UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Marques White commits to UMass

 Marques White, a 6-2 245 pound transfer OLB/Edge from Dartmouth has committed to UMass.

 The Minutemen Command has a post on White's joining the Minutemen.

White has Power Four size and should be an instant positive in UMass' front seven.

UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Dennis Palmer

 

Bethume-Cookman athletic dept image

Dennis Palmer, a 5-10 190 pound transfer RB from Bethume-Cookman has a UMass offer.

Wildcat bio here. 

247Sports page here.

Video highlights here. 

Palmer was freshman All-Conference after leading the Wildcats rushing with 9 GP 159-344 4.4 AVE 5 TD's 42 LONG. 

Palmer has an offer from UTEP and two FCS teams. He could play FBS football and be part of the Minuteman renaissance in Amherst.

UMass Football Requiting 2025--Marques White

Dartmouth athletic dept image

 Marquis White, a 6-2 245 pound transfer LB from Dartmouth/McNeese State has a UMass offer.

Big Green bio here. 

Video here. 

Last year at McNeese he went 52 TT 6.5 TFL (led team) 1 INT 3 BKUP 7 SACKS (led team).

White could return to New England and play a FBS schedule highlighted by two Power Four teams and make an impact for the Minutemen in their first year in the MAC.

 

UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Jordan Dunbar

Rice athletics dept image

 Jordan Dunbar, a 6-0 198 pound CB transfer from Rice/Kansas State will take an OV to UMass.

K-State bio here. 

247Sports page here.

Dunbar was twice All-Conference at Rice. UMass had offered out of HS back in 2019. He could come home and play in the rising Minutemen program with Coach Harasymiak.

UMass Football Recruiting 2025--George Nahas

 

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George Nahas, a 6-5 305 pound transfer OL from Iowa State has a UMass offer.

Cyclone bio here. 

247Sports page here.

Was a top-30 player in Iowa coming out of HS. 

Currently has another offer from FCS South Dakota State. Nahas can play all five OL positions and be part of the new Minuteman offense in Amherst.

UMass Football News--April 24th, 2025

 Episode #1 of the Flagship podcast is up. Mike Corey and Rene Ingoglia talk about the state of UMass football and the prospects for 2025. It's worth listening to. 

They're pretty optimistic. They think six wins in 2025 is doable. I think that's a stretch. Four or five wins would be a good start to our MAC career. We never won more than three times in the MAC (Mark Whipple 2014: Kent State, Eastern Michigan and Ball State).

I do agree with a number of their points. The performance center, the press box and the bubble are as good as anything in the MAC.

The big positive in my opinion is the MAC conference schedule and media money attached. The MAC signed a ten year media package that runs out in 2027. MACtion has been a ratings success and I think the next media package will be much improved. Besides the media money the conference gets some revenue from bowl appearances and UMass will share in the that (1/2 share in the first year). 

Right now in college football it's all about the money.

The other big improvement will be a regular conference schedule. No more playing three Power Four teams in the same year. The 2026 and 2027 schedules are significantly easier than this year. 

If we were to get six wins this year and a bowl bid, it would be real sea change for the program and UMass sports. 

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The Minuteman Command also has an interview with TE coach Matt Layman. 

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UMass Football Recruiting 202500--JaMario Clements

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 JaMario Clements, a 5-11 190 pound transfer RB from Duquesne has a UMass offer.

Duquesne bio here. First team All-NEC, 986 yards rushing. 6.6 yards/carry.

Ran for 208 yards against FCS power Youngstown State last fall.

Clements has,offers from Georgia State, Marshall, Ohio, Kent State, UTEP and Delaware. He could see a lot of playing time in the new UMass offense with the Minutemen.

UMass Football Recruiting 2025--Kannon Katzer

 Kannon Katzer, a 5-10 205 pound transfer RB from Ferris State has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here. 

Will visit UMass this weekend.

This article from Sports Illustrated features Katzer. 

Averaged 8.8 yards/carry at Ferris State.

Besides UMass Katzer has an offer from Sacramento State. He could get an excellent East Coast education and see early playing time in Amherst.

Umass Football News--April 21st, 2025

 The Minuteman Command has a look at the UMass position groups after the Spring game.

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Video interview with WR Tyree Kelley after the Spring game. 

