UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Arsheen Jiles commits to UMass

 

Arsheen Jiles, a 5-9 180 pound graduate transfer from Sacred Heart has committed to UMass.

Pioneers bio here.

First team All-NEC. 

" Jiles, a senior defensive back from Montclair, N.J., recorded another impressive season for the Pioneers this fall. He has earned back-to-back year-end recognition from the NEC, but his first First Team selection. Jiles finished within the top five in the league in passes defended behind seven pass breakups and one interception. He forced a team-leading two fumbles this season while recovering one fumble against Merrimack. He also tallied 38 tackles and one sack. "

Jiles totals from Sacred Heart were: 34 GP 61 UT 20 AT 85 TT 5-16 TFL 4 INT and 27 PD. Coach Brown loves DB's and Jiles should contend to start right away.

UMass Football News--April 29th, 2024

 

Josh Atwood  and TeRay Powell have been awarded the 2024 Michael Boland award.

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Corey Schneider explains the Midnight Ride Collective. The MRC will help us win in the MAC. Join here.

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During the spring game Tulsa transfer Cookie Desidero took most of the run snaps. He' so new UMass does not have his bio up yet. I blogged about Desidero back on January 17th.

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Former UMass DT Viczaril Alobwede is in the transfer [portal again.

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UMass Football News--April 28th, 2024

 I had a good time at the UMass Spring game yesterday. Like most spring games, the Minutemen had some injuries sit-outs. UMass #1 QB Taison Phommachanh DNP after a knee procedure. The team looked fast and athletic----maybe the most FBS-competitive since we moved up.

I'm still typing one-handed (only 13 more days until I'm out of the sling), so I'll leave the recap to the linked articles.

Chris Tucci image

 The Hampshire Gazette says the spring game closes one chapter while the 2024 season awaits.

The UMass Daily Collegian has observations from the Spring game.

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UMass' spring football day--April 27th, 2024

 

Spring Game today! Lots of football alums will be back. A list of some of player as well as Chancellor Reyes and possibly UMass president Meehan here.

Some images here.

I'll be there. Hope to see a lot of friends.

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UMas Football Recruiting 2024--Owen Anderson

 

247Sports image

Owen Anderson, a 6-4 245 pound transfer TE from Illinois took an OV to UMass last weekend.

Illinois bio here.

This article covers his entering the transfer portal.

MaxPreps has some stats.

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.

UMass Football Recruiting 2024--CJ Hester

Wyoming athletic dept image

 CJ Hester, a 5-11 180 pound transfer RB from Western Michigan took an OV to UMass last weekend.

247Sports page here. 

Broncos bio here.

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.

UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Jaden Nixon

Oklahoma State athletic dept image

 Jaden Nixon, a 5-9 185 pound RB transfer from Oklahoma State took an OV to UMass last weekend.

247Sports page here.

Cowboys bio here.

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.

UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Caleb Fauria

 

Colorado athletic dept image

Caleb Fauria, a 6-5 220 pound transfer TE from Colorado took an OV to UMass last weekend. He originally hales from North Attleboro.

Buffs bio here.

This article covers his entering the transfer portal.

Battled injuries at Colorado.

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.

UMass Football News--April 22nd 2024

 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,

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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,

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2024 opponent Missouri is planning a $250 million stadium upgrade.

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2024 opponent Mississippi State has a new HC, new OC and new QB's.

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UMass Football News--April 20th, 2024

 

Only one week until the UMass spring game.

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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.

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Former UMass  RB Kay'Ron Adams takes an OV to Michigan State.

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College football approves two-minute warnings and helmet communications for 2024.

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More than 12,000 college football players have opted-in to EA Sports College Football.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Phillip Bowser

 

Hudl.com image

Phillip Bowser, a 6-5 265 pound OL from Youngstown, OH has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video.

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.

UMass Football News--April 18th, 2024

 The UMass Twitter feed has video on Spring ball with some interviews of players and coaches.

