.

EDIT: Tuesday

I forgot the Minutemen will also add Patrick Volcy, a 2016 verbal to 2017's class. That will bring the total of new WR's this year to five.

Whipple's pro-set offense emphasizes quick strike down-the-field WR's. Simon could see some playing time this year as the Minutemen need to reload at the receiver position.

Big Blog Bulletin

Time sure does fly. Mrs Blog and I are off on our 2017 vacation this time to Europe.

Given the time difference and the fact I'm not sure how much internet connectivity I'll get, I'm not going to do a daily blog post until we get back, which will be on the 26th.

If something mammoth happens, I'll make it a point to post.

UMass Football Recruiting 2018--Christian Malloy

Jason Getz image

Christian Malloy, a 5-10 175 pound RB from Parkview HS in GA has Tweeted he's received an offer from UMass.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has video.

MaxPreps has stats.

Malloy has 24 offers mostly from Group-of-Five schools and FCS. Besides UMass, Yale has offered from the Northeast.

UMass Football Recruiting 2018--Rashard Jackson

Hudl.com image

Rashard Jackson, a 5-9 173 pound Athlete from Upper Marlboro, MD has Tweeted he's received an offer from UMass.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

Besides UMass, Jackson has a FBS offer from Memphis.

Tuesday--June 6th, 2017

Coastal Carolina announces a 7:00 PM kickoff time for the UMass game and it will be televised on ESPN3.

With Boise State's approval, Luther will become college football third team to have blue turf. Besides Luther and Boise State the third team is ............. Coastal Carolina.

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College football and the SEC look to reduce the time for an average football game.

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Hawaii football hopes off-season workouts pay dividends in 2017.

Speaking of the Rainbows, Street & Smith, Athlon and Lindy's all have Hawaii as second in the MWC's West division.

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UMass Football recruiting 2018--Dawson Hill

SFHSS image

Dawson Hill, a 5-11 180 pound RB from South Plantation HS in Fort Lauderdale, FL has Tweeted he's received an offer from UMass.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has video.

Partial quote from a Scout.com article dated 04/18/17 by Corey Bender:

"Hill is  expected to make a splash throughout the spring evaluation period, and took another step in the right direction on Tuesday when earning an offer from Bowling Green.

Hill, a junior running back who piled up 908 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns in 2016, is armed with additional scholarship offers from Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Syracuse and Temple."

Rivals three-stars.

This article has a profile of Hill.

Hill has six offers including Temple, Syracuse and Pitt from the Northeast.

UMass Football Recruiting 2018--Cameron Hill

Hudl.com image

Cameron Hill, a 6-3 280 pound OG from Montgomery, AL has Tweeted he's received an offer from UMass.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

All-Metro in 2016.

Hill also has an FBS offer from Bowling Green.

Monday--June 5th, 2017

The Northwestern Blog "Inside NU" takes a satirical look at the UMass-Northwestern game scheduled in 2019. It's a laugh riot---if you're twelve. If some assistant coach prints it out and saves it, it'll be good motivational material in two years.

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The Centre Daily Daily Times interviews Penn State commit Pat Freiermuth. Mentions UMass and Adam Breneman. The Minutemen also recruited Freiermuth.

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Howard Herman of the Berkshire Eagle has a post on college football in New England with several UMass references.

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The Rome Sentinel has a story about Steve Telander being inducted into the Rome Sports Hall of Fame. Telander was a four-year letter winner with UMass (1974, 75, 77 and 78). All-Yankee Conference in 1975. He suffered a knee injury in the 1978 FCS Championship Game and I remember him yelling encouragement to his defensive teammates as he was being helped off the field.

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Former UMass player Vito Perrone, now a high school principal in West Springfield gave the keynote address at Easthampton HS graduation (scroll down). Perrone was a four year letter winner (1984, 85, 86 and 87 and was Captain in 1987).

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UMass Football recruiting 2018--Teja Young

Young #4/ Gene Nardi image

Teja Young, a 5-11 170 pound Athlete from West Palm Beach, FL has Tweeted he's received an offer from UMass.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

This article from January 2017 features Young.

Young has 10 FBS offers including Rutgers and Syracuse from the Northeast.

UMass Football Recruiting 2018--Marquis Williams

Scout.com image

Several recruiting services indicate UMass has offered to Marquis Williams, a 5-9 160 pound DB from Pompano Beach, FL.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has video.

Partial quote from a Scout.com article dated 12/16/16 by Hondo Carpenter:

"With an impressive skill set of high pointing the ball and swiveling hips, Williams is a natural and fearless.  While some corners cower on an island by themselves, Williams covets it.  Mark Dantonio is fond of saying, “You have to play fearless,” and Williams is the poster child for it.

