UMass Football News--July 31st, 2023

 The UMass Twitter feed has video from Sunday's practice.

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Coach Brown said the team will be in full pads today.

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 UMass 2024 WR commit Kenyon Massey took in Sunday's practice.

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Conner Whitson, a 6-2 198 pound Pro-style QB CA has joined UMass as a PWO.

MaxPreps has some video of Whitson.

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Saturday Blitz says Auburn is the hottest team in college football recruiting right now.

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UMass Football News--July 29th, 2023

 

Yesterday was the first day of Fall Practice.

Some video from the practice here.

Also an interview with UMass WR George Johnson III. Lots of new faces in the WR room. This is a unit that needs more production in 2023. They did not get a lot of help from the QB's last year, but also had some drops. The WR's can make a big contribution to an improved UMass offense this year.

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The Greenfield Recorder reports UMass opens Fall camp on a sweltering July day.

The New England Football Journal has five things to watch in the Minutemen's Fall camp.

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Andy Isabella signs with the Buffalo Bills.

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UMass Football News--July 28th, 2023

 Yesterday was report day, so UMass opens Fall camp today.

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Mke Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" continues his 2023 position review with UMass' Edge Rushers.

This group has been a multi-year problem for the UMass defense. Since the move to FBS the Minutemen have lacked size, athleticism and above all, speed on the edge. The Minutemen have been able to put pressure on opposing QB's and have not been able to maintain defensive contain on the outside.

The Minutemen had 18 sacks for 118 yards in 2022. Opponents had 25 for 169. UMass and opponents tied for 11 forced fumbles. 

The edge is the heart of Brown's pressure defense. UMass improved significantly in 2022. With more depth and talent, I'm hoping the Minutemen defense improves even more in 2023. 

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New Mexico State opens Fall camp.

The Aggies participate in their first ever C-USA Media Day. 

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Sports Illustrated predicts a 97.2% chance of an Auburn victory over UMass. 

Auburn's QB competition is still open.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Joshua Robinson

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 Joshua Robinson, a 5-6 154 pound WR from Clearwater, FL has a UMass offer.

247Sport page here.

Hudl.com has video.

MaxPreps has stats. 1529 All-purpose yards last year. 

Robinson has five offers including Charlotte from Group-of-Five. The speedy Florida WR would add some octane to the reviving Minutemen offense and he could find a home in Amherst.

UMass Football News--July 26th, 2023

 Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" has another 2023 position review this time of the defensive line.

Since our move to FBS the defensive front seven have been a deficit for the Minutemen. We lagged on speed, size and athleticism. Coach Brown has made an impressive turn around in two years. In 2022 the Minutemen had 72-223 TFL and 18 Sacks. There is no better defensive play than a DL or LB in the opposing team's backfield.

I once read a post on NFL defensive linemen. The study said the average DL took three times the number of steps than an offensive lineman did during a game (because the defensive has to chase the play). Having enough depth so DL's can be rotated in and out prevents the defense from being gassed in the second half.

Transfer JB Brown could be in the regular rotation if he could return to his 2018 form where was one of Arizona's most effective players.

This is the deepest, most athletic group of defensive linemen we've had. I'm looking forward to watching them play.

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College Football News predicts one win for UMass in 2023.

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Fan Duel looks at 2023's Week 0 match-ups including UMass-New Mexico State.

Possibly written by an AI writing assistant? The story has the Minutemen and the Aggies as the bottom two in FBS last year, which is not true as New Mexico State went 7-6 and won a bowl game. That's probably from 2021.

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Western Mass News has 2023 UMass over-and-under plus projected win totals. 

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2023 opening opponent New Mexico State cancels a four game series with UTSA. 

The Aggies exuded excitement at the C-USA Media Day. 

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UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Ali Uaisele

 

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Alai Uaisele, a 6-0 200 pound LB from Cincinnati, Ohio has a UMass offer.

247Sports Page here.

Hudl.com has video. 

Uaisele looks like he'd be a excellent fit into Don Brown's "viper" position. He could play for the most creative defense coach in college football. He has a Power Five offer from Kentucky and is drawing interest from Cincinnati.

UMass Football News July 24th, 2023

 

Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" has a position review of the 2023 Minutemen offensive line.

Offensive linemen do not get any stats, but the success or failure of the teams depends on their efforts. UMass has 17 O-linemen and that's a big plus from the 2021 practice I attended that had eight total linemen practicing. Four starters return and that should be a big help. 

