UMass made a significant push to upgrade its roster this offseason.

Through the Transfer Portal and high school recruiting, the Minutemen added impact pieces across the board in players like Pop Watson, Joe Griffin Jr., Isaiah Reed, Justin Krueger, Corey Warner, David Moore and Aedan McCarthy, all of whom project to play meaningful roles either immediately or in the near future.

Drew Alsup wasn’t a name that anybody on the outside expected to be included in those potential immediate contributors.

But within weeks of arriving in Amherst as a late addition to the recruiting class with little - if any - fanfare, the true freshman walk-on wide receiver had grabbed the attention of everybody in the building.

“Drew Alsup is a special kid,” UMass special teams coordinator Joe Castellitto said. “He’s different.”

UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak pointed to Alsup’s mentality.

“I wish I could pour Drew into every single one of our players,” Harasymiak said.

The 5-foot-9, 175-pounder made plays throughout spring practice both on offense and on special teams, something that Harasymiak expected him to do eventually, but maybe not right away.

“Surprised that probably this fast he’s made an impact,” Harasymiak said.

But it’s clear Alsup didn’t come to UMass just to wait his turn.

“It’s a choice that he made to bet on himself,” Harasymiak said. “He had a lot of great opportunities, Ivy league opportunities.

“But he came here and bet on himself. And I would say he’s going to cash on that.”

The Williston Northampton School product earned First Team All-NEPSAC honors during his post-graduate season after previously starring at Central Catholic, helping lead Williston to a 7-3 record and a championship game appearance.

Harasymiak said Williston head coach Tommy Beaton has built his own program up by adding players like Alsup and that Alsup has proven to be everything Beaton said he’d be when the Minutemen were recruiting him.

“From the way that Coach Beaton talked about him and what we saw when we went to practice,” Harasymiak said of why they wanted to add Alsup.

“Let’s be real, he ain’t 6-1, he ain’t 6-2. That’s how those guys make it, right? And his mentality has just been great.”

That mindset shows up long before Alsup even gets on the field.

“He shows up at like 4:30 in the morning some days or 4:45, gets his body right for practice,” Castellitto said.

“I joke with him, he’s got a chair that’s his, basically, in the players lounge,” Harasymiak added.”He’s in there and he’s studying the playbook. And I’m sure he’ll get all A’s. So it’s just the mentality.”

And as the group of talented newcomers continue to try to earn a role on this year’s team, Alsup has already proven worthy of getting on the field right away.

“Someone like Drew is going to play,” Harasymiak said flatly. “I would be shocked if Drew didn’t play in some way. Whether it’s because injuries and all that stuff, but also he’s pushed himself. He’s put himself in that position and everyone’s got the same amount of time, same choices to make. So he’s probably the one that’s elevated the most.”

Whether he finds meaningful minutes at receiver or not, it seems obvious he’ll find his way onto special teams.

“The kid’s just hungry,” Castellitto said. “I can trust his work ethic, so it gives me faith in his ability.”

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The most noticeable thing about Joe Griffin Jr. these days is the club covering his right hand, the result of a deeply sliced pinky finger that required stitches.

But UMass is hoping the transfer receiver’s frame and athletic ability will allow him to stick out like a sore thumb in the MAC this fall.

“A lot of the guys in the league don’t look like that,” UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak told reporters on Tuesday, referring to the 6-foot-3, 208-pound Griffin’s physique.

“They just don’t. There’s not a lot of 6-3-plus guys that can elevate and go get it. So he’s got to be a weapon for us.”

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The former Springfield Central High School star has already proven capable of being a weapon at the college level, making an immediate impact as a true freshman at Boston College, where he caught 18 passes for 234 yards and five scores in 2022. He followed that up with 25 receptions for 345 yards and one touchdown as a sophomore before transferring to Wisconsin.

After sitting out as a junior in 2024, Griffin only caught one ball for five yards for the Badgers a year ago, setting up his transfer to Amherst.

Since arriving at UMass, Harasymiak said he’s seen Griffin mature.

“Been two spots, comes here, and now this is it for him, right?” Harasymiak said. “A lot of these guys with this new wave of college football with the Portal and NIL, this is it. This is his opportunity. So I think he’s grown. He’s got all the talent in the world.”

As a defensive coordinator at Minnesota and Rutgers before taking the head coaching job at UMass a year ago, Harasymiak has been around some elite receivers, including KJ Duff and Ian Strong in Piscataway.

“Joe’s got all that,” Harasymiak said.

Griffin has had to battle through some injuries this spring beyond just the cut finger, but he’s proven he can do so.

“He’s been out there for the last week with stitches in his hand and he’s catching the ball with a club on his hand,” Harasymiak noted.

The coach also lauded Griffin for the work he’s put in with strength coach George Greene.

“I think the biggest strides he’s made has to do with his body,” said Harasymiak. “He’s gotten bigger.”

Harasymiak is hoping a return closer to home and a reunion with his former high school and schoolboy quarterback Pop Watson will allow for a more comfortable atmosphere.

“I think he’s happy,” the coach said. “I think he’s enjoying it, but he has to be good for us. There’s no choice. You know what I mean? He has to be. He has to be the guy.

“He’s going to have to play the most football that he’s ever played, right? And the clock is running. So I’m excited for him and I think he’s taking the steps and he’s pushed himself, which I think in the past has been something that he hasn’t done. So I’m pleased with that.”

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Harasymiak talked about the format of Saturday’s spring game, how the team has progressed this spring, which new players have stood out and more.

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Kaiden Drinkwater left UMass last week with more than just impressions, he left with a clear sense of where the program is headed.

The 2027 Massachusetts wide receiver made his way to Amherst last Tuesday and came away with a strong understanding of both the scheme and the vision being built within the program.

