Recruiting 2012--Dalvin Battle

Battle #1 / Jason Easterly image

The News-Press says UMass has added a late signing to it's 2012 class as Dalvin Battle, a 5-11 175 pd RB from Fort Meyers, FL has joined the Minutemen.

News-Press article here. Another article from the News-Press here.

Battle is a Rivals two-star player.

This article features Battle.

Battle ran for 1,006 yards and 19 TD in his senior season. Also had 17 receptions for 294 yards and 2 TD.

Tuesday--August 7th, 2012

UPDATE: The UMass website has a story and video from the Minutemen's fourth day of practice.

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Matty V. has a story that says Kellen Pagel is still out with an undisclosed injury.

Matty also lists five players from the Spring Roster that are no longer with the team:

• Chase Danska WR
• Andre Hill WR
• Anddy Moas OL 
• Jerome Lewis TE
• John McGrath TE

Moas was highly praised by the previous staff and played in two games as a true freshman.

The same article stated true freshmen Tajae Sharp and Dalvin Battle have impressed in camp so far. Both are wide receivers.

Battle was a 5-11 175-pound RB from Fort Meyers, FL.

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Harry Plumer of MassLive looks at the changes in the UMass defense.

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Speaking of quarterbacks, the MAC blog "Hustle Belt" looks at the league's QB's for 2012.

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CBS Sports says Victor Cruz is loving life.

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Jets lineman Matt Slauson says Vlad Ducasse deserves a shot.

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A Bleacher Report writer looks at Travis Tripucka's battle to win a spot on the Rams roster.

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Keepers College Football ratings has UMass 5th in the MAC East.

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UConn will have two reinforcements in their receiving corps.

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Indiana's coach doesn't want the Hoosiers' QB's wearing dresses.

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The Vanderbilt Blog "Anchor of Gold" thinks anything less than a bowl bid will be a disappointment for the Commodores .

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Baseball fans: drunk or idots?

I watched a number of fan interference calls at the Red Sox game last night. What really blows my mind is watching fans beg for the ball while it is in play...

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Wednesday--April 9th, 2014

The UMass web site has a video featuring the Minutemen wide receivers and new receivers coach Mike Cassano.

The video has quotes from Shakur Nesmith 6-4 200. He was sidelined during the practice I attended. In person, he looks even taller than his listed 6-4. Nesmith rocketed into a starting position last summer  then suffered a separated shoulder against Wisconsin. He's wearing #19.

Also shown is Marken Michel, he's wearing #10 , worn by Devin Brown last year.

WR production was a big factor in UMass' offensive futility in 2013. Shaquille Harris and Elgin Long tied for the longest reception ------ 36 yards. That hardly fits Coach Whipple's vertical passing offense.

In 2013, UMass receivers went 177-1877 10.6 AVE 9 TD's 55 Long (Rob Blanchflower) 156.4 AVE/G.

The Minutemen were 103rd in passing average per completion and 111th in total passing offense.

UMass opponents had significantly better stats: 189-2613 13.8 AVE 22 TD's 81 LONG 217.7.6 AVE/G.

I would guess, if healthy, Tajae Sharpe would be the "X" receiver. Nesmith as the "Y" and Michel as the slot or "Z".

Other wide receivers looking for a role in the offense would be:

• Dalvin Battle (injury redshirt last year)
• E.J. Burston 1 start, 2-18 yards in 2013
• Shawn Campbell
• Bernard Davis 11 starts 16-124 1 TD in 2013
• Iric Harris (moved from DB in 2013)
• Shaquille Harris 1-36 in 2013
• Ryan Jacobucci scout team in 2013
• Alex Kenney (transfer from Penn State. Not on campus yet)
• Connor Lemieux red shirt in 2013
• Elgin Long 7 starts 14-179 1 TD last year
• Kevin Lovaincy redshirt 2013
• Rodney Mills 4 starts 5-47 yards in 2013
• Lamarriel Taylor incoming freshman
• Jalen Williams JUCO 25-358 2 TD's at Dean College

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The UMass Daily Collegian reports the Minutemen defense is embracing Coach Masella's 3-4 defensive scheme.

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Football Scoop says you can never have too many running backs.

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Rob Blanchflower gets a paragraph (#9) in this synopsis of the Pats draft needs.

Or he could end up in Denver or  St. Louis.

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Wednesday--September 12th, 2012

The UMass website has a transcript of Coach Molnar's MAC teleconference.

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Matty V has Elija Barrows will be Denard Robinson for this week.

In injury news (from Matty's article) Anthony Dima will be definitely back. True freshman Dalvin Battle may start for Marken Michel if he's unavailable Saturday.

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MassLive's Ron Chimilis, a charter member of the half-empty guys, looks at UMass' transition to FBS after two games.

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GoBlue.com interviews UMass' John McCutcheon.

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Michigan is looking to stiffen its defense after two lack luster efforts.

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The Michigan game will be a homecoming of sorts for Michael Cox.

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Victor is set to return to Cruz control.

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Tuesday -- September 18th, 2012

Matty V. has three stars from Michigan.

Matty also has an article on Quinton Sales leading the young UMass line.

It has a lot of player news. Sr OL Malcom Speller and  RSFR Brandon Howard are no longer with the program.

WR Marken Michel (arm), DT Galen Clemons (head injury), OL Michael Boland (concussion) and Stephane Milhim (sprained knee) are injured. Milhim may play Saturday, the others are out. Dalvin Battle is confirmed out for the season.