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Gino Campiotti and Cletus Mathurin have been named to the 2024 National Honor Society.

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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.

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Plans for the proposed "Super" league have been leaked. BC, Duke and Georgia Tech from the ACC are left out..

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UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Ethan Kraatz

 

Hudl.com image

Ethan Kraatz, a 6-4 280 pound OL from Saginaw, MI has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl,com has video.

NCAS recruiting profile here.

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.

UNass Football News--April 16th, 2024

 

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.

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The New England Football Journal interviews Marcellus Anderson

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Former UMass WR Dariyan Wiley has just committed to his fourth school for 2024.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Liam Vaughan

247Sports image

Liam Vaughan, a 6-3 280 pound IOL from Walled Lake, MI has a UMass offer,

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

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.

UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Omar Jah

Image credit unknown

Omar Jah, a 5-11 180 pound DB from Lewis center, OH has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

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.

UMass Football News--April 12th, 2024

 

The UMass Midnight Ride Collective has their latest podcast here.

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UMass football checks in with Minutemen DC Keith Dudzinski.

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The AAC comissioner says there is room for even more post-season college football.

How about a Group-of-Five playoff?

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EA Sports College Football 25 will be released on July 19th.

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UMass Football News--April 11th, 2024

 The UMass Twitter feed has Josh Atwood mic'd up. Tough to catch all the numbers, but I thought I saw: Josh Atwood, Paul Tchio, Brayden Rohme, Payton Miller, Luke Painton, Wyatt Terlaak, Cole Erickson and Ethan Mottinger.

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.

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The UMass feed also has an interview with Minutemen DC Keith Dudzinski. He has good words for transfers Jalen Hudson and Tim Grant-Randall.

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Hero Sports takes a minimalist look at UMass' 2024 schedule.

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2024 opponents Georgia and Missouri are #1 and #10 in this pre-season 2024 ranking

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UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Lucas Barnes

 

Twitter image

Lucas Barnes, a 6-7 275 pound OT from Canton, MI has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video. 

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.

UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Keegan Smith

CMU athletic dept image

 Keegan Smith (good name), a 6-3 295 pound transfer OL from Central Michigan University took an OV to UMass last weekend.

Smith's CMU bio here.

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.

UMass Football News--April 8th, 2024

 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. 

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The UMass "X"  feed has interviews with Anthony Simpson and Gerrell Johnson. 

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Some images from Saturday's practice. #1 on offense is red-shirt So. Jacquon Gibson.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Michael Washington, Jr

 

Michael Washington, JR, a transfer portal RB from Buffalo will take a official visit to UMass this weekend.

Washington's Buffalo bio here.

Video highlights here. 

UMass is down two RB'S in the transfer portal. Washington would be an excellent fit in the Minutemen's run-first offense.

 

UMass Football News--April 5th, 2024

 

The UMass website has details on the Spring game. The game will be televised live on NESN and ESPN+.

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Former UMass WR Samuel Emilus has signed a contract with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.

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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?

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UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Eli Kaufman

 

247Sports image

Eli Kaufman, a 6-4 260 pound OL from Wadsworth, OH has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

On3.com profile here.

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.

UMass Football News--April 3rd,2024

 UMass appoints Steven Daniels defensive line coach. Daniels was a defensive analyst in 2023. He has recruiting experience in New England and in MAC states.

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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.

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Outkick has significant details on EA Sports college football.

To be released in July.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2025 --Ayden Annarino

 

Twitter image

Ayden Annarino, a 6-3 280 pound IOL from Pinkerton,OH has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

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.

UMass Football Recruiting 2024--Michael Pangaro commits to UMass

 Michael Pangaro, a 6-0 175 pound WR from Taft school in CT has committed to UMass as a PWO.

Hudl.com has video. 

Several awards in 2023.

Speed and talent depth in the WR room is always welcome. Hope Pangaro finds a home and a scholarship with the Minutemen.