Joe Harasymiak doesn’t need much time to describe the identity he wants UMass’ defense to develop this season.

More connected. More aggressive. More violent.

That mindset has become one of the biggest points of emphasis for the Minutemen entering preseason camp after a winless first season under Harasymiak. While communication remains important, the second-year head coach believes his defense must also play with a far more physical edge.

“I think we’ve got to play a little bit more connected communication-wise,” Harasymiak said during last week’s MAC Football Kickoff.

“But, I think the word from a football standpoint, we’ve just got to play more violent. Like, this is a violent game. We’ve got to get downhill, we’ve got to attack blocks, we’ve got to destruct. Ultimately, we’ve got to take away the ball.”

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Harasymiak believes that identity starts with the players leading the defense.

“I think our linebacker position is our leadership,” he said.

That responsibility falls primarily on redshirt senior Tyler Martin, the Acton, Mass., native who has become one of the Minutemen’s defensive leaders since transferring home from Arizona in 2023. Martin emerged as one of the defense’s most consistent performers in 2025, leading the Minutemen in tackles while establishing himself as one of the leaders of the locker room.

He’ll be joined by fellow redshirt senior Timmy Hinspeter, a former Rutgers linebacker who was among the team’s leading tacklers before suffering a season-ending injury against Buffalo. Harasymiak believes having both veterans healthy gives UMass an experienced foundation in the middle of its defense.

While the linebacker room returns proven experience, the defensive front will have a much different look.

“We have a brand new d-line,” Harasymiak said. “Literally a brand new d-line.”

One player the coaching staff is especially eager to get back is graduate defensive lineman Josh Nobles. The Camden, N.J., native transferred to UMass last year from Western Michigan after beginning his collegiate career at Jackson State, but never appeared in a game for the Minutemen after a preseason injury last year. Now healthy, Harasymiak believes Nobles can provide an immediate boost to an almost entirely rebuilt defensive line.

“We were excited about Josh Nobles last year as a transfer,” Harasymiak said. “He tore his Achilles at camp last year, so he’s coming back off that.”

Harasymiak also expects another year of experience to pay dividends in the secondary.

“Certainly rushing the passer and the secondary we’ve got some returning guys that kind of got their feet wet last year,” he said. “TJ Magee, Zeraun Daniel who we’re very excited about.”

Magee, a redshirt senior, arrived from Davidson last offseason and worked his way into a significant role at cornerback during his first season in Amherst before he too was lost to an injury.

Daniel, another senior, transferred from Georgetown before the 2025 campaign and also gained valuable experience while adjusting to the FBS level. With both defensive backs returning, Harasymiak expects the secondary to play faster, communicate better and help establish the identity he’s been preaching throughout the offseason.

“So, hopefully we can take that next step. They’re more connected and I’m excited about that.”

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Joe Harasymiak didn’t just need to find a quarterback this offseason. The UMass head coach also needed to find a leader.

He believes he found both in Pop Watson.

After cycling through multiple quarterbacks during a difficult first season, Harasymiak entered the offseason looking for more than improved play at the game’s most important position.

He also wanted someone capable of leading an almost entirely new football team.

“I think the quarterback at any program has to be the leader,” Harasymiak said Wednesday during the MAC Football Kickoff in Detroit.

“That was an issue for us last year at that position. Our entire quarterback room is brand new, the entire room.”

The former Springfield Central High School star checked plenty of boxes, but it was his presence away from the field that immediately stood out.

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“He’s transferring in from Virginia Tech, he’s a local kid, Springfield Central here in Western Mass.,” Harasymiak said. “He’s the son of a coach, you know he’s been raised the right way. He’s got great leadership qualities. Everybody gravitates towards him.”

Those qualities are especially important for a UMass team that has undergone a dramatic roster overhaul this offseason. With dozens of newcomers joining the program, including longtime teammate Joe Griffin, who Watson may have thrown more passes to than anyone during their careers together, Harasymiak believes leadership from the quarterback position will play a critical role in bringing the team together.

Watson also provides a skill set Harasymiak felt the Minutemen lacked a season ago.

“He’s got the ability to create that second play that I think you see so much now in college football when things break down, which we struggled with tremendously last year just being able to create that,” Harasymiak said.

It’s obvious Watson’s infectious attitude has impressed his new head coach.

“I’m excited for him,” he said. “He’s a great young man which I’m most excited about, credit to his parents. Just really happy he’s back home, that means a lot to us.”

Bringing Watson home also aligns with a broader objective for the program.

Harasymiak has repeatedly stressed the importance of recruiting Massachusetts, and landing one of the state’s most recognizable quarterbacks represents another step in that direction.

“We’ve got to recruit the state,” Harasymiak said. “A local kid that’s coming back and can lead us to places we’ve never been. That’s the hope.”

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One word kept coming up when Joe Harasymiak discussed his expectations for the 2026 UMass football team during this week’s MAC Football Kickoff in Detroit: connection.

It’s a message that first surfaced during spring practice, when Harasymiak and several of his assistants, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, repeatedly stressed the importance of playing - and seemingly being - together.

Now, as preseason camp approaches, the UMass head coach believes that attitiude will be one of the biggest factors in determining whether the Minutemen take a step forward in Year 2.

