Recruiting 2014--Jon Bezney

Hudl.com image

Several recruiting sources say UMass has offered to Jon Bezney, a 6-5 275 pound OL from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Scout.com page here.

Hudl.com has video.

Besides UMass, Bezney has offers from Ohio, Kent State, Bowling Green, Kentucky and Louisville from FBS.

Friday--April 19, 2013

UPDATE 12:50 PM: The UMass All-Access website has a video preview of tomorrow's Spring game.

Hope to see a lot of UMass friends there to see the game and to honor the victims off this week's terror  attack.

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Matty V. has a story about how the UMass football team will honor the Boston Marathon runners in tomorrow's Spring football game.

Football Scoop has a post on the UMass football team's efforts.

More on the UMass community's efforts to help the Boston Marathon victims.

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Chris Koepplin signed a contract with the Bills Thursday. Congratulations Chris!

Koepplin's Bill's bio here.

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The Journal News has a MAC football Spring notebook.

Dave Clawson will have a veteran squad at Bowling Green this year.

The Detroit Free Press has Spring updates on the three directional Michigan teams in the MAC.

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Eli Manning understands Victor Cruz's absence from Spring drills.

Giants $7 millon/year not enough.

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UConn will have their Spring Game Saturday too.

With some seriously ugly new helmets...

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Recruiting 2014--Jimmy Hogan II

Hogan family image

I've blogged about  Jimmy Hogan, a 6-5 225 pound DE from Franklin Lakes, NJ before.

NJ.com has a updated recruiting story here.

MaxPreps has Hogan's stats here.

Besides UMass, Hogan holds offers from Rutgers, UCF and UConn.

Thursday--April 18, 2013

GSU image

Football Scoop says the Atlanta Journal is reporting former Georgia State offensive coordinator John Bond has been hired by UMass.

Bond has been offensive coordinator at both Northern Illinois and Army in the past. Bond's GSU bio here.

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UMass football will honor Boston Marathon runners who were unable to complete the course because of the terrorist attack at Saturday's Spring Football game.

The UMass website and NESN also have articles on event.

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The UMass All-Access site has the 10th video report from Spring practice. This time it covers quarterbacks.

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Kellen Pagel has a walk-off single to give UMass the win over Hartford.

The UMass website also has a story on the win over Hartford.

BTW, Pagel's UMass baseball bio.

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UMass will be celebrating its 150th anniversary starting next Monday.

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Recruiting 2014-- Rohan Blackwood III

I've blogged about Rohan Blackwood a couple of times before. The 6-5 DE just received his fifth FBS offer.

Mississippi State brings his total to five.

Besides UMass, Blackwood holds offers from USF, Mississippi State, Wisconsin and Toledo.

Wednesday--April 17, 2013

UMass football is making a strong effort to reduce concussions and head injuries. Matty V. has a story about the introduction of new helmet gear and other efforts by UMass football to reduce injuries.

Guardian Caps website here.

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UMass doctor Pierre Rouzier was at center of the terrorist attack Monday and helped treat the wounded.

Dr. Rouzier's UMass bio here.

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A University of Cape Town student spends a semester at UMass and comments about sports and other impressions.

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The MAC Report Online has reports on three MAC team's Spring Games: Eastern Michigan, Toledo and Northern Illinois.

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No Victor Cruz as the Giants start voluntary workouts.

NFL.com says Cruz just has to arrive by week #1.

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Tuesday---April 16, 2013

First of all, Mrs Blog and I would like send our thoughts to those injured in yesterday's Boston Marathon terror attack. There is nothing sadder in this world than the persistence of evil.

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The UMass Spring Game is Saturday. The football team will be helping the Amherst Survival center as well as taking donations for the VAMC Northampton.

I'm going, and hope to see a bunch of UMass fans at the game.

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MassLive has a story on the UMass offensive line for 2013. A lot of the potential for improvement in 2013 rides on the offensive line.

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Speaking of the offensive line, the UMass All-Access video page has a segment on them for the ninth update in Spring football.