He is 5’10” and 165 pounds and has been laser timed in the 40 at, “Legit laser 4.43 and I think I can get it to a high 4.3.”  He thinks he can get it as low as, “ 4.2 at the next level.”

This article from Pittsburgh Sports Now features Williams.

Williams has 21 offers mostly from Power-Five schools. Penn State, Rutgers and Syracuse have offered from the Northeast.

 Broward County FL was a fertile recruiting area for Coach Whipple during his previous stint with UMass.

UMass Football Recruiting --Dennis Osagiede

Hudl.com image

Dennis Osagiede, a 6-1 272 pound DT/DE from Missouri City, TX has Tweeted he's received an offer from UMass.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has video.

Rivals three-star player.

Partial quote from a December 2016 Scout.com article by Bill Embody"

"I try to be humble, but I love football. Defense is my thing. I like hitting people. Even if the ball isn't coming my way, I will chase it down. I don't have the best speed, but I can beat my opponent with strength. I just love tackling people. Most of those tackles were effort tackles. This year, some schools may know not to run at my side, but that's okay because I'm still going to chase them down."

Osagiede has 18 offers with a mix of FBS and FCS schools. Besides UMass, Yale has offered from the Northeast.

UMass Football Recruiting --Kameron Jones

Twitter image

Kameron Jones, a 6-5 280 pound OL from Starkville, MS has Tweeted he's received an offer from UMass.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

Partial quote from a Scout.com article by Mitch White dated 04/17/17"

"Kameron Jones – Starkville HS – Jones plays in the Bulldogs backyard at Starkville High School. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound offensive tackle has six offers currently (Memphis, Louisiana Tech, Marshall, Southern Miss, Southeast Missouri State, and MTSU). He has not attended many camps, but the one he did was a successful one as he won an all-combine award. For now, Memphis and LSU are recruiting the Starkville native the hardest. LSU has yet to offer, but are on the verge of doing so soon according to Jones. Mississippi State is another offer the hometown kid would really like."

Jones has eight offers all from Group-of-Five schools and UMass is the only offer from the Northeast.

Friday--June 2nd, 2017

Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusettes" has a post on the game times and media availabilty for the Coastal Carolina, Temple and BYU games.

I posted links for the first two yesterday. The Salt Lake Tribune has more on BYU's media schedule.

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UMass-Hawaii will be on August 26th, which will be the first day of the 2017 season. However it looks like Colorado State-Oregon State will have the honor of the earliest kickoff.

The Minutemen have not announced the start time for the game at McGuirk, but there's been speculation it'll be at 7:00 PM.

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South Carolina and UMass announce their OOC basketball schedules. The hoops connection came about because of UMass football's game in South Carolina in 2016. UMass basketball will also face Georgia. You remember the Minutemen will play the Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium to close the 2018 football season.

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There's been some speculation in the press that college football is declining in popularity. Nope.

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UMass football recruiting--Messiah Swinson

Swinson #80/ Image by Heide Cherubini

Messiah Swinson, a 6-8 232 pound TE from Long Island Lutherian HS in NY has Tweeted' he's received an offer from UMass.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has video.

Partial quote from a May 8th 2017 Scout.com article by Brian Dohn.

"A lot of schools will use the tight end in the blocking formation on the line of scrimmage, and that's not really the kind of tight end I am," he said. "I look at schools that use the tight end in the spread or in the slot and get them off the line of scrimmage. That's mainly the type of offense I am looking at with schools."

Maxpreps has stats.

Swinson has six FBS offers including BC and Rutgers from the Northeast.

UMass football recruiting ---Hassan Hypolite

Scout.com image

Hassan Hypolite, a 5-11 195 pound OLB/Safety/WR from Missouri City, TX has Tweeted he's received an offer from UMass.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has video.

Partial quote from a 11/12/16 article on Scout.com by Gabe Brooks:

"Hasaan Hypolite, 2018 WR/S, Fort Bend Hightower -- I really liked what I saw from Hypolite in June at the Sound Mind/Sound Body Showcase in Houston, where he worked out exclusively at receiver. He looks and plays bigger than his well-built 5-foot-11, 190 pounds."

This article from 2016 features Hypolite.

Besides UMass, Hypolite has an FBS offer from East Carolina.

Thursday--may 1st, 2017

Coastal Carolina announces a 7:00 PM start time for the UMass game and it will be available on ESPN3.

The Minutemen's game against Temple will also be at 7:00 PM and will be televised by ESPNU.

Mrs Blog and I have reservations to see the Temple game. It should be good exposure for the Minutemen program to be on national TV.

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Airlines are cutting back on their charter business and that's causing travel problems for college football teams.

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SB Nation lists all the bowl games for 2017 and their conference tie-ins. The Frisco Bowl with an AAC team against an at large team looks like the only slot that would fit an independent like UMass.

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