UMass Football News --June 30th, 2020

UMass will go to mostly remote learning for the coming Fall semester.

More campus details on UMass' corona virus page.

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UMass, with help from the Gridiron Club, has made some significant improvements to the Performance Center's equipment.

I sent in my 2020 Gridiron donation back in April. Joining the Club makes a real impact on football. We all want to win and Gridiron Club helps with recruiting funding and other extras that really makes a difference. Join today! Any level of giving helps and has the additional benefit helping UMass football in the culture wars by indicating your interest in the program.

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UMass and Troy schedule a home-and-home series in 2027 and 2030.

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The Liberty Blog "A sea of red" previews UConn.

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UnderDog Dynasty previews FIU's quarterbacks.

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CBS Sports reports on the difficulties of testing college football athletes for the Corona virus.

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The Deseret News wonders if the virus will sack the entire 2020 season.

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Thanks to the blog reader who sent me this link about Williams College canceling Fall sports.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Brian Hubbard, Jr

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Brian Hubbard, Jr, a 6-0 175 pound CB from Ft. Washington, MD has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has junior highlights.

Besides UMass, Hubbard has an offer from Houston. Drawing interest from UConn, Marshall and Maryland. Defensive playing time is wide open in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Phil Jeffs verbals to UMass

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UMass picked up another 2021 commit yesterday as Phil Jeffs, a 6-6 280 pound OT from St. Thomas More in CT verbaled to UMass. Jeffs is originally from Ontario, Canada.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has junior highlights.

Gridironrr.com has Jeffs as #24 in its list of HS prospects and a three-star recruit.

UMass was the first offer for Jeffs. Drew interest from a number of FBS schools. Jeffs is the first OL commit of the 2021 cycle.

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Taevion Eades II

Tavion Eades, a 6-3 190 pound OLB from Baltimore, MD has UMass in his top 2.

I blogged about Eades back on April 14th.

UMass only has six recruited OLB's on the roster and three of those are 2020 recruits. There should be lots of playing time available in Amherst for someone who wants to play early.

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Dpminic Scofield commits to UMass

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Dominic Schofield, a 6-3 220 pound OLB from Milford, MA has committed to UMass.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has junior highlights.

Schofield has ten offers, all from FCS including Maine and Rhode Island in New England. He has a big frame and should prosper in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Xavier Leigh

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Xavier Leigh, a 5-10 175 pound RB from Troy, NY has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has junior highlights.

This article from April discusses his recruiting.

This article from November features Leigh.

League 2019 Player-of-the-year.

Leigh currently has six offers with UMass as the only FBS team. Former UMass star Marquis Young was from upstate NY. Maybe Leigh could keep the tradition going.

UMass Football News---June 23rd, 2020

MassLive has a long post by Matty Vautour about UMass' A.D. Ryan Bamford's planning for the fall sports season. Right now the assumption is football will play a full season, but that could change on a dime.

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This article by NorthJersey.com has a nostalgia article on former top North Jersey QB's including UMass QB Paul Tornatore.

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Dogpounddaily.com has a nostalgia article that mentions UMass All-American Milt Morin. He was an All-American at UMass in 1964 and 1965. Morin made the Pro-Bowl for the Browns three times.

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Thanks to the blog reader who sent me this link about Division III Bowdoin cancelling all its fall sports. That's tough on the Seniors...

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Athlon Sports has picked Albany as #23 in its preseason FCS poll. HERO sports picks the Great Danes 4th in the CAA.

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The Patriot League announces travel restrictions that will likely cancel a number of non league football games.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Derek Spearman

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Derek Spearman, a 6-3 195 pound CB/Safety from Cornelius, NC has a UMass offer.

247Sports three-star player.

Rivals two-star.

Hudl.com has junior highlights.

Honorable Mention Top-50 recruits in North Carolina.

Spearman has a mix of Power Five, Group of Five and Ivy schools. UMass has the best combination of academics as well as facing top level competition. Spearman is a big-framed DB who would in line for a lot of playing time in Amherst.

UMass Football News--Summer Solstice 2020

There has not been much actual football sports news lately. Hopefully, as things open up there will be more to write about than just recruiting.

Thanks to the blog reader who sent me this link about UMass and Hampshire College starting fall semester early.

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The Berkshire Eagle reports the latest college football Hall-of-Fame ballot has UMass stars Rene Ingoglia and WR Steve Schubert. Both still rank high in UMass career stats.