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A sports blog has a feature on Jenney Dell, former UMass cheerleader and current Red Sox sideline reporter.

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Former UMass star Brandon Collier is helping potential NFL draft pick Lawrence Okoye in position drills.

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Thaddius Smith verbaled to Boston College over offers from UMass, Temple, Rutgers, Toledo and several FCS teams.

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Akron, the one team UMass beat in 2012 has a Spring Video. Ya gotta accentuate the positive.

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Recruiting 2014 --- Alec Bowman

MaxPreps image

ESPN reports UMass is interested in Alec Bowman a 6-4 280 pound OG from Paramus, NJ.

ESPN page here.

MaxPreps page here.

Drawing interest from a number of East schools including BC, Temple, Penn State, Rutgers and others.

Monday--April 15, 2013

The last position to look at on offense is running back.

Gone are:

• Michael Cox graduated 198-715 3.6 AVE 5 TD 32 LONG
• Jamar Smith not on Spring roster

Returning:

• Jamal Wilson RSSO 18-53 2.9 AVE 13 LONG
• Stacey Bedell RSFR 3-0
• Jordan Broadnax JR 53-124 2.3 AVE 12 LONG
• Matt Carini RSJR 
• Greg Orekoya RSJR

Joining in the Spring:

• Nick Valles FR

Joining in August:

Daquan Mack 6-1 247 FR. As a senior, earned All-SOL National Conference First Team honors ... Named to the Philadelphia Inquirer All-Southeastern PA Fourth-Team ... A three-year starter and team captain as a senior ... Rushed for 687 yards on 109 carries with eight touchdowns ... Ran for over 1,000 yards as a junior with 15 touchdowns ... Posted over 2,000 yards rushing for his career ... Also a member of the basketball team as a junior and senior serving as team captain in 2012-13 ... Spent summers coaching football and basketball camps for 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders.

Lorenzo Woodley 6-0 210 FR. The No. 40 ranked running back in the nation, Woodley ran for 1,086 yards and scored 24 touchdowns last fall for Miami's Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. As a junior splitting carries in the backfield, Woodley rushed for 727 yards (8.3 avg) and scored 11 touchdowns.ESPN's scouting report describes the 6-foot-0, 210 pound running back as having "a good blend of size, strength, and straight-line speed" with the "physical tools to project as a high future college load-back.Woodley also had offers from North Carolina State, Vanderbilt, Arizona State, Purdue, and was heavily recruited by several other BCS schools from the ACC and SEC.

The low AVE of UMass running backs in 2012 was due to our offensive line woes. Improvement this year depends on how much progress is made on the line. 

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Over a 130 kids showed up for the UMass Youth Football Clinic at Gillette Saturday.

The UMass All-Access page has more video.

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The Youngstown News has a long article on the uncertain future of FCS football.

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Victor Cruz honored by Big Brothers Big Sisters.

NJ.com says Justin Tuck hopes Cruz attends the Giants off-season program.

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James Ihedigbo will have his second annual invitational at Amherst High the morning of April 20th.

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Saturday--April 13, 2013

Matty V. has a story about UMass tight ends. Featured is Rob Blanchflower.

Dave Roback/MassLive image

Blanchflower will one of the UMass captains this year. He went 43-464 10.8 AVE 2 TD 27 Long in 2012.

Good news is the return of Brandon Howard, RSSO 6-5 250.

Also in the mix will be Derek Beck, SO 6-4 205. Beck had 3-20 6.7 AVE 20 LONG.

Rodney Mills, 6-1 205 will get some reps as well as playing WR and FB.

True Freshman Sharif Custis, 6-3 215 is listed as a TE/H-back. From the UMass signing page: "As a senior, was an All-Catholic League Class AA First Team Selection ... Named to the Philadelphia Inquirer All-Southeastern PA Second Team ... Earned "Top Tight End" honors at the 2012 Nike SPARQS Football Combine ... In 2012, had 11 receptions for 289 yards and 7 touchdowns ... Also held offers from Stony Brook and Temple ... Older brother Kadeem played defensive end for Temple from 2009-12."