Senior transfers Marcellus Anderson 6-5 330 and Parris Heath 6-4 325 have played in 29 games between them. One of them will probably start.

O-linemen generally like run blocking and UMass wants to have a run-first offense. I'm hoping for big results in the run game in 2023.

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With the 2023 recruiting completed, 247Sports ranks UMass as #82 in recruiting for 2023. 

I believe that's the highest ranked FBS class in Minutemen history. In addition, 247Sports has 26 of the recruits (including transfers) as three stars. Most top Group-of-Five teams sign about 20 three-stars annually. Boise State signed 22 and Tulane signed 20 in 2023. Twenty-six three-stars is probably close to the top class in Group-of-Five.

I'm impressed by Coach Brown and staff's recruiting in the two years he's been in Amherst. 

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I was watching a replay of the Mississippi State-Illinois 2022 Reliaquest bowl last evening on the SEC chanel. The Bulldogs won on a field goal with 2 seconds left by Massimo Biscardi.

The holder for Biscardi's winning kick was George Georgopoulos..

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UMass Football News--July 22nd, 2023

 

 

The UMass Football Twitter feed has Te'Rai Powell and three other Minutemen players looking seriously jacked.

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Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" reviews the 2023 TE room. The UMass TE group is an unknown quantity going into the season. Eni Falayi is the top returning TE in stats and he had two catches for 12 yards.

The tight end position has significantly increased as a receiving weapon in modern football. Perhaps because of highly evolved pass defenses currently being played. The Georgia Bulldogs are winning national championships with TE's like Brock Bowers as a big part of their offense.

Both Coach Bell and Coach Brown have praised the Minutemen TE's. UMass really needs to get more production from that group if the offense is to significantly improve. A big year from transfer red shirt senior Matt Smith would help.

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Play Pocks.com has some insights on UMass' over-and-under and betting numbers.

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New Mexico State was voted 5th in Conference USA's pre-season media day.

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Auburn may be without their top RB Jarquez Hunter for the UMass game.

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UMass Football News--July 21st, 2023

 Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" is doing a series of position group studies for 2023.

This one is on the UMass running backs. The major change since the arrival of Coach Brown is the depth at this position. In 2021, we were down to effectively one scholarship running back. UMass could not compete at the FBS level in that situation. 

The Minutemen want to be a run heavy offense. Despite our decent-appearing ranking of #68 in rushing average, UMass did not have a rushing attack--a rush game that put pressure on opposing defenses. In 2022 the Minutemen scored only 10 rushing TD's--less than one a game. Doubling that would be a good goal for 2023 and RB room needs to make that happen.

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Mike also has a post on the Minutemen wide receivers. I spent 2022 being noncommittal about the UMass WR's mainly because they were not getting a lot of accurate throws from UMass' quarterbacks. However, there were some drops and an overall lack of speed that definitely did not help.

If UMass is to improve in 2023, the WR group needs to improve its production. In 2022 UMass had only four TD receptions. The Minuteman rushing game spent most of last year running into eight or nine in the box because opposing teams knew we could not throw the ball.  Transfers Mark Pope, Christian Wells and Anthony Simpson need to make an impact.

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KTSM.com reports New Mexico State is looking for an encore after last year's bowl game.

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War Eagle says Auburn is looking for "sunny skies"  in 2023.

BTW, Auburn is also in the middle of a QB competition. 

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UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Rashad Henry signs with UMass

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 Rashad Henry, a 6-2 225 pound LB from Fort Lauderdale, FL signed with UMass last weekend.

I've blogged about Henry twice before on April 25th and April 22nd.

Henry had 43 solo tackles and 2 INT's in his senior year.

Henry had seven FBS offers including a Power Five offer from Pitt. Chose UMass over Group-of-Five offers from Navy and Marshall among others. He played for Florida powerhouse program St. Thomas Aquinas and should be a great addition to the Minutemen's defense.

Henry's signing brought UMass' roster to 85 scholarships and ends 2023 recruiting.

UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Anthony Jphnson commits to UMass

 

247Sports image

On Monday evening Coach Brown appeared on the New England Football Show (well worth watching in its own right) and said Anthony Johnson, a 6-5 260 pound DL from Iowa Central C.C. has signed with UMass.

247Sports page here.

Johnson's JUCO bio here.

Hudl.com has video.