Ingoglia is still #3 career rushing yards with 4623, # 3 in rushing attempts with 905 and #2 in rushing TD's with 54. He averaged 5.11 yards rush and 112.8 yards/game.

Steve Schubert is #3 in average yards/catch at 17.77. Schubert #4 in punt return yards with 586 and #7 punt returns with 48. He is tied for #1 in punts returned for TD's with 2. Schubert averaged 12.21 yards a return.

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UConn athletes are cleared to return to campus.

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Dawg Nation says create the most awesome college football season ever with a 64 team playoff.

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Meanwhile, a CT senator thinks fans-in-the-stands is "Insane".

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Season ticket sales at 2020 opponent Troy are going well. They will play college football down South.

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Athlon Sports previews the 2020 Appalachian State team.

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July 6th is the return date for New Mexico football.

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New Mexico State begins voluntary workouts for football players.

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Liberty HC Hugh Freeze is waiting to reunite with his team.

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FIU is looking at a four-way QB battle when camp opens.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2022--Taj White

NJ.com image

Taj White, a 6-5 270 pound OT from Jersey City, NJ has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has sophomore highlights.

This article from NJ.com features White.

This article from yesterday has White a top-50 New Jersey player.

White has nine offers from Northeast schools and UMass was one of the first to offer. Rutgers, Pitt, Buffalo, Syracuse, Temple, Virginia Tech and West Virginia have all offered. The Minutemen can offer the prospect of lots of playing time and the 24th ranked public university in the country.

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Tyrese Green

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Tyrese Green, a 5-9 175 pound DB from Port Orange, FL has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has junior highlights.

MaxPreps has some stats.

This article has a profile paragraph on Green.

2nd Team All-Area in 2019.

Green has nine total offers with UMass, Georgia Southern and Marshall offering from FBS. The Minutemen are the top academic choice of those three schools, have the best food in college football and there is lots of playing time available in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Michael Fitzgerald II verbals to UMass

UPDATE: Michael Fitzgerald II commits to UMass.  Pro-sized WR should be a big (pun intended) addition to the Minutemen receiving corps.

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Michael Fitzgerald II, a 6-5 200 pound WR from Roswell, GA has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has junior highlights.

Honorable mention All-Region.

May play QB in his senior season.

Fitzgerald has four offers with the Minutemen as his only FBS school. There is a lot of playing time available in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2022--Jackson Paradis

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Jackson Paradis, a 6-0 225 pound RB from the Tilton School has a UMass offer.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has sophomore highlights.

MaxPreps has some stats. Averaged 10.3 yards/carry.

Head coach at Tilton is none other than Matt Dawson.

Besides UMass, Paradis has an offer from the ex-BC staff at Colorado State. RB is a position of need for the Minutemen and Paradis could find a lot of playing available in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2022--Q'Yaeir Price

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Q'Yaeir Price, a 6-3 240 pound DE from DePaul Catholic in New Jersey has a UMass offer.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has sophomore highlights.

This article from May reports on West Virginia offering Price.

This article from NJ.com has Price one of New Jersey's top-50 recruits for 2022 and mentions an offer from UMass.

This article covers Price's offer from Rutgers.

Besides UMass, Price has offers from Kansas, Syracuse, West Virginia and Rutgers. Defensive end is a wide open position in Amherst. Price could find a lot of playing available with the Minutemen.

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Ryan Ruane

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Ryan Ruane, a 6-1 190 pound athlete/safety from Rumson, NJ has a UMass offer.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has junior highlights.

MaxPreps has stats.

This article from April has a paragraph on Ruane.

Ruane has 16 offers, all from FCS except for UMass. He's familiar with UMass as his brother Mike Ruane will be a senior this year for the Minutemen.

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Miles Cross

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Miles Cross, a 6-1 195 pound WR from Good Counsel HS in MD has a UMass offer.

247Sports three-star recruit.

Hudl.com has junior highlights.

2nd Team Capital Conference All-Conference in 2019.

This article has Cross #8 in DMV recruits.

This post by "A Sea of Red" covers Liberty being named in his top seven.

Cross has over 20 offers with UMass, Buffalo, FIU, Liberty, Monmouth, Ohio and Villanova making the top seven. UMass offers lots of playing time, a top level public university and the best food in college football.

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Jacob Coleman

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Jacob Coleman, a 6-4 215 pound athlete/TE/WR/LB from Matoaca HS in VA has a UMass offer.