“I think the biggest thing that we’ve kind of taken steps this next season is just the connection of the team,” Harasymiak said on Wednesday.

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“Obviously, with the tremendous struggles that we had, roster turnover was huge for us. We had a lot of new players coming in January, still a lot of new freshmen that came in the summer. But, the connection of the team will be important. How much we want to play for each other, our toughness, that’s really been the message.”

The emphasis on connectivity is understandable considering how dramatically the roster has changed. Harasymiak noted that only 11 players remain from the roster he inherited when he arrived in Amherst in December 2024, forcing the coaching staff to build chemistry while simultaneously rebuilding the program.

“We’ve overhauled it,” Harasymiak said. “We had a great transfer class, a lot of guys that are connected looking for their next opportunity.”

But, he’ll also be counting on the few holdovers to be among the leaders.

“We’re excited about it, but we need the Tyler Martins, those guys to step up and lead the team,” the coach said. “They’ve been doing that this offseason, so I’m excited about it.

“I think we have a nucleus of guys that are returning, especially defensively that have played a lot of snaps for us. We’ve got to stay healthy.”

After navigating a difficult first season, Harasymiak admitted one of the toughest tasks wasn’t finding a way to change his philosophy. It was trusting in the one he already had.

Drawing on lessons learned while working under Jack Cosgrove at Maine, P.J. Fleck at Minnesota and Greg Schiano at Rutgers, Harasymiak has remained committed to his process of building the program the right way rather than searching for shortcuts.

“The biggest challenge for me was to remind myself, ‘Hey man, you’re a good coach,’” Harasymiak acknowledged. “‘We’ve got good coaches. We’ve got to improve the roster, you’ve got a good nucleus here, but you’ve got to stay the course. Don’t sacrifice anything right now for what you want down the road.’

“It’s been hard, but you’ve just got to continue to remind yourself of that.”

Harasymiak believes patience, a rebuilt roster and a more connected football team will eventually produce results.

“If we stay the course and do the right things, we’ll end up winning some games.”

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If UMass is going to take a significant step forward in 2026, it will almost certainly begin - and possibly end - with Pop Watson.

That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to anybody who heard head coach Joe Harasymiak talk about his new signal-caller.

After transferring from Virginia Tech, Watson entered the spring as the expected starter and did nothing over 15 practices to change that perception. If anything, he only strengthened it. While there was outside speculation about whether another quarterback could eventually challenge him, there was never much indication inside the program that Watson was in anything but firm control of the job.

The former Springfield Central High School star looked every bit like a frontline guy despite a change of schools, systems and coaches. Watson and first-year offensive coordinator Max Warner appear to click with Watson looking comfortable, decisive and physically stronger than his younger days.

As much as anything, he consistently showed why the coaching staff has placed so much confidence in him.

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Consistency has never been an issue for Watson as a passer, even going back to his youth days, but his athleticism remains a sneaky aspect of his game.

Warner isn’t going to call many designed runs for the redshirt junior, but Watson consistently displayed the ability to extend plays throughout the spring and punished defenses whenever protection broke down. His ability to create with his legs should make Warner’s offense difficult to defend.

More importantly, Watson looked like the unquestioned leader of the offense.

The success of UMass’ season feels directly tied to his development. If Watson proves to be the player so many are convinced he is, the Minutemen believe they’ll have a chance to be competitive every week.

Behind Watson, however, the competition has changed considerably since spring practice.

RJ Johnson, who spent the spring backing up Watson, has since transferred, although UMass has bolstered the room with the addition of Ty McCutcheon.

The junior college transfer arrives after beginning his career at Utah Tech before spending last season at Southwestern College in San Diego. Although he played in a limited role during high school while backing up future Polynesian Bowl quarterback John Keawe-Sagapolutele, McCutcheon has continued to develop since then and has quickly impressed people inside the program.

McCutcheon profiles as more of a traditional pocket passer. He’s comfortable operating from inside the pocket, getting the ball out on time and letting the offense work around him.

Fellow transfer Logan Inagawa brings a different dimension as perhaps the most mobile quarterback on the roster and one capable of extending plays and creating with his legs. He rushed for nine touchdowns as a backup during his lone season at Drake.

The contrast gives Warner different options behind Watson depending on the situation.

The long-term excitement inside the building, though, still centers around true freshman Aedan McCarthy.

Nobody expects the Bluffton, S.C., native to push for meaningful playing time this season, but that has little to do with his talent.

At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, McCarthy possesses the size, arm strength and athleticism that made him one of the more intriguing quarterback signees in recent memory. Program sources continue to rave about his ceiling, believing he has the physical tools to eventually develop into a high-level starter.

Like most true freshman quarterbacks, however, the game still needs to slow down, which will come with more reps. He needs experience. He needs live bullets. Fortunately for both McCarthy and UMass, there’s no urgency to rush anything.

With Watson firmly entrenched as the starter and multiple experienced quarterbacks behind him, the coaching staff can afford to let McCarthy develop at the proper pace.

Overall, this quarterback room feels dramatically different than it did a year ago.

There will be no quarterback competition during preseason camp. UMass is putting all its chips in behind Watson and while the future looks bright at the position, the focus is fully on 2026.

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UMass fans aren’t the only ones waiting to see what Year 2 under Joe Harasymiak looks like.

