 |
| 247Sports image |
This article covers his entering the transfer portal.
The 247Sports recruiting site is down this morning.
Anderson had 13 offers out of HS including Michigan State and Georgia Tech. Buffalo offered from the Northeast. There is a lot of playing time available in Amherst. Anderson would be an excellent addition to the Minutemen offense.
 |
| Wyoming athletic dept image |
This article covers his entry into the transfer portal.
Prior to signing with Western Michigan Hester was Division Player-of-the-year and runner-up to Ohio's Mr. Football.
Hester had seven offers out of HS, all from MAC teams. The Minutemen need help in the RB room and Hester could be in line to be the featured RB for UMass.
 |
| Oklahoma State athletic dept image |
This article covers his entering the transfer portal.
Nixon has some serious speed and has appeared in 27 career games. There is a lot of playing time up for grabs at UMass and Nixon could find it in Amherst.
 |
| Colorado athletic dept image |
This article covers his entering the transfer portal.
Fauria originally signed with Delaware out of the portal, but has continued his recruiting. He could play in front of family and friends in Amherst plus there is a lot of playing time up for grabs with the Minutemen.
Mike Trani of "Fight Massachusetts" has a post on transfer OV's this spring.
I've done blog posts on Buffalo transfer Mike Washington and Central Michigan OL Keegan Smith.
The Minutemen need defensive linemen and running backs. UMass should have enough scholarships to bring in four or more transfers,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERO Sports has the MAC conference transfer portal status. Toledo loses a big chunk of the Rockets offense with QB Dequan Finn and RB Peny Finn leaving. Both were MAC conference players-of-the-year.
With play-for-pay in full force, Group-of-Five will continue to bleed players to the big money conferences,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024 opponent Missouri is planning a $250 million stadium upgrade.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024 opponent Mississippi State has a new HC, new OC and new QB's.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Minuteman Twitter feed has mic'd up with Te'Ray Powell.
Again it's hard to catch all the numbers, but it features Te'Ray Powell and #12 Brennen Bailey, #15 Derrieon Craig, #26 RJ Edwards and #36 Jayree Roberts.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former UMass RB Kay'Ron Adams takes an OV to Michigan State.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
College football approves two-minute warnings and helmet communications for 2024.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More than 12,000 college football players have opted-in to EA Sports College Football.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
| Hudl.com image |
This article covers some of his recruiting visits this spring.
Bowser has eleven offers including most of the MAC as well as Temple and Marshall. He could get an East coast education and play for an up-and-coming team in Amherst.
The UMass Twitter feed has video on Spring ball with some interviews of players and coaches.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gino Campiotti and Cletus Mathurin have been named to the 2024 National Honor Society.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April would be an excellent time to join the Gridiron Club or the Midnight Ride Collective. Every donation will help UMass football turn the corner and prosper in the MAC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plans for the proposed "Super" league have been leaked. BC, Duke and Georgia Tech from the ACC are left out..
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
| Hudl.com image |
This article covers his visit to Purdue.
Kraatz has ten offers including several MAC team as well as Army and Navy. He could find a lot of playing time in Amherst with Coach Miller.
The UMass "X" feed has some images from spring practice.
Showing some serious biceps is #2 WR Jacquan Gibson. He's coming off a redshirt injury year in 2023.
#72 is Ethan Mottinger. He started all 12 games in 2023 for the Minutemen. One of two returning OL for 2024. Mottinger should be an anchor at RT for UMass.
#11 is graduate transfer Jacobie Keeney-James. For Eastern Washington he had 37 GP 825-61 with 4TD's. In his sophomore year he had a 246-yard receiving game. Keeney-James should bring leadership to the WR room.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The New England Football Journal interviews Marcellus Anderson
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former UMass WR Dariyan Wiley has just committed to his fourth school for 2024.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
| 247Sports image |
This article talks about his visit to Michigan State.
Spartans Wire also has a post on his visit.
Vaughan has nine offers including four MAC teams and several Ivies. He could play at the FBS level and also get an East coast education in Amherst.
 |
| Image credit unknown |
This article covers his visit to Ohio State.
Jah has eleven offers including most of the MAC plus Army and Marshall. Coach Brown takes a personal interest in DB's and has put a bunch of them in the NFL.
