Thursday, December 31, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Harrison Saint Germain

Hudl.com image

 Harrison Saint Germain, a 6-4 230 pound TE from Westfield HS in Chantilly, VA has a UMass offer (link is an article not a Tweet)

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video highlights.

Besides UMass, Saint Germain has an FBS offer from Old Dominion. He also holds Ivy offers from Columbia and Yale. Tight End is a position of need for the Minutemen. Saint Germain could see early playing time in Amherst.

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2022--Isaiah Bond

Twitter image

 Isaiah Bond, 5-10 160 pound CB from Buford, GA has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

MaxPreps has the latest video highlights.

Bond is one of five players from Buford with Nebraska offers.

Had two TD's in the recent Georgia AAAAAA title game.

Bond has Power Five offers from Nebraska and Wake Forest. He would see playing time early and often in Amherst.

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2022--Kendal Marks

 

Hudl.com image

Kendall Marks, a 5-10 160 pound CB from New Town HS in Owings Mills, MD has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

MaxPreps has some stats.

Hudl.com has video highlights.

Listed as one of the top 190 players in MD

UMass is the first offer for Marks. Drawing interest from Liberty and East Carolina.

Monday, December 28, 2020

UMass Football News--December 28th, 2020

 The Liberty-Coastal Carolina bowl game lived up to expectations. The Flames blocked a Coastal field goal in overtime to win 37-34.

Liberty QB Malik Willis was the Cure Bowl MVP after developing 357 yards of total offense and four TD's. He had 286 total yards and three TD's against UMass.

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Marshall lost to Buffalo 17-10 in the Camellia Bowl. The Herd finished their season 7-3.

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UMass' four 2020 opponents were a collective 30-13. All four opponents went to bowls with Liberty and Georgia Southern winning their games.

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Tennessee fans want the Vols to hire Liberty's coach Hugh Freeze

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Saturday, December 26, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Shoes Brinkley

247Sports image

 Shoes Brinkley, a 5-9 183 pound athlete from Mater Dei HS in Philadelphia, PA has a UMass offer.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has video.

This article from March features Brinkley.

This article has a recruiting interview with Brinkley.

Brinkley has 22 total offers including from the MAC, Sun Belt and independent Liberty. Running back and defensive back are positions of need at UMass and he could find a lot of early playing time in Amherst.

Friday, December 25, 2020

Merry Christmas--2020

 

Merry Christmas to UMass football fans, players and coaches!

May Santa bring us some wins in 2021. We've had coal in our stockings for so long it's getting hard to remember some football joy.

Stay healthy and strong.

Thursday, December 24, 2020

UMass Football News--December 24th, 2020

 ESPNU used clips from UMass' game against Georgia Southern to illustrated the Eagles triple option in yesterday's game against Louisiana Tech.

Georgia Southern rolled over Tech 38-3. The Eagles gained 448 yards of total offense. The Minutemen defense, despite having terrible field position all game, gave up 436.

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FAU was without two starters on their tough defense and lost to Memphis 25-10. The Owls offense was held to 290 yards and 10 Points.

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Boston College, which usually finishes last in the ACC recruiting rankings, is having a pretty good year. The Eagles are ranked 8th with 26 signed recruits and transfers.

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UConn has 16 signed recruits (no transfers) and is ranked #108

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Wednesday, December 23, 2020

UMass Football News--December 23rd, 2020

 All four 2020 UMass opponents are playing in bowls.

Marshall will play in the Camellia Bowl on 12/25 against Buffalo.

FAU plays Memphis today at 7:00 pm in the Montgomery Bowl.

Georgia Southern meets Louisiana Tech today at 3:00 PM

Liberty plays Coastal Carolina on December 26th at Noon against unbeaten Coastal Carolina. This may be the best of Group-of-Five bowls.

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Michigan fired former UMass coach Don Brown.

The Detroit Free Press says Brown took the fall at Michigan.

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Brown should have multiple Power Five offers as a defensive coordinator. IMHO, there is zero chance he would be associated with UMass.

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Tuesday, December 22, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2022--Sam Martin Jr.

Scott Faytok image

 Sam Martin Jr., a 5-11 185 pound RB from Paramus Catholic in NJ has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

MaxPreps has some stats (probably abbreviated due to the pandemic)

Honorable Mention All-Super conference.