“It was awesome,” he said. “It was fun. I really like what they’re building over there. I think this year will be a lot different. It will go smooth over there.”

The Tabor Academy star holds offers from UMass, Duke, Maryland, Syracuse, East Carolina, Coastal Carolina, James Madison, Old Dominion, UConn and Rhode Island among others, and the in-state program made sure to show him exactly how he could fit.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder got a full look at the operation from start to finish.

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“I got there early in the morning,” he said. “Team meeting, position meeting, all that went smooth. Got to see some of the concepts that they run. Then I went out to practice.”

That included a close look at the offense, including quarterback Pop Watson, in action.

“Practice went well,” he said. “Got to see them live. Pop looked really good.”

After practice, Drinkwater spent extended time with head coach Joe Harasymiak, offensive coordinator Max Warner and wide receivers coach Jordan Hogan, where the message centered on transparency and long-term vision.

“It was good,” he said of his meeting with Harasymiak. “He kept it real. He told me his vision with the program, how he thinks he’s going to turn the place around and how he’s going to start really picking it up with high school recruiting, which I really liked.”

Harasymiak’s approach made Drinkwater confident in the coach’s ability.

“Just the way he carries himself,” Drinkwater said of Harasymiak. “He keeps it real. He really made me understand where he’s coming from and what he sees in his guys and why he got them there.”

Warner reinforced that message on the offensive side, breaking down how personnel fits into the system.

“The offensive coordinator did a great job at showing me some of the reasons why they brought in guys,” Drinkwater said. “Scheme fit guys for certain packages, like 11 personnel, 12 personnel. So I really got a good understanding of what they’re trying to do over there.”

Warner’s communication style also stood out.

“Very, very outgoing guy, really good dude, really genuine,” he said of Warner. “But like I said, he kept it straight up with me.”

UMass also made it clear where Drinkwater stands on its recruiting board.

General manager Jared Osumah spent significant time with him throughout the visit, while the staff emphasized how they would use him within the offense.

“Osumah, the GM, he was with me practically the whole time,” Drinkwater said. “Just talking with me. We were just talking about everything, talked a little ball, and then he just asked me about family and stuff.”

That level of attention left an impression.

“They treated me really well,” he said. “I got to meet with the receivers coach for like 20, 30 minutes, offensive coordinator, head coach, and they all just kept it real with me.”

As Drinkwater works through the next phase of his recruitment, he has a clear understanding of where UMass stands.

“Obviously P-5 is the goal,” he said. “But I told them I’m open to all options.”

Including the in-state.

“I’d be perfectly fine with staying home, playing football close to home,” he said.

There is also a potential return visit on the table.

“Possibly an OV in the summer,” he said.

For now, the visit provided clarity on both sides.

“They made it very clear if I were to make a decision super late, they’d still be an option, which I really like.”

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Few people can offer the kind of perpsective that Moore can.

A UMass graduate who previously served on the program’s coaching staff, including a stint as recruiting coordinator, he’s also built a reputation as one of the top prep school coaches in New England with stops at St. Thomas More, Loomis Chaffee and now Tabor Academy.

Moore offers detailed insight into each player’s development, skillset and how they project at UMass, drawing from firsthand experience coaching and competing against top talent across the region.

The discussion provides valuable context on how each could help UMass’ roster, highlighting key traits, leadership and upside each transfer could bring to Amherst.

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Familiarity wasn’t the biggest takeaway for Jack Hinspeter during his latest visit to UMass.

The 2027 New Jersey linebacker has been to Amherst multiple times, including trips last year when his brother, current Minuteman linebacker Timmy Hinspeter, first joined the program and again for last year’s spring game.

Those gave him a strong baseline for what UMass looked like previously.

This time, the differences stood out.

“I really got to see the new team,” Hinspeter said. “The culture is definitely at a whole other level and especially the energy at practice. The way they interact in meetings, the team definitely looks really good this year.”

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The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder from Don Bosco Prep spent time with defensive coordinator Jared Keyte and head coach Joe Harasymiak, with both meetings reinforcing UMass’ position in his recruitment.

“It was really just about how my recruiting is going and how he really wants me there and how I’m always welcomed,” Hinspeter said of Keyte. “He’s a guy I feel like I can get really close to. He’s very easy to talk to.”

The message from Harasymiak carried weight as well.

“He’s definitely a very true coach,” Hinspeter said. “He’s not going to tell me any BS. I really like him.”

UMass offered Hinspeter in November and continues to prioritize the New Jersey linebacker as he works through his process.

“He said he feels like I’ll know where I want to go after this spring and I always have a spot at UMass,” he said of Harasymiak.

Hinspeter is also considering schools like Delaware, James Madison and UConn while continuing to evaluate his timeline.

“I feel like it all just depends on what happens this spring.”

Even with the noticeable changes within the program, the familiarity of having his brother spending multiple years in Amherst and with the staff still provides a level of comfort.

“It definitely helps having him there. If it’s home to him, I feel like it would be home to me.”

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Jahir Charles walked into Joe Harasymiak’s office and walked out with something he’ll never forget.

The 2029 Massachusetts quarterback picked up his first scholarship offer on Tuesday from UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak during a visit to campus.

“I was straight smiling at first,” Charles said. “I was really blessed and my dad was glad and excited.

“They basically took me into Coach H’s room and we had a good conversation, good 10-minute conversation and he let me know.”

UMass’ message to the Springfield native centered on getting ahead of the game.

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“They wanted to offer me this early because they want to get into the future early,” Charles said. “They don’t want to wait to offer anybody they have their sights on. They think the future is going to be great and I think that too.”

The Springfield Central High School standout came away impressed with Harasymiak.

“Coach H is a great man,” Charles said. “He’s a great guy. I like all his emotions and how he acts. He’s really just a good guy.”

The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder also spent time with the Minutemen’s first-year offensive coordinator, Max Warner.