Matty also has a college football notes article.

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"Hold-the-rope" reviews the Michigan-UMass game over on the Maize-and-Blue Blog.

Michigan recruiting prospects enjoyed the game.

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Sports Chat Place has a preview of the UMass-Miami of Ohio game and has the Redhawks a 24 point favorite.

The Redhawks, you will remember, lost to Boise State on the road last Saturday.

Miami of Ohio does not seem to have a football blog.

Hustle Belt has several articles:

The week #4 MAC TV games.

This week's MAC power ratings.

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The NY Times breaks down Victor Cruz's 80-yard TD play.

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Thursday--April 11, 2013

We've looked at the UMass offensive line for spring 2013.

The UMass receiver corps has also had a lot of changes since last fall

Gone are:

• Deion Walker -- Graduated. 59-667 11.3 AVE 3 TD 38 LONG (led team)
• Alan Williams--Graduated 42-438 10.8 AVE 4 TDs (led team) 50 LONG
• Brian Dowling--left the program
• Marken Michel--left the program 22-229 8.2 AVE 56 LONG

Returning are:

• Tajae Sharp--SO 20-206 35 LONG 10.3 AVE
• Dalvin Battle--RSFR
• Rodney Mills-- SO no stats for 2012
• Elgin Long--RSSO 3 for -3 
• Shawn Campbell-- RSJR
• Bernard Davis--SO 6-32 13 LONG
• Derek Beck-- 3-30 16 LONG

Added this Spring:

• Klysmann Afonso--FR
• Kevin Lovaincy--RSFR
• Iric Harris -- RSSO moved from cornerback

Recruits:

• E.J. Burston
• Saquille Harris
• D.J. Woods--ESPN three-star recruit  

The UMass website does not have links to individual recruits. The whole list is here.

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Athlon Sports has the ten worst coaches for 2013. Two of them are in the MAC.

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Gunner Kiel picked Cincinnati.

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Victor Cruz's jersey was #5 in NFL sales last year.

Eli Manning and Cruz work out together at Duke.

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Suday--September 16th, 2012

I'm having Wi-Fi connection problems out here in NY. If this keeps up, production will be sparse until I get home tomorrow evening.

Thoughts about this game:

• Gone from the 2010 team that gave Michigan a hard time are All-CAA players Anthony Nelson, Greg Niland, Tyler Holmes, Jonathan Hernandez, Julian Talley and John Griffin.
• We need more team speed at defense. Last time, we were at least able to slow down Denard Robinson.
• Penalties have hurt UMass scoring chances the last two games, but with the number of freshmen we are playing, it may continue.
• The offense seemed to continue to improve. The Michigan defense we played was not the same caliber as the one that got Rich Rodriguez fired after the 2010 season.
• Hafis Williams had five solo tackles. The whole DL only had eight.

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Michael Cox #5/AP image

Matty V. says this time, UMass was no match for Michigan.

He reports on Michael Cox's 4.2 yards/carry. In fact, all UMass running backs averaged over 3.5 yards a carry.

We again had injury problems as UMass ended up with two starters out of the offensive line. Dalvin Battle may be gone for the season with a knee injury.

Robert Kitchings was the 25th  freshman to play in this season.

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MassLive says UMass got steamrollered.

Boston.com says UMass was overwhelmed.

ESPN says Robinson had a real big day.

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MAC conference scores and game summaries.  Ball State beat Indiana on a last second field goal. Eastern Michigan, and established MAC team lost to Purdue by a score only slightly less than the UMass-Michigan game.

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Thursday--June 6, 2013

It's official. Michigan transfer Ricardo Miller is a member of the 2013 Minuteman squad. The UMass website has post on Miller.

Miller's Michigan bio page.

Miller has an extensive Wikipedia page.

Matty V. has an article about Miller's transfer to UMass here.

MassLive.com also has a post on Miller here.

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Anderson #95

In further transfer news, Matty said Coach Molnar expects to announce soon  Justin Anderson,  6-5 280 pound DE will join UMass after transferring from Maryland.

Anderson's Terp's bio here.

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Matty also reports that Dalvin Battle, a RSFR WR will miss the entire 2013 season rehabbing an injury suffered last year.

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Athlon Sports previews the MAC.

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Wednesday--November 7th, 2012

Harry Plumer has UMass adjusting to colder weather.

From Plumer's article: list of freshmen redshirts


Dalvin Battle, WR (medical)
Stacey Bedell, RB (medical)
John Bieren, DL
Byron Cooper, LB
Julian Kaminoff, DB
Leo Krizanovic, LB
Vondell Langston, LB
Adam Richard, DL
Tyrell Smith, OL (medical)
Ian Sybilis, WR/DB
Matt Testani, LS
Dylan Thomas, K

CBS Boston quotes Coach Molnar saying "Nothing is easy right now."

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UMass has two former UMass football players on the 2012 UMass Hall-of-fame: Khari Samuel and Phil Vandersea

Story here.

Samuel's UMass bio here.

Also selected was Phil Vandersea (NFL Bio).

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The MAC conference rises to #4 on CBS' conference rankings. Relevant quote from the article:"It is very possible that, at the end of the year, there could be as many -- if not more -- ranked teams from the MAC as there are from the ACC, Big Ten or Big East."

The MAC Report Online looks at week #11 in the conference.
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