Many of the top prospects on the Minutemen’s Wish List for the Class of 2027 are watching closely as well. After an encouraging offseason via the Transfer Portal, UMass believes it has positioned itself to capitalize if the progress behind the scenes begins translating into wins this fall.

Still, the summer didn’t unfold exactly as the Minutemen would have liked.

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Last year’s 0-12 record proved to be a more significant obstacle than some inside the program hoped. Several prospects showed genuine interest, some even scheduled official visits and spent months communicating with the coaching staff before ultimately deciding to wait or head elsewhere.

As one source put it simply, “That’s what happens when you go 0-12.”

Still, UMass has quietly assembled a solid foundation.

The Minutemen currently hold six commitments in the 2027 class, each representing a different recruiting win and a different piece of what Harasymiak and his staff hope to build moving forward.

RB Amari Cannon

Cannon gives the class a dynamic offensive playmaker.

The Pennsylvania back seriously considered Temple after taking an official visit there before ultimately choosing UMass. Relationships with Harasymiak and running backs coach Jeremy Larkin played a significant role, but so did the staff’s vision for how he’d fit into offensive coordinator Max Warner’s offense.

Cannon finished his junior season with over 1,000 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. He also caught 22 passes for another 320 yards.

Rather than viewing Cannon strictly as a running back, the Minutemen see someone capable of creating mismatches as both a runner and receiver.

Just as important, Cannon repeatedly pointed to Harasymiak’s honesty about where the program currently stands instead of trying to hide from recent struggles.

TE Joel Gomez

If there has been a signature recruiting win so far, Gomez may be it.

UMass identified the New Hampshire tight end before almost anyone else and refused to back away as additional offers arrived from schools like Boston College, Rutgers, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

Harasymiak and tight ends coach Matt Layman made Gomez feel like a priority from beginning to end. That persistence paid off.

Winning a recruiting battle after Power Four programs enter the picture is exactly the type of result rebuilding staffs need to establish credibility on the trail.

OL GaVin English

No commitment was more symbolic than the first.

Landing Springfield Central offensive lineman GaVin English signaled exactly what this staff wants to accomplish in Massachusetts. Keeping some the state’s most talented prospects home has become a priority and English became one of the first players to buy into that vision.

The 6-foot-4, 284-pounder spent considerable time with offensive line coach Brian White and Harasymiak before making his decision. He also watched former Springfield Central standouts Pop Watson and Joe Griffin return home to UMass this offseason, reinforcing the idea that staying close to home doesn’t have to mean sacrificing opportunity.

OL Charles Turgeon

Turgeon may ultimately become the class’s biggest developmental success story.

The Canadian prospect arrived at camp expecting to work out as a tight end. But UMass saw an offensive tackle.

Rather than simply offering him, the staff presented a long-term vision built around developing the 6-foot-7 prospect into an offensive lineman. Turgeon embraced the idea almost immediately.

Evaluations like this can often define a recruiting class years later. If Turgeon develops the way the staff believes he can, UMass may eventually look back at this commitment as one of the better projections of the cycle.

DL Trent Small

Few commitments better illustrate what this staff values than Trent Small.

The DeMatha Catholic defensive lineman endured personal challenges throughout his recruitment, but assistant defensive ends coach Kayon Whitaker and defensive line coach Nyeem Wartman never stopped believing in him. Just as importantly, they never overwhelmed him.

Instead, they stayed consistent.

That approach resonated with Small, who committed shortly after his official visit.

Beyond adding another talented defensive lineman, UMass believes it’s bringing in a player accustomed to the expectations that come with one of the nation’s premier high school football programs.

LB Jack Hinspeter

On paper, Jack Hinspeter’s commitment looked like an easy one to explain. His older brother, Timmy, already plays linebacker for UMass.

The reality wasn’t quite that simple.

That connection introduced the Don Bosco Prep standout to the program, but the relationships he built with Harasymiak, linebackers coach Garrett Gillick and defensive coordinator Jared Keyte ultimately made the difference. Even as schools like Delaware, James Madison and UConn pushed for him, Hinspeter consistently came back to the people inside the building.

For a program trying to establish itself throughout the Northeast, adding a player from one of New Jersey’s premier high school programs represents another important regional victory.

A Strong Start, But Plenty Left To Do

It’s a class UMass should feel good about, but one the staff knows is far from complete.

The work now shifts in multiple directions.

The Minutemen will continue evaluating prospects throughout the fall, something they planned to do regardless. They’ll also revisit recruits who showed initial interest before last season’s record caused them to look elsewhere.

Perhaps most importantly, UMass will circle back to prospects who spent the spring chasing Power-4 opportunities that ultimately never proved real. If the Minutemen put together a strong start this fall, many of those conversations could take on an entirely different tone.

For better or worse, Harasymiak and his staff have taken this recruiting class about as far as they could before the 2026 season kicks off.

They’ve identified players who fit their culture, built strong relationships and landed six commitments despite coming off a dreadful season.

Now the recruiting pitch has to evolve.

For months, the staff has sold recruits on where it believes UMass is headed. Beginning this fall, they’ll have the chance to show them.

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Mike Ravosa Jr. is starting early.

Most 14-year-olds are worried about getting ready for high school.

Ravosa Jr. is already collecting Division I scholarship offers.

