UMass Minutemen Preview 2024
It’ll be more fun when UMass goes back to the MAC. Anything positive will be seen as a big deal as it all builds up to next year.
It’s not like the program did much in its four years in the league - going 8-40 - but it’s a positive move to be a part of something bigger overall. And why?
Life as an independent hasn’t been ... interesting.
It’s been the most impossible place in the FBS to win. In 12 seasons since moving up to the FBS it has two four-win seasons in back-to-back years in 2017 and 2018. That’s been it.
Six years with one win or none weren't great, making last year’s 3-9 season under Don Brown - who was at the helm when UMass was good in the FCS - look fantastic.
There are just enough easy games to make this a possible four-win season - with the desperate hope of getting to five. The transfer portal took away a few key players, but brought in bulk options to provide more depth than the team has had in a long time.
UMass football fans deserve to start enjoying themselves.
UMass Preview 2024: Offense
- There were moments. No, the UMass offense wasn’t anything amazing, but at least there was scoring - a little bit. The 278 points were the most scored by the program since 2018. It wasn’t an explosive attack, but there was a bit of a passing game, the offensive line was a bit better, and there’s hope thanks to the transfer portal.
- Taisun Phommachanh will once again get the first look at quarterback after starting most of last year, but the offense has to move a bit better. There are a few options behind him, and there are decent receivers to work with.
Anthony Simpson is back after leading the way with 57 catches, and outside of him it’ll be ALL transfers, led by former big-time Clemson get Frank Ladson - by way of Miami - and a great pickup in TE Dominick Mazotti from San Jose State.
- The offensive front will never be a rock, but when it works, UMass wins - more on that in the Key To The Season. Again, the transfer portal is a big help with four good options around veteran C Josh Atwood.
Star RB Kay-Ron Lynch-Adams and his 1,157 yards and 12 touchdowns are gone to Michigan State, and now it’s a young backfield with little-used Jalen John getting the first look along with a few freshmen.
UMass Preview 2024: Defense
- The offense wasn’t great. The defense REALLY wasn’t great. It was among the worst in the nation allowing 37.8 points per game, but the 356 yards per game allowed weren’t totally awful. The run defense was a particular problem - there wasn’t a lick of pass rush - so …
- The defense didn’t go as big with the transfer portal as the offense did, but the line got a few new pieces with Etinosa Reuben from Georgia Tech for the inside and Jaylen Hudson from Wake Forest to try cranking up the plays behind the line. The linebackers, though, should be the strength.
Gerrell Johnson is one of the team’s best all-around defenders from his outside linebacker spot, and there’s enough around him to make this more of a positive this season.
- The lack of a steady pass rush was a problem for a secondary that didn’t make enough big things happen. Bryant transfer Lake Ellis should be a factor at one corner, Dartmouth’s Leonard St. Gourdin will be a factor on the other side, and safety Te’Rai Powell should be one of the team’s leading tacklers.
UMass Key To The Season
Run, run, and keep running.
The kick and punt return games were atrocious. UMass isn’t good enough to be miserable in the third phase, but it’s really this simple - run well, and positive things happen.
UMass was 3-1 when running for more than 167 yards - the one loss was a 34-31 fight with New Mexico - and 0-7 when running for fewer. Run well, and - duh - that controls the clock, takes the pressure off the D, and takes over games. Get to 170 yards against the mediocre teams on the slate and UMass will make games a battle.
UMass Key Player
RB Jalen John, Jr.
Is he ready to handle the work after close to 1,600 rushing yards and 16 scores took off? Ka’Ron Lynch-Adams was the workhorse for the attack, but he’s gone to Michigan State. Greg Desrosiers was the big play guy averaging over eight yards per run, and now he’s doing his thing at Memphis.
John ran ten times for 31 yards, and now the ground game is his to take over.
UMass Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: TE Dominick Mazotti
An interesting and nice get for the Minutemen, Mazotti went across the country after catching 44 passes in the last two seasons - 57 in four years - with five scores at San Jose State. He’ll be the main midrange target in the attack.
Top Transfer Out: RB Ka’Ron Lynch-Adams
He didn’t do too much over his first four seasons, but in Year Five he ripped off 1,157 yards with a monster 234-yard day in the win over Army and with three other 100-yard days. He’s not the main man now at Michigan State, but he’ll get plenty of work.
UMass Key Game
Eastern Michigan, Aug. 31
It’s not like UMass took the 41-30 opener against New Mexico State and ran with it - it lost seven straight after that - but as an FBS program it was the first opening day win over another FBS program since … ever. Unless you want to count the 17-0 win over Holy Cross to open up the 1901 campaign.
The schedule gets really brutal really fast. UMass has to take advantage of the winnable home games when it can get them.
UMass 10 Best Players
1. Anthony Simpson, WR Sr.
2. Te’Rai Powell, SS Sr.
3. Gerrell Johnson, LB Sr.
4. Dominick Mazotti, TE Sr.
5. Leonard St. Gourdin, CB Sr.
6. Frank Ladson, WR Sr.
7. Taisun Phommachanh, QB Sr.
8. Lake Ellis, CB Sr.
9. Brayden Rohme, OT Cal
10. Isaiah Rutherford, CB Sr.
UMass 2023 Fun Stats
- 4th Down Conversions: Opponents 7-of-15 (47%), UMass 3-of-13 (23%)
- 2 Point Conversions: UMass 4-for-7, Opponents 0-for-2
- 1st Quarter Scoring: Opponents 116, UMass 41
UMass 2024 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
It’s going to be another rough year as an independent before getting back into the conference world.
UMass has to make money, and it’s dealing with dates against three SEC teams to do it. Throw in a home game against Liberty, and it’s going to be a long second half of the season.
However, there are enough winnable games to make a push for the first season with more than four wins as an FBS program - it was good before making the move back up in 2012 - since 1904.
There are five games in the first half of the season against MAC teams, winnable dates against Central Connecticut and Wagner to provide a decent base of wins, but all the fun has to happen before November - it gets tough before ending the season against UConn.
Set The UMass Win Total At … 3.5
Likely Wins: Central Connecticut, Wagner
50/50 Games: at Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, at Northern Illinois, UConn
Likely Losses: at Georgia, Liberty, at Miami University, at Mississippi State, Missouri, at Toledo
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