UMass Improves Through The Portal
The Minutemen clearly got better this winter. The only question now is how much better?
The Transfer Portal may be closed now, but that doesn’t mean it’s finished.
While players are currently restricted from entering the Portal now that the deadline has passed, there are many who entered before the deadline who are still looking for a home and UMass is among the schools continuing to sift through options.
Still, the vast majority of action is complete.
The overall goal for every program when it comes to the Portal is to exit with a better roster than you entered with and it’s pretty obvious the Minutemen have done exactly that.
Insiders note that the difference between this year’s portal haul versus last year’s is rooted in the fact that this year’s group is rooted more in proof than projection.
The Minutemen have added 23 transfers so far, nine on offense, 13 on defense, and one specialist, reshaping nearly every position group in a short span. The emphasis, according to a source close to the situation, was clear.
“All these guys have played before,” the source said. “Just about every single guy added this portal period has actual production and has actually played college football. That’s the thing I’m most excited about.
“Last year it was more projection. This year decisions were made off film.”
The result is a roster influx the staff believes will raise the floor immediately while intensifying competition across the board.
Quarterback
The addition of Pop Watson gives UMass a proven, dynamic presence at quarterback and a player the staff expects to thrive in the MAC.
“Pop’s going to be electric in the MAC,” one source said. “He’s going to be electric. He’s got the weapons around him. Now it’s time to go.”
Watson’s potential has set the tone for the offensive additions as a whole.
RJ Johnson brings a wealth of experience, having started at Florida A&M last season, completing 221 of 331 passes for almost 2,600 yards and 18 touchdowns with only four interceptions.
After losing three quarterbacks to the portal, we expect UMass to consider adding one more to solidify the depth in the room, but Watson was probably the most important overall target, so landing him was a home run.
Running Back
UMass added two running backs through the portal in Jordan Washington and Justin Williams-Thomas.
Washington, especially, generated particular praise internally.
“I’m really excited about him,” Minuteman Command was told. “I think he’s going to be a guy.”
Washington’s combination of versatility and physicality fits what the staff believes will translate immediately in conference play.
Meanwhile, Williams-Thomas provides a steady veteran to a young room, one source compared him to what Rocko Griffin brought in that area a year ago. But even with that experience at Marshall, Cal and Tennessee, Williams-Thomas still has two years of eligibility remaining.
Wide Receiver
The receiver room also got a major boost with the additions of Joe Griffin Jr. and Devin Matthews, a duo the staff believes will stress MAC secondaries.
“I don’t think a MAC cornerback is going to be able to cover Joe Griffin,” one source said. “Think about the size mismatches. A 6-3 kid with big hands who’s a jump-ball specialist, that’s a problem.”
Matthews brings a different kind of threat, blending big-play production with the finer points of playing the position.
“Devin Matthews is going to be a guy,” the source said.
Matthews also adds value on special teams both as a potential kick returner and punt returner.
The loss of last year’s leading receiver Jaquon Gibson, who landed at Virginia, was a blow. But, if Griffin and Matthews can reach their potential, the UMass receiving corps should be even better this year, especially with a healthy T.Y. Harding coming back.
Offensive Line
Offensive line was a vital need for the Minutemen this portal period and while they’ve added a trio in Aitor Urionabarrenechea, Greg Knox and Greg Klingensmith, it’s a spot where further help is needed.
All three new additions are expected to contend for starting spots
While Urionabarrenechea played center at Colorado State, he’s more likely to end up at guard, but could also play tackle if needed in Amherst. Meanwhile, we do expect both Knox and Klingensmith to be frontrunners to win the tackle positions. .
But as we said, this is one spot that clearly still needs additional depth via the Portal.
Defensive Line
Defensive line may be where the portal class has its deepest impact, particularly on the inside, where turnover created opportunity.
This group is also home to one of the sneakiest additions of the entire group, according to one source.
“Justin Krueger is one of my favorite signings in this class,” the source said. “I think that’s an NFL defensive lineman. I really do.”
Whether or not Krueger ends up playing in The League remains to be seen, but he certainly had opportunities to play in Power-4 leagues in 2026. But those programs weren’t ready to commit to him receiving meaningful playing time immediately. The Minutemen were, illustrating the exact kind of recruiting battles they’ll need to continue winning in order to turn the program around.