“Coach Warner is very active,” Charles said. “He’s aggressive. He’s cool, though.”

Charles has visited UMass multiple times and has developed a feel for the program.

“The things I like about UMass is the peace of it,” Charles said. “It’s not too much and it’s not too little. It’s a good amount. It’s nice in the facility. I like their locker room and I like their weight room. It’s calm.”

UMass is even more intriguing with new quarterback Pop Watson, someone Charles has worked out with and looked up to.

“I used to look up to Pop all the time,” Charles said. “Seeing him at UMass, it’s great. It’s exciting knowing that Pop, somebody I’ve been working out with is the quarterback.”

It’s early, Boston College and UConn are among the other schools that have shown interest. He has a return visit to UConn already in the plans.

As his recruitment begins to take shape, Charles has an idea of what will matter most.

“A coach that shows the most interest in me and a staff I can trust the most.”

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Max Warner isn’t interested in revisiting 2025’s 0-12 season.

Heck, he wasn’t even part of it.

The new UMass offensive coordinator made that clear the second time it was brought up during his initial press conference with reporters on Tuesday.

“You guys have said 0-12 twice, I don’t even talk like that,” Warner said. “I don’t even know what that is. I wasn’t here for that. A lot of these guys weren’t here for that. This isn’t an 0-12 team.

“This locker room, this group that we have right now, these guys are unbelievable. I just had a recruit this morning and his dad was like, ‘This group is awesome.’

“The buy-in is there, the commitment that these kids have in Year Two in the system with the coaches that have been here, that message has been resonating now for over 365 days.”

That mindset is part of what drew Warner to UMass in the first place along with familiarity with a league he’s spent seven seasons in - six at Bowling Green and one at Toledo - and an immediate connection with head coach Joe Harasymiak.

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“As soon as I got connected with Coach H, it was one of those deals, like you look down on the phone and it was a 90-minute phone call,” Warner said. “We’re really aligned in terms of our values, in terms of what he believes in, what I believe in. It was a really, really good first conversation that led to another.

“The next thing you know, I’m getting on an airplane to come out here. Just seeing this facility, I think in this conference with what we have to offer at Massachusetts, they’ve done a great job with the resources and how they’ve prepared themselves to get into this league.

“Obviously there’s a great opportunity to improve and then the opportunity to go do something that’s never been accomplished, I think is kind of a driving force for me”

Warner’s familiarity with the MAC helps shape how he views building a program capable of competing week to week and he’s also aligned with UMass general manager Jared Osumah.

“You want to try to get old in this league,” he said. “You want to try to have a group of veteran players, which is getting harder obviously now in the landscape.

“I think we’ve done that a little bit with the portal and kind of their shift of before I got here with Zoom and the support staff and the personnel people here, trying to switch their focus to guys that have experience, whatever level that comes from, guys who’ve played football.”

The results show that, according to Warner.

“You look at those teams that are there at the end, it’s guys who have played a lot of football, played a lot of snaps,” he said. “You’ve got to still have that belief of recruiting high schools and developing within your program, developing the young kids to believe in what the culture is, to understand what we’re trying to ask them to do with that.”

Warner’s goal is reaching the league championship game.

“I’ve been close, been knocking on the door for the last few years to get to Detroit, haven’t got there,” he said. “So it’s an opportunity to keep fighting for that, some unfinished business there. But just week in, week out, I love the competition in the MAC.”

Warner has also been encouraged by what he’s seen from the group since arriving on campus.

“I’m excited about our players,” Warner said. “It’s been fast and furious for the last 10 weeks. I think we’ve been off to a good start with the guys.

“Great buy-in from the guys who stayed here, great buy-in from the guys we brought in. I feel really good about the room. I feel really good about position by position, what we’ve been able to recruit here.”

Warner noticed that from the start.

“From the first day that I’ve been here, these guys have been fully committed to everything we’ve asked them to do,” he said. “A lot of connection going on in this group, I like our staff.

“The kids are working, doing everything that we’re asking them to do. So I can’t ask for a much better start in terms of spring with the direction that they’re going.”

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Warner, who spent the past several seasons in the MAC at Bowling Green and Toledo, said his familiarity with the league and belief in head coach Joe Harasymiak’s vision made the opportunity in Amherst an easy fit, with a focus on building a veteran-driven team capable of competing week-to-week.

On the field, Warner described a multiple, quarterback-driven offensive system rooted in a pro-style approach that emphasizes toughness, versatility and the ability to win in different ways, particularly late in the season.

He highlighted the energy of the quarterback room, led by Pop Watson, along with the development of the offensive line and tight end groups, while stressing that last year’s results have no bearing on the current team as the program works to establish a new identity centered on culture, execution and winning.

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Magee said the first two weeks of camp have been competitive and focused, with a strong emphasis on building connections across the roster. He highlighted improved chemistry on defense and across the team as a key difference from last season, noting that stronger relationships are translating to better communication and higher intensity on the field.

Magee also spoke about his recovery from last season’s scary injury and the perspective it gave him, calling the experience “eye-opening” and something that fuels how he approaches each day. He emphasized leadership, accountability and daily improvement as central themes for the group, pointing to a more connected, competitive team that is focused on getting better one day at a time.

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Pop Watson doesn’t shy away from pressure. He leans into it.

The UMass quarterback is embracing the expectations that come with transferring back home and stepping into a leadership role this spring.

“I’m a guy who loves pressure,” the Springfield, Mass., native said during a press conference on Thursday.

“When people try to put more things on me, I feel like it just makes me better. I look for more pressure. I look for the harder things, like the harder work.”

That mindset has shaped Watson’s early approach inside the program as the former Virginia Tech quarterback works to establish himself within the Minutemen’s offense and the locker room since arriving in January.

