Coach | DB Transfer Jahmad Harmon Will Add Versatility To Secondary
Former Lawrence Central (Ind.) High School head coach William Patterson breaks new UMass DB Jahmad Harmon.
Last season, UMass lacked stability and versatility on the back end for the latter half of the year, so much so that head coach Joe Harasymiak had to slot himself in at scout team corner for a few practices. However, according to former Lawrence Central football head coach William Patterson, Jahmad Harmon will help fill that gap and provide the Minutemen with secondary talent they lacked in 2025.
Harmon, a former Ball State and Kent State player, committed to UMass on Jan. 13th with multiple years of MAC experience under his belt. According to Patterson, disagreements with both previous coaching staffs led him to the transfer portal, but the Minutemen provided him exactly what he was hoping for.
“I’ve talked to him a ton,” Patterson said. “From what I gather, UMass is just better people, better staff and better resources.
“He feels like they are dedicated to helping him be successful physically so he can perform as best as possible. I’m just glad he’s somewhere he’s happy so he can play ball.”
Last season, Harmon finished with 28 tackles, two tackles for loss and five pass breakups.
With the absences of Malcolm Greene, Zachary Farris, Ryan Barnes, Brennan Bailey, Jeremiah McGill and others due to either graduation or the transfer portal, Harmon will have a chance to make a major impact in Amherst right away.
“Athletically, I think he can play with anybody,” Patterson said. “You can drop him in any system. He’s the type of kid who will make the effort to get better, especially if you challenge him and tell him it’s a deficiency. He’s a go-getter and will do whatever it takes to change it.”
At 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, Harmon has the frame to play just about anywhere in the secondary.
“I think he offers a lot of versatility on the back end,” Patterson said. “I know Ball State was playing him at some safety, so he got going there. In high school, we played him at corner, but I’ve seen him improve his tackling. When you’re on the back end, it’s more about being willing to tackle than it is about skill.”
The Ball State transfer is well aware UMass needs to feel his impact on a daily basis because of the current climate of recruiting.
“I teach all of my kids that scholarships are only good for a year,” Patterson said. “If you get an opportunity to go play, you have to make an impact on a year-to-year basis to stick around. For him, being exposed to the business side of things made him hungry.”
Patterson also emphasized Harmon’s ability to receive coaching in a vulnerable way dating back to his time at Lawrence Central.
“He’s relentless and a competitor,” Patterson said. “When he first came, he had a lot of growing pains, but he became vulnerable enough to be willing to learn. We identified him as a good potential Division I football player.”
Many have known the Indianapolis native to be strong in the community, which is a trait he gets from his mother.
“Jahmad is a selfless dude,” Patterson said. “When you ask him to dive into the community, he’s frontline. I think that starts at home. His mom was a rockstar for us as Team Mom and she was so devoted that she stayed and helped us out after he graduated. She’d be at our games on Friday and then get on the road to go to his games on Saturday, so she is a great support for him.”
Harasymiak has emphasized recruiting players who are obsessed with the game of football, but also good in the classroom. During the fall semester, despite the issues on the field, the Minutemen finished with a 3.18 GPA and posted a 3.1 cumulative GPA, the highest the program has seen. According to Patterson, Harmon fits that culture perfectly.
“As a coach, we care about the kids who don’t cause us trouble off the field, and he’s a kid who is always taking care of business in the classroom. He’s a finance major, so I hope one day he’ll be able to do my taxes.”
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