Krueger’s recruitment came together late, but the staff believes he could be a difference-maker in no time.
“That kid is going to be a problem in this conference,” the source said.
Andrew and William DePaepe bring characteristics some believe will give them a chance to be dominant in the MAC. Neither has much meaningful film at the college level, but even as outliers among the class because of that, there are reasons to be optimistic.
“They’ve got traits,” the source said. “After going through one season in the MAC, their length is going to be overwhelming.”
When it comes to game experience, Zakar Morris has plenty. In fact the former Albany standout played more than 500 snaps a year ago, which was among the top 15 in FCS for interior defensive linemen. And he still has three years of eligibility remaining.
Tim Passmore isn’t a new addition, but he did put his name in the Portal before deciding to return to UMass. He brings much-needed experience at defensive tackle.
When including guys like Kamarion Thomas and Aubrey Melvin, all of a sudden, the Minutemen are looking at a deep and young defensive line room despite having to replace it almost entirely.
Linebacker
Linebacker additions were designed to add experience and competition, with multiple players having logged meaningful snaps elsewhere.
As a whole, this group is seen as steady, physical and capable of stepping into defined roles as spring ball unfolds.
There was an obvious emphasis placed on experience with the four additions as the Minutemen added multi-year contributors who have played real snaps in meaningful games, ranging from FCS All-America recognition to Big Ten experience and heavy special teams usage.
Joshua Iseah arrives from North Carolina A&T as the most decorated of the group, with 35 career games and back-to-back seasons as a full-time contributor. He brings every-down production, playmaking in coverage and a track record of durability that immediately raises the floor of the unit.
Kendric Council adds another experienced interior presence after two productive seasons at St. Francis, where he was graded among his league’s top linebackers. Council also brings versatility as a pass-rusher on third down.
Khari Bendolph gives the room a younger athlete with a full freshman season already under his belt at Jacksonville State, adding both depth and upside after playing in all 13 games as a rookie.
Defensive Back
The secondary absolutely needed an upgrade from 2025 and with Chris Stanley, Isaiah Reed, Jahmad Harmon and Michael Robinson III, the Minutemen believe they’ve done that.
Reed’s experience and production stick out, but it’s that coupled with his character that have UMass sources believing he could be an invaluable addition.
Three seasons at Brown positioned Reed to be on numerous national watch lists heading into his senior season. That season was cut short due to injury, but he did serve as team captain before doing a grad transfer year at UCF. He dealt with injuries in Orlando as well and is now looking forward to finishing his college career on a high note.
“He’s smart,” one source said. “He’s really smart. He’s super productive. That room got longer, bigger and faster.”
Stanley is the only junior college player UMass took this Portal period, but we expect the Minutemen to attack that market more aggressively in the future. Stanley is also part of a budding Arizona pipeline. He gives UMass five players from Arizona and three from Desert Edge High School.
Harmon brings extreme versatility considering he can play either safety spot and could even help at cornerback and Star.
Speaking of Star, Robinson rounds out the group with familiarity and trust.
His five-year run at Rutgers included time under Joe Harasymiak and staff members now in Amherst, giving UMass a secondary piece who already understands the expectations, scheme and culture being installed. While Robinson’s production has come largely on special teams, his experience in the Big Ten, combined with positional versatility and institutional knowledge of the staff, makes him a valuable connector piece in the room.
There are people who were around him in Piscataway who are absolutely thrilled that he is now part of the program in Amherst.
The Bigger Picture
UMass outlined the criteria it was looking for in transfer prospects and focused on finding players who fit, but not stubbornly so.
The Minutemen wanted players with proven production at the college level. They got that in many of the additions, but didn’t turn away high upside prospects who didn’t have that type of film.
“Almost every single person we took has played or has some kind of all-conference background,” the source said. “A lot of them are first-time transfers. That was the goal.”
They preferred players who hadn’t already transferred previously, understanding that could be a cause for concern. But when other opportunities presented themselves, they did due diligence to find out why a certain prospect may still be worth taking even if they had been at multiple other schools.
14 of the 23 players added have multiple years of starting experience, yet 19 of the 23 have multiple years of eligibility remaining.
The presence of the additions is expected to push those returning.
“Now everybody’s competing,” we were told. “We got better. I can’t wait for winter workouts. We got better.”
There’s no doubt UMass got better. The only question remaining now is how much better.
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