Watson has leaned into a leadership style built on consistency and effort rather than emotion, something that seems to have resonated with teammates on both sides of the ball.

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“I’m an understanding dude,” Watson said. “Everybody’s going to make mistakes. I’m not about to sit here and yell at anybody for mistakes. The only thing I want to see is effort. You pull the wrong way, you better pull the wrong way and knock somebody’s head off. That’s all I want to see.

“If the effort’s there, we can work with it. We can make things work.”

That approach has helped him build relationships quickly, including with cornerback TJ Magee, who has become tight with Watson and played a key role in helping the new signal-caller feel comfortable since arriving on campus.

“TJ was one of the first guys to show me, ‘Yo, you’re cool here,’” Watson said. “It made me feel comfortable and allowed me to be me. Then it just kept stacking day after day.”

Watson said the choice to come back home and play at UMass was an easy one after spending time with head coach Joe Harasymiak, offensive coordinator Max Warner and general manager Jared Osumah.

“I felt like it was an easy decision,” he said. “Obviously you go where you feel wanted. Coach H, Coach Warner, Zoom, they stayed on me. They just kept recruiting me, kept recruiting me through the whole process. I felt like that meant more than going to a bigger school. So I felt like coming home was the best option.”

Watson expressed confidence in the group around him, pointing to a mix of playmakers who can stretch the field and create balance.

“I feel like we’ve got a lot of explosion and a good mix of power,” Watson said. “That opens up the game for me because now you don’t have to guard one guy, you’ve got to guard both sides of the field and the run game.”

He also pointed to wide receiver Joe Griffin as a reliable option in the passing game.

“That’s my dog,” said Watson, who has been targeting Griffin with passes since middle school when the two played together for the Springfield Tigers.

Like Watson, the 6-foot-3, 208-pound Griffin transferred back home after two years at Boston College and two at Wisconsin.

“You put the ball around him, he’s going to make plays,” Watson said of Griffin.

Watson also highlighted the competitiveness within the quarterback room, specifically mentioning fellow transfer RJ Johnson III and true freshman Aedan McCarthy as players who continue to push the group forward.

“RJ pushes me the best,” Watson said. “Aedan is coming along. He’s doing great for a freshman. I think Aedan’s going to be a great quarterback in the future.”

Watson has also credited Warner for helping elevate his game early in his time with the program.

“Coach Warner is probably the perfect coach for me,” Watson said. “He never tells you when you’re doing right, only when you’re doing wrong. And I feel like that pushes you to be perfect. And if you’re reaching for perfection, the worst thing you can get out of (reaching for) perfection is greatness.”

That attention to detail has translated directly to Watson’s development on the field, particularly in his processing and decision-making.

“Your eyes and feet all work together and that should tell you where you’re going with the ball,” Watson said. “I feel like Coach Warner helped elevate my game. He’s getting me NFL-ready.”

On the defensive side of the ball, Watson believes the group has the pieces to be dangerous, pointing to players like Tyler Martin, Tim Hinspeter, Mike Robinson, Magee, Kendall Bournes and Isaiah Reed among those who have stood out.

“Everybody,” Watson said. “That D-line moving around, linebackers, they flow excellent. T-Mart, Timmy, Mike Rob, that’s going to be a dangerous three. And then you’ve got the back end, TJ, KB, Zay Reed, he’s a dog out there.”

After a decorated high school career that included multiple state championships and Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year honors, Watson’s time on the field was limited in Blacksburg. He’s grateful for another opportunity to put his talents to use on the field and has a new perspective.

“Never take time for granted,” he said. “I thought I had all the time in the world. Being a young guy there, I felt like I was going to get my opportunity. And once I got my opportunity, I knew I would seize the moment.

“Things didn’t go as planned, but that just wasn’t in my deck of cards. It wasn’t in God’s plan. So I just kind of took that chip on the shoulder and I carried it with me here.”

Still, Watson plans to use his remaining time and that chip on his shoulder to chase a singular goal.

“Team success. I want to win. I know Coach H wants to win. Coach Warner wants to win badly. That’s where we’re at right now.”

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The quarterback talked about why he made the move to Amherst, his goals for the season, reuniting with his former youth & high school receiver Joe Griffin Jr., getting to know his new teammates and more.

After a difficult 2025 season, UMass defensive coordinator Jared Keyte believes the Minutemen are beginning to build the foundation for a more consistent defense.

Through four spring practices, UMass has focused on improving the core traits that define how it wants to play.

“Pretty happy with our intensity, with the speed that we’ve played with so far,” Keyte told reporters after Tuesday’s practice. “You’ve seen incremental improvement from Practice 1 to Practice 4 in our speed, our violence and our tempo.

“I feel like we’re building, but we’ve still got a lot more to move forward with.”

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That progress is being made under different circumstances this year versus last year, according to Keyte.

“I think it’s two completely different scenarios,” he said. “I was learning a lot about our team last year just coming in old to new. As Coach (Joe) Harasymiak said, we’ve pretty much overhauled our roster. This is our roster now. We’ve recruited this roster.”

That familiarity has translated to better cohesion across the unit, he said.

“The speed, the violence and certainly the connection we’ve had this spring versus last spring, those are some of the things I notice the most,” Keyte said.

The defensive structure itself will look familiar, but the personnel driving it will not.

“It’s going to be different because it’s a lot of new guys,” Keyte said. “Schematically, in terms of what we do, it’s going to be very similar. We believe in what we do. We’re an attack-style defense who likes to be aggressive, but the faces and the types of tools and people we use in certain spots will certainly be different.”

An influx of new talent has added depth across the roster, something that was tested throughout last season.

Leadership has also played a key role early in camp, particularly from returning players like Tyler Martin, Timmy Hinspeter and TJ Magee.

“They’re leaders, natural leaders in our program,” Keyte said. “Having been here, the guys that we’ve chosen and they’ve chosen to stay with us, they know what we’re about and our foundation.