The 2031 Massachusetts linebacker left the Best of New England Camp at Springfield College in June with offers from UMass and Syracuse, validating years of work that began long before most recruits ever think about recruiting.

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“I’ve been putting a lot of work in, so it’s just nice seeing that it’s paying off because I’ve been working every day for three years,” Ravosa told Minuteman Command.

The moment itself was one the 6-foot-3, 213-pounder had envisioned for years.

“It’s such a surreal feeling,” Ravosa said. “I’ve been dreaming about it since I was younger and to finally see it was surreal.”

The UMass offer carried extra significance for the East Longmeadow native.

“It meant a lot,” Ravosa said. “I live in Massachusetts, so just getting an offer from the school. I’ve seen people like Pop Watson go there. It was just a really cool feeling.”

Ravosa has already worked out on campus once and hopes to return soon, this time to get a closer look at everything UMass has to offer.

“I think I’ll go on another visit there, just check the school out, see everything,” he said.

Syracuse also made a lasting impression for a different reason.

“It was crazy because my mom went there too, so they had a lot of feelings about it,” Ravosa Jr. added.

The future Williston Northampton School standout expects to visit the Orange as well while continuing to explore his growing list of opportunities.

Much of that process will be new, but Ravosa believes he’ll have plenty of guidance from Williston Northampton head coach Tommy Beaton when he arrives on campus this fall.

“Coach Beaton, he’s really showing me how the recruiting process is and everything about it. And I’m really looking forward to going there next year and playing for them.”

It’s still very early for Ravosa Jr., but with two offers in hand already, his is clearly a name to remember in the years to come.

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Charles Turgeon didn’t arrive at UMass expecting to work out with the offensive linemen.

But he left with a scholarship offer at offensive tackle and, just weeks later, made his commitment to the Minutemen.

The 2027 Canadian prospect announced his pledge to UMass on July 5 after the staff laid out a vision that involved moving the 6-foot-7, 255-pounder from tight end to the offensive line.

“I registered as a tight end for the camp,” Turgeon told Minuteman Command. “When I arrived there, they transferred me with the o-line. So I practiced o-line during the camp.”

The opportunity didn’t come as a complete surprise.

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Turgeon first connected with senior offensive line/tight end analyst Rich Worsell at a camp at Kennesaw State after traveling from Quebec to attend multiple camps in the United States with teammates.

“Me and some guys from my team went to some mega camps in the States,” Turgeon said. “We took the plane and went to camps in Detroit and Atlanta. At the Kennesaw State camp, I met Coach Worsell and that’s when he invited me to the UMass camp.

“I went there with a friend, had a great camp and that’s when they offered me.”

Although Turgeon had been playing tight end, UMass saw a different future.

Turgeon believes his physical tools made the transition to tackle an easy projection.

“I’ve got great size. I’m 6-foot-7, almost 6-foot-8 and I have an 82-inch wingspan with long arms,” he said. “Also, for my size, I’m kind of athletic. I can move well. I think that’s why they wanted me to come to UMass.”

The position change is one Turgeon has embraced.

“I’m excited to play o-line,” he said. “I kind of knew it was coming because with my size a lot of people told me I should play tackle. I’m excited for the opportunity and I’m excited to develop myself over there.

“It’s going to be different, but I played on the line a little bit when I was younger, so it’s nothing new for me.”

Ultimately, the decision came down to much more than football.

“When I got there, the coaches were very welcoming,” Turgeon said. “We built a great connection. We had a call with my parents. Every time I talked with them, it made me feel more confident about them.

“I’m onboard with the plan they have for me to become the best version of myself as an offensive lineman and the vision they have for the future. I believe in what they’re building and I want to be part of that.”

That belief extends to the direction of the program under head coach Joe Harasymiak.

“The new culture. A lot of coaches are new, a lot of new players also. That’s something to look for and I’m excited for the future of UMass.”

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Christian McCollum joined Mike Broadbent, Richie O’Leary, and Alec Crouthamel of The Knight Report, the podcast of Rutger’s On3/Rivals website to preview UMass’ season-opener against Rutgers.

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UMass believed in Joel Gomez before anyone else did.

That early belief never wavered throughout the recruiting process, helping the Minutemen land a commitment from the 2027 New Hampshire tight end last month after making him one of their top priorities from the very beginning.

“It was really just them being my first offer and coaches really believing in me,” Gomez told Minuteman Command. “After that, they didn’t fade away. They stuck on me and it just felt like the right move.”

The Manchester Memorial High School standout emerged as one of New England’s top prospects during the recruiting process, earning scholarship offers from schools like Boston College, Rutgers, UConn, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

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Even with Power-4 schools joining the race to a degree, Joe Harasymiak and the Minutemen never backed down and continued making Gomez a priority.

“The Junior Day that they had, I was the first person to go meet with Coach H,” Gomez said. “Not only that, they just kept reaching out, letting me know how I’m going to fit in their offense and reassuring me and really proving to me that I was their top target.”

Harasymiak made a strong impression throughout the process.

“He’s a good coach, he’s a player’s coach,” Gomez said. “Me and him built a really good relationship and connection. When I was at practice, all the guys respected him and you could just tell he’s a really good coach.”

Gomez also appreciated the honesty Harasymiak brought to every conversation.

