UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Edward Vesterinen

Twitter image

Edward Vesterinen is a 6-4 240 pound DE from Finland who has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

A member of Brandon Collier's European recruiting service.

Hudl.com has video.

Vesterinen also has a FBS offer from Coastal Carolina. UMass needs all the recruiting streams it can get and the Minutemen need DE's, a weakness that persisted through the whole Whipple era. Vesterinen would make a strong 2020 defensive recruiting class even better.

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Te'Rai Powell signs with UMass

Twitter image

Te"Rai Powell, a 6-0 188 pound Athlete has signed with UMass. This is the Minuteman's 19th signing of the 2020 recruiting cycle.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has video.

Originally verbaled to Rutgers before the coaching change.

MaxPreps has stats.

Powell had 14 offers including Army, Navy, Northern Illinois, Central Michigan and Bowling Green. Also took a OV to Boston College.

UMass Football News--December 20th, 2019

A couple of quotes from Coach Bell on the recruiting.

"What a day! Thanks to everyone that helped us throughout the recruiting process on our campus, on the road, and in every town in which we recruit. More surprises to come! Let’s go! Recruit, develop, coach."

Bold my emphasis.  I think there is more positive recruiting coming in this class.

Coach Bell to Josh Walfish on his Twitter feed.

"Listening back to Bell from earlier and this quote stuck out about keeping commits loyal to UMass: "For us the whole thing was understand what you see on tape and what you see on Saturday isn't why you're coming, you're coming to ensure it doesn't ever look like that ever again."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you missed it Marken Michel is back on the Phildelphia Eagles practice squad. Fan Sided has three reasons to promote Michel from the practice squad.

Jackson Porter signed with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad in late November.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nearly 20 UConn players have entered the transfer portal.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UMass Football news-- December 19th, 2019

The UMass website has football welcomes 18 signers on the first day of the early commit period.

Josh Walfish report the Minutemen bulk up in the trenches.

The Berkshire Eagles says UMass inks 18 signatures on the first day of the early signing period.

Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" has a post on what we learned from the early signing period.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My take on the recruiting class is that it's an excellent start. Rivals has UMass as #80 and 247Sports has the Minutemen 82nd. Recruiting rankings are highly subjective, but also tend to have a high correlation to actual success. For example: 247Sports has the top-five recruiting classes for 2020 as Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia and LSU. Hard to argue with those results.

UMass needs more than one year to turn things around. When Western Michigan went from 0-11 to a New Year's Day bowl, the Broncos had three MAC leading recruiting classes in a row.

I liked the emphasis on linemen. Since UMass moved to FBS we have never ranked higher the #100 in rushing offense. We are currently #115 through the end of regular season. Generally, if you can run the rock, you've got a good looking offense (and a good looking QB). The Minutemen signed three OL and two running backs. I'd like to see a marked improvement in the rushing offense in 2020.

UMass also signed two QB's, which should impact the other offensive problem the Minutemen had in 2019, the fact we did not have a QB. I like Kyle Lindquist. He comes out the California JUCO leagues that gave us Todd Bankhead. Hopefully , he'll have a similar impact.

In addition, the class contains five defensive lineman. As everyone knows, DL's are the scarcest recruits. The class has a rush defensive end (something UMass has not had since Ali Ali-Musa).

Linebacker is one area that's going to take another recruit class. This class has two LB's and we could use about six or seven.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In another moral booster, The Far Side is back. My all-time favorite comic has returned here.

 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Early Signing Day 2020

Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" has a post on what to expect in the early signing period.

Josh Walfish reports UMass has important holes to fill in this recruiting class.

Josh also has a post on Coach Bell expecting the most highly rated recruiting class in UMass history.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The UMass Football Tweeter feed has the signings as they come in.

The first new commit who had not previously verbaled to UMass is 6-2 RB Ellis Merriweather. I blogged about Merriweather on Monday.  

Merriweather fills a real void in the UMass roster. Along with Jared Cole, the two RB's should add depth and talent to the Minuteman running back corps.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll be back with any news on new recruits later today.

Well, that didn't take long. Joe Horn, a 6-1 300 pound OC from the Hun School has signed with the Minutemen. I blogged about Horn back in June. Horn adds another highly rated offensive lineman to this year's recruiting class.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UMass also adds Will Koch a 6-0 195 pound pro-style QB from Niceville FL. I blogged about Koch here. That's three new commits so far today.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Minutemen just added Cody Jones, a 6-1 185 pound DB from Sandy Creek, GA.

Jones 247Sports page. Three-star player.

Hudl.com has video.

Chose UMass over FBS offers from Buffalo, Akron and Georgia Southern. Four new commits today.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK, I gotta go and shovel snow. More blog updates later today.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UMass adds a big addition to the signed class with Sammy Solomon. He's a 6-3 295 DT who chose UMass over offers from BC, Rutgers and Syracuse. I blogged about Solomon back in November. UMass currently has 18 early signers.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Kyle Lindquist verbals to UMass

Kyle Lindquist, a 6-4 212 pound pro-style QB from Butte College has Tweeted he's committed to UMass.