“In a lot of ways they can help guys just with the practice tempo, the leadership of how we’re supposed to go through drills, our transitions, the level of violence and communication that we play with. I think as leaders, it’s their approach that puts them in that position. It’s not necessarily what they say, but it’s their actions. So I think those guys are leaders by action and easy to follow for the new guys.”

That standard has helped new additions adjust quickly, including transfers Jahmad Harmon and Isaiah Reed, two new pieces brought in to try to shore up what was a leaky UMass secondary last fall.

“Those guys have played a lot of football,” Keyte said of Harmon, who played at Ball State and Kent State previously, and Reed, who played at Brown and UCF. “When you watch them, they’re very mature in their preparation and how they go about things.

“They’ve seen a lot that maybe some of the younger guys or guys who don’t have that playing experience have seen. But ultimately they’re coming in here, they’re vulnerable, they’re hungry and they’re humble. They’ve played a lot of football, but they have no expectations. So they’re going out and earning it and they’ve had a really good four-practice stretch.

That approach extends to the younger guys, including true freshmen cornerbacks Terron Johnson and Corey Warner.

“The thing I notice about that group is they listen,” Keyte said. “They’re very good listeners and I think a lot of that speaks to the people in their room.

“I think they gravitate toward guys like Isaiah Reed, Tyler Martin and Timmy Hinspeter…They’re constantly trying to learn, they listen and they just want to do things the right way.”

Off the field, the focus has been on the players building connections with each other despite so many new faces.

“The best defenses that I’ve been a part of, they play for each other,” said Keyte. “If we can get these guys connected and ultimately play for the guy next to them, we’ll get the most out of this group and I think it’s heading in that direction.”

Those connections have already begun showing up in the way the team operates day-to-day, according to Keyte.

“We’ve put a lot of emphasis on our connection,” said Keyte. “A lot of the guys who have been here believe in the guys that we’ve recruited. They’ve been a part of this recruiting process and they’re surrounding themselves with each other. You see them constantly eating together.

“We’re trying to find different ways to get guys and learn about offensive, defensive guys, trying to interconnect those guys.”

Beyond an improved roster, the UMass staff expects itself to be better in Year 2 than Year 1.

“We were kind of thrown into the mix in January of last year where it was recruiting, building a winter workout plan and teaching the staff all in one,” Keyte said. “Where (now) we really got time to go through, self-scout, evaluate ourselves, our players, our scheme, reteach it multiple times.

“I think there’s a lot more of understanding within our staff and more so learning how to work together; appropriate jobs, assignments, who’s good at what. So I think we’ve got a real good feel for each other. I think that’ll improve moving forward.”

Situational work has been a major point of emphasis as the group continues to install the system.

“That’s the game, it’s all situational football; down, distance, personnel, field position,” Keyte said. “As you start to change those things in front of them, a lot of the ownership then falls on them because a lot of that happens within the drive. You’re not able to talk to them. I’m able to talk to one person at a time.

“But understanding 3rd-and-3 versus 3rd-and-9; 11 and 12 personnel. So we had a lot of those situations today constantly changing and guys have to be cerebral and process formation tendencies, all those other things. So I think situational football, the more we can apply it and sprinkle it in within practice and change the situations, that’s the game because it’s never the same play twice.”

That mental development is tied closely to how the unit performs when the season begins.

“I don’t want to move forward without them fully understanding what we’re doing,” Keyte said. “By the time we get to the fall, after hearing it multiple times, it should be second nature.”

With more time to install the system and a roster built to fit it, Keyte sees a group beginning to take shape.

“There’s a lot more understanding within our staff and how we work together,” Keyte said. “Now it’s about continuing to build and getting better at what we do.”

Competition has also been elevated by improvements on the offensive side, particularly with transfer Pop Watson at quarterback.

“Competition is what brings out the best in us. You look across from skill to the offensive front, we’ve got some talent over there and then Pop obviously brings that competitive nature as the quarterbacks are very well-coached and attacking us. I think we bring out the best of each other and that’s what you want out of practice is kind of a punch for punch mentality. You never really want it to go one way because you want it to be competitive. So it’s challenging and we like that.”

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With a roster that has been significantly reshaped, Keyte emphasized that the biggest difference from a year ago is familiarity and connection, both within the staff and among the players. That continuity has shown up in the way the defense practices and communicates, while veteran leaders have helped set the standard for a group that includes a number of new additions.

“This is our roster now,” he said. “We’ve recruited this roster.”

Keyte also highlighted the importance of situational football and player development this spring, stressing the need for the defense to process quickly and play with discipline as the system continues to be installed. He added that increased competition, particularly against an improved offense, has helped elevate the intensity on both sides of the ball.

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UMass continues to prioritize in-state talent in the 2028 class, and Owen DeSalvo remains at the top of that board following his latest visit.

The 2028 Massachusetts athlete returned to Amherst last week, spending time around the program as the Minutemen continue building on an established relationship.

“It was awesome,” DeSalvo told Minuteman Command. “A lot of great conversations with coaches. Got to see meetings, which was really cool. The energy there was awesome.”

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DeSalvo holds offers from UMass, Pitt, Duke, Syracuse, UConn, Miami-Ohio, Rhode Island and Brown, giving him a broad early offer sheet.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s definitely a cool experience and something that you kind of just got to keep your head down. You can’t really think about that stuff, at least for me.

“I’ve been still working really hard. You’ve just got to keep working because you never know what’s going to happen with the process. But yeah, it’s been cool. It’s a fun time for sure.”

The Buckingham Browne & Nichols standout is being evaluated as a multi-positional option, with early indications pointing toward an offensive role.

“Right now, it’s still kind of both,” DeSalvo said. “I think they’re leaning toward the offensive side, more at running back.”