“From the first day I’d ever seen him and listened to him, you could just tell he means what he’s talking about,” Gomez said. “He knows that UMass didn’t have the best season last year, but he’s not shying away from it. He’s improving the culture with all the players and stuff and it’s just a really exciting place to be at.”

Tight ends coach Matt Layman played an equally important role in Gomez’s decision.

The two stayed in frequent contact throughout the process, building a relationship Gomez believes will serve him well once he arrives in Amherst.

“He played a huge role as well,” Gomez said. “I’m going to be spending every day with him, so it’s important to have a good relationship with him as well. He’s FaceTiming me almost every week.”

Layman also painted a clear vision for how Gomez could fit into offensive coordinator Max Warner’s system.

“They see me as an A, the adjuster, coming to learn behind Matt and just being able to move everywhere wherever they need me for tight end,” Gomez said, referring to current UMass tight end Matt Ogunniyi.

Layman reinforced that message throughout the recruitment.

“He always just tells me, ‘Come catch 100 balls for us,’” Gomez said. “I think that’s really important, the way he sees me in the offense and really the future that I have there.”

The 6-foot-6, 215-pounder hopes to reward that belief once he arrives on campus.

“UMass fans should expect someone who’s going to work hard every single play, give back to the community and just work hard on the field. I just want to win.”

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Trent Small was looking for a place that felt like home.

The 2027 Maryland defensive lineman found it at UMass, where strong relationships with the coaching staff and two visits to Amherst convinced him to end his recruitment and commit to the Minutemen after this past weekend’s official visit.

“It just felt like home,” Small told Minuteman Command.

The DeMatha Catholic standout strongly considered schools like Temple, Georgia State and USF before ultimately deciding UMass offered everything he was looking for.

For Small, the relationships made the difference.

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“Really the coaches,” he said. “They really stuck with me throughout this whole process.”

Small admitted the recruiting process wasn’t always easy, but appreciated the way assistant defensive ends coach Kayon Whitaker and defensive line coach Nyeem Wartman handled it.

“This whole process was a lot, especially for me,” Small said. “A lot of stuff happened in my family during this recruitment process. I was going through a lot mentally.”

Rather than overwhelming him, the UMass staff gave him space while continuing to show they believed in him.

“These coaches actually stuck with me,” Small said. “Through the hard times, they were still there, but they weren’t overwhelming me. When the time came, they pulled through.”

Whitaker, in particular, built a strong relationship with the Maryland native.

“I was really dealing with Coach Whit strongly, heavily,” Small said. “He was really heavily recruiting me throughout this whole process. He was great throughout the whole thing.”

Small visited Amherst twice in a span of two weeks, first for an unofficial visit before returning for his official.

He was actually ready to commit during the visit, but wanted one more conversation first. His mother wasn’t able to attend either trip, so he returned home after the unofficial to get her blessing.

“I really liked it on campus, but I wanted to consult with my mom,” Small said. “I went back home and I told my mom. She said it was cool.”

The second trip reinforced what he already believed and ultimately sealed it. He gave his commitment to the staff before leaving Amherst.

“The scenery was beautiful,” Small said. “It’s a campus with no distractions.

“A lot of colleges and places, it’s in the heart of a city or if it’s not in the heart of a city, it has a lot of distractions around,” he said. “So I really liked that about UMass.”

Coming from perennial Maryland powerhouse DeMatha Catholic, Small believes he’ll bring more than just talent to Amherst.

“I come from not just a winning program, but I come from hard work. Winning is good, but in order to win, you have to work hard. I feel like I can bring that to UMass with my work ethic and because of that, we could win some games.”

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When it came time to make a decision, Amari Cannon kept coming back to the same thing.

The relationships.

After taking official visits to Temple and UMass in consecutive weekends, the 2027 Pennsylvania running back committed to the Minutemen on June 20, giving head coach Joe Harasymiak another important addition to the program’s future.

“Just the relationship with the coaches,” Cannon told Minuteman Command when asked what separated UMass from the rest of the field.

The Downingtown West High School standout also bought into the vision Harasymiak has laid out since arriving in Amherst.

“I just trust everything that Coach H is putting together right now,” Cannon said. “I feel like the team, it’s been through some struggles, but I feel like this year they’re just going to be better.”

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That belief stemmed largely from the honesty Harasymiak showed throughout the recruiting process.

Rather than trying to gloss over UMass’ recent lack of success, Cannon appreciated the way the Minutemen head coach addressed it directly.

“His game plan, how he’s real,” Cannon said. “He doesn’t try to hide from the fact that they have been losing for a couple years and how he’s just trying to put everything together and put the right pieces together.”

The relationship with running backs coach Jeremy Larkin played an important role in the decision as well.

Cannon pointed to Larkin believing in him from the start and consistently showing confidence in what he could bring to the program.

“Coach Larkin, he trusted me from the beginning,” Cannon said. “He put a lot of trust in me. He believed in what I could do and how I could help the team.”

That connection ultimately stood apart from the other schools involved in his recruitment.

“I just feel like that relationship between me and him was something that no coach had with me,” he said.

UMass also presented a vision for how Cannon could be utilized within the offense.

The Minutemen see the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder as more than a traditional running back and believe his versatility can create matchup problems for opposing defenses.

“They said that my ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and being able to not only play in the backfield, but also play in the slot as a slot receiver would help the team a lot and be more spread,” Cannon said.