Johnson had 26 offers including Marshall, EKU, LA Tech and Bowling Green from Group-of-Five schools. Defensive linemen are scarcest recruits. If his Hudl bio is correct and he runs a 4.7 40, he could be a big find for the Minutemen. Johnson should be a good fit in Coach Brown's attacking defense. He's also from Central Bucks West in PA and we had a number of players from that school back in FCS days.

UMass Football Recuriting 2023--Isaiah Rutherford transfers to UMass

 

University of Arizona image

Isaiah Rutherford, a 6-1 190 pound DB from Arizona has joined UMass.

Arizona bio here. 

ZonaZealots.com has the story of him entering the transfer portal. 

Rutherford was a four-star player and top-100 recruit coming out of HS. Originally signed by Notre Dame. He should be in the mix to start right away for the Minutemen. Don Brown has put a bunch of DB's in the NFL, so this should be a good fit for both parties.

UMass Football News--July 17th, 2023

Taisun Phommachanh #3

 Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" (who is effectively the UMass beat writer with the demise of the dead tree media), does a pre-season review of the UMass quarterbacks.

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Traini's write-up pretty much parallels my take on current QB room. Since our move to FBS the Minutemen offense has been a problem. During the Whipple II era his offense still worked. The pro-style down-the-field passing game rang up good statistics. However, UMass rarely won those MAC shoot-outs. Blake Fronapfel threw for a MAC single game record and UMass still lost the game. In two years (2014-2015) Fronapfel threw for 6,148 yards and 38 TD's---and won only 3 games both years.

The new dual-threat offense is probably a better fit for our current status. We are a cold weather team. A more run-first ball control probably better fits our Independent schedule. 

Last year's offensive struggles had deeper roots than just the QB's. We need more speed and less drops from the wide receivers. In 2022 UMass was #67 in rushing offense and #127 in third down conversions. Generally, if you can run the ball, you've got a good looking offense (and a good looking QB). The Minutemen did not put pressure on opposing defense on either passing or running.

Like the defense, I think resurrecting the UMass offense is a several year process. This year, UMass has greatly added talent in QB's and RB's. It may be another year before the offensive line and WR's are where Brown wants them to be. Still, I think the offense will be much improved and we will move out of FBS's basement in most offensive categories .

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Indiana OC Walt Bell lands a highly rated QB he started recruiting while at UMass.

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UMass Football News--July 15th, 2023

 College Football News reviews UMass' 2023 schedule and predicts between 1 and 3 wins.

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It's July and the UMass Football team is grinding.

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UMass opens our 2023 schedule at New Mexico State. The Aggies head coach Jerry Kill is optimistic.

Fan Sided considers if New Mexico State can contend in their new conference: C-USA

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UMass also plays The Land of Enchantment's other team, New Mexico.  College Football News previews the 2023 Lobos.

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The Opelika Observer looks at Auburn's 2023 schedule and thinks the War Eagles can win against UMass, Samford, New Mexico and Vanderbilt with "half a team".

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UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Joshua Patterson

 

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Joshua Patterson, a 6-1 175 DB from Ed White HS in Jacksonville, FL has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video. 

MaxPreps has stats. 

This article features Patterson.

Patterson has more than 20 offers including Louisville, Ole Miss, Pitt and Wake Forest from Power Five. UMass and UConn as well as a number of MAC and Sun Belt Schools have offered. In Amherst, he could play for DB-Guru Don Brown who has a high success rate in placing DB's in the NFL.

UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Cole Greer

 

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Cole Greer, a 6-1 190 pound QB from Deerfield Academy in MA has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

This article covers his offer from Virginia Tech. 

Greer has offers from UMass and UConn as well as Power Five offers from Virginia and Virginia Tech. He could join a rapidly improving QB room at UMass and play in front of friends and family in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2023--Alexander Tsoumakas III commits to UMass

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 Alexander Tsoumakas, a 6-1 235 pound LB will join the Minutemen as a PWO.

Hudl.com has video.

Spent one year with Sacred Heart.

Tsoumakas played his high school at St. John's in Shrewsbury, MA. He has FBS size and should develop under the best defensive coach in college football.

UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Kamren Flowers

 

MLive.com image

Kamren Flowers, a 6-0 160 pound WR from West Bloomfield, MI has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

Has offer from Michigan State.

Has offer from Wisconsin.

