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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