Massachusetts Minutemen 2023 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports)

Key Players Returning:

WR George Johnson III, OC Josh Atwood, OG Cole Garcia, OG Ethan Mottinger, OT Jonny Hassard, DE Marcus Bradley, DT Hugh Klages, DT Billy Wooden, NT Cletus Mathurin, LB Gerrell Johnson, LB Nahji Logan, CB Jordan Mahoney, FS Jalon Ferrell, FS Tyler Rudolph, KR Gregory Desrosiers Jr., PR Isaac Ross, PK Cameron Carson and PT CJ Kolodzley.

Key Players Departing:

RB Ellis Merriweather, WR Cam Sullivan-Brown, OT Max Longman, LB Tanner Davis, LB Jalen Mackie and CB Josh Wallace.

Top 10 Recruits:

3 Star Recruits: 
CB Isaiah Rutherford (Arizona transfer), DS Dashaun Jerkins (Ole Miss transfer), TE Steven Ortiz (Minnesota transfer), WR Christian Wells (Appalachian State transfer), DL JB Brown (Arizona transfer), EDGE Shambre Jackson (FSU transfer), DS Jalen Harrell (Miami, FL transfer), LB Tyler Martin (Arizona transfer), DS Christian LeBrun (Avon, Connecticut) and WR Mark Pope (Jackson State transfer).

2022 Results:

G01  @ Tulane  L  10-42
G02  @ Toledo  L  10-55
G03  STONY BROOK  W  20-3
G04  @ Temple  L  0-28
G05  @ Eastern Michigan  L  13-20
G06  LIBERTY  L  24-42
G07  BUFFALO  L  7-34
G08  NEW MEXICO STATE  L  13-23
G09  @ UCONN  L  10-27
G10  @ Arkansas State  L  33-35
G11  @ Texas A&M  L  3-20
G12  ARMY  L  7-44

Team Info:

2022 Record:  1-11

Home:  1-4
Away:  0-7
Neutral:  0-0

Head Coach:  Don Brown

Massachusetts:  44-30
Career:  96-56
Bowls:  0-0

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Brady Olson (77-153, 791 yards, 50.3%, 5.2 avg., 2 TD, 8 TD)
Rushing: 
Greg Desrosiers Jr. (44 car., 210 yards, 4.8 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: 
George Johnson III (28 rec., 402 yards, 14.4 avg., 1 TD)
TD’s Scored: 
Gregory Desrosiers (2)
Sacks: 
Marcus Bradley (2.5)
Tackles: 
Tyler Rudolph (61)
Interceptions: 
Jordan Mahoney (3)
Pass Deflections: 
Jordan Mahoney (6)
Tackles For Loss: 
Billy Wooden (5.5)
Forced Fumbles: 
Jordan Mahoney (3)
Kick Returns: 
Gregory Desrosiers (29 ret., 599 yards, 20.7 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: 
Isaac Ross (11 ret., 96 yards, 8.7 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: 
Cameron Carson (13-18 fg/fga., 72%, 13-13 xp/xpa., 52 pts.)
Punting: 
CJ Kolodziey (79 punts, 2873 yards, 36.4 avg., 17 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  3  Taisun Phommachanh  (RS JR/TR)
RB:  15  Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  4  George Johnson III  (RS JR/TR)
WR:  7  Mark Pope  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  8  Anthony Simpson  (JR/TR)
TE:  13  Gino Campiotti  (RS SR/TR)
LT:  58  Jonny Hassard  (JR)
LG:  73  Cole Garcia  (RS SR/TR)
OC:  60  Josh Atwood  (JR)
RG:  75  Marcellus Anderson  (RS SR/TR)
RT:  72  Ethan Mottinger  (JR)
KR:  20  Greg Desrosiers Jr.  (RS SO/TR)
PK:  91  Cameron Carson  (RS JR/TR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  18  Louce Julien  (RS SO)
DT:  42  Billy Wooden  (SR)
NT:  99  Hugo Klages  (JR)
DE:  1  Marcus Bradley  (SR SO/TR)
LB:  22  Gerrell Johnson  (JR)
LB:  48  Jerry Roberts Jr.  (RS SR/TR)
LB:  5  Tyler Martin  (RS FR/TR)
CB:  7  Jordan Mahony  (JR)
CB:  12  Isaiah Rutherford  (RS JR/TR)
FS:  2  Tyler Rudolph  (RS JR/TR)
RS:  21  Jalon Ferrell  (RS SR/TR)
PR:  1  Isaac Ross  (SR RS/TR)
PT:  95  CJ Kolodziey  (JR)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  C
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  C
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  B

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  C
Punt Returners:  B
Kickers:  B
Punters:  C

Schedule:

08/26 
@ New Mexico State Aggies  |  UMASS trails the series 0-2.  The Minutemen lost 13-23 last season’s meeting between schools and they lost (27-44) the inaugural meeting between schools in 2021.

09/02  @ Auburn Tigers  |  First meeting between schools.

09/09  MIAMI (OH) REDHAWKS  |  UMASS trails the series 1-3.  The Minutemen lost (13-20) the last meeting between schools in 2015.

09/16  @ Eastern Michigan Eagles  |  The series is tied 2-2.  The Minutemen are 0-2 since restarting the series in 2021 and their last series win (28-17) was in 2015.

09/23  NEW MEXICO LOBOS  |  First meeting between schools.

09/30  ARKANSAS STATE RED WOLVES  |  Last season’s 33-35 loss was the first meeting between schools.

10/07  TOLEDO ROCKETS  |  UMASS trails the series 1-6.  The Minutemen are 0-2 since restarting the series in 2021 and their only series win (28-14) was at the inaugural meeting between teams in 1976.

10/14  @ Penn State Nittany Lions  |  UMASS lost 7-48 the only prior meeting between schools in 2014.

10/28  @ Army Black Knights  |  UMASS trails the series 0-5.  The Minutemen lost (7-44) last season’s meeting between schools.

11/04  MERRIMACK WARRIORS  |  First Meeting between schools.

11/18  @ Liberty Flames  |  UMASS trails the series 1-4.  The Minutemen lost (24-42) last season’s meeting between schools and their only series win (62-59 OT) was at the inaugural meeting between schools in 2018.

11/25  vs. UCONN Huskies  |  UMASS leads the series 38-36-2.  The Minutemen are 2-2 since restarting the series in 2018 and their last series win (27-13) was in 2021.

Predictions:

Home:  2-3
Away:  0-6
Neutral:  0-1

Overall:  2-10