A couple of quotes from
Josh Walfish's Twitter feed.
"
Also wants to re-iterate that will play real football Saturday, just need to structure it in a way that keeps the Minutemen healthy for the summer. Numbers are thin along lines right now."
Also:
"
Just spoke with Walt Bell. He's not going to add a quarterback from the transfer portal. Sticking with the two new QBs he's bringing and using final 3 or 4 scholarships to address bigger needs on the roster."
For the first time in years I will be unable to go to the Spring game. I would encourage all local UMass fans to make the effort to to out and see the team. I really enjoyed the practice I went to and I think most fans will get a kick out of interacting with the players and coaches. It'll be interesting to see the new spread offense too.
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As to the second quote I would rank the Minutemen's needs for this year for the remaining scholarships as:
1. A defensive end. UMass did not have a pass rush in 2018 and coincidentally did not have a rush defensive end. They did recruit
Xavier Gonsalves who will help. One of Bell's first recruits was DE Jaylin Bannerman,
but one or both sides backed off on his coming to Amherst. UMass was next to last (#128) in the entire FBS division in sacks in 2018. For the Minutemen defense to improve we need a pass rush and some edge contain. Fixing the UMass defense will require more than one recruiting cycle, but a JUCO DE would probably make a measurable difference in 2019.
2. A running back. When Bell was hired, the Minutemen had no recruited running backs---as in zero. Bell was able to get
Bilal Ally to return to the team and that would rank as one of his very best "recruits" this year. UMass also recruited three-star recruit
Kevin Brown. Arkansas State where Coach Bell had his most success,
has five three-star running backs. We flat need more bodies in the offensive backfield.
3. A middle linebacker. UMass has not recruited a MLB in two years. Penn State transfer
Jarvis Miller will likely start somewhere . In the practice I attended, UMass only had about five or six linebackers on the field. The Minutemen need more size, speed and athleticism at this position.
4. A offensive lineman. Coach Bell has three OL recruits in the 2020 recruit class. Besides gray-shirt
Helber Fagundes, who is already playing Spring Ball, UMass add freshmen
Xavier Graham and
Max Longman. Things will be better in 2020, but a JUCO or transfer offensive lineman would really help this year.
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Meanwhile,
Rutgers is working on their passing game.
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Pro Football Focus thinks
Andy Isabella could be a first round draft pick.
Andy is on Fan Sided's
fifty player draft board for the Cleveland Browns.
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