The Pennsylvania native held double-digit scholarship offers and seriously considered Temple after taking an official visit to Philadelphia on June 12. But after making the trip to Amherst the following weekend, UMass ultimately emerged as the choice.

Now that the decision is made, Cannon is relieved to have the recruiting process behind him.

“It feels pretty good. You don’t have to worry about it in the future, figuring where you’re trying to go. Doing it now, it was just big for me.”

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He camped in Amherst recently and has already landed an offer from UMass.

He talks about all of that and more from the B.O.N.E. Camp here at Springfield College.

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He already has one Power-4 offer with others likely to follow. UMass offered early and already has his attention.

Charles explains why and more from the BONE Camp here at Springfield College this weekend.

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The chemistry was already there. As well, it should have been.

Pop Watson and Joe Griffin Jr. spent years making plays together at Springfield Central High School and even before that as members of the youth program, the Springfield Tigers.

With both now in Amherst, it looked as if they simply picked up where they left off during UMass practice this spring.

What UMass may not have expected was how quickly Watson would develop a similar rapport with T.Y. Harding.

The Griffin-Watson reunion generated plenty of excitement, but Harding’s spring may have been just as encouraging. Combined with the emergence of several young receivers and the addition of transfer Devin Matthews, the position left spring looking deeper, more explosive and more versatile than it did a year ago, despite losing the room’s most productive - and maybe the locker room’s most productive - player in Jacquon Gibson, who transferred to Virginia.

Wide receiver was one of the most intriguing position groups on the roster entering the spring and it only became more intriguing over the last several weeks.

Griffin looks to be the headliner.

UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak made it clear during the spring that the 6-foot-3, 208-pound receiver “has to be the guy” for the Minutemen this fall and it wasn’t difficult to see why.

The former Boston College and Wisconsin transfer gives UMass a physical presence that simply doesn’t exist on many MAC rosters. His size, catch radius and ability to win contested balls will make him a difficult matchup for opposing defensive backs and he consistently flashed throughout the spring while reconnecting with Watson.

What was more surprising was Harding’s connection with the new quarterback.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound senior has always been one of the most talented players on the roster, but injuries and inconsistent play from those around him have often prevented him from fully showcasing that ability. This spring offered some reasons for optimism.

Harding looked healthy. He looked confident. And he looked completely comfortable in new offensive coordinator Max Warner’s offense.

Watson and Harding connected repeatedly throughout the spring and there were times when Harding looked like the most difficult player on the field to cover. UMass fans have known about his talent for years. This could be the season the rest of the MAC learns about it too.

If Griffin and Harding become the one-two punch they appeared capable of becoming this spring, the Minutemen could have one of the better receiving duos in the conference.

The biggest wildcard in the room remains Matthews.

The 5-foot-9, 185-pound East Texas A&M transfer was limited during the spring, but people inside the program continue to speak highly of his potential impact.

Matthews brings a different skill set than Griffin. He can create separation quickly, threaten defenses vertically and should also provide value in the return game. Several people around the program believe he can become the type of weapon Harding has been at his best.

Beyond the top of the depth chart, UMass appears to have more young talent than it has had in recent years.

Kezion Dia-Johnson continues to flash.

The 6-foot, 185-pound redshirt sophomore has consistently shown the ability to make plays when given opportunities. The challenge moving forward is turning those flashes into consistent production over the course of a season. The talent has never been in question.

The same can be said for Elijah Pedro.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound redshirt freshman continues to look like a promising young option. Pedro saw limited action last season, but his athletic ability remains obvious and it would not be surprising to see his role expand significantly this fall.

Dallas Elliott may not receive as much attention as some of the others, but the 6-foot-2, 195-pound redshirt senior continues to look like a dependable option. He could prove to provide valuable depth and experience.

Among the freshmen, David Moore Jr. generated immediate buzz as an early enrollee this spring.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder consistently looked dependable while also showing the type of long-term upside that excites coaches. Moore rarely looked overwhelmed and seemed to make steady progress throughout camp.

Possibly the most surprising breakout at the position was freshman Drew Alsup.

The 5-foot-9, 175-pound receiver arrived early and with little fanfare, but quickly earned the respect of coaches with his approach, work ethic and attention to detail. Whether his immediate impact comes on offense, special teams or both, it feels increasingly difficult to imagine him not finding a role somewhere.

And while he wasn’t present for spring practice, many inside the program are eager to see what incoming freshman Kai Owens will bring as a summer arrival.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Illinois native finished his high school career with more than 1,600 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns and possesses the size and athleticism to compete for opportunities sooner rather than later.

Losing Gibson was an undeniable blow and if the receivers end up having a better season than the one Gibson had for the Minutemen a year ago, it will probably be due to improved quarterback play as much as anything.

But collectively, there is more talent in the room.

Griffin gives UMass a legitimate matchup problem. Harding appears poised for a breakthrough season. Matthews could add another explosive dimension. And the group of young receivers behind them gives the position a foundation that extends beyond 2026.

There are still plenty of questions to answer once the games begin.

But based on what UMass showed this spring, wide receiver has a chance to be one of the strengths of the football team this fall.