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The UMass Football "X" feed has video of Dallas Elliot's great catch in the end zone.

Elliot's UMass bio.

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Former UMass RB CJ Hester commits to Michigan. 

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UMass Football News--April 20th, 2025

 The UMass athletic site has a recap of the Spring Game.

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The Hampshire Gazette reports UMass caped a successful Spring camp. 

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The Daily Collegian says the Minutemen showed new wrinkles in the Spring Game. 

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The number of UMass fans at the game looked to be about twice the number who attended last year. Hope springs eternal for Minutemen fans. 

I thought there were some positive facts compared to previous years. For one thing, UMass definitely has two QB's who could start. This is a big change from most of the Bell and Brown eras. Both AJ Hairston and  Grant Jordan looked like gamers. Hairston has a big arm and is moble. Jordan looked poised and was an accurate passer. 

As the Collegian mentioned, it appears UMass will try to have a bigger passing game in 2025. I liked the WR corps. Jacquan Gibson,  Tyree Kelley and T.Y. Harding all looked good.

Dallas Elliot had a highlight reel catch in the back of the endzone that was outstanding. 

On defense, it was more difficult to point out outstanding plays. All passes were defended all day. The DB's knew the offense, of course, but I did see any busted coverages. 

It was harder to watch the line play but Coach Harasymiak praised Josh Nobles and Aquan Robinson.

All in all, it looked positive and maybe we'll be respectable in 2025.

Click on an image an Blogger displays a larger view.

 

UMass Football News--April 19th, 2025

 The Hampshire Gazette has UMass wraps up Spring practice and changes focus to today's Spring game.

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Unlike last year's game, the Minutemen came out of spring practice relatively healthy. Last year Cookie Desidero was the only available RB and Taishun Phommachanh DNP. 

Coach Harasymaik said today the Minutemen will play offense against defense, but "not to the ground". So we should see a good sample of what UMass is capable of.

Some of the transfer players including the two All-Ivy offensive linemen will not arrive until fall camp.

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Minuteman DL coach Nyeem Wartman talks with reporters after yesterday's practice. 

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There are still many objections to NCAA settlement of the NIL lawsuit. 

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Some teams will spend $10-$15 million in this spring's transfer portal.

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UMass Football News--April 18th, 2025

 247Sports has a post on former UMass RB CJ Hester potentially joining Michigan. Life in the NIL era---more money to be third string.

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More life with the NIL. Tennessee players reportedly threatened to sit out the 2024 playoffs if their NIL money was not increased.  

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UMass coach Joe Harasymiak speaks with reporters after the final practice before the Spring game.

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UMass TE coach Matt Layman talks to reporters about the status of the the tight end room at the end of Spring practice. 

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UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Jeremiah Nash

Hudl.com image

 Jeremiah Nash,  6-2 305 pound DL from Dayton Ohio has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video.

This article mentions Nash. 

Nash has a Power Four offer from Kentucky. MAC schools Kent State, Ohio and Toledo have offered. He could see early playing time with the renewed Minuteman defense.

UMass Football Recruiting 2026--Terry Robinson

 

Indy Star image

Terry Robinson, a 6-4 242 pound DL from Indianapolis, IN has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video.

MaxPreps has stats. 

This article features Robinson. 

Besides UMass, Robinson has MAC offers from Toledo, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. He would have a chance to play early in the new Minuteman defense in Amherst.

UMass Football News--April 15th, 2025

 UMass safety Christian LeBrun enters the transfer portal.

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UMass LB coach Garrett Gillick discusses the state of the linebacker room. 

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Kent State fires head coach Kenni Burns. 

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MAC champion Ohio loses a couple of key defenders to the transfer portal. 

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Eastern Michigan hires Raiders star Maxx Crosby as assistant general manager of  their football program.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2026--Caleb Scott

 

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Caleb Scott, a 6-2 215 pound LB from Indianapolis, IN has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video.

MaxPreps has stats. 

Scott has MAC offers from Kent State, Toledo, Western Michigan. Dartmouth has offered from the Ivies. He could play FBS-level football and get an excellent East Coast education in Amherst. 

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Benjamin Rice

Hudl.com image

 Benjamin Rice, a 6-0 193 pound RB from Cincinnati, OH has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video.

Besides UMass Rice has an offer from Toledo. He could see some early playing time in Amherst with Coach Harasymiak.