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UMass Football Clinic for Kids today at Gillette Stadium!!

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The UMass Radio Team (again) won the Associated Press award for MA & RI college football broadcast for the UMass-Ohio game on 09/29/12.

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A Nevada Blog has a story about former UMass OL coach Ron Hudson.

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Around the MAC:

Paul Haynes has Kent State in position to succeed.

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Breaking down a college QB's pre-snap reads.

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Recruiting 2014----Dontae Angus

247Sports image

ESPN reports UMass has offered to Dontae Angus, a 6-5 310 pound OT from Philadelphia.

Angus' ESPN page here.

247Sports page here.

Visited UMass during Junior Day in February. Also holds offers from Rutgers and Temple.

Friday--April 12, 2013

From the Minutemen Club Newsletter:

As an integral part of the UMass Athletics family please join us for two transformational events on Friday, April 26, 2013 as we celebrate and break ground for a new era in our basketball and football programs.

Friday, April 26, 2013 

FOOTBALL PERFORMANCE CENTER and PRESS AND SKYBOX COMPLEX CONSTRUCTION CELEBRATION

10 A.M.

Warren P. McGuirk Alumni Stadium
1 University Drive
Amherst, MA 01003

 

CHAMPIONS CENTER

CEREMONIAL GROUNDBREAKING
1:30 P.M.
Athletic Fields, South Side of the Mullins Center
200 Commonwealth Avenue
Amherst, MA 01003

We hope you can join us for this celebration. Any questions please contact the Athletic Development Office at 413-545-4290.

Go UMass,


John McCutcheon, Athletic Director

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Around the MAC

Dave Clawson of Bowling Green gets a new contract and new lineups.

Ball State's defense is a work in progress.

No MAC defensive backs have swagger like the Buffalo Bulls.

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Kansas State has a Spring QB battle too.

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UConn has a new Husky logo.

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JAY-Z expected to keep Victor Cruz with the Giants.

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Thursday--April 11, 2013

We've looked at the UMass offensive line for spring 2013.

The UMass receiver corps has also had a lot of changes since last fall

Gone are:

• Deion Walker -- Graduated. 59-667 11.3 AVE 3 TD 38 LONG (led team)
• Alan Williams--Graduated 42-438 10.8 AVE 4 TDs (led team) 50 LONG
• Brian Dowling--left the program
• Marken Michel--left the program 22-229 8.2 AVE 56 LONG

Returning are:

• Tajae Sharp--SO 20-206 35 LONG 10.3 AVE
• Dalvin Battle--RSFR
• Rodney Mills-- SO no stats for 2012
• Elgin Long--RSSO 3 for -3 
• Shawn Campbell-- RSJR
• Bernard Davis--SO 6-32 13 LONG
• Derek Beck-- 3-30 16 LONG

Added this Spring:

• Klysmann Afonso--FR
• Kevin Lovaincy--RSFR
• Iric Harris -- RSSO moved from cornerback

Recruits:

• E.J. Burston
• Saquille Harris
• D.J. Woods--ESPN three-star recruit  

The UMass website does not have links to individual recruits. The whole list is here.

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Athlon Sports has the ten worst coaches for 2013. Two of them are in the MAC.

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Gunner Kiel picked Cincinnati.

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Victor Cruz's jersey was #5 in NFL sales last year.

Eli Manning and Cruz work out together at Duke.

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Recruiting 2014 --Quantaye Battle

Image credit unknown

Several recruiting sources say UMass is interested in Quantaye Battle, a 6-3 180 pound WR from Baltimore, MD.

Rivals page here.

This article features Battle.

Battle is planning visits to Temple, North Carolina, West Virginia and UMass.

Wednesday--April 10, 2013

Matty V. has a story (paywall) about Delvin Brown. Coach Molnar is quoted as saying Brown is the Spring's "most improved player".