Flowers has offers from Power Five Penn State, Arizona, Miami, Michigan State and Wisconsin. He also has offers from three MAC schools. Flowers would be a good fit with UMass ' new QB room.

UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Toby Mealer

 

247Sports image

Toby Mealer, a 6-5 330 pound OL from Chandler, AZ has a UMass offer.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has video.

De-committed from Arizona in May.

Mealer has offers from Arizona, Arizona State, UMass, Nevada Las Vegas and Northern Arizona. He could get an east coast education and be part of the resurgent UMass offense in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Teddy Hoffman

 

Christian Proscia image

Teddy Hoffman, a 6-0 175 pound athlete from Boca Raton FL has a UMass offer.

Hudl.com has video.

MaxPreps has stats.

This article from New Era Prep features Hoffman.

Hofman holds offers from UMass, Eastern Kentucky and Akron. Hoffman can play both sides of the ball. At this stage of his career, it's probably too early to tell his best fit in college. In Amherst he could play in the new-look Minutemen offense or for the best defense coach in football as a DB.

UMass Football News--July 7th, 2023

Sun-Sentinil image

 Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" has a post on Florida commit Da'Marion Alberic.

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The New England Football Journal has a post on WR commit Kenyon Massey

The NEFJ also has a story on 10 questions for New England college football teams as fall camp approaches.  

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Saturday Blitz looks at UMass' year two under Coach Brown.  Predicts a 3-9 season.

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AW CRAP

UMass commit Ebenezer Bouzi is arrested for  misdemeanor battery.

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Clutch Points reports the Big Twelve is looking at Colorado plus three other teams, which might include UConn. 

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UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Casious Johnson

 

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Casious Johnson, a 6-0 205 pound RB from Plymouth, MA has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

MaxPreps has stats. Averaged 10.4 yards/carry.

Johnson also has an FBS offer from Coastal Carolina. He could play in front of family and friends in Amherst as well as being part of the resurgent UMass offense.

UMass Football News--July 5th, 2023

 

247Sports image

Mike Traini has a post on Edge commit Brahim Wynn. Defensive end has been a weakness in the Minutemen defense since our move to FBS. Wynn had Power Five size and should be a force in future years. And you know Coach Brown, a couple of times a game, will turn him loose.

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Hudl.com image

Mike also has a story on UMass' latest verbal, Kenyon Massey. I'm impressed with the offensive talent Coach Brown and the offensive talent has brought in. I don't think Brown is planning to win games 13-10. I like the new QB room and Massey should be a weapon against any team we play. 

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Death Valley Voice points out, among other teams, UMass and LSU have never played. Wait a while.

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HE SAID, SHE SAID

San Diego State says they never left the Mountain West. The Mountain West says yes they did.

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UMass's opening opponent New Mexico State officially joins Conference USA.

Mountain West Wire has a first look at the New Mexico State Aggies. 

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UMass Football Blog--Happy 4th of July

 

Well, it looks like the Blog family barbecue is going to be a washout. However, we shall display adaptability and cope.

We wish all UMass Football fans, players and coaches a happy 4th! Freedom and prosperity takes work---and adaptability, just like our nation has always displayed.

UPDATE:

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UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Kenyon Massey commits to UMass

 

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Kenyon Massey, a 5-10 185 pound WR from Paramus, NJ has verbaled to UMass.

247Sports three-star player. 

Hudl.com has video.

MaxPreps has stats. In his junior year Massey had 1,200 all-purpose yards and 13 TD receptions.

#47 in 247Sports Top-50 NJ recruits.  Note UMass has signed two of the NJ Top-50.

Massey had eleven offers. Chose UMass over offers from Marshall and Syracuse. He should give the recent recruited Minutemen QB's an excellent target to throw to.

UMass Football News--July 1st, 2023

Heavy.com image

 Former UMass Star Isaiah Rogers gets a one year suspension for gambling and the Colts release him.

Reportedly won a prop bet on one of his teammates.

Gambling for a pro athlete is a big no-no. Hopefully, he'll do his suspension and be picked up by another team. It would be a shame to waste all that effort.

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UNDER THE TOPIC OF PATHETIC EFFORTS

Black Shoe Diaries previews the UMass-Penn State game.

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NEVER MIND

San Diego State says they'll stay in the Mountain West after all.

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UConn adds a four-star QB.

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Speaking of the Mountain West, the Mountain West Wire previews 2023 opening opponent New Mexico State.

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