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The Don Bosco Prep standout talks about the impact of head coach Joe Harasymiak and linebackers coach Garrett Gillick along with the reactions of his brother - current UMass LB Tim Hinspeter - and his parents, who are thrilled to have four more years of tailgating in Amherst.

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UMass continued strengthening its pipeline into one of the nation’s premier high school football programs with Wednesday’s commitment of 2027 New Jersey linebacker Jack Hinspeter.

Don Bosco Prep head coach Dan Sabella believes the Minutemen are landing exactly the type of player they need.

Sabella has coached plenty of high-level prospects during his time at Don Bosco, but believes Hinspeter’s mentality is what immediately separates him from many others.

“I call him TCB, taking care of business,” Sabella told Minuteman Command. “He’s all business.”

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That approach consistently shows up in the way Hinspeter handles preparation and daily work behind the scenes.

“He’s very process-driven, always doing the extra stuff,” Sabella explained. “He’s not going to overlook anything. He’s not going to take anything for granted.”

The Don Bosco standout’s mentality mirrors many of the same traits that helped older brother Timmy Hinspeter establish himself inside UMass’ program.

“If you know anything about Timmy, Jack’s got a lot of those same characteristics,” Sabella said.

The younger Hinspeter also brings a physical style of play Sabella believes should translate naturally to the college level.

“He’s extremely physical,” Sabella said. “Uses his hands, loves to stick his face in there and really play a violent style of football.”

Sabella added the 6-foot-2, 222-pounder possesses slightly more length than his older brother.

“He’s a little bit longer than Timmy,” Sabella noted.

The connection between Hinspeter and UMass grew steadily throughout the recruiting process as Jack watched both his brother and the direction of the program under head coach Joe Harasymiak.

Sabella believes that comfort level eventually made the decision relatively simple for the linebacker.

“Jack’s a no-nonsense guy,” Sabella said. “He was just like, ‘This just feels right.’”

According to Sabella, Hinspeter never felt the need to unnecessarily drag out the process once he became convinced UMass was the correct fit.

“They like me and I like them,” Sabella said, describing Hinspeter’s mindset. “‘What else is there to say?’”

UMass also continues building momentum at Don Bosco after signing defensive tackle Robert Ekins in the 2026 class.

Despite the Minutemen’s 0-12 finish in 2025, Sabella believes people inside the football world understand the long-term trajectory Harasymiak is building in Amherst.

“The guys who know football and know Coach Joe, they know that no one’s judging anything from one year,” Sabella said. “There’s a plan in place.”

Sabella believes that vision is becoming increasingly clear to recruits and coaches throughout the Northeast.

“There’s a trajectory that we believe is going to happen. And it’s going to be a lot of fun to be a part of that.”

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For Jack Hinspeter, UMass never really felt like just another school in the process.

Now, the 2027 New Jersey linebacker is officially headed to Amherst for good.

The Don Bosco Prep standout announced his commitment to UMass on Wednesday, giving the Minutemen another important regional addition as Joe Harasymiak and his staff continue building the foundation of the program’s 2027 recruiting class.

Hinspeter’s connection to UMass began well before his own recruitment accelerated because of his older brother, Timmy Hinspeter, who currently plays linebacker for the Minutemen.

That familiarity initially helped introduce Hinspeter to the program, but over time, the relationships he built with the coaching staff, specifically head coach Joe Harasymiak, linebackers coach Garrett Gillick and defensive coordinator Jared Keyte, became the biggest factor in the process.

“Definitely the coaches, the coaching staff, Coach Gillick and Coach Harasymiak,” Hinspeter told Minuteman Command. “Those two dudes are tremendous people.”

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The Minutemen offered Hinspeter back in November and continued prioritizing him throughout the offseason despite increasing regional interest from schools like Delaware, James Madison and UConn among others.

Gillick helped spearhead the recruitment while Harasymiak remained heavily involved as well.

“They really just made it feel like home,” Hinspeter said. “They’re just such good people and it’s always fun to be around them.”

That comfort level steadily grew over multiple visits to Amherst, including trips for spring practices and last year’s spring game.

When Hinspeter finally informed the staff of his decision, the reaction only reinforced everything he already believed about the program.

“They were very happy,” Hinspeter said. “Coach Gillick, he was smiling and then Harasymiak, he kind of screamed.”

That excitement resonated with the Don Bosco standout.

“It just feels great,” Hinspeter said. “I’ve always wanted to be wanted and that feeling, it’s just great.”

The family aspect of the decision also remained important.

Hinspeter acknowledged his older brother made it clear the decision was about much more than simply following family ties to Amherst.

“My brother said he was so proud of me,” Hinspeter said. “It’s not even just because he’s there that I’m going there. He was telling me it’s because he knows how hard I’ve worked for it.”

His parents were equally excited about the decision.

“They get to spend another four years down at UMass,” Hinspeter said. “They love it. They love going tailgating before the games.”

Like many recruits, Hinspeter admitted there were moments throughout the process where seeing teammates land Power Four offers naturally caught his attention and created curiosity about what else might eventually come.

Still, the feeling surrounding UMass consistently remained difficult to ignore.

“At the end of the day, I knew UMass was probably going to be my home. And now that it is, I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.”

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There may not be a clear-cut RB1 at UMass yet, but that may not be a bad thing.

What the Minutemen do appear to have now is a deeper and more versatile running back room.

