UMass Minutemen College Football Preview 2021: Defense
– The defense couldn’t to a whole lot right, allowing 482 yards and 40 points per game. It had the most problems stopping anyone from running – at least that helped give the secondary a break – but there was a decent pass rush to build off of with nine starters expected to be back.
– All things considered in the four game season, the pass rush was the team’s biggest positive with nine sacks and 31 tackles for loss coming from several spots.
6-2, 280-pound super-senior Avien Peah was the leader at end with 19 tackles with a sack and six tackles for loss, and the tackles are experienced and very, very big. 6-3, 335-pound Taishan Holmes and 6-1, 310-pound Billy Wooden have to hold up better.
– Leading tacklers Cole McCubrey is gone through the linebacking corps, and No. 2 tackler Mike Ruane is also done from the linebacking corps. 6-4, 228-pound second-year freshman Nahji Logan got in a little work at one outside spot, and the very, very young group of last year has options. However, most of the top tacklers were in the secondary.
All five starters are expected to be back, and that doesn’t even include 6-1, 203-pound sophomore Tanner Davis, who was third on the team with 24 tackles in part of a safety rotation, and with Te’Rai Powell coming off a positive season. Now the group has to come up with a pick after getting shut out.
– What You Need To Know: Offense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– UMass Schedule Analysis