2025 FL WR Jenoa Alford Thrilled To Find Home At UMass
The Jacksonville native joins the Minutemen after whirlwind recruiting journey
Exhilaration, heart break, triumph and relief filled Jenoa Alford’s journey through high school.
Going into his sophomore spring and junior summer, Alford received interest from Pittsburgh, SMU, Illinois, Georgia Tech and many other schools. His dream of playing Division I football at an FBS level was right at his fingertips.
Then… a season-ending injury derailed his junior year leaving him heartbroken.
Alford’s recruitment slowed down dramatically. He stopped talking to schools and college coaches, who were once interested in him, left for different schools. Through desperation, he went on a tour of the Midwest to find one major program that would take a chance on him, but most saw him as spoiled goods.
The 5-foot-10, 165-pounder was considering the junior college route until Morgan State approached him around high school graduation time. Alford planned on attending Morgan State, until UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak and his staff stepped in.
According to Alford, he got a call from tight ends coach Matt Layman and had a great conversation with him, ultimately leading to an offer. He then got in contact with wide receivers coach Jordan Hogan and offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian to schedule his official visit.
That was when the Jacksonville, Fla. native fell in love.
“I loved it,” Alford told the Minuteman Command. “I loved everything about Amherst. It's a college town. I love the amazing coaching staff and how they were very welcoming and interactive. Some of the coaches I didn’t even know were still talking to me. It just showed me why I should like UMass even more.”
After bringing in a whole new staff with a new culture, UMass had a long year of recruiting guys out of the transfer portal, but just when people thought Harasymiak finished adding pieces, he topped his 2025 roster off with Alford.
At just under 6 feet, Alford has proven himself in jump-ball scenarios and also presents a threat in the return game. One of his biggest weapons though is his speed. On top of football, the wide receiver starred for the University Christian High School track team as a sprinter. Back in May, he was on the relay team that broke the school record in the 4x100 meter relay.
“My versatility is my strong suit," he said. “I’m always going to make something happen at whatever spot I’m at.
“I’m only 5-foot-10, but people say I’m one of the best jump-ball receivers in my city. You can never take that away from me, I’m always going to try to make a play.”
Although his talent was clear, coaches and universities were struggling to find him until UMass came along. Alford’s connection with Harasymiak through mutual relationships and the head coach's time back at Rutgers, kickstarted their relationship.
When Harasymiak brought him in for his official visit, he introduced Alford to Hogan.
“I love what he teaches,” Alford said. “He’s very technical and fundamental. He’s coached in the league so obviously he knows his stuff. I’m putting all my trust in him to make me a 10 times better receiver than I am today.”
He was impressed with the overall operation Hogan ran, as well as the talent in the room. Alford felt guys like Jacquon Gibson and TY Harding were leaders who could facilitate growth in his young college career.
“(I felt a connection with) Jacquon Gibson,” Alford said. “We are the same size, We’re strong, fast, catch the ball and I feel like his game is kind of similar to mine. Also, TY Harding is a little shorter than me, but he’s a playmaker which is similar to what I want to do.”
Alford seemed to blend right in with the new culture of the program. He emphasized his faith as well as wanting to be more than just an athlete.
“I want people to remember what I left,” he said. “I don’t want people just knowing me as a football player. It’s a blessing to be in this position that I’m in. That’s what happens when you put everything in God’s hands. He’s going to always find a way. It may not be the way that you want, but it helped me find a home that I love.”
Alford saw his journey as an inspiring example of perseverance and belief personified.
“I want (my journey) to be a stepping stone for all the young kids who don’t believe that they are able to do something. At one point, I was told that I was never going to play football again, but look where I’m at now, committed and signed.”
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