UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Grant Jordan commits to UMass

 

 

Grant Jordan, a 6-2, 210 pound transfer QB from Yale has committed to UMass.

Yale bio here. 

 In 2024, Jordan went 166-250-1938 3 INT 22 TD's 66.40 % 158.16 EFF 215.0 AVE.

All-Ivy Honorable Mention.

Scored seven total TD's against Brown.

Jordan should make an immediate impact in the QB room.

UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Dean Shaffer commits to UMass

Dean Shaffer, a 6-1 230 pound transfer LB from Yale has committed to UMass.

Shaffer's Bulldog bio here. 

His 2024 season was cut short by an injury, but he went 4 GP 15 UT 10 AT 25 TT 8 TFL (in four games!) 1 BU.

This article features Shaffer, who is Yale's 151st Captain. 

Shaffer should be an immediate force in the middle of the UMass defense.
 

UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Rocco Griffin commits to UMass

 

Rocco Griffin, a 5-9 200 pound RB transfer from Vanderbilt has committed to UMass.

Griffin's Commodores bio here.

This article covers his leaving Vanderbilt.

The Tennessean has a gallery of images of Griffin in action.

Griffin led Vanderbilt in rushing yards in 2021 and should be an excellent addition to the UMass RB room.

UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Nick Hawthorne

 

"X" image

Nick Hawthorne, a 6-3 210 pound transfer Safety/Edge from Boise State has a UMass offer.

Broncos bio here. 

This article covers his entering the transfer portal. 

So far in the transfer portal, Hawthorne has offers from Miami (Ohio), UMass and Stephen F. Austin.

 

UMass Football News--January 5th, 2025

 Two of UMass' 2024 opponents played each other in last night's Bahamas Bowl. Buffalo won 26-7.

The Flames were without their two stars Kaidon Salter (who entered the transfer portal) and  Quinton Cooley (who was prepping for the Senior Bowl).

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Northern Illinois will leave the MAC for football-only membership in the Mountain West.

That move will drop the MAC back to an even numbered 12 members in 2026. 

The MAC is currently third in bowl league victories at 5-2.

The MAC's media package will finish in 2027 and the rating success of "MACtion" should result in a much better media income for league members.

The league could stand pat with 12 members or they could add a team like Western Kentucky. Delaware would be a good fit despite their recent joining the CUSA. 

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UMass Football News--Jared Keyte joins the UMass staff

 

Jared Keyte, the nicklebacks coach at Rutgers is showing his "X" account as defensive coordinator at UMass.

The Hampshire Gazette has the story here.

Keyte's Scarlet Knights bio here.

Keyte was previously DC at Maine and also coached at Springfield College.

This article from Rutgers Wire in 2023 features Keyte. 

Coach Harasymiak as a defense coach figures to be heavily involved in the defense. With Keyte with him on the Rutgers staff, they should be able to work together seamlessly.

 

UMass Football N ews--January 3rd 2025 Garrett Gillick and Nyeem Wartman-White join the UMass staff

 

Coach Harasymiak announces two additions to the UMass coaching staff.

Garrett Gillick will be linebackers coach. His UMass bio.

Gillick was associate head coach and defensive coordinator at New Hampshire.

 Coaching the DL and outside linebacker will be Nyeem Wartman-White. His UMass bio.

Wartman-White spent the previous three seasons with Akron. His Zips bio.

Penn Live.com reports former Penn State linebacker takes job at UMass. 

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UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Keion Mitchell

San Diego State athletic dept image

 UMass has offered to Keion Mitchell, a 6-4 270 pound DL/Edge from San Diego State.

Mitchell's Aztec bio.

Mitchell is originally from Framington, MA and he could play in front of friends and family for the Minutemen.

New Year's Day--2025

 Today starts another year of the UMass Football Blog. May this year be the year we finally turn the corner and be a viable FBS program.

I wish all blog readers a healthy and successful 2025. May we all meet at a bowl game in the Fall..

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