UMass Football Blog

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

UMass Football News--May 26th, 2026

RB Justin Williams-Thomas

The Minuteman Command has a post-spring review of the UMass running backs.

IMHO, except for Pop Watson, the running backs have the chance to provide the biggest improvement impact in 2026.

In 2025, UMass was #131 out of 134 FBS teams in net rushing. We were next to last in rushing TD's with 6 total for the season. QB Grant Jordan accounted for 2 of the six, so running UMass running backs scored 4 TD's for the season.

We averaged 2.81 yards/carry and 82.4 rushing yards a game.

Moving the running game to FBS average (about 150 yards/game) would make a big improvement in the Minuteman offense. Not to mention making Pop Watson look good.

UMass added Jordan Washington and Justin Williams-Thomas through the transfer portal.

I also like true freshmen TK Davis and Justin Lewis.

I didn't get the transfer portal 240-pound FB/H back I wanted, but Washington and Williams-Thomas have decent size.

Last year we rushed for 101 net yards against FCS Bryant and 69 net yards against Bowling Green (the next-to-last team in the MAC). Hopefully, that's in the past.

Go UMass!

Monday, May 25, 2026

Memorial Day--2026

Hope all UMass fans, players and staff have a peaceful Memorial Day. Please remember the Fallen and those who made sacrifices to make this quiet weekend possible.

Saturday, May 23, 2026

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Amari Cannon

Amari Cannon, a 6-1 185 pound RB from Downington, PA has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video highlights.

1,046 rushing yards and 319 Receiving yards in 2025.

Cannon (good name for a RB) has 10 offers including UMass, Temple and Kent State from FBS. He could be part of the Minutemen resurgence and get an excellent education in Amherst.

Friday, May 22, 2026

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Jack Hinspeter commits to UMass

The Minuteman Command has New Jersey LB Jack Hinspeter commits to UMass.

Don Bosco Prep coach Dan Sabella comments on Hinspeter's joining the Minutemen.

New Jersey Sports Zone has some highlight film and reports on Hinspeter's commitment.

I blogged about Hinspeter's recruitment back on April 15th.

Hinspeter is an excellent beginning to the 2027 class. I look forward to following his career with the Minutemen.

Thursday, May 21, 2026

UMass Football News--May 21st, 2026

The MAC blog "By-the-Belt" has a detailed breakdown of the MAC Conference's options
on it's 2027 media package.

This warrants careful reading. The upcoming media package is a big deal for UMass. The media money will be a major source of income for the athletic dept.

The MAC's last package was too long in duration. As the article relates, ESPN went through multiple revisions during the lifetime of the contract. Sports viewership is a big part of today's media. The traditional networks have imploded and sports provides, in many cases, the only thing to watch.

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The proposal that the Big 10 and the SEC pool their media rights is controversial.

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Who would televise the proposed 24-team college football playoff?

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Wednesday, May 20, 2026

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Ben Tagianetti

Ben Tagianetti, a 6-3 305 pound IOL from Williston-Northampton will take an OV to UMass in June.

247Sports page here.

Hudl.com has video highlights.

Tagianetti has 17 offers including Army and Navy. Buffalo has offered from the MAC. He is scheduled to take OV's to UMass and Temple. The Minutemen offer a opportunity to join the new look UMass offense and stay in New England.