 |
| Time Magazine Image |
I hope everyone has a safe and happy Memorial day. That's what all those service members sacrificed for.
Back when I was in Boot Camp, two companies were in the same training timeline. One of the guys in our sister company died. We all signed a card to his parents.
Please take good care of our country.
 |
| Image credit unkown |
Gardner has offers from Boston College, Bowling Green, Cincinnati and Maryland. UMass has lots of playing time to offer and a chance to be involved in a change in the status quo in the Northeast.
 |
| Hudl.com image |
MaxPreps has some stats (only six games in 2020).
UMass is the first offer for Domnie. He'll have more when 2023 rolls around.
UConn announces it's home schedule and kickoff times.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William Wingler, 98 years old, UMass football and marching band fan passes away. Rest in peace, brother.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FBS schedules chronicles the best and worst bye weeks in 2021. Mentions UMass.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yesterday in 2017, the Bears signed Victor Cruz.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Draft Kings sports book predicts 1.5 wins for UMass football in 2021.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
| Canada Football Chat image |
This article covers his offer from Michigan State.
Lorenzetti has 18 offers including a number of Power Five schools plus Ivies. UMass was the first to offer.
 |
| Twitter image |
This article from Fall of 2020 features Siegel.
This article showcases his offer from Vanderbilt.
Siegel has 16 offers including UConn, BC and Buffalo from the Northeast. UMass was the first to offer. UMass has a quality Northeast education and a lot of available playing time.
 |
| Twitter image |
Offensive guard MVP of a Baltimore Under Armour camp.
Moreno also has offers from Maryland and Syracuse. There should be lots of playing time up for grabs in Amherst in future years.
 |
| Twitter image |
Performed well at this spring showcase camp.
King also has Power Five offers from Syracuse and Rutgers. UMass offers the best food in college football and lots of potential playing time.
 |
| 247Sports image |
MaxPreps has stats. 14 TD's and a 10.3 yards/carry as Junior.
First Team All-Region in 2020-2021.
This article features Bell's offer from Ole Miss.
Bell has eight offers including Ball State, Charlotte, Georgia State, Kent State and Mississippi. UMass has plenty of playing time available for RB's.
UnderDog Dynasty says UMass is positioned for its best ever FBS football season.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Minutemen have three first ever opponents in 2021.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BC Bulletin ranks opposing coaches for 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UMass researchers profiles UMass football player Solomon Siskind.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Syracuse blog profiles common opponent Liberty. The Flames are loaded again this year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Howard Herman has how a UMass football helmet became a staple in the life of a minor league baseball team.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UMass defensive line coach Cedric Douglas leaves for Buffalo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hudl.com has senior highlights.
Charles is an athletic big man and he should have an excellent opportunity to earn a scholarship and playing time in Amherst.
Hudl.com has senior highlights.
MaxPreps has East Coast Preps highlights.
This article from 247Sports explains his reopening of his recruiting after committing to Air Force.
UMass needs depth at all positions on the offensive line and Brandt should have a chance to earn a scholarship and playing time in Amherst.
 |
| Daniel Dunn image |
Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" broke the news and has a post on Allen.
Allen has spent most of his time at Louisiana Tech where he had 15 starts and was Honorable Mention All-CUSA. Allen's Tech bio here.
Allen was a four-star recruit out of HS and originally signed with LSU. His Tigers bio here.
With 15 career starts, Allen should be in contention to immediately start at left tackle. The UMass offense struggled mightily in 2020 and its revival in 2021 will probably go as far as the offensive line takes it. Welcome to Amherst, Willie. May you have a All-Independent's season.
I blogged about Fraser back in January.
Hudl.com has some highlights from 2021.
Congrats to Fraser. Hope he has a great career with the Minutemen.
 |
| Noah Boykin |
 |
| Bryce Watts and Te"Rai Powell |
I think the defensive backfield is the deepest and most talented unit at UMass. Boykin had a nifty interception during the Spring game. The unit has three Power Five transfers: Boyin, Bryson Richardson and Bryce Watts. Josh Wallace started in 2019 and 2020. Te'Rai Powell looked like a dynamic play maker in 2020. The Minutemen also have Donte Lindsey, Justin Lewis, Osei Dixon, Jordan Mahoney, Javon Batten, Nasir Mills, Tristan Armstrong and Michael Oppong.
This unit is as good as any in the Group-of-Five. With a pass rush and not having to play deep linebacker, I think the DB's will shine in 2021.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click on an image and Blogger displays a larger view.
As I said last time, I did not get very good images of the UMass defense.
The first team DL seemed to be Billy Wooden and Cletus Mathurin ---and #62 (Taishan Holmes ?). Viczaril Alobwede and Avien Peah as the DE's/rush LB's.
The "2's" seemed to be Devin Baldwin, Josh Atwood, Timothy Moulton and one other player I did not get a number on. Other defensive linemen that could see time would be Aaron Beckwith, Uchenna Ezewike, Xavier Gonsalves and Hugo Klages.
The defensive line sets the performance of the entire defense. There is no better pass coverage than a defensive pass rush. Holding the line of scrimmage enables the LB's to get to the ball carrier.
