U Mass Minutemen 2018 Football Preview

U Mass Minutemen 2018 Football Preview

Opening Statement: Things looked bleak at U Mass last fall when the Minutemen started out at 0-6, but they won 4 of their final 6 games last season, including 2 of 3 to finish off the year, and hopes are a bit higher than normal coming into fall camp in 2018. With solid wins over Appalachian State and BYU, it appears that the Minutemen are feeling more confident than ever, and the season opening slate in 2018 is not something that looks too big to handle anymore. Mark Whipple has done a solid job at keeping his head above water, and maybe he breaks through this fall.

Breakdown Offense: The return of Andrew Ford at QB is a major thing for this program in 2018. Ford had an amazing season when all was said and done last fall, as he passed for 2924 yards with 22 TDs to just 4 INTs on the season for a 4 win football team. He completed 63.2% of his passes and passed for 265 yards per contest. Ross Comis is back as the primary backup, with Randall West bringing up the 3rd QB spot. In all, there are 7 total QBs on the roster, as this program is becoming a place to be for aspiring gunslingers.

Marquis Young is back to start at RB after rushing for 982 yards and 9 scores, while averaging 5.4 yards per carry last fall. He is a solid bet to push for 1000 yards or more this season, but needs to carry the ball more than 15.17 times per game to make that happen. Bilal Ally returns as the primary backup, while Tyshaun Ingram adds some depth with Nick Orekoya.

Andy Isabella and Sadiq Palmer both return at WR this fall. Isabella led the team with 65 receptions last fall for 1020 yards and 10 scores. He averaged 15.69 yards per catch last fall, and may be one of the better receivers in the nation that you have not heard of. Palmer caught 35 passes last season and could see an increased role this fall. He averaged 14.8 yards per catch. Sophomore Jessie Britt could step into the WR3 role this fall after catching 29 passes as a freshman. Jacoby Herring and Brennan Dingle could add some solid depth as Dingle caught 21 passes last fall, and Herring caught 7. Marquis Young is also an incredible option out of the backfield, as he caught 35 passes last fall.

There is a huge void to fill at TE, as Adam Breneman has moved on from a stellar career at U Mass. He caught 64 passes last fall. Taylor Edwards looks like he has first crack at the job, while Travis Reynolds and Kyle Horn press for reps as well.

Four starters are back on the line, but the Minutemen lost RT Jack Driscoll to Auburn on a transfer. Ray Thomas-Ishman (LT), Jake Largay (LG), Derek Dumais (C), and Lukas Kolter (RG) are all back and have solid grasps on their jobs. Larnel Coleman looks to be first in line at RT as we head to camp. James Reilly looks to be the backup at the Tackle spots, while Dan DiNicola and Mike Yerardi look to backup inside. This could be one of the deepest, and most talented lines, that U Mass has had in years, and certainly since joining FBS football.

Breakdown Defense: So, now we get to the bad news. The Minutemen were a wreck in 2017 defensively, allowing 31.8 points per game last season, which ranked them 94th nationally. Teams ran for 197.9 yards per game against them, and they allowed 404 yards per game of total offense.

DT Joe Previte is the lone returning starter up front. He totaled just 3.5 TFLs last fall, and will need to really step up his game this fall. Charlie Timite will likely start next to him inside. He played in 12 games as a freshman last fall. Mario Patton provides some depth, but there is not much of that.

Jake Byczko likely starts at DE, along with Chris DiTommaso. They combined for 2 TFLs as freshmen last season. If some help develops inside, Previte could, at some point, move outside to help out there. There is a group of freshmen coming in for line help in the fall, and the staff would rather not burn a redshirt season for them, but they may need to.

Bryton Barr and Jarrell Addo are back to start at LB this fall. Barr led the team with 105 tackles last fall, and totaled 9 TFLs and 5 sacks. Addo totaled 67 tackles, 7 TFLs, and a sack. Steve Casali is gone, and that opens up a large hole in the unit. Leon Flanagan is expected to step into his spot, but he is raw at this point, and inexperienced overall. He had just 15 tackles in 9 games last fall. There is little depth here.

Both CBs return this fall in Lee Moses and Isaiah Rodgers. Rodgers is a star, as he finished with 14 PBUs last fall, adding 3 INTs. Moses led the Minutemen with 4 INTs, and finished with 6 PBUs. Again, depth is a problem, but this starting unit is rock solid.

Tyler Hayes returns at FS after finishing last fall with 53 tackles and 3 PBUs. He added a pair of INTs as well. Brice McCallister is penciled in as the starter at FS as we head to fall camp, but Bakhari Goodson is also in the mix there. He totaled 3 PBUs last fall.

Breakdown Special Teams: Logan Laurent moves on after a 13/15 year on FGs, leaving a huge hole. Cooper Garcia is a JC transfer from Ventura, California, and will step into the job.

The Minutemen also are in need for a new Punter, and freshman George Georgopoulos is the leader heading into fall camp.

U Mass struggled on KR duty last fall, but Britt is back after averaging just over 18 yards per return, and Young averaged 24.1 yards per return on 10 returns.

Rodgers handled PR duty last season, but did not excel. He could be replaced in camp.

Final Analysis: The offense is not the problem in Amherst. Whipple has put together as strong an offense as you will find anywhere in the nation this fall with Andrew Ford at QB led by a veteran roster of guys who are really developing solidly. The defense, on the other hand, is a mess, and could really use some help. Recruiting went well on this side of the ball, but the unit, especially up front, is young and raw. There is solid talent returning at LB and in the secondary, but the entirety has to come together at some point. Maybe this is the year it happens. U Mass ended last season well, and there is reason to be optimistic that some pleasant surprises could be in store in 2018.