(Photo Credit: Chris Tucci/UMASS Athletics)
Key Players Returning:
RB Ellis Merriweather, WR/PR Jermaine Johnson, DE Viczaril Alobwede, DE Uchenna Ezewike, DE Avien Peah, CB Noah Boykin, CB Cody Jones, CB Josh Wallace, BS Tanner Davis, NB/KR Te’Rai Powell, and PT George Georgopulos.
Key Players Departing:
QB Will Koch, WR/PR Samuel Emilus, DE Jake Byczko, LB Cole McCubrey, LB Mike Ruane, and PK Jeremy Martin.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: RB Kay’Ron Adams (Rutgers transfer), OT Willie Allen (Michigan transfer), S Bryson Richardson (North Carolina transfer), CB Bryce Watts (North Carolina transfer), DE Devin Baldwin (Rutgers transfer), LB Dominic Schofield (Milford, Massachusetts), ATH Javon Batten (Brooklyn, New York), WR Michael Fitzgerald (Roswell, Georgia), TE Ryan Mosesso (Dedham, Massachusetts), and OT Phil Jeffs (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada).
2020 Results:
G01 at Georgia Southern L 0-41
G02 at #16 Marshall L 10-51
G03 at Florida Atlantic L 2-24
G04 at Liberty L 0-45
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 0-4
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-4
Neutral: 0-0
Head Coach: Walt Bell
UMASS: 1-15
Career: 1-15
Bowls: 0-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Garrett Dzuro (15-36, 220 yards, 41.7%, 6.1 avg., 0 TD, 2 TD)
Rushing: Ellis Merriweather (42 car., 115 yards, 2.7 avg.,0 TD)
Receiving: Jermaine Johnson (14 rec., 96 yards, 6.9 avg., 0 TD)
TD’s Scored: None
Sacks: Mike Ruane (1.5)
Tackles: Mike Ruane (31)
Interceptions: None
Pass Deflections: Josh Wallace (5)
Tackles For Loss: Avien Peah (6)
Forced Fumbles: Noah Boykin/Uchenna Ezewike/Da’Shon Ross (1)
Kick Returns: Jermaine Johnson (4 ret., 59 yards, 14.8 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Tanner Davis (1 ret., 9 yards, 9.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: George Georgopoulos (29 punts, 1214 yards, 41.9 avg., 5 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 5 Tyler Lytle (RS SO/TR)
RB: 8 Kay’Ron Adams (RS SO/TR)
WR: 2 Rico Arnold (RS SO/TR)
WR: 13 Tray Pettway (SO/TR)
WR: 10 Jermaine Johnson (RS SO)
TE: 18 Taylor Edwards (GR)
LT: 61 Max Longman (RS SO)
LG: 74 Reggie Marks (RS JR/TR)
OC: 70 Joe Horn (RS FR)
RG: 72 Ethan Mottinger (RS FR)
RT: 58 Jonny Hassard (RS FR)
KR: 8 Kay’Ron Adams (RS SO/TR)
PK: 91 Cameron Carson (RS SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 60 Timothy Moulton (RS JR)
DT: 97 Devin Baldwin (RS FR/TR)
NT: 95 Taishan Holmes (RS JR/TR)
DE: 00 Avien Peah (GR)
LB: 19 Zack Magdis (RS FR)
LB: 22 Gerrell Johnson (RS FR)
NB: 21 Te’Rai Powell (RS FR)
CB: 4 Noah Boykin (RS JR/TR)
CB: 12 Josh Wallace (RS SO)
FS: 5 Donte Lindsey (RS JR)
BS: 3 Tanner Davis (RS SO)
PR: 80 Eric Collins (GR/TR)
PT: 88 George Georgopoulos (RS JR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/04 at Pittsburgh Panthers | First meeting between schools.
09/11 BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES | UMASS trails the series 5-22. The Minutemen are 0-4 since 2011, and they lost (21-55) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/18 EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES | UMASS leads the series 2-0. The Minutemen won (28-17) the last meeting between schools in 2015.
09/25 at Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | UMASS trails the series 0-3. The Minutemen lost (28-62) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/02 TOLEDO ROCKETS | UMASS trails the series 1-4. The Minutemen lost (35-51) the last meeting between schools in 2015.
10/09 CONNECTICUT HUSKIES | UMASS leads the series 37-35-2. The Minutemen lost (35-56) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/23 at Florida State Seminoles | First meeting between schools.
10/30 at Liberty Flames | UMASS trails the series 1-2. The Minutemen lost (0-45) last season’s meeting between schools, and their only series win (62-59 OT) was at the inaugural meeting in 2018.
11/06 RHODE ISLAND RAMS | UMASS leads the series 47-36-2. The Minutemen won (36-27) the last meeting between schools in 2011.
11/13 MAINE BLACK BEARS | The series is tied 1-1. The Minutemen lost (31-44) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
11/20 at Army Black Knights | UMASS trails the series 0-3. The Minutemen lost (7-63) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/27 at New Mexico State Aggies | First meeting between schools.
Predictions:
Home: 2-4
Away: 0-6
Neutral: 0-0
Overall: 2-10
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