In 2019 the Minutemen defensive line was probably the most over-matched unit on the team. In 2020, in limited duty, it looked as if some significant progress had been made. Hopefully, in 2021 the D-line will continue to improve.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I did not get many images of the defense during the Spring game. I e-mailed UMass Sports information to make sure they were OK with me taking some pictures. They said no problem, but asked that I stay in my assigned seat. The defense was on the other side of the field, so it was harder to take images of the defensive units.
At LB it seemed Gerrell Johnson and Miles Turner were getting the most snaps with the first team. Nahji Logan and Abdoul Kone should see a lot of snaps on the strong side. Da'Shon Ross could play on the outside of four linebacker sets.
UMass only added one LB in the 2021 class, local three-star recruit Dominic Schofield.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
| UMass image |
I did not get any images of the TE's during the Spring game. Coach Bell has said in print several times he likes the TE room. A productive receiving season from the TE's would aid the running game and allow the QB some quick throws, which would help out the Minutemen offensive line.
Josiah Johnson also ran well in short yardage situations in 2020. UMass did not have a FB on the roster last year. Taylor Edwards has battled injuries during his career and I would like to see him have a break out season in 2021. Jackson Manning was a three star recruit and could have a lot of playing time ahead of him. Jacob Orlando DNP in 2019 or 2020. Jaret Pallotta played in all four games in 2020 including one start.
UMass also adds two local three-star TE recruits in Eni Falayi and Ryan Mosesso in the 2021 recruiting class.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've been watching the FCS playoffs. This hit on Delaware QB Nolan Henderson in the quarter finals is the cheap shot of the year so far.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The UMass QB's went a combined 10-26 in the Spring game. Thus, the WR's did not get to show a lot.
Click on the image and blogger displays a larger view.
 |
| Trey Pettway |
 |
| Onuma Dieke |
 |
| Taj Jones |
I did not get a good image of O.C. Johnson or Victor Santiago. UMass will add three-star recruits Michael Fitzgerald and Jamir Roberts to the wide receiver room over the summer. Both should get some playing time in 2021. I could see Pettway and Jones as the "X" and "Y" receivers with Johnson as the slot in 2021.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Both CAA teams lost in FCS semi-finals.
Delaware lost to South Dakota.
James Madison blew a 21-3 lead to lose to Sam Houston.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Right on cue, I had laptop troubles in Maine and I was unable to post.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
| Coach Miller and the O-line |
 |
| UMass image |
At the Spring game the starting O-line was Jonny Hassard at RT, Dalton Tomlison at RG, Joe Horn at C, Reggie Marks at LG and Max Longman at LT. Dominik Behrens was not in pads, but he was hanging around with the 1's.
UMass had enough offensive lineman to have a complete set of "2's", which is a big change from 2019.
Offensive linemen don't get any official stats, but an improved running game and offense in general depend on their efforts in 2021.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Bleacher Report writer gives a write-up on Larnel Coleman's chances with the Miami Dolphins.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm going up to Maine for a couple of days. As usual, I'll try to keep the blog going. If I can't, the Blog will be back Saturday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One position UMass hopes improves is RB. The UMass rushing game was virtually nonexistent in 2020. Since our move to FBS the Minutemen have never finished above #100 in rushing offense and most years were in the bottom five. There may be light at the end of the tunnel.
 |
| Ellis Merriweather. |
Merriweather came in and was elected captain. He's a good straight-ahead runner and should develop better stats this year.
Rutgers transfer Kay'Ron Adams may have been the most impressive runner at the Spring game. I did not get a good image of him, but check out this run on the UMass Football Twitter feed.
 | |
| Jared Chisari |
Chisari, a 5-11 200 pound transfer from Bowdoin did not look out of place. He scored on a nifty run up the middle. He should add some depth to the position.
Jonathon White, a 5-10 205 pound transfer from Hutchinson C.C. DNP due to a rib injury per Mark Grabowski.
The last four years or so it always seemed UMass was one-deep at RB. This year it looks as if we have made some strides in talent and depth.
 |
| UMass image |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two of the four teams in the FCS semi-finals are from the CAA.
Delaware beat Jacksonville State 20-14.
James Madison beat North Dakota 34-21.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kyle Grabowski of the Hampshire Gazette reports the Spring game was end of a long process for UMass football.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I went to the game and will give my 2 cents about game over the coming week .
Starting with the quarterbacks. Click on an image and Blogger displays a larger view.
 |
| Tyler Lytle |
Lytle went 5-10 and 77 yards. He looks like the player to beat in the QB battle. I thought he looked like he was thinking a little during play. That's to be expected as he is still learning the offense.
 |
| Garrett Durzo |
Druzo looked most comfortable with the offense. He only went 3-9 in passing but I think he is clearly the #2 guy in the quarterback room right now.
 | |
| Zamir Wise. |
Luke McMenamin DNP unless I missed it.
Freshman recruit Brady Olsen should be in this summer and will add more depth to an improving group of quarterbacks.
 |
| UMass image |
Be of good cheer UMass fans. With 90 players in Spring ball and the 2021 recruits coming in, we actually have a football team.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larnel Coleman was drafted by the Dolphins in the 7th round.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The UMass Spring game is today. I'm attending and hope to have some images to post on the blog Monday.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There's an updated version of the UMass roster up.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western Mass news has a post on Larnel Coleman in the NFL draft.
Sports Illustrated has Coleman #274 in the remaining players in the NFL draft.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Boston Herald says UMass QB Tyler Lytle seeks a new start with the Minutemen.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