The UMass Midnight Ride Collective has their latest podcast here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UMass football checks in with Minutemen DC Keith Dudzinski.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AAC comissioner says there is room for even more post-season college football.
How about a Group-of-Five playoff?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EA Sports College Football 25 will be released on July 19th.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atwood and Mottinger started last year. UMass needs to replace Johny Hassard, Cole Garcia and Marcellus Anderson who were the starting LT, LG and RG respectively.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The UMass feed also has an interview with Minutemen DC Keith Dudzinski. He has good words for transfers Jalen Hudson and Tim Grant-Randall.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hero Sports takes a minimalist look at UMass' 2024 schedule.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024 opponents Georgia and Missouri are #1 and #10 in this pre-season 2024 ranking
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
| Twitter image |
This article covers his visit to Iowa.
This article talks about his visit to Louisville.
Barnes has eight offers including most of the MAC plus Power Five Louisville and Dartmouth. He could get an east coast education and find a lot of playing time in Amherst.
 |
| CMU athletic dept image |
Suffered a knee injury in 2022.
Smith can either guard position plus center. He has played in 23 games and has 15 career starts. There are slots available in Amherst playing for Coach Miller. Smith could be an excellent addition to the Minutemen.
The New England Football Journal has several videos on UMass' spring practices.
They interview UMass WR coach Matt Zanellato on the WR room and the new offense.
They breakdown their visit to spring practice.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The UMass "X" feed has interviews with Anthony Simpson and Gerrell Johnson.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some images from Saturday's practice. #1 on offense is red-shirt So. Jacquon Gibson.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Washington's Buffalo bio here.
UMass is down two RB'S in the transfer portal. Washington would be an excellent fit in the Minutemen's run-first offense.
The UMass website has details on the Spring game. The game will be televised live on NESN and ESPN+.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former UMass WR Samuel Emilus has signed a contract with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This story relates several college presidents are exploring a 70-team super conference.
That would mean 50 current FBS teams would be left out. Could that bring about a Northeast conference of UMass, UConn, BC, Rutgers, Syracuse, Army, Navy and Buffalo?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
| 247Sports image |
Took a visit to Michigan State.
Kaufman has eight offers including several MAC schools plus Marshall and Army. He could play for coach Miller and get an excellent education at UMass.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The athletic dept is planning a number of events around the Spring game. If you are planning to attend, register here. 2023 is an inflection point for UMass football. No more independent status. Stability and success in the MAC.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outkick has significant details on EA Sports college football.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
| Twitter image |
This article mentions Annarino.
Annarino has 16 offers including most of the MAC, Army, Old Dominion and several Ivies. He could get an East Coast education and play for an up-and-coming program in Amherst.
Speed and talent depth in the WR room is always welcome. Hope Pangaro finds a home and a scholarship with the Minutemen.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two UMass running backs, Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams and Greg Desrosiers have entered the transfer portal.
Those two provided the vast majority of the Minutemen's rushing yards in 2023.
Now returning are Jalen John (Brown has said John was Arizona's best guy in 2020), Donta Whack, Jackson Paradis (both Whack and Paradis are coming off injury redshirts) and freshman Da'Marion Alberic.
UMass has a number of scholarships available. The NCAA allows a one-for-one addition for transfer portal losses. So the Minutemen will likely add at least one RB before fall camp.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also leaving are DE Marcus Bradley and Viper Nahji Logan.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
| Hampshire Gazette image |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jacob Laurie, a 5-9 175 pound transfer kicker from Vanderbilt has joined the Minutemen.
Laurie will add depth to the UMass roster as CJ Kolodziey is a senior this year.
Above is Coach Brown's press conference on opening day of spring football. Well worth watching.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This spring I'm optimistic with two established QB's in Taison Phommachanh and Ahmad Haston. Football offense hangs around the quarterback and if that position is open, it's hard to work on any "fine tuning". It's especially relevant this spring with a new offensive coordinator.
The Minutemen brought in four transfer WR's and two transfer TE's. I think the UMass WR room has significantly more talent than in 2022 and I think it'll show this year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WWLP has a post on UMass opening spring ball.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UConn will have their ending spring practice and fan event on April 21st.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It appears EA Sports college football will have accurate stadium details.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Greenfield Recorder reports 'it's good to be back ' practicing football.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hampshire Gazette says a record number of players took part in UMass' pro-day.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
College Football News says things are looking up for UMass football.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MSN reports UMass starts spring practice.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Games Radar has everything you need to know about EA Sports College Football.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
| Hudl.com image |
Hudl.com has video highlights.