This article mentions Martin.

Martin has 12 offers including multiple Power Five teams. B.C. Pitt, Rutgers, Temple and Syracuse from the Northeast have offered. UMass is light in running backs and Martin would find a lot of playing time in Amherst.

Monday, December 21, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2022--Alex Brown

Central Jersey.com image

 Alex Brown, a 6-1 175 pound dual-threat QB from Mater Dei Prep in NJ is drawing interest from UMass.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has junior season highlights.

MaxPreps has stats.

Brown is drawing interest from Rutgers, Temple, UConn, UMass and a bunch of Ivies.

Saturday, December 19, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Cam Reirden

Twitter image

 Cam Reirden, a 6-0 185 pound WR/S from Belmont, MA has received a PWO from UMass.

Hudl.com has video highlights.


Above is a YouTube workout tape for Reirden.

MaxPreps page here.

All-ISL and All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention.

WR is a position of need for the Minutemen and Reirden should have a chance to earn a scholarship and have a nice career in Amherst.

Friday, December 18, 2020

UMass Football News--December 18th, 2020

 

Kyle Grabowski of the Hampshire Gazette reports the UMass coaching staff has adjusted to digital recruiting. In the article coach Bell says he expects to use the 25 available scholarships and will probably save a couple for possible transfers.

Grabowski also has a post on Northampton-Williston recruit Eni Falayi and also covers the other early signees.

Joey Aliberti of the Daily Collegian reports UMass signs 15 players on the first day of the early signing period.

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UMass brought in nine defensive players and six on offense. The two transfers Devin Baldwin and Bryson Richardson should contend for immediate playing time. 

On offense QB Brady Olsen could be in the mix for 2021.  

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Thursday, December 17, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Devin Baldwin transfers to UMass


 Devin Baldwin, a 6-4 260 pound defensive lineman from Rutgers has transferred to UMass.

Rutgers bio here.

Article on his entering the transfer portal here.

On the Banks has a post on Balwin's signing with the Scarlet Knights.

Originally committed to Western Michigan then joined Rutgers. Some pundits had Baldwin as the top recruit in Western Michigan's class.

Balwin had Power Five offers from Iowa State, Virginia and Wake Forest coming out of HS. He should have four years of eligibility and could see a lot of playing time in Amherst.

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

2021 Early Signing Day--December 16th, 2020

 


Today is the earliest day 2021 recruits can sign. The opening actually runs for three days. Regular signing day is February 2nd. 

Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" has what to expect from the early signings.

Mike Moran of the Hampshire Gazette reports Coach Bell is not expecting any shortcuts in building the Minutemen program.

247Sports UMass commitments page has 19 hard commits.

The Minutemen still need offensive linemen, linebackers and running backs. The current total is one each in the 2021 recruits. Coach Bell said previously he intends to use the full 25 scholarship allotment. UMass might hold a couple of slots for Spring or for Summer camps.

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Former UMass QB Liam Coan has been hired as offensive coordinator for Kentucky.

Kentucky.com has another story about Coan being hired by the Wildcats.

UK athletics post on Liam's hiring

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Tuesday, December 15, 2020

UMass Football News--December 15th, 2020

 The Berkshire Eagle has a post on Coach Bell reflecting on the 2020 season and the recruiting for 2021.

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Thomas Johnston of the Greenfield Recorder looks at the 2020 season and thinks it wasn't worth it.

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The Minnesota Vikings released former UMass WR Tajae Sharpe.

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Sarah Fuller made two extra points to become the first woman to score a point for a Power Five team.

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Monday, December 14, 2020

UMass Football News--December 14th, 2020

 Blogger was down earlier this morning. The whole Google empire seemed to be having problems.

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Evan Marinofsky of the UMass Daily Collegian talks to Coach Bell about recruiting during the pandemic.

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Coach Bell likes what he sees in UMass hoops.

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Starting UMass DL Jake Byczko transfers to Boston College.

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Georgia Southern gave up 17 points in the fourth quarter to Appalachian State on Saturday and finished the season 7-5.

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Marshall is 7-1 and will host the C-USA championship game against UAB this Friday.

