The excitement surrounding UMass’ 2-0 start isn’t limited to the people already invested in the program.
Some talented recruits are taking notice as well, and several priority targets will be in Amherst on Saturday to see the Minutemen for themselves.
UMass will have prospects from Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York on hand for its matchup with Stonehill, with the Class of 2028 making up the bulk of the group.
One of the most notable aspects of the expected visitor list is the contingent coming from New Jersey powerhouse St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City.
Twin defensive backs Adrian and Amiir Woodward will both make the trip. The 2028 prospects have already accumulated extensive offer lists that include UMass, Boston College, Cal, UCF, UConn, Duke, Florida, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Minnesota, NC State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Washington and West Virginia, among others.
They’ll be joined by St. Peter’s Prep teammates Jayden Beckley and Aaren Cirino.
Beckley is a 6-foot-2, 290-pound defensive tackle who transferred from Bergen Catholic to St. Peter’s Prep this offseason. The 2028 New Jersey prospect owns offers from Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Rutgers, Pitt, NC State, Syracuse, Vanderbilt and Boston College, among others.
The offer list has given Beckley plenty of options to evaluate, but he’s already identified some of the factors that will ultimately matter to him.
“How I believe the school can develop me, that’s a big thing with me,” Beckley previously told me. “Really how the situation around the school is, like the family energy there, how they help the players and how they are able to support them to be able to be the best people they can possibly be. That’s a big thing for me.”
Cirino gives St. Peter’s Prep a fourth 2028 prospect expected in Amherst. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound edge already has offers from Penn State, Rutgers, Syracuse, Memphis and Temple.
There will be plenty of local talent for the UMass staff to host as well.
DaQuall “DJ” Graham is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound cornerback and wide receiver from St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Mass. The 2028 prospect has played multiple positions during his career and has an early Division I offer from Syracuse.
Malden High running back Jayden McGuffie will also make the trip after a huge sophomore season. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Class of 2028 prospect rushed for 2,006 yards on 209 carries and scored 27 touchdowns last season. McGuffie currently holds one Division I offer.
Marshfield’s Luke Richardson is the lone 2027 prospect on the priority visitor list. The 6-foot-4 Massachusetts athlete plays wide receiver and defensive back.
The group is rounded out by 2028 New York wide receiver Nayir Jackson. The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder plays at Erasmus Hall in Brooklyn.
Saturday will give each of them a chance to see firsthand what has generated some early excitement around Joe Harasymiak’s program, while giving UMass an opportunity to continue building relationships with a group of prospects it has identified as priorities.
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