Other players in the mix at safety are Joe Colton and Khary Bailey-Smith.

One thing I've been meaning to mention is Coach Elmassian's defense has not received a lot of the FBS-era recruits. Of the 46 "official" recruits (not walk-ons and additions) only 14 of 46 were recruited as strictly defensive players.

Even in the offensive-heavy MAC, Coach Molnar will have to load up on defensive recruits one of these years.

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Speaking of Coach Elmassian and his defense, the latest video update from Spring practice features defensive backs.

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Motivated by the Penn State sex abuse case, a Massachusetts lawmaker has introduced a bill to make reporting child abuse mandatory.

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USA Today reports the Detroit Lions worked out some potential free agents in the coming NFL draft including Michael Cox.

Mark Baer image

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The Orlando Sentinel has five story lines to watch in the MAC for 2013.

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The Boston College Blog "BC Interruption" talks about the Eagles keeping recruits in Massachusetts.

BTW, the Eagles got a verbal from dual-purpose QB Darius Wade. He held a UMass offer among others.

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Recruiting 2014-- Peter Mokwuah

NJ.com image

NJ.com reports UMass will offer to Peter Mokwuah, a 6-4 304 pound DE from Staten Island, NY.

NJ.com article here.

Rivals Page here.

Hudl.com has video.

Mokwuah has an offer from Rutgers. Drawing interest from Penn State, UConn, Virginia, Pitt, Temple and others.

Tuesday--April 9, 2013

The UMass Daily Collegian says Mike Wegzyn has the early lead in the Spring quarterback competition.

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Gunner Kiel visits Ball State and Miami of Ohio.

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Conference USA is looking at 16 teams.

This Article by  Bleacher Report writer looks at conference realignments. At the end of the article it talks about Clemson, Miami, Florida State and Virginia Tech problems with strength-of-schedule in a playoff selection.

My prediction is that Maryland is not the last ACC team to leave. That could create an opportunity for UMass and UConn in the future. The sooner Coach Molnar can make us into a winner in the MAC the better. It's going to take at least four or five years, but there will be opportunities to come.

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Wisconsin, our opening OOC opponent, is loaded at RB.

The Badgers also have a new 3-4 defense.

Vanderbilt loses a recruit to -------- Princeton.

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Victor Cruz contract negotiations are still stalled.

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Crime in New Hampshire. It's out of control up here.

 What's being called the biggest case of illegal eel possession in history .

Recruiting 2014---Malik Crossdale

NY Post image

This article by NJ.com features Malik Crossdale, a 5-11 190 pound RB from Bronx, NY.

Crossdale's Rivals page here.

Besides UMass, Crossdale is drawing interest from Rutgers, Texas Tech and Indiana.

Monday--April 8, 2013

The UMass website as a couple of posts on the Football Team's participation in the Autism Awareness 3k/5k run and walk. Story here. The UMass All-Access site has video with Coach Molnar and several of the UMass players.

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A Tulsa newspaper looks at the reasons Tulsa got a Big East invite instead of UMass. Tulsa is an established program. We were a "provisional" first year FBS member. Let's see where we are in five years...

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The Ohio Bobcats will have depth and experience in their secondary in 2013.

Video: how Toledo is building champions.

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Notre Dame has two WR's leave the team. Davonte' Neal is rumored to be moving to Arizona to be near his family. No word on  Justin Ferguson. I wonder if he could end up at UMass.

Ferguson was an ESPN four-star player.

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Yahoo Sports says life without Victor Cruz is a scary thought for the Giants.

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Recruiting 2014-- Solomon Vault

Image by Toni Sandys

ESPN's recruiting database shows UMass has offered to Solomon Vault, a 5-9 180 pound RB from Gaithersburg, MD.

Vault's ESPN page here.

Averaged 6.6 yards/carry and scored 22 TD's in 2013.

Recently received a offer from Minnesota.

Besides UMass, Vault has offers from Marshall, Old Dominion, Pitt, Minnesota and Western Michigan.