Can A Rebuilt Defensive Line Transform UMass Defense?

UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak is counting on a reloaded defensive line to change the entire unit.

(UMass Athletics)

Much of Joe Harasymiak’s confidence in UMass’ defense entering 2026 centers on a position group that barely resembles the one he inherited a year ago.

After overhauling the defensive line through the transfer portal and welcoming back veteran Josh Nobles from injury, the Minutemen believe they finally have the foundation to play the aggressive, physical style Harasymiak has envisioned since arriving in Amherst.

“I think we need to be more violent,” Harasymiak said following Monday’s opening preseason practice. “Coming off of last year, obviously statistically wasn’t very good in anything. I think it starts with violence up front. I think our whole new d-line, I think we’ve got eight or nine new guys. So I’m really looking forward to that. Getting Nobles back, things like that coming off an Achilles, losing him last year.

“But it starts with violence. That starts pre-snap with communication, getting lined up, and obviously during the play, right? Shedding blocks, getting to the ball, and then finishing. Finishing the play with tackling. I think the violence kind of takes care of everything. I think that’s what we need to play. I think that’s kind of how we’re built. But I think our front seven, our middle of our defense has got to be our strength.”

For Harasymiak, the rebuilt defensive line isn’t simply about adding depth. He believes it will allow UMass to play the defense it wants to play.

After battling injuries and learning a new scheme during his first season, the Minutemen were forced to adapt on the fly in 2025. This fall, Harasymiak expects to spend much more time in his preferred 4-2-5 alignment while relying on the front four to generate pressure.

“We’re a 4-2-5 at heart,” Harasymiak said. “That’s what I’ve been doing since my days at Maine. Going through it at Minnesota and Rutgers, a lot of the same things go on. We’ll live out of that, but certainly I think one of the things that you’ve got to do during a camp is figuring out exactly who you’re going to be.

“I think we got away from that last year a little bit just in terms of being new to everybody, figuring that out, injury kind of had to be something we weren’t. We need to be able to be a 4-2-5 multiple front, pressure when we need to. But I think this year with our d-line, I think we’re going to be able to rush the passer better out of a four-down front, which is critical.

One of the biggest additions to that group is actually the familiar face in Nobles.

He missed all of last season after suffering a torn Achilles during preseason camp, sidelining one of UMass’ top pass rushers before the season ever began. Now nearly a year removed from the injury, Harasymiak believes the veteran defensive end has put himself in position to make an impact once again.

“He looks great. I mean, he looks fantastic,” Harasymiak said. “I’m proud of his mental makeup, to be able to push through that. As a guy who came in here off, I think it was a 10.5-sack season, now he’s off a year where he had to sit out. When you’re a player that makes a lot of plays, sitting out a lot of time, not doing what you get to do, what you love to do is kind of hard.

“I think he’s done a really good job to put himself in position to get him back and to have a good year.”

Nobles isn’t the only addition expected to elevate the room.

The Minutemen also added Justin Krueger after two standout seasons at William & Mary. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound redshirt sophomore earned Third Team All-CAA honors last season after recording 52 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles. His versatility and production give UMass another experienced piece capable of contributing immediately.

The influx of talent doesn’t stop there, either.

Among the newcomers making immediate impressions are brothers Andrew DePaepe and William DePaepe, who transferred to UMass after spending the past two seasons at Indiana. Harasymiak praised both their intensity and the way they approach the game.

“They’re what you want,” he said. “They’re a little tapped in a very, very good way, in a football way. They play extremely hard. I love coaching them because of the intensity in their eyes, they listen to you, they take every word that you’re saying.”

Harasymiak also believes the brothers add another level of toughness to a position group that has been completely reshaped.

“It’s a better d-line room,” he said. “It’s more depth. But those two guys, they play the game the right way…They’re both from Iowa. We used to play Iowa all the time. It’s like a team of those guys just running around bashing your head in.”

Whether the rebuilt defensive line lives up to Harasymiak’s expectations won’t be known for several months, but he believes everything UMass wants to accomplish defensively starts up front.

“It sets up everything else. It starts there. Any good defense that I’ve ever been a part of, it starts up front and it allows the back end to do their thing. I think we’ve got some talent in the back end too.”

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