That versatility is a key part of his profile, though.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder has primarily played safety at the high school level, lining up across the secondary at free, strong and nickel while also rotating to corner when needed.

During the trip, DeSalvo spent extended time with running backs coach Jeremy Larkin, whose approach stood out.

“He was really cool,” DeSalvo said. “Great energy. I felt like the running backs could really talk to him about anything. They were comfortable, and that was important to me.”

He also connected with head coach Joe Harasymiak, continuing to build on a relationship that has developed over time.

“I’ve gotten to learn a lot about him over the last year and a half,” DeSalvo said. “You can tell he cares about who you are and your family. The culture there really stands out.”

His impressions of Harasymiak are overwhelmingly positive.

“He’s really reputable and what he says is very convincing,” DeSalvo said of Harasymiak. “He knows what he’s doing with the program. So it’s really exciting to see what he’ll do in the future.”

The trip also reinforced what he has seen from the program environment as a whole.

“The energy was through the roof,” DeSalvo said. “You could really feel it in the meetings and around the team.”

With several spring stops already completed, DeSalvo is focused on continuing to evaluate his options while building relationships across the board.

“I’ve just been going to as many schools as I can,” DeSalvo said. “Just keep building relationships and see what fits best.”

UMass remains firmly in that mix, with another return to Amherst already on his radar as the process continues.

“I’ll probably be back for a game in the fall.”

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Tyler Martin didn’t have to stay.

In an era where movement is constant and opportunities exist elsewhere and in a situation where the results have not matched the sacrifices a player like Martin has made for the program, nobody would have blamed him for leaving.

But the UMass linebacker made the decision to return for a fourth season in Amherst, a choice that says plenty about the internal view of the program among its leaders, but even more about Martin as a person.

“It means a whole lot to me,” said Martin. “I lived my whole life in Acton, Mass., just an hour and 15 minutes down Route 2 is UMass. My biggest thing was wanting to come here and leave it better than I found it when I got here and I think that we’re working towards that.

“That ultimately was really what made up my mind. I’ve never been someone to leave something before it’s finished, especially when I truly love the place. And I’ve fallen in love with this place ever since I got here four years ago. And that’s why we’re riding this thing out and couldn’t be more excited to be back and have a leadership role on this team and just continue to get better every single day. Incremental growth is the biggest thing.”

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That decision again places Martin in a leadership role inside Garrett Gillick’s linebacker room that blends experience with the additions of Khari Bendolph, Josh Iseah and Kendric Council via the transfer portal.

“It’s awesome,” Martin said during a press conference after the second practice of the spring on Thursday. “I love the three guys we added. Myself, Timmy Hinspeter and then the two young guys, David Timson and Dinos (Drossos), we’re the four returners in the room, two old guys, two young guys, but it’s been great.

“We’ve all been gelling really, really well. Coach Gillick does a great job kind of taking all the different personalities, being able to coach everyone the right way, coach everyone hard, but love us at the same time. So it’s been great.”

With another year in head coach Joe Harasymiak and defensive coordinator Jared Keyte’s system, Martin believes that experience is already making a difference.

“I think the biggest thing is for myself, at least personally, having a year of playing in the system, coming back and being able to be that, I guess you could say semi coach on the field and kind of help those younger guys and new guys with that sort of thing,” Martin said. “I think that definitely helps. And obviously Timmy’s been in this system forever coming into his fifth year of playing in it at first with Rutgers and Coach H running it and now here with Coach H at the helm and Coach Keyte running it.

“I would say that’s the biggest difference is kind of having myself and Timmy having a year under our belt of playing in it and kind of being able to be those leaders in the room.”

After a disappointing 2025 season, Martin downplayed the impact of any potential scheme changes.

“Scheme is scheme,” he said. “The players make it what it is and we’re just going to go out, do whatever the coaches ask of us and just try to put our best foot forward. The biggest thing with defense, and the coaches always try to hit it, is defense is really all about effort.

“You can coach whatever scheme you really want, but if guys aren’t going to play hard and get to the ball, it really doesn’t matter where you throw out there for a scheme. If you run zone, man, really doesn’t matter all that much. So I think whatever they do, I think the players, we trust them and we’re just going to put our best foot forward.”

That mindset has been reinforced throughout the offseason, particularly during winter workouts with strength coach George Greene and his assistants Ibn Foster and Jeff Stern.

“Coach Greene is the best strength coach I’ve ever been around and coming into year five of college football,” Martin said. “I can’t say enough great things about him and his staff; Coach Ibn and Coach Stern.

“Those guys every single day bring the energy, bring the juice like it’s game day. And I think that that’s super important for this group because at the end of the day, I think sometimes it’s hard to bring the energy when you’re coming in at 6 am on a Wednesday, Tuesday morning. But when those guys are the ones doing it and kind of helping you out and do that, and if you’re coaches, sorry to the coaches in the room, they’re a little bit older, but if they can have juice that early, we can definitely have juice that early.

As one of the older players on the roster, Martin has embraced the responsibility that comes with experience.

“I think the biggest thing is just bringing guys along,” he said. “I think when you’ve been in college football for five years like me and other guys, maybe longer, maybe only four years, but the older guys are a part of this team, the biggest thing is just making sure that guys come in the same every single day.”

Even after a season that didn’t meet expectations, Martin believes the experience helped shape both him and the team.

“Last year obviously didn’t go the way that any of us wanted it to, but I think using that to sort of fuel myself, but also just broaden the team, coaches included, support staff, everybody, that it’s really hard to win at this level,” he said. “One thing that us leaders have really tried to tell the younger guys and tell the new guys to this program is like, ‘Be grateful that we get to go out and do this every day because not everyone has this opportunity.’