Harrison has eight offers, all from MAC schools. If Harrison likes to rush the passer, there is no better place in football than playing for Don "Dr. Blitz" Brown..
 |
| Brian Bayless image |
Holcomb has ten offers including most of the MAC plus Cincinnati and Marshall. He would fit nicely as an OLB or as Don Brown's "Viper" position.
G5 Football Daily has the biggest MAC football questions for 2024.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024 UMass opponent Miami just wants to get better. The Redhawks went 11-3 and won the MAC championship in 2023, so better will be a relative term.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOOD NAME
I watched Duke-Louisville on the treadmill yesterday afternoon. Louisville was getting good defense from their DB Storm Duck. Note, Louisville has a slow server.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
| Twitter image |
Averaged 14.5 yards/carry in 2023. Averaged 8.7 tackles/game in 2023.
Mabry has seven offers including BC and Kentucky from Power Five. Four MAC schools (including UMass) have also offered. Mabry could play OLB, or Coach Brown's "viper" position.
The Greenfield Recorder has a post on the financial aspects of the Minutemen's move to the MAC.
Of interest is the TV rights for Group-of-Five leagues. Currently, CUSA has the lowest TV revenue, followed by the MAC, the Sun Belt, the Mountain West and the AAC.
However the MAC's TV deal is by far the oldest, signed in 2014 and has two years to run. MACtion has been a ratings success, so I expect the new TV package to pay a lot more.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Midnight Ride's latest podcast is here.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UConn has a potential draft pick in Christian Haynes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another round of college football realignment could be in the works if the ACC collapses.
Clemson and Florida State just sued the ACC about exit fees.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hudl.com has video highlights.
This article covers his upcoming visit to Cincinnati.
Part of M Live's Dream Team.
Harris has 10 offers including Power Five Cincinnati and Pitt. Most of the MAC team including Buffalo have also offered. UMass offers a highly-ranked education and the opportunity for lots of playing time.
 |
| Twitter image |
Hudl.com has video highlights.
Ohio defensive player-of-the-year.
Nelson has 14 total offers pretty evenly divided between Power Five and MAC teams. BC and UMASS have offered from the Northeast. Nelson is perfect size for Brown's "viper" position. The Minutemen offered early and Nelson could see a lot of playing time in Amherst.
More on ESPN's contract with the CFP here.
I think the CFP will be tremendous ratings success and revenue will increase in future years. The money will be in addition to the MAC's media contract. The funds can be invested in the program, or maybe one of the buy games can be done away with.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hampshire Gazette has a post interviewing UMass football and basketball recruits about the move to the MAC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Athol Daily News has a story about Scott Woodward returning to New England as coach at Middlesex.
Woodard was a four-year letter-man for the Minutemen from 2006 to 2009. In addition, he was an assistant coach for UMass 2016-2018.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE: Saturday, 03/16 . Surgery went well. The really big sling/shoulder-harness is a pain in the ass. I hope to restart the blog Monday. See you then.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Everyone. I'm having shoulder surgery---in about five hours, to repair my rotator cuff. I expect the blog to be offline for a while.
I'll probably be really bored because of the constraints of the sling I'll have to wear for four to six weeks. So, I'll probably be back blogging (typing one-handed) fairly quickly.
Ever read any of e.e. cummings poetry? Who needs capital letters anyway :)
Hopefully, see you soon.
Regards,
Frank
 |
| Brandon Folsom image |
Hudl.com has junior highlights.
This article covers his visit to Purdue.
This article reports on his visit to West Virginia.
Wilhelmi has nine offers including Power Five schools West Virginia and BC. Just about all the MAC plus UMass have also offered. He could get an east coast education and also find a lot of playing time Amherst.
 |
| Baker #9, YouTube image |
The Red Zone notes his offer from UMass.
This article covers his visit to Michigan State.
Baker has thirteen offers including Power Five teams Kentucky, Louisville and West Virginia. A number of MAC schools have offered including UMass. There is a lot of playing time available in Amherst and he could be a good fit with the Minutemen.
The Daily Collegian has what the move to the MAC means for UMass football.
The Collegian also has the benefits and challenges of UMass basketball moving to the MAC.
