Recruiting 2011--Andrew Ortiz

Berecruited.com image

Rivals.com reports Andrew Ortiz, a 5-10 160 pd K from Kings Academy/West Palm Beach FL has verbaled to UMass.

Bio here.

Highlight video here.

Thanks to a reader for catching this.

Friday--August 12, 2011

As I mentioned yesterday the 2011 roster is up.

Deletions from the Spring roster

• Derik Beck (2011 recruit)
• Cedric Gonnet RS JR
• Jesse Hunt RS FR
• John McGrath FR (2011 recruit)
• Bill Nesselt RS So
• Jacob Scott no information

Additions to the Minutemen in 2011(including freshmen already on the Spring Roster as they now have offical numbers). According to articles 40% of the team is new from 2010. There are 100 players on the 2011 roster. There were 91 in 2010.

• Frank Barile OL
• Jarvis Bentley WR (2011 recruit)
• Jordan Broadnax RB (2011 recruit)
• Chris Burns HB (transfer from Pitt)
• Ryan Campbell DB (transfer from Mississippi)
• Jamie Casselberry OL (2011 recruit)
• Chase Danska WR (JUCO)
• Kevin Donahue LB
• Brian Dowling RB (2011 recruit)
• Dan Foesel TE  (2011 Recruit)
• Iric Harris DB (2011 recruit)
• Andre Hill WR (JUCO)
• Greg Hilliard LB (2011 recruit)
• Brandon Howard TE (2011 recruit)
• Randall Jette DB (2011 recruit)
• T.J. Keefer WR
• James Lizotte WR (transfer Holy Cross)
• Elgin Long WR
• Marken Michel WR (2011 recruit)
• Addy Moas OL (2011 recruit)
• Kyle Morgan DL (2011 recruit)
• Manoel Nascimento RB
• Andrew Ortiz PK (2011 recruit)
• Kellen Pagel QB (transfer Bowling Green)
• Benjamin Patrick RB
• Ryan Phillips LB
• Matthew Quinn QB
• Sebastian Russell LB
• Quayshun Smith DB (2011 recruit)
• Malcom Speller OL (transfer from Bowie State)
• John Wallace OL (2011 recruit)
• Cody Watts DB
• Carlito Weaver LB
• Mike Wegzyn QB (2011 recruit)
• Jamal Wilson RB (2011 recruit)
• Brandon Yelovich (transfer from Rice)

I miss anyone?

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Watched Chris Koepplin kick off for the Pats last night. He hit one out of bounds, but boomed the remainder of his kicks deep into the endzone.

ProJo.com mentions Koepplin in their writeup of the game. Gostkowski looked good on his field goals, so Koepplin has to hope his film impresses some other team, or the Pats sign him to their practice roster as insurance.

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Matty V. has an article on Emil Igwenagu's frustrating 2010 season. With UMass' receiving corps depleted this year, hopefully they will throw to Igwenagu and Rob Blanchflower early and often.

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Things went bad for 2012's OOC opponent Indiana Coach Kevin Wilson during a radio interview.

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USA Today has an article on Delaware's Andrew Pierce including an image of him running at the UMass defense.

Thursday--March 22nd, 2012

I was looking at the 2012 Spring Roster. Seventeen (by my count) underclassmen who were on last year's roster do not appear on this one.

Most of the juniors probably graduated because they had a redshirt year. Some of the losses are probably scout team members.

Missing are (classes are for last year):

• Theo Agnew DL RS So
• Kevin Donahue LB SO
• Nick Gottshall OL RS JR
• James Lizotte WR JR
• John Moran OL RS JR
• Kyle Morgan DL FR
• Manoel Nascimento RB SO
• Kirk Nelms DB SO
• Andrew Ortiz K FR
• Benjamin Patrick RB FR
• Ray Pendagast QB SO
• Ryan Phillips LB FR
• Travis Poston OL RS JR
• Jeff Skoog OL SO
• Caleb Violette K/P JR
• Cody Watts DB FR
• Dominic Wooten TE SO

I miss anyone?
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Eight UMass football players took part in Boston College's Pro Day.

Boston.com says Julian Talley opened some eyes.

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Mike Leach proposes a 64-team college football tourney. The article has a link to a hypothetical 2012 bracket that includes three MAC teams.

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Saturday--August 6, 2011

Jeff Thomas has a story from UMass' first day of practice.

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Caleb Violette/Dan Sheeran holding

The big news from the first day was Caleb Violette has a broken foot that will likely need surgery. He is out for the year.

Violette handled all the punting and field goals last year.

Replacing him could be Brendon Leavengood, who handled kickoffs last year.

RS Sophomore Jeff Strait is listed as a punter.

UMass added two kickers to the squad this year: FR Andrew Ortiz and Rice transfer Brandon Yelovich.

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Matty V. has story from training camp. He reports DT Charles Thompson is healthy and hopes to make an impact this year.

He also report that former UMass point guard Gary Correia has joined the football team as a DB.

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The UMass website has "Training Camp Central" with interviews and video.

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The BC blog "BC Interruption" talks about the ACC possibly adopting a nine game conference schedule and mentions possible additions to the Big East including UMass.

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The Norwich Bulletin has an article on UConn wanting to attract in-state talent and mentions UMass' 2012 date with the Huskies.

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