“I think that that’s really what I took away because obviously the win-loss column didn’t look great, but I think as a whole, as a player, as a person, I grew tremendously in just realizing that I’m so blessed to have this opportunity and go out and do this. And at the end of the day, I mean, have my best personal season to date of my four years at that point in college football and just looking to grow off that personally, but also as a team and just grow and realize that this is an opportunity that we get to do this every day and we got to just go out and take it now.”

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T.Y. Harding has been in Amherst long enough to recognize when something feels different.

As UMass works through another offensive transition under new offensive coordinator Max Warner, the fifth-year senior wide receiver believes this group is ahead of where it was a year ago and more connected in the process.

“I feel like just as an offense, we’re starting to execute a little faster than we did last year,” Harding said after the team’s second practice of the spring. “We’re starting to understand it a little more. I feel like we’re off to a faster start.”

That comfort starts with Warner, whose energy and approach have resonated early with the group.

“I love Coach Warner,” Harding said of the former Bowling Green offensive coordinator. “He’s a great coach. He brings a lot of energy to the offense, which is what we need. We can relate to him and connect to him.”

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The early progress has shown up on the field, but Harding believes one of the biggest differences is how quickly players have been able to settle into the system compared to last spring.

“I would say we’re off to a faster start,” he said.

A big part of that early success has been the connection between Harding and transfer quarterback Pop Watson.

“I love Pop,” Harding said. “Our connection right now is honestly way faster than I thought it was going to be. He understands everything.”

That chemistry has translated immediately in practice.

“We’ve (only) had one incompletion (on about 10 passes), so we’re damn near 100 percent on connection,” Harding said of himself and Watson.

Harding has taken on an increased leadership role within the wide receiver room, helping guide a group that includes Devin Matthews, Joseph Griffin Jr., Elijah Pedro, Kezion Dia-Johnson, David Moore, Drew Alsup and Dallas Elliott.

“I’m one of the older guys in the group now, so I’m trying to take a bunch of them under my wing in everything we do, whether it’s catching punts, running routes or learning the plays,” he said.

The depth of the room is something Harding believes can become a strength.

“The biggest thing about this wide receivers room that I’m proud of is everyone can play,” he said. “If anyone has to step in, I feel comfortable with anyone going out there and executing.”

That confidence extends beyond the pass-catchers and reflects what Harding sees as a much tighter team overall.

“The biggest difference…is just off the field,” he said. “We are just so connected as a team, which is what you really need to win games. In order to be good on the field, you have to trust your brothers.

“Doing different things off the field together, staying together as a team has been amazing, a lot of chemistry. It makes you want to block for your brother, fight for your brother next to you.”

That connection has stood out compared to last season.

“This time last year, we weren’t as connected as we are now,” Harding said. “So that’s something I’m really excited for.”

Harding’s perspective carries additional weight after missing most of last season following shoulder surgery, a setback that gave him time to refocus physically and mentally.

“I feel healthy,” he said. “I’m ready to go win some games with the squad we’ve got now.”

With that return comes added responsibility.

“They’re going to need me,” Harding said. “I’m going to have to step up a lot.”

Conditioning has been a major point of emphasis as he works back into full form.

“That’s literally what I’m here for, to run,” Harding said. “Being able to play full speed the first play of the game and the last play of the game is something I take pride in.”

While Harding has seen plenty of change during his time in Amherst, his belief in the program has remained steady. Head coach Joe Harasymiak has played a major role in that.

“I don’t trust anybody more in this world right now more than Coach H,” Harding said. “I trust everything he has going for us.”

That trust, combined with his connection to the program and his teammates, continues to drive Harding.

“I’ll die for UMass,” he said. “Whatever it takes for UMass to win, I’ll do it.”

After everything he’s experienced, Harding knows exactly what he wants out of his final season.

“I need to win here.”

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If the players didn’t fully grasp the kind of attention transfer quarterback Pop Watson would bring to the UMass football program, one of its stars found out during a recent trip to the mall.

“TJ Magee told me the story that they were at the mall the other day and they couldn’t stop two, three stores without taking a picture,” head coach Joe Harasymiak relayed during his press conference to open spring ball on Tuesday.

“It’s awesome. We need that. We need local. We need Mass. guys, we need people that love this place.”

A former national recruit and Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year who was once committed to Nebraska before landing at Virginia Tech, Watson is the most high-profile transfer of the many Harasymiak and his staff brought in this offseason.

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And the former Springfield Central High School star adds that local connection as a Western Mass. native.

“I think it brings excitement to the community,” Harasymiak continued.

For Harasymiak, Watson’s recruitment was as much about relationships as it was about football.

Once Watson entered the portal, UMass made him a priority and stayed consistent in its approach.

“It’s just about staying in contact,” Harasymiak said. “The more and more you stay in contact, the more and more you can get people to visit and be around. So it eventually led to his official visit.”

The official visit went well enough that shortly afterward, Watson and his mother called Harasymiak around 9:30 one evening to deliver the news that he was coming to Amherst. The coach remembers the call clearly.

“I couldn’t yell, my kids were asleep,” he said. “I walked into the garage and I said, ‘All right, we recruited at a high level. We got a big-time kid to come back home.’”

For a program coming off an 0-12 season, moments like that carry weight and are symbolic of the transfer class and the high school recruiting class UMass signed this offseason.

“You’ve got to start somewhere,” Harasymiak said. “I think we did that with our freshman class and I think we’re doing that in the portal.”

A 5-foot-11, 200-pound redshirt junior, Watson brings more than just a big name from the area.

“If you’ve ever met his mom and dad and his family…when they have a foundation that has been there and you’re the son of a coach, it brings a lot to the table,” Harasymiak said, referring to the fact that Watson’s father, Bill, is the head football and basketball coach at Central.

Watson’s leadership qualities have been obvious already to Harasymiak with how he’s carried himself within the program.

“Everybody gravitates toward him,” Harasymiak said. “He wants to be front and center.”