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Mark Madden

Hudl.com image

 Mark Madden, a 5-10 165 pound athlete/DB from Cincinnati, OH has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video.

He's the subject of this article. 

Madden has Power Four offers from Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia. Marshall, Toledo and Central Michigan have offered from the MAC. Madden could see early playing time in Amherst with the UMass Minutemen.

UMass Football News--April 10th, 2025

 Hustle Belt has a comprehensive report on UMass' Pro Day.

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The UMass "X" feed has a video interview with new Minuteman punter Keegan Andrews. 

Andrews UMass bio. 

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We were last in College Football News 2025 early football predictions. We're next to last in their combined 2024 football and basketball ranking. 

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The UMass Daily Collegian looks at the 2025 incoming defensive transfers. 

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UMass Football News--April 9th, 2025

 The Minutemen Command has a video interview with UMass WR coach Jordan Hogan.

They also have a session with LB coach Garret Gillick . Gillick mentions LB's Tyler Martin and Timmy Hinspeter as leaders so far in Spring ball.

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The UMass Daily Collegian reports on the offensive transfers for Spring. 

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UConn adds a home-and-home with MAC team  Miami (Ohio).

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Sacramento State joins FBS as an Independent in 2026.

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College Football News has UMass dead last (again) in it's 2025 preseason rankings. 

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UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Xavier Bala

Hudl.com image

 Xavier Bala, a 5-11 202 pound RB from Long Island City, NY has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video.

This Article from 247Sports features Bala's recruiting. 

Bala has Power Four offers from Rutgers, Syracuse and BC. Buffalo, Temple and Bowling Green have offered from the Grouo-of-Five. Bala could see early playing time with the new UMass offense in Amherst.

UMass Footbal Recruiting 2026--Jojo Johnson

Richmond-Times-Dispatch image

 Jojo Johnson, a 6-4 175 pound WR from Richmond, VA has a UMass offer.

Hudl.com has video. 

MaxPreps has stats.

Johnson has an offer from Wake Forest. In Group-of-Five ECU, Delaware, ODU, Buffalo and Coastal Carolina have offered. He he could be part of the new Minuteman offense and see early playing time in Amherst.

UMass Football News--April 5th, 2025

 Yesterday's video interview with UMass DB coach Donald Celiscar mentioned two players new to the defensive backfield.

Malcolm Green is a transfer from UVA and previously played for Clemson. He played in 28 career games and has 40 UT and 56 TT's.  

TJ Magee

TJ Magee transferred from Davidson. He played in 24 career games and had 58 UT and 70 TT's.

UMass lost starters Lake Ellis, Isaiah Rutherford, Te'Rae Powell and Tyler Rudolph to graduation, so the Minutemen could be starting a whole new defensive backfield. 

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UMass QB Ryan Jankowski enters the transfer portal after spending one year with the Minutemen. 

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UMass Football News--April 4th, 2025

 The Minutemen Command has thoughts of HC Joe Harasymiak as the transfer portal opens.

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Zeke Altman has quotes from UMass DB coach Donal Celiscar.

 

Zeke also has an interview with Minuteman DL Tim Gran-Randall.  Tim's UMass bio.

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Major donors to Cal Football say they won't donate to the program unless the school appoints a general manager over the football program that bypasses the Athletic Director.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2026--Daysun Looby

MaxPreps image

 Daysun Looby, a 6-3 250 pound DL from Hillside, NJ will visit the Minutemen.

Hudl.com has video. 

MaxPreps has stats. 

 Looby would be a good fit in the new UMass defense under Coach Harasymiak.

UMass Football News--April 2nd, 2025

 The Minutemen Command has a couple of video interviews:

UMass OL coach Kurt Anderson. 

Thoughts from HC Joe Harasymiak. 

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UMass "X" feed has a check in with Malcolm Green. 

Green's UMass bio. With 44 GP and 7 starts in his career, he has a good chance to start for the Minutemen in 2025.

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Toledo schedules a home-and-home with Syracuse.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2026--Max Roche

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 Max Roche, a 6-4 225 pound TE from Niceville, FL has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video.

MaxPreps has stats. 

Roche has offers from all three service academies as well as FIU and James Madison. He could get a high level education without the service commitment with Coach Harasymiak and UMass.