University of Massachusets Athletics
Phil Steele Recognizes 10 Minutemen To Preseason All-MAC Teams
June 01, 2015 | Football
Nationally recognized college football writer Phil Steele released his All Mid-American Conference teams on Monday afternoon with UMass as one of the favorites of the league this upcoming fall. The Minutemen placed 10 players among four squads including a league-best five on the All-MAC First Team.
Overall, the Minutemen's 10 players named to the preseason all-conference teams ranked fourth-best. Bowling Green and Northern Illinois had the most players represented with 13, while Western Michigan had 12. Ball State was tied with UMass having 10 players honored.
UMass quarterback Blake Frohnapfel (Stafford, Va.), wide receiver Tajae Sharpe (Piscataway, N.J.), tight end Rodney Mills (Gainesville, Fla.), linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox (Middletown, Conn.), and cornerback Randall Jette (Oak Bluffs, Mass.) were all named to Steele's All-MAC First Team. The five players on the first time was tied by Western Michigan and Bowling Green.
The Minutemen were represented on the All-MAC Third Team with a pair of defensive backs. Trey Dudley-Giles, one of the most prolific punt returners in the league, was honored for his defensive prowess as a third-team cornerback. Safety Khary Bailey-Smith made the third team as a kick-returner after several breakout games in 2014.
On the fourth team, UMass had three more players honored. On the offensive side, running back Shadrach Abrokwah (Worcester, Mass.) and tackle Tyrell Smith (Lakewood, N.J.) were featured, while on defense, linebacker Kassan Messiah (Orange, N.J.) earned his first preseason accolade.
UMass enters the 2015 campaign with high expectations in its second year under head coach Mark Whipple. Last season saw the Minutemen transform themselves on the offensive side of the ball becoming one of the top offensive teams in terms of passing and scoring in the Mid-American Conference. UMass returns 19-of-22 starters overall making the squad the most veteran-laden group in the country. Despite going 3-9 overall last season (3-5 MAC, 5th MAC East), the Minutemen had five of those losses decided by a seven points or fewer. All told, a total of 23 points separated UMass from bowl eligibility.
The 2015 season will kickoff at Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 12 and the home-opener at Gillette Stadium will be on Saturday, Sept. 19 against Temple.
Season tickets including mini-plans for three games at McGuirk Stadium and three games at Gillette Stadium are on sale now. Full six-game season ticket packages start at just $100 and includes free parