UMass Football News--March 31st, 2023

 

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The Hampshire Gazette reports offensive line continuity provides a strong foundation for the Minutemen.

Offense line is one position UMass has struggled to develop and keep players. During our stay in the MAC, I don't think we had a first-string All-MAC offensive lineman. We've had problems running the ball, which is usually a favorite of offensive linemen. Last year, Army's smallish defensive linemen stood up the UMass O-line on a goal line stand. 

Offensive linemen don't get any stats, but the big guys lead the way.

Kayden Nystuen FR 6-2 285

Tommy Brandt RSFR 6-4 295

Jonny Hassard, SO 6-6 310 (started last year at RT)

Josh Atwood SO 6-2 330 (started last year at C)

Nick Lundeberg SO 5-11 255

Connor Vasher JR 6-3 295

Brandon MacKinnon RSSO 6-6 290

Cole Erickson FR 6-5 270

Ethan Mottinger SO 6-5 330 (started last year at RG)

Cole Garcia RSJR 6-3 300 (started last year at LG)

Tyler Leinberger FR 6-3 330

Ryan Mossesso FR 6-5 285

Phil Jeffs RSFR 6-6 275 (missed Jeffs during my morning blogging session. My apologies to Phil).

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UConn football welcomes a lot of new faces.

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UMass Football News--March 30th, 2023

 Under Coach Bell and now under Coach Brown, UMass is trying for a "run first" offense---and that's one aspect of offense we have not been able to accomplish since we moved to FBS.

Last year UMass was 67th in FBS with 1,786 total yards. That sounds decent, but we averaged 3.49 yards/carry, which was 109th.

This year we have much greater depth at RB. Carrying the rock for the Minutemen will be:

Donta Whack FR 6-0 210

Kay'Ron Adams RSSO 5-10 205

Greg Desrosiers Jr RSFR 5-11 200

Jalen John RSSO 5-11 225

Tim Baldwin Jr SO 5-11 215

Jackson Paradis RSFR 6-0 225

Six RB's recruited RB's is the most we've had in FBS. Tim Baldwin looked good before getting hurt last season. Kay'Ron Adams, Baldwin and Greg Desrosiers should be core of the running game.

UConn was 34th in rushing yards last year and the Husky's running game really fueled UConn comeback in '22.

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New England College Football Journal has five areas to watch as UMass opens Spring practice.

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Mountain West member Fresno State is drawing interest from the Big 12. Another hole in a Group-of-Five league.

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College Football News ranks 2023 opponent Penn State as having the easiest Big 10 schedule. 

They also rank UMass as #94 in strength-of-schedule (one notch above UConn's #93).

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UMass Football News--March 29th, 2023

 

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Yeah! 2023 is officially under way as UMass has its first spring practice. Images and video on the UMass Twitter feed.

Also, the 2023 spring roster is up.

The Greenfield Recorder has a post on the first practice. 

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Gino Campiotti moves to #13 from #5 (and from QB to TE)

Brady Olsen moves from #12 to #2.

Incoming transfer Mark Pope gets Ellis Merriweather's offense #7.

Transfer QB Carlos Davis is #5.

Transfer Viper Jalen Harrell gets Marchs Cushie's defensive #5.

Transfer DL Shambre Jackson gets #43.

Transfer Safety Dashaun Jerkins gets #14. 

Transfer RB Jalen John get #21.

Transfer OL Brandon MacKinnon gets #66.

Transfer LB Tyler Martin gets #5.

Transfer DB Steven Ortiz gets #3.

Transfer RB Jackson Paradis gets #32.

Transfer QB Taisun Phommachanh gets #3

Transfer WR Anthony Simpson gets #12.

Transfer DL Jermaine Wiggins get #47.

Transfer LB Jerry Roberts Jr (and probable starter) gets #28.

Transfer DL JB Brown gets #4.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Khristian Tyson II

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 Back on March 6th I blogged about Khristian Tyson, a 6-2 185 pound defensive athlete.

Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" has a post about and an interview with Tyson.

As Mike points out, Tyson could play the "Viper" hybrid DB/LB  position for the Minutemen. Don Brown is the most creative defensive coach in college football and Tyson could be a featured player in the UMass defense.

UMass Football News--March 27th, 2023

 The New England Football Journal reports after months of prep, Minutemen get to display their skills at Pro Day.

The UMass Football Twitter feed has video and stills from Pro Day.

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 Ben Albert's Twitter has an image of him and Jimmie Reid together. Great to Coach Reid back at UMass. The UMass defense is going to be awesome!.

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Vegas has 2023 win totals for Army (8) and Liberty (6.5) up.

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BTW, Army is making some changes to its option offense this year.

Army's 2023 schedule including UMass at home on 10/28.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Brendan Dignam

 

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Brendan Dignam, a 6-6 285 pound OL from St Thomas Moore Prep in CT will take a unofficial visit to UMass in March.

Hudl.com has video. 

Had a number of FCS offers out of HS. 

Dignam will also be visiting Buffalo and UConn this spring. He could find a home playing for Coach Alex Miller as well as the best food in college football.

UMass Football News--March 24th, 2023

 

UMass held its Pro Day. Lot's of images on UMass Football's Twitter feed.

No write-ups on any sports site about the Pro Day yet.

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Former UMass player Mike Dawson joins Ohio State as a defensive analyst.  

Dawson was previously at Nebraska.

Dawson earned letters for the Minutemen 1994, 1995, 1996 and was Captain in 1997.

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Fan Duel has Penn State's over-and-under for 2023 at 9.5 wins. Victory Bell Rings thinks UMass will be an easy win.

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UMass Football News--March 23rd, 2023

 College Football News has a post on conference realignment. There could be openings in the AAC, Conference USA and Mountain West. 

It would be interesting to see if UMass would take an all-sports offer. The Minutemen have not got a lot out of the A10 basketball league lately. The only real "rival" is Rhode Island. With St.Louis, Davidson and Chicago-Loyola, UMass already has mid-west travel costs. 

ESPN writers look at what the future holds for conference re-alignment.

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Springfield Commerce's DB coach Julius Walker joins Coach Brown in Amherst (paywalled).

Walker's UMass player bio.

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Which of three Auburn QB's will open against UMass on September 3rd?

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UConn's Ian Swenson stuck to the Husky program through thick and thin.

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Will UMass be in EA Sports College Football when it comes out in 2024? Tulane and Fresno State say they won't.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Ethan Young

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 Ethan Young, a 5-11 200 pound OLB from Jacksonville, FL will take a visit to UMass.

Rivals page here.

MaxPreps page here.

Young is drawing interest for eleven schools. He will visit Central Michigan, Marshall, Florida A&M, UNLV and UMass. Young could play for the best defensive coach in football in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Richard Pacheco, Jr

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 Richard Pacheco, Jr, a 5-11 175 pound RB from Staten Island, NY has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video highlights.

This article mentions Pacheco's 2022 season. 

MaxPreps has some stats.

Pacheco has offers from UNLV and northeast schools Bowling Green, Buffalo, Temple and Toledo. He could find a home in Amherst as well as an opportunity for some early playing time.

UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Isaiah Vanderpool

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 Isaiah Vanterpool, a 6-1 190 pound OLB/DB has a UMass offer.

Hudl.com has video.

Hudl.com has some stats. 

PrepRedzone.com has profile on Vanterpool. 

Vanterpool has offers from UNLV, Toledo and Bowling. Rhode Island has also offered. He has the opportunity to play for the best defensive coach in college football---and Brown has put a lot of DB's into the NFL.

UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Kyan Mason

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 Kyan Mason, a 5-10 160 pound athlete from Lakewood, OH has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

This article features Mason.

Mason has nine total offers including Power Five schools Pitt and Kentucky. UMass and UConn have offered from the northeast as well as several MAC schools. If Mason wants to play DB, Don Brown has put double-digit defensive backs into the NFL. If he likes WR, the new QB corps could make him a favorite target in an offense that needs playmakers. Lots of early playing time available in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Tedi Kushi

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 Tedi Kushi, a 6-7 310 pound OT transfer from LIU has a UMass offer.

LIU bio here. 

Northeast Conference Lineman-of-the-year.

Kushi has offers from UNLV, Bowling Green, Western Michigan and several FCS schools. He could work on his masters in UMass' highly regarded Isenberg grad school as well as being on the field against a number of Power Five opponents.

UMass Football News--March 16th, 2023

 I lost power in the North Easter for more than 24 hours. We're back up and running today.

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The New England Football Journal reports competition is key as UMass goes into spring ball.

The NEFJ also has a YouTube interview with coach Brown about spring ball.

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Coach Jim Reid is back home with the UMass Minutemen.

Reid's UMass bio (I didn't think it would be up yet.) 

Wikipedia bio.

Reid is going to be a real asset to the coaching staff. He was head coach of the Minutemen from 1986-1991. His 67 games as head coach is 3rd all-time in games coached and 4th in all-time victories. It should be noted that most of his time as head coach was during a real lean era for UMass football. He did not get a lot of institutional support. FCS allowed 63 scholarships and Reid never had anything close to that.

When UMass played Maine in Orno, the team would stop at rest stops on the Maine Turnpike and eat boxed lunches on picnic tables.. 

He's a former Power Five defensive coordinator and he'll take the UMass defense up a couple of notches.

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A Fan Side writer looks at Auburn's schedule for 2023 and says anybody could beat the UMass Minutemen.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Noah Rosahac

PAfootballnews.com image

 Noah Rosahac, a 6-5 270 pound OL/DL from Jim Thorpe, PA has a UMass offer.

247Sport page here.

Hudl.com has video highlights.

This article covers his offer from Syracuse. 

This article from July of 2022 has an interview with Rosahac.

Rosahac has a Power Five offer from Syracuse. Temple and JMU (who moved to FBS last year) have offered from Group-of-Five. He also has a number of Ivy offers. The Minutemen have needs on both offensive and defensive lines and Rosahac could find early playing time in Amherst.

UMass Football Blog News--March 10th 2023

 No blog updates tomorrow (Saturday) or Sunday. 

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UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Hank Purvis

 

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Hank Purvis, a 6-5 305 pound OL from Wichita, Kansas has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

Besides UMass, Purvis has FBS offers from Navy and UNLV. UMass offers an east coast education and the best food in college football.

UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Daniel Gonzalez

 

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Daniel Gonsalez, a 6-5 305 pound OL from Mt San Antonio College has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

Besides UMass, Gonzalez has an FBS offer from Akron. UMass needs help at OL and there will be lots of playing time available for the right offensive lineman.

UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Mylachi Williams

 

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Mylachi Williams, a 6-4 215 pound Edge from Drexel Hill, PA has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

Rivals four-star recruit. 

Offer from Syracuse. 

Offer from Georgia.

Williams has 21 offers mostly from Power Five schools. UMass, UConn, Syracuse, BC and Rutgers have offered from the Northeast. Williams could play for the best defensive coach in football in Amherst as well as standing out, instead of being part of the crowd at a Power Five school.

UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Khristian Tyson

 

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Khristian Tyson, a 6-2 185 pound safety from Kernersville, NC has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

Visited UMass on March 2nd. More Twitter from the Amherst visit.

MaxPreps has stats.

Tyson has offers from BC and Miami (Ohio). He would have a lot of fun playing in the attacking Minutemen defense.

UMass Football News--March 6th, 2023

 American Football International has a post on Brandon Collier being named one of the most influential black figures in football.

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Hoosiers Huddle discusses this year's offensive line for Indiana including incoming graduate transfer Max Longman.

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Former UMass assistant coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahman has been elevated to co-defensive coordinator at Boston College.

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GoPokes looks a an early depth chart for Oklahoma State including incoming TE transfer Josiah Johnson.

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CBS Sports covers the NCAA rules changes for the 2023 season including keeping the clock running after a first down.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Mark Schoonmaker

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 Mark Schoonmaker, a 6-4 220 pound TE from Middletown, CT has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

MaxPreps has some stats.

Hudl.com has video. 

Schoonmaker has six offers. UMass, UConn and Charlotte have offered from the Group-of-Five. Tight end is a position of need for the Minutemen and Schoonmaker could find early playing time in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2024

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 Jayzen Flint, a 6-3 225 pound Edge from Philadelphia, PA has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

Class 1-A, 3A All-state. 

NCSA recruiting profile here.

Flint has five offers, which range from Monmouth to Nebraska. Besides UMass, Temple has offered from the Group-of-Five. Flint could have a lot of fun playing for "Dr. Blitz" in Amherst.

UMass Football News--March 2nd, 2023

 Five recruits with UMass offers will take visits to Pitt this spring.

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The MAC announces its 2023 schedule. The Minutemen play three MAC schools this year: Miami, Eastern Michigan and Toledo.

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Former UMass player E. J. Barthel takes pride in continuing a pipeline of recruits from New Jersey to Nebraska.

E.J. Barthel's Huskers bio.

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The Mountain West commissioner is a UMass grad and she thinks the Mountain West needs a East Coast presence.. 

I'd take a MW membership if offered. We're already playing western teams like New Mexico State and New Mexico. The Mountain West has Air Force and Boise State, which are national brands. 

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Will Penn State offer its open DL coach to Ben Albert?

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UMass Football News--March 1st, 2023

 

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Doug Clark to be inducted into the Western Mass Baseball Hall-of-Fame. I saw Clark play WR for Coach Hodges. Clark won football letters (as well as playing baseball) in 1995, 1996 and 1997. UMass offense was run heavy for those years, but Clark is still #7 in career average yards per catch (16.04). He totaled 54 catches for 866 yards.

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CBS News remembers Victor Cruz as one of the NFL combine's top snubs.

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George Johnson is remembered as one of the notable position switches under Jim Harbaugh. (Fixed link)

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Auburn opens its 2023 season September 2nd against UMass.

Athlon Sports has a spring practice preview for the Tigers. 

FYI, Auburn has the ninth most lavish football facilities. $92 million for the practice facility alone..

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