UMass Transfer Portal 2026--How we did--Defensive backs

 BTW, the first 2026 UMass football roster is up.

The Minutemen had a dismal defensive result in 2025. A big part of the 0-12 result was from the UMass pass defense.

Temple (a 5-7 team) went 22-29 246 yards and 6 passing TD's against the UMass defense. Bryant (a 3-8 FCS team) threw for 318 yards and 3 TD's, which included a seemingly effortless game winning drive in the fourth quarter.  

The Minutemen were #56 in pass yards given up, but were #116 in yards per completion.

UMass was #135 (next to last) in pass defense efficiency. 

UMass added Jahmad Harmon from Ball State/Kent State,  Isaiah Reed from Brown and Chris Stanley from Garden City C.C.

They also added Michael Robinson   (corrected name) from Rutgers in the STAR position.  

Reed should be an instant starter at one corner.  Both Harmon and Stanley should compete to start on the other side.

Nick Sabin probably made the STAR position famous at Alabama. The STAR is usually a hybred linebacker/strong safety. Teams usually pull the MLB and use the STAR (as a fifth defensive secondary guy) in pass coverage, but also are responsible for run defense and can also blitz. The STAR position is sorta like a weak side linebacker with more coverage radius.

Robinson should know Harasymiak's defense coming from Rutgers. He should give Minutemen DC Jared Keyte some package options. 

I would give the transfer additions as a potential sold "B". I think UMass added a starter at one corner and maybe the other side too.  

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--GaVin English commits to UMass

 

UMass gained their first commitment of the 2027 recruiting cycle as GaVin English, a 6-4 285 pound OL from Springfield, MA has committed to the Minutemen.

I've blogged about English before. 

Great that UMass has added some Western Mass talent to the roster. I look forward to following English's career with the Minutemen. 

UMass Football News--February 12th, 2026

 The MAC-centric website "Hustle Belt" is closing. The site was a high quality source for information and news of MAC teams.

With the dead tree media effectively--- dead, sites like Hustle Belt provided a lot of interesting news and commentary for a Group-of-Five league. 

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Yahoo Sports reports Sacramento State is looking to join a FBS conference with the MAC as one of the top interests.

The MAC's media package is up for bids in 2027. With the popularity of college football in an all-time high, the MAC should be able to negotiate a considerable increase in media money. Sacramento State is in a good media market and that would help.

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The Mountain West  eyes streaming media for additional revenue. 

Hey, I'm paying ESPN+ $12.99/month to watch UMass men's and women's basketball and hockey. I could be paying that to the UMass athletic dept..

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And finally,

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UMass Football Recruiting 2026--Aidan Canty-Whitt commits to UMass

 

Aidan Canty-Whitt, a 6-3 285 pound IOL from Concord, MA has joined the Minutemen as a PWO.

Hudl.com has video highlights. 

Also did track and Field. 

UMass needs offensive linemen. Canty-Whitt has good skills and has a chance to earn a scholarship and beyond in Amherst. 

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--GaVin English

 

UMass has offered to GaVin English, a 6-4 285 pound OL from Springfield Central HS in MA.

The Minuteman Command has an interview with English during his Junior Day visit to UMass. 

Hudl.com has video highlights. 

UMass needs offensive linemen. English could play in front of friends and family in Amherst and join the Pop Warner and Joe Griffin talent pipeline with the Minutemen. 

UMass Transfer Portal News--How we did--Offensive Line

 If you missed it, all the original starting offensive linemen from 2025 left/graduated. LT Luke Painton, LG Sullivan Weidman, C Benjamin Roy, RG Mao Glynn and RT Ryan Mosesso all are gone.

The offensive line was not a strong point last year. I went to most of the games and watched 'em all on DVR. I can't think of a game where we dominated the line of scrimmage. I've blogged about our nearly last in FBS rushing totals. 

For the season, UMass went 54-172 31% on third downs. The Minutemen went 6-26 on fourth downs 23%. Those are really bad numbers. A stop on fourth down is a turnover. Stops on 3rd downs are effectively turnovers. A first down at the end of the game would have won the Bryant and Buffalo contests. A lot of that was due to offensive line play.

Brock Taylor started some games later in the season. Jaxon King, Payton Miller and Zachary Franks are probably the top returning offensive linemen.

UMass added Aitor Unionabarrenechea from Colorado State. Greg Knox from McNeese State, and Greg Klingensmith from William & Mary. All three will probably start.

Still, I think this leaves the O-line room pretty thin. I would grade the potential improvement here as a "C" (primarily because of numbers). 

If I was coach and I had enough NIL money for two additional players, I'd spend it on two offensive linemen. If I had NIL for three, I'd spend it on three offensive linemen. 

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--

 

Hudl.com image

UMass has offered to Josiah Wallace, a 6-8 300 pound OT from Glen Ellyn, IL

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video. 

This article covers his offer from Northwestern. 

Wallace has Power Four offers from Cincinnati, Kansas State, Northwestern and Purdue. Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Toledo and Western Michigan have offered from the MAC. UMass needs offensive linemen and Wallace could be in the mix early in Amherst.