UMass Football News--March 31st, 2022

 Howard Herman of the Berkshire Eagle reports the Don Brown era opens with Spring practice.

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Athlon Sports rates Don Brown as "a solid hire". 

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Mark Whipple sees progress in the Huskers' Spring practice.

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Meanwhile, UConn looks for a #1 QB.

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2022 FCS opponent Stony Brook opens their Spring practice.  

Five home games and UMass highlight the Sea Wolves 2022 schedule. 

Stony Brook went 5-6 in 2021. They beat Maine and lost to Rhode Island in overtime. The Sea Wolves also played Oregon tough for the first half, but lost 48-7. 

UMass is 4-0 against Stony Brook all-time.

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UMass Football News--March 30th, 2022

UMass Athletic Dept image

 Yesterday was the first day of Spring practice.

The Hampshire Gazette said Don Brown provides a jolt of energy to UMass football.

Western Mass News reports UMass prepares for Spring Game and upcoming season. 

MassLive has a post on new basketball coach Frank Martin's press conference with some quotes from Don Brown. 

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Austin Whipple joins his father as an analyst in Nebraska. 

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Former UMass assistant coach Bill McGovern takes over as defensie coordinator at UCLA. 

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UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Neeo Avery

 

On3.com image

Neeo Avery, a 6-5 230 pound edge rusher from Good Counsel HS in MD has de-committed from Penn State.

247Sports four-star player. 

When Avery committed to Penn State he had UMass among his final four of Kentucky, Georgia and Penn State. 

Avery has scheduled a visit to Kentucky.

If Avery has NFL dreams, there is no better place than with Don Brown A.K.A "Dr. Blitz". Brown has placed dozens of players in the NFL draft. Avery would start early in Amherst and would make a big impact for the Minutemen.

UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Jesse Ofurie

Hudl.com image

 Jesse Ofurie, a 6-2 195 pound WR from St. John's Prep in MA has a UMass offer.

247Sports  page here. 

Hudl.com has video.

This article covers his offer from Rutgers.

Ofurie has 10 offers including UMass and Rutgers from FBS. He also has offers from the Ivies and JMU. He would be a good fit in the Minutemen's new-look offense and he could play early in Amherst.

UMass Football News--March 26th, 2022

 Mark Blaudschun says UMass is headed in the right direction in football and basketball.

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 Jordan Fiske, a former UMass player has been hired as strength coach for the Worcester Red Sox. Fiske won a letter for the Minutemen in 2014 and was a strength training intern for four years at UMass.

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Former UMass assistant coach Dan Carrell (2020-21) will coach in the USFL.

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Former UMass assistant coach Kyle Segler (2021) is now at Louisiana Monroe. 

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FSU DB Jarvis Brownlee has entered the transfer portal. Brownlee had three UT's 1 INT and 1 BKUP against UMass in 2021.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Hasson Manning

Twitter image

 Hasson Manning, a 6-0 185 pound safety from Jersey City, New Jersey has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

This article covers his upcoming visit to Syracuse.  

Besides UMass, Manning has offers from Army, Navy, Kent State, Akron, BC, Syracuse and Temple. He would be playing for one of the top defensive coaches in college football in coach Brown--A.K.A "Dr. Blitz".

UMass Football News--March 24th, 2022

 

The UMass athletic site has a post on today's Pro Day.

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The CAA releases it's 2022 composite schedule. CAA teams will play FBS games against BC, Vanderbilt, Navy, UMass and more.

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Football Outsiders does a post on Liberty QB Malik Willis as a NFL draft pick. The post includes a video clip of Willis against the UMass defense.

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2022 opponent Arkansas State begins Spring practice.

The Red Wolves announces their 2022 schedule including UMass in Jonesboro on November 12th. Arkansas State has been traditionally a top Sun Belt team, but they went 2-10 in 2021 with only one FBS win.

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UMass Football News---March 23rd, 2022

 

There are 131 FBS football teams. The Power Five teams dominate the top half of the recruiting results. so, the Group-of-Five teams mostly rank in the 66 to 131 slots. 247Sports has UMass ranked #114 nationally. The ranking does not include transfers, as far as I know.

To be in the top half of the Group-of-Five would require a rating of around #100 to #66. The "highest rated" probably refers to the average recruit ranking.

