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. 

UMass Football News--February 6th, 2026

 

UMass formerly announces hiring Max Warner as offensive coordinator.

Hopefully, Warner will have a lot more offensive talent to work with this year. Former Minuteman OC Mike Bajakian directed the worst offense in college football, but was hired away by Power Four Michigan State, which leads to the conclusion the problem was talent, not coaching.

The Daily Collegian has a post on Warner's hiring. 

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Western Michigan's DC is hired as defensive coordinator for the Los Angles Chargers. 

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Miami (of Florida) signs an OT with a $1.9 million NIL tag.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Don Spillers

USA Today image

  UMass has offered to Don Spillers, a 6-2 195 pound WR from Detroit, MI

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video highlights. 

This article covers his recruitment by Michigan State. 

This article discusses his recruitment by Power Four teams. 

Spillers has fifteen offers including Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State and more. Bowling Green, Toledo, Miami (Ohio) and Western Michigan have offered from the MAC. Spillers is a versatile athlete and he would have a chance to play early in Amherst.