The Collegian also has "The MAC Conference, special edition".
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Eastern Echo notes the Eagles will travel to UMass one week before meeting national runner-up Washington in Seattle.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you missed it, the MAC will scrap divisions in favor of three-team pods for 2024.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yahoo Sports looks at the future college football playoffs and the scramble for the massive amount of money it will generate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Finebaum says Group-of-Five teams don't belong in the CFP. We don't want to share any of that cash with the peasants.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It must have been recorded prior to Wednesday's MAC intro press conference as they talk about how Basketball coach Frank Martin will feel about the change in conferences. I thought Frank was the star of the press conference. He got me fired up. I think UMass basketball is in good hands and has a bright future.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In more OT: I watched the Dayton-VCU game on TV last evening. Remember when Coach Cal got a technical in the NCAA's for being out of the coaches box? In last night's game, both team's coaches were out on the court while the game was in play. In one sequence, on VCU's end of the court, the VCU coach walked about five feet onto the court and pushed his player in the direction he wanted him to go. Another time, one of the refs put his arm around Dayton's coach and towed him off. No technicals were called..
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hampshire Gazette has the timeline that led to UMass joining the MAC.
The Gazette reports MAC coaches are familiar with UMass.
The Gazette also has a post on what made the Minutemen attractive to the MAC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hustle Belt has a post on the UMass introductory MAC press conference.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
College Football News predicts UMass will go 0-10 in its 2024 FBS games.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you didn't get a chance to watch the MAC conference introductory press conference yesterday, I'd recommend it.
A.D. Bamford hinted at a capital campaign to upgrade the football facilities and area surrounding the stadium. Chancellor Reyes also seemed as if he was on board for more investments in athletics.
The star of the show was basketball coach Frank Martin who said he was at UMass to win and he was excited about the future of UMass hoops.
After a decade of wandering in the desert, maybe yesterday was the inflection point for UMass football and basketball.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hampshire Gazette looks at the timeline behind the move to the MAC.
Western Mass News has a post on UMass coaches reaction to the change in conferences.
The Recorder covers the press conference and the statements by the MAC commissioner and the UMass brain trust.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fox will add a slate of Friday night college football games this year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
College Football's early signing period may be moved to the first week of December.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
| Hudl.com image |
This article covers his offer from Indiana.
Bell has nine offers including Power Five Indiana and Louisville. Most of the MAC has offered. There is a lot of playing time available in Amherst as well as the best food in college football.
UMass has a video interview with new Minutemen OC Shane Montgomery.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The MAC conference releases their 2024 schedule. Ohio State and Notre Dame each play two MAC teams this year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hero Sports has 2024 MAC conference recruiting Rankings.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've been saying for years that the Power Five conferences are plotting a super conference. On3 looks at a potential 48 team grouping.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The New England Football Journal has a series of video interviews with college football coaches. Coach Brown's segment begins at 14.50. Brown comments on the move to the MAC and the Minutemen's new offensive coordinator. Be advised the audio is a little rough.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
UMass will live stream Thursday's press conference about joining the the MAC.
Video options include YouTube, UMass athletics and ESPN+.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kent Wired.com reacts to the Minutemen joining the MAC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More than 10,000 college football players have opted-in to EA Sports College Football 25.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
College Football News has a short post on the meaning of the Minutemen's move to the MAC.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN reports a 14-team college football format "has momentum".
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
247Sports has a story on how the proposed 2023 rule changes will eliminate sign stealing and help late comebacks.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UMass basketball coach Frank Martin on his Twitter feed:
2 years ago “change” chose me, today WE chose change. Either way we should always be excited when there is change, because growth follows. The future is exciting. We are UMass.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hampshire Gazette has an interview with UMass legend and ESPN broadcaster Rene Ingoglia on the move to the MAC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For 2024, the NCAA proposes allowing helmet communication, a two-minute timeout before the end of halfes and more.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's official: We're in.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hustle Belt has UMass accepts invitation to join the MAC.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FB Schedules says UMass accepts invitation to join the MAC starting in 2025.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
247Sports ranks the MAC's 2024 recruiting.
UMass would be ranked fifth in recruiting if we were in the MAC this year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Will the 12-team college football tournament last longer than one year?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army joining the AAC leads to UConn and Army cancelling four future games.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