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The Greenfield Recorder report former UMass assistant Jason Tudryn has been hired at Boston College as recruiting director and Jimmie Reid is now defensive coordinator at Mass Maritime Academy.

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Stony Brook announces their 2022 schedule including a game at UMass.

UnderDog Dynasty lists the Stony Brook-UMass as one of the most likely FCS upsets over FBS games for 2022. The Minutemen are 0-3 in their last games against FCS teams.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Jaquez Keyes

 

Twitter image

Jaquez Keyes, a 6-1 207 RB/LB from Ironton, OH has a UMass offer.

247Sports three-star player

Hudl.com has video. 

This article from 247Sports features his recruiting. 

Keyes has offers from UMass and Memphis as well as five MAC schools.  The Minutemen have needs at both RB and LB and Keyes could find playing time early in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Jackson Conners-McCarthy

 

Twitter image

Jackson Conners-McCarthy, a 6-2 215 pound athlete from Brooks School in Massachusetts has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video highlights.

Honorable Mention Eagle-Tribune All-Star defense.

Besides UMass Conners-McCarthy has offers from Buffalo and Fordham. The Minutemen need help at both WR and OLB and he could play early in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Eric Lindstrom

Hudl.com image

Eric Lindstrom Jr, a 6-4 200 pound DE from Avon Old Farms has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

Besides UMass Lindstrom has offers from UConn and Texas State. He would have a great time in Coach Brown's blitzing defense.

UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Kenderick Bell

 

Hudl.com image

Kendrick Bell, a 6-3 180 pound dual-threat QB from Park Hill HS in Missouri has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has junior highlights.

This article from 247Sports features Bell. Younger brother of Michigan WR Ronnie Bell.

UMass is the first offer for Bell. He would be a good fit in the revamped Minutemen offense.

UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Kennard Thomas

 

Hudl.com image

Kennard Thomas, a 6-2 250 pound defensive lineman from Miami Norland HS in FL has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

MaxPreps has full season highlights.

Thomas has Power Five offer from Michigan and Michigan State. Also an offer from Penn. He would have a great time in Coach Brown's attacking defense.

UMass Football News--March 16th, 2022

 Bill Connelly has UMass ranked #5 in returning production for 2022.

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LB Jeremiah Telander, 6-1 218 does not have a UMass offer. His father, Steve Telander was a UMass standout back in the seventies. He was a four-year letterman (1974, '75,'77 and '78). Steve Telander was first-team All-Yankee conference in 1975. He played in UMass' National Championship game against Florida A & M despite having a knee injury. 

Jeremiah Telander has 22 offers including this one from Louisville.

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UConn will open against Central Connecticut on September 3rd.

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Syracuse is still looking for two games in 2024. UMass already has three Power Five teams (Missouri, Mississippi State and Georgia) scheduled for 2024, so the Minutemen probably would not want the Orange as their 12th game. UMass has never met Syracuse in football.

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ESPN has what a 64-team FBS playoff would look like in 2022.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Jon Mould

Twitter image

 Jon Mould, a 6-6 290 pound offensive lineman from Xaverian Brothers in MA has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here. 

MaxPreps has some video highlights.

Mould has eleven offers including all the Ivies. UMass and Tulane have offered from FBS. In Amherst, he would have a chance to be on the field against Georgia, Missouri, Mississippi State, Iowa and more as well as a top-notch education.

UMass Football News--March 14th, 2022

 Former UMass linebacker Cole McCubrey prepares for his Pro Day.

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Former UMass athletic dept intern and assistant cheer leading coach Maddy McCormack is now director of recruiting operations at Florida State.

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The New England Football Journal finds Coach Brown's enthusiasm for football is as strong as ever.

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College Football News ranks UMass as #3 in the combined Football-Basketball misery index.

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An Army football player is hospitalized after over dosing on cocaine laced with fentanyl.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2022--Vinny Iannantone commits to UMass

Chicago Tribune image

 Vinny Iannantone, a 6-0 205 pound RB from Joliet Catholic in Illinois has committed to UMass as a PWO.

Hudl.com has highlights.

Deep Dish Football has a Q & A with Iannantone.

Herald News 2021 Player-of-the-Year (partially paywalled).

Welcome to Iannantone. Hope he has a great career with the Minutemen!

UMass Football News--March 11th, 2022

 Western Mass News talks to new UMass defensive line coach Valdamar Brower about his transition from HS coach to college.

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Arkansas State opens Spring practice. The Red Wolves had an off season in 2021 finishing 2-10 with one of the wins over FCS Central Arkansas. Three of their losses were by five points or less.

KAIT also has a post on the Red Wolves opening their Spring practice.

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OT, but Forbes says UConn's return to the Big East has revitalized the Husky basketball program and their fans.

UConn football will hold their Spring game on campus in 2022.

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University of Buffalo had a record-break recruiting class.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Eric King

Hudl.com image

 Eric King, a 6-3 300 pound offensive lineman from St. Peters Prep in New Jersey has a UMass offer.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has junior highlights.

This short article considers his being recruited by Rutgers.

This article features King.

Besides UMass, King has offers from Rutgers, Buffalo, Kent State and Syracuse. He would find a home with Coach Miller as well as the best food in college football.

UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Tennell Bryant

WLWT image

 Tennell Bryant, a 5-10 167 pound WR from Cincinnati, OH has a UMass offer.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has video. 

Bryant is from powerhouse Moeller HS in Cincinnati. The speedy WR has offers from Army, Navy and Toledo.  He would do well in the new look Minutemen offense.

UMass football Recruiting 2022--Dallas Elliott commits to UMass

 

Dallas Elliott, a 6-3 180 pound WR from Williston Northampton school has committed to UMass as a PWO.

MaxPreps has some video highlights.

Elliott was team MVP in 2020 and 2021. Also football and baseball captain.

Welcome to UMass and hope he has a great career with the Minutemen.

UMass Football News--March 7th, 2022

 UnderDog Dynasty asks without a conference, where does UMass go from here?

Right now, there has been crickets from the Minutemen front office about conference affiliation. 

It does look like Conference USA will lose three teams this year. C-USA looks like the only potential landing spot for UMass anytime soon. If Coach Brown can bring us back to decency, UMass will have a better product to sell.

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UCLA hires former UMass defensive coordinator Bill McGovern as DC for the Bruins. McGovern was DC at UMass from 1987-'90 and again 1992-'93.

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UConn schedules a home-and-home with Rice.

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College football potential rule changes include faking injuries and second half targeting penalties.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Eric Gardner

Twitter image

 Eric Gardner, a 6-1 240 pound defensive lineman from Union City, NJ has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

Recently took a visit to Syracuse.

Gardner has 13 offers, mostly from Power Five schools. Besides UMass, BC, Syracuse, Temple, Army, Penn State and Liberty have offered from the Northeast. Gardner would have a great time in Coach Brown's attacking defense.

UMass Football News--March 4th, 2022

 AJ Vinatieri officially signs with the Minutemen. Senior George Georgopoulos is the only other punter on the roster.

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Victor Cruz attended a UMass hoops game. UMass bio here.

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UMass Emergency Medical Services win two national awards. They  suupply support at UMass football games.

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Indiana hopes Coach Bell will improve the Hoosiers' offensive troubles.

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The Sun Belt welcomes three newcomers from Conference USA plus James Madison. 

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Potential rules changes for college football in 2022.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2023--JoSire Peterson

Hudl.com image

 JoSire Peterson, a 6-4 270 pound OL from Union City, NJ has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Decommitted from Rutgers.

Spring recruiting visits here.

Hudl.com has video.

Peterson has eight offers mostly from Power Five schools. Rutgers, BC, Pitt, Syracuse and Penn State have offered from the northeast. He'd do well in Coach Miller's new look offensive line.

UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Danile Harris

Hudl.com image

 Daniel Harris, a 6-2 160 pound CB from Miami, FL has a UMass offer.

247Sports four-star player.

Hudl.com has video.

This article covers his offer from Rutgers.

Harris has over 20 offers mostly from Power Five schools. BC, Rutgers, Syracuse and Temple have offered from the Northeast. If Harris has NFL dreams, there is no better defensive coach in the nation than Coach Brown.

UMass Football News--March 1st, 2022

 Tulane thinks eight wins is possible in 2022.

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Former UMass assistant coach Luke Pashcall has join the staff at Louisiana. 

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Former UMass player Isaiah Holiness has left San Jose State.

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This article by Sports Illustrated has a paragraph on Liam Coen (scroll down a fairly long way).

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UMass' Pro Day will be March 24th.

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Conference USA gets a restraining order from three schools seeking to leave it.

More on the Conference USA drama.

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