247Sports three-star player.

MaxPreps has stats.

This article from March features Coleman's offer from UMass as well as bonus material on another Matoaca player with a Minutemen offer.

This article from May also features Coleman.

Coleman has 15 total offers and 247Sports has B.C. East Carolina, Coastal Carolina, UMass, Rutgers and Temple as his top interests. The Minutemen offer the 24th-ranked public university, the best food in college football and lots and lots of playing time available in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Ty Lyles

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Ty Lyles, a 5-11 218 pound pro-style QB from Kernersville, NC has UMass in his top 3.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has junior highlights.

MaxPreps has stats.

This article profiles Lyles and his top three schools.

Lyles originally had 12 offers with UMass, Navy and Coastal Carolina making his top three. There is a lot of playing time available in Amherst.

UMass Football News--June 9th, 2020

College football news has been sparse with athletics pretty much shut down. I think there will be college football at some schools. The SEC is going to play with or without the NCAA. College students and players are one of the lowest risk demographics in the pandemic. The deciding factor in some areas is political and what the local politicians decree.

I think the chance of UMass playing is about 75%. It's an outdoor sport. The fans could wear a mask. That's a lot more social distancing than going out to eat or getting a haircut. 

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The UMass Daily Collegian reports fall sports athletes could return to Amherst by July 13th, 2020.

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Hero Sports predicts a one win season for the Minutemen. Plenty of bulletin board material for the coaches. "---another mid-level FCS roster filled with inexperience and minimal mid- or high-level talent".

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247Sports currently has UMass ranked #102 in recruiting for 2021.  Five commits is pretty good for June. I expect the two unranked recruits to be at least two-stars if they are allowed to play in the fall.

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The UConn Blog reports the Huskies will play without the UConn marching band. Again, I don't see how this makes the students any safer.

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CBS Sports reports on a NCAA plan to ramp up college football over a six week period before start of the season.

247Sports also has a story on the NCAA plan.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2021---Christopher Boti

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Christopher Boti, a 6-2 283 pound DT from St. Vincent Pallotti HS in Maryland has a UMass offer.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has junior highlights.

SI.com has a recruiting profile of Boti.

Boti has 20 total offers with Army, Buffalo, FIU, JMU, Liberty, Old Dominion and UMass making his top seven. The Minutemen offer the 24th ranked public university, the best food in college football and there is a lot of playing time up for grabs in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2023--William Watson III

MassLive image/photographer unknown

William Watson III, a dual-threat QB from Springfield, MA has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video highlights.

QB hit list.com has a profile of Watson.

This article from MassLive features Watson.

Besides UMass, Watson has Power Five offers from Michigan and Pitt (from ex-UMass coaches) as well as Boston college and Tennessee.

UMass Football reecruiting 2021--Zachary Mitchell

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Zachary Mitchell, a 5-11 185 pound athlete from Catholic Memorial in MA has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has junior highlights.

Globe and Herald All-Scholastic.

Mitchell has five offers with UMass as the only FBS team. Mitchell can play DB and WR and the Minutemen need athletes all over. He would do well in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Cortez Braham

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Cortez Braham, a 6-2 192 pound WR from Hutchinson Community College has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video Highlights.

As a freshman at Hutchinson Braham went 17-223 13.1 yards/catch 2 TD's 42 LONG.

MaxPreps has high school stats.

UMass is the first offer for Braham.

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Kingsley Ugwu

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Kingsley Ugwu, a 6-4 310 pound OT from Hutchinson Community College in Kansas has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has highlights.

This article features Ugwu's track and field accomplishments.

Ugwu also has an offer from New Mexico State. This big, athletic offensive tackle could offer immediate help on the offensive line. He would do well at one of the nation's top public universities.

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Tyrell Davis

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Tyrell Davis, a 6-1 180 pound Safety from Hickory Ridge HS in North Carolina has a UMass offer.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has junior highlights.

MaxPreps has stats.

Facebook has a post game interview with Davis recorded in October of last year.

Davis has 26 total offers, with FBS offers from Army, Akron, Bowling Green, Charlotte, Liberty and Marshall. Lots of playing time is available in Amherst at one of the nation's top public universities.

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Eni Falayi verbals to UMass

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Eni Falayi, a 5-5 220 pound TE from Williston Northampton School in MA has verbaled to UMass.

I blogged about Falayi back in January.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has junior season highlights.

Falayi chose UMass over an offer from Coastal Carolina.