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FAU finished 5-3 and accepted a bid to go to the inaugural Montgomery Bowl against Memphis.

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Liberty is 9-1 and moved up the Top-25 poll despite losing a show-down game against Coastal Carolina to the COVID pandemic

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Saturday, December 12, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Dorian Helm commits to UMass

 

Twitter image

Well that didn't take long. I blogged yesterday about UMass offering Dorian Helm a 6-0 175 pound safety on December 10th. He verbaled to UMass yesterday.

Good luck to him in his career with the Minutemen. Helm is the 19th commit and the third DB in the 2021 recruiting cycle.

Friday, December 11, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Dorian Helm

Twitter image

 Dorian Helm, a 6-0 175 pound safety from Stone Mountain, GA has just been offered by UMass.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video highlights.

Also ran track.

Honorable Mention All-State in 2019.

The Minutemen were the first to offer to Helm. There should be lots of playing time available in the future in UMass' improving defense.


Thursday, December 10, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Bryson Richardson transfers to UMass

Twitter image

 Bryson Richardson, a 6-1 190 pound safety has transferred from North Carolina to UMass.

2018 247Sports bio here.

Tarheels bio here.

Story about Richardson's leaving North Carolina.

Suffered a torn Achilles tendon in 2019.

Richardson was a high three-star recruit in 2018. He had 22 offers mostly from Power Five schools (but also UMass). With his tendon injury healed he could make an impact with the improving Minutemen defense in 2012.

Wednesday, December 09, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Corey Barnes

Hudl.com image

 Corey Barnes, a 6-1 190 pound WR from Mundy's Mills HS in GA has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video highlights.

MaxPreps has stats.

Earlier committed to Liberty then de-committed in October.

Barnes has 14 total offers including Liberty, Akron, Coastal Carolina, Kent State, Navy and South Alabama from FBS. There should be lots of playing time up for grabs in the Minutemen's receiving corps in the next couple of years.

Tuesday, December 08, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2022--Jimmy Kibble

Image credit unknown

 Jimmy Kibble, a 6-1 187 pound WR/Athlete has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Kibble has his own recruiting page here.

Hudl.com has video highlights.

This article features Kibble.

Besides UMass, Kibble has an Ivy offer from Columbia. There should be a lot of playing time in Amherst up for grabs in the future.

Monday, December 07, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Neil Gill

 

Recruiting Guru image

Neil Gill, a 6-5 240 pound TE from Fallston HS in Maryland has a UMass offer as a PWO.

Hudl.com has some video highlights

MaxPreps has some stats.

This article features Gill and talks about his 12 offers from FCS and other schools.

Maryland Varsity has Gill as one of the top TE's in Maryland.

TE is a position of need for the Minutemen and Gill would have a good chance to earn a scholarship and play early in Amherst.

Saturday, December 05, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2022--JaSean McLean

 

Twitter image

JaSean "Snake Eyes" McLean, a 6-1 180 pound safety/wide receiver from the Avalon School in Maryland has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

MaxPreps has some stats.

Hudl.com has video highlights.

247Sports #58 in top safety recruits for 2022.

McLean also has an offer from Toledo. 


Friday, December 04, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Anthony Berry

Twitter image

 Anthony Berry, a 6-6 290 pound OT from Iowa Central C.C. has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has some video highlights here and here.

Berry has 10 total offers including Middle Tennessee State from FBS. The Minutemen have the best food in college football and lots of potential playing time available for offensive linemen.

Thursday, December 03, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Jordan Mahoney verbals to UMass

 


Jordan Mahoney, a 5-11 162 pound CB from Rock Hill, SC has committed to UMass.

247Sports page here

Brother of Vanderbilt DB Jaylen Mahoney.

Hudl.com has video highlights.

Mahoney chose UMass over an offer from Akron. He's the 18th commit in the 2021 recruiting cycle.

Wednesday, December 02, 2020

UMass Football Recruiting 2021--Peyton McKinion

 

Hudl.com image

Peyton McKinion, a 6-7 310 pound OT from Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C, has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

This article has a paragraph on McKinion and some video highlights.

McKinion has FBS offers from Nevada and Central Michigan. Along with scholarship, the Minutemen have the best food in college football and the prospect of early playing time.