A couple of young returners in Da’Marion Alberic and Elijah Faulkner have flashed intriguing ability throughout their time in Amherst while transfer additions Jordan Washington and Justin Williams-Thomas bring experience and physical maturity.

Washington may ultimately become the most important piece of the group.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound transfer from Murray State missed the spring with an injury, but internally there’s clear excitement surrounding what he could eventually bring once he returns.

“I’m really excited about him,” Minuteman Command was told this spring. “I think he’s going to be a guy.”

As a redshirt freshman at Murray State in 2025, the Helena, Ala., native rushed for 340 yards and three touchdowns while adding 22 catches for 206 yards and another score through the air.

The expectation internally is that combination of size, physicality and pass-catching ability should translate well once he returns to the field. Exactly when that return happens remains somewhat unclear, but when Washington is back, there’s a strong belief he will give the position a serious jolt.

In the meantime, Williams-Thomas took advantage of the additional opportunities created by Washington’s absence and may have helped himself as much as anybody offensively during the spring.

The 6-foot, 210-pound veteran looked capable of handling lead-back responsibilities while bringing a steady presence to a relatively young room.

One source even compared his role to what Rocko Griffin brought to the offense a year ago.

Williams-Thomas’ path to Amherst has also been unusual. The Dallas, Ga., native began his career at Tennessee before stops at Cal and Marshall, where he rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns last season while averaging 5.6 yards per carry.

Even with all that experience, Williams-Thomas still has two years of eligibility remaining.

Among the returners, Alberic may possess the most pure explosiveness in the room.

The redshirt sophomore from Atlantic High School in Florida showed flashes throughout the spring of the same burst and acceleration that made him a coveted recruit coming out of high school.

Faulkner, meanwhile, continued showing many of the same traits that allowed him to emerge as a reliable rotational piece as a freshman in 2025.

The Pittsburgh native appeared in all 12 games last season and carried that momentum into the spring while showing toughness and consistency between the tackles.

There’s also additional young talent arriving this summer in freshmen TK Davis and Justin Lewis.

Davis rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a senior at Archbishop Carroll in Washington, D.C., while Lewis arrives from powerhouse Mater Dei after previously rushing for more than 1,300 yards as a junior at Thousand Oaks before transferring for his senior season.

Overall, this room feels like it has a higher ceiling than it did last year, especially if sources are right in what they believe Washington will bring.

We’re not sure anybody will separate themselves as a true bell cow, at least not until Washington has his say, but that isn’t nearly as important in this era of college football as it’s been in the past.

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If there was one position on the roster where UMass simply needed a different level of play entering the spring - there wasn’t…in fact, there were many- but, if there was one, it was quarterback.

And after 15 practices and the spring game, it’s pretty clear the Minutemen found that upgrade.

Pop Watson III entered the offseason as the expected starter and exited the spring firmly cemented as QB1 despite some outside speculation there could eventually be a controversy at the position.

There never really was one, which was apparent when Watson was made available to the media early in the spring.

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Watson looked exactly how UMass hoped he would look after transferring back home from Virginia Tech, steady, poised, athletic and noticeably more physically developed than the player many local fans remember from Springfield Central High School.

Watson is clearly thicker than he was when he came into College Football, something that should help him hold up better as a runner over the course of the season. While UMass isn’t going to run QB Power repeatedly, throughout the spring, Watson consistently showed he can create offense with his legs when protection breaks down or plays are extended.

That ability matters because defenses now have to account for him as a legitimate running threat, which should only help open space within the passing game where Watson can really do damage.

More than anything else, Watson was simply consistent.

Not perfect, but very, very good throughout the spring.

There’s also little question how much faith first-year head coach Joe Harasymiak has placed in his new leader. The sense throughout camp was that Watson is being handed the keys to the program and being asked to become the face of UMass Football’s rebuild.

The relationship between Watson and first-year offensive coordinator Max Warner also became increasingly obvious over the course of the spring. Both have strong personalities and clear leadership qualities, but the comfort level between the two developed quickly and consistently stood out during practice settings.

Behind Watson, the expectation remains that fellow transfer RJ Johnson III will open the season as the primary backup.

Johnson arrives after throwing for 2,597 yards and 18 touchdowns against just four interceptions at Florida A&M in 2025 while completing 65 percent of his passes.

The Atlanta native looked capable throughout the spring and gives UMass another experienced, athletic quarterback option if needed.

Still, the long-term intrigue within the room centers around freshman Aedan McCarthy.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder from South Carolina clearly still has work to do adjusting to the mental demands and speed of the college game, which is entirely expected for a true freshman quarterback.

But the arm talent is impossible to miss.

Multiple people around the program and outside of it remain convinced McCarthy possesses Power Four-level ability and there’s already excitement internally about what he could eventually become once the game slows down for him.

Another intriguing piece will arrive this summer in former Drake quarterback Logan Inagawa, who was not on campus for spring practice.

Inagawa threw for 1,393 yards and nine touchdowns while adding nine rushing scores as a true freshman at Drake in 2025, helping lead the Bulldogs to a Pioneer League championship.

Overall, this quarterback room simply feels different than it did a year ago.

There’s more experience, more athleticism, more upside and perhaps most importantly for UMass, much more confidence surrounding the position entering the summer.

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