Watson has already established himself as that guy in the weight room and around the team during offseason workouts.

“I remember when we were testing him the last Friday, he went up to (strength coach George) Greene and asked him if the team could come up on him on his rack,” Harasymiak said. “That’s big time, those little things.”

Watson’s desire to win has also stood out.

“He’s a leader,” Harasymiak said. “He’s extremely competitive in everything he does.”

While the off-field presence has been evident, Harasymiak saw encouraging signs on the field during the first day of spring practice.

Watson showed patience early in team periods, waiting for his shot.

“I loved how he checked the ball down,” Harasymiak said. “He’s going to be smart. He’s going to check the ball down and do what he needs to do.”

That approach paid off later in practice when Watson connected with wide receiver TY Harding over the top for a deep touchdown.

As Watson works through the transition back home, Harasymiak acknowledged the potential pressure that can come with it, but believes it is something the quarterback is ready to handle.

A program that is desperate for success and a player who is desperate to prove himself feels like a perfect match.

“We’ve both got skin in this game now,” Harasymiak said.

“He wants to come back home and he wants to get it done for us.”

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Joe Harasymiak isn’t overcomplicating what went wrong at UMass in 2025 or what he expects to change in 2026.

For the second-year head coach, it starts with a simple reality.

It’s not about scheme. It’s about players.

Or as has often been said about college football, it’s about the Jimmy’s and the Joe’s more than the X’s and the O’s.

After going 0-12 his first season in Amherst, Harasymiak spent the offseason reshaping the roster, leaning heavily on the transfer portal and a revamped recruiting approach in an effort to raise the program’s baseline talent.

“When you recruit good enough, you get better players and you keep going,” Harasymiak said during a press conference following the first day of spring practice on Tuesday.

“Since we’ve been FBS, we just probably haven’t recruited well enough.”

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There was room for new players to come into the program by virtue of old players departing and Harasymiak provided statistics to illustrate why he expects this season’s roster to be greatly improved over last year’s.

“Not counting graduation, I think we had 68 guys leave this program,” he said. “Six of them play FBS football. Six.”

The majority of the rest transferred down to FCS, Division-II or Division-III and the rest quit the sport.

Harasymiak believes that accounted for much of the injury issues the Minutemen dealt with in 2025 as well.

“You’ve got to figure out what happened, why did it happen and you have to change,” he said. “We have four people in recruiting now. There was one spot when I got here. That matters. There are front offices in college sports now. We’re getting there. And all I care about is the MAC. I don’t care what Power Four has, I don’t care what Memphis has. I care about the MAC. It’ll come down to those eight games.

“I think we have a higher quality player. A lot of times in my history, when you’re not strong enough and you might not be an FBS player, you’re going to get hurt a little bit more. So I think we fixed that hopefully.”

The implication was clear.

UMass didn’t just need tweaks. It needed a talent overhaul.

That overhaul has largely come through the portal, where Harasymiak pointed to quarterback, offensive line and defensive line as the biggest needs.

The quarterback position was addressed with the additions of Pop Watson and RJ Johnson while the Minutemen added three offensive linemen and seven defensive linemen.

Harasymiak pointed to Watson’s family, especially his parents, for instilling strong values in him.

“People can change, but when they have a foundation that has been there and you’re the son of a coach, it brings a lot to the table,” Harasymiak said, referring to the fact that Watson’s father, Bill, is the head football and basketball coach at Central High School in Springfield.

Harasymiak also pointed to Watson’s natural leadership qualities.

“Everybody gravitates toward him,” the coach said. “He wants to be front and center, which I think for a quarterback we lacked last year. We kind of said we wanted to, but we didn’t.

“He’s a leader. He’s extremely competitive in everything he does”

Size and speed were also priorities in the portal.

“We needed some size,” said Harasymiak. “We got pushed around a little bit.”

Still, the evaluation process went beyond measurables.

“We paid more attention to who the person was,” Harasymiak said. “Wanting to be here, challenging them that it’s going to take a special type of person to do what we need to do.”

The result is a roster that looks dramatically different from the one that took the field a year ago and beyond.

“84 percent of this roster’s ours,” Harasymiak said, referring to the fact that only 11 scholarship players remain from the roster he inherited when he was hired in December of 2024.

With the new group in place, Harasymiak believes the foundation is stronger, but he’s not suggesting that alone guarantees immediate results.

Instead, the focus this spring will be on building an identity that matches the upgraded talent.

“We’ve got to get tougher, we’ve got to get stronger,” he said. “We’ve got to build a better identity. Our thing in the spring is about earning everything.”

That mindset has also showed up in how the program structured its offseason.

UMass went through six straight weeks of grueling strength work before opening spring practice, a deliberate decision aimed at changing both the physical and mental makeup of the team.

“We grinded them for six weeks,” Harasymiak said. “Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday.

“We’ve got to get back to the qualities that I believe this place had in the past when they were successful.”

That approach will continue through the spring and the summer.

“We are going to grind you into the earth,” Harasymiak said. “And when you think you’re going to quit, we’re going to keep going.”

While the roster has been rebuilt and the approach adjusted, Harasymiak understands that none of it matters without results.

“We need to win,” he said. “That’s what we need to do. That’s why I’m here.”

At the same time, he acknowledged that turning around a program with UMass’ history at the FBS level will not happen overnight.

Still, there is an urgency across the roster, particularly with a group of players plucked from the portal looking to prove something.

“These guys have been selected to come here and take on a great challenge,” he said.

For a program that has struggled to find traction at the FBS level, Harasymiak believes that combination of improved talent, clearer identity and relentless approach is the path forward.

Whether it translates immediately in the win column remains to be seen.

But in his mind, it is the only way.

“We’ve got to win. That’s what this is about and that’s what’s going to fix everything.”

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