DL Portal Add Zakar Morris Explains Why UMass

Joe Harasymiak's B.O.S. motto resonated with former Albany DL Zakar Morris.

For Zakar Morris, the decision to commit to UMass out of the transfer portal came down to culture, accountability and belief.

“I ended up at UMass because of the culture really,” the New York defensive lineman told Minuteman Command regarding his decision to choose the Minutemen after entering the portal from Albany.

“I’m a team first guy. I want to help lift up the program. I’m accountable to my teammates, especially through tough moments. I’ve been through adversity already, so I’m mentally and physically ready for the ground.”

Those traits aligned naturally with what the 6-foot-2, 286-pounder saw during the process.

“I take pride in showing the same energy in practices,” he said. “Showing up to games, practices, even lifts early, it shows that I care about this program a lot. I feel like they could develop me a lot.”

UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak’s motto placing emphasis on belief, ownership and sacrifice resonated with Morris.

That belief began with Harasymiak.

“I believe in Coach H,” the Poughkeepsie, N.Y., native said. “I believe he’s really going to change this program around. He’s been recruiting great guys. We had a conversation when I committed about belief. I believe in him, he believes in me.

“Ownership is a really big thing to me. We all take accountability for what we do. Last season didn’t go as planned, but this season we’ll definitely do something for sure. Turn it around.”

Sacrifice also stood out as a core principle.

“Sacrifice is his motto,” Morris said. “With sacrifice, you’ve got to have a lot of heart. I feel like it’s about doing what the team needs, not just what benefits me. I’m willing to sacrifice. I’m really sacrificing myself for my team.”

Morris said defensive coordinator Jared Keyte played a significant role throughout the process.

“Coach Keyte has always been on my side,” Morris said. “Since I entered the portal, he’s always been texting me. I really do believe in him.”

The transfer portal experience itself was unfamiliar territory.

“This whole process was definitely hard for me,” Morris said. “Once UMass reached out to me and I went on a visit, I really felt something else that I didn’t really feel at any other school.”

Other programs showed interest, but the connections did not compare.

“I would say other FCS schools like North Dakota and Tennessee Tech,” he said. “Other schools were reaching out, but once I went to UMass, it felt different.”

Latish Kinsler, of LifeStyle Sports, helped guide Morris through the process.

“He helped me a lot,” Morris said of Kinsler. “He told me, ‘We’re going to get you where you could play and really keep developing your game. Once you develop your game, you reach that point where the sky’s the limit for you.’”

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