College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the UMass season with what you need to know.
– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– UMass Schedule Analysis
– UMass Minutemen Previews
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
2020 Record: 0-4 overall
Head Coach: Walt Bell, 3rd year, 1-15
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 127
2020 CFN Preview Ranking: 126
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 130
UMass Minutemen College Football Preview 2021: Offense
– 12 points. That’s how many the Minutemen scored in the rough four game season. It’s a program in a constant state of transition, the transfer portal is playing a big role in trying to get things going in the third year under Walt Bell, and there’s nowhere to go but up after averaging just 188 yards and three points per game.
– The passing game tried out just about everyone possible – with four quarterbacks throwing at least nine passes – but the team might finally have the guy to settle the gig with Tyler Lytle coming in from Colorado. Garrett Dzuro is back after leading the team with 215 passing yards and two picks – he completed just 42% of his passes.
Leading receiver Samuel Emilus is gone through the transfer portal, and the receiving corps loses four other parts to other places. However, Jermaine “OC” Johnson is back after catching 14 passes for 96 yards, and tight end and backup quarterback Josiah Johnson returns along with Taylor Edwards. There’s enough in place to get a big more out of a midrange passing game.
– The offensive line didn’t generate a thing for the ground game and struggled in pass protection, but there’s excellent size and enough bulk to at least try to get more physical. Three starters are back in the interior, and help is coming from the transfer portal, but the backs have to rise up.
Four are leaving through the transfer portal, but the Minutemen are bringing in Kay’Ron Adams from Rutgers to go along with 6-2, 227-pound former JUCO transfer Ellis Merriweather – the only RB to gain more than seven yards – running 42 times for 115 yards.
– What You Need To Know: Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– UMass Schedule Analysis