I blogged about Lindquist last Saturday.

#6 ranked JUCO pro-style QB in the nation.

Also NorCal Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Year.

The Minutemen really need some effective QB play. Hopefully Lindquist and Brady Martin will start the renaissance.  I'm excited about seeing both of them play for UMass.

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Ellis Merriweather

Twitter image

Ellis Merriweather, a 6-2 225 pound RB from Garden City C.C. visited UMass this weekend.

247Sports page here.

Garden City bio here.

Hudl.com has video.

I thought I had blogged about Merriweather before, but apparently not. He is currently committed to Texas Tech as a PWO. Lots of playing time available with the Minutemen as well as a scholarship.

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Onuma Dieke verbals to UMass

I've blogged about Onuma Dieke, a 6-4 185 pound WR from Atlanta, GA twice before.

He Tweeted he's committed to UMass.

Dieke is a pro-sized receiver who should prosper in the UMass spread offense. He chose UMass over an offer from Southern Alabama.

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Will Koch

image credit unknown

Will Koch, a 6-0 195 pound pro-style QB from Niceville, FL is making an official visit to Amherst this weekend.

247Sports page here.

MaxPreps has stats.

Hudl.com has video.

This article from October features Koch.

Koch has an offer from Southern Mississippi and a PWO for UCF.

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Robert Kennedy III

I've blogged about Robert Kennedy, a 5-10 180 pound CB from Lackawana C.C. twice before.

During the NJAA Championship game Kennedy was around the ball all night. Lots of playing time available in in Amherst.

He also has a FBS offer from Marshall.

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Kyle Lindquist

Kyle Lindquist, a 6-4 212 pound pro-style QB from Butte College will take an OV to Amherst this weekend.

247Sports Page here.

Hudl.com has video.

This article from 2018 talks about Lindquist joining Butte.

Fresno State bio here.

Threw for seven TD's in one game this season, which broke Aaron Rogers record at the same school.

Another article on Lindquist's seven-TD game.

Matt Bates image

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Albert Reese IV

Albert Reese IV, a 6-7 295 pound OT from Edmonton Alberta is taking an official visit to UMass this weekend.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

National Prospect ID.com has some info.

Reese has two FCS offers. Drew interest from Arizona.

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Jackson Manning verbals to UMass

Jackson Manning a 6-5 240 pound TE/DE has verbaled to UMass.

I blogged about Manning way back on Monday.

The Minutemen need help on both positions Manning plays. It'll be interesting to watch his career. Welcome to Amherst.

UMass Football recruiting 2020--Holden Willis

Sammie Dunlap image

Holden Willis, a 6-4 205 pound WR from Greenback, TN has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

MaxPreps has stats.

Class 1A Division Mr. Football.

Recently received a PWO offer from Tennessee.

Willis currently has six offers with UMass as the only offer from FBS.

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Evan Anderson

Evan Anderson, a 6-3 325 pound OG from Orlando has a UMass offer. Recently had a home visit by the Minutemen staff.

247Sports three-star player.

Hudl.com has video.

MaxPreps has some stats.

Anderson has FBS offers from Bowling green, FIU, FAU, Kent State, Toledo, Troy and USF. It all starts with the OL. Lots of playing time available up in Amherst.

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Dymere Miller

Dymere Miller, a 6-0 175 pound Athlete from Salisbury School took an OV to UMass last weekend.

247Sports page here.

Salisbury School has an extensive bio here.

This article from 2018 has Miller #91 in the top 225 players from Pennsylvania.

MaxPreps has some stats.

Also Daily Local News 2019 All-Area Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

Miller currently has five offers with UMass as the only offer from FBS.

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Tyrell Lawrence II

Twitter image

Tyrell Lawrence, a 6-7 344 pound OT from Clearwater International Academy has a UMass offer.

He took an OV to UMass last weekend.

I blogged about Lawrence back in May.

Hudl.com has 2019 video.

Lawrence is getting late interest from Syracuse, Pitt and Minnesota. Check the rosters Tyrell; Power Five interest is great, but UMass is where the playing time resides.

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Jackson Manning

Jackson Manning, a 6-5 240 pound TE/DE from Kennesaw, GA made a visit to Amherst this weekend.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

NCSA recruiting profile here.

UMass is the first FBS offer for Manning. Both TE and DE is a position of need for the Minutemen.

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Onuma Dieke II

Ben Ennis  image

Onuma Dieke, a 6-4 185 pound WR from Atlanta, GA recently had a home visit by the UMass staff. I blogged about Dieke back in November.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video.

This article from October features Dieke.

This article has some stats from his junior year.

Dieke also has a FBS offer from Southern Alabama.

UMass Football Recruiting 2020--Mike Mikula verbals to UMass

Twitter image

Mike Mikula, a 5-11 180 pound WR has Tweeted he'll attend UMass as a PWO.

Hudl.com has video.

NCSA Recruiting profile here.

MyPrepWeek.com has a Q & A with Mikula here.

Welcome to UMass Mike. Hope you have a fun career with the Minutemen.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blog Note: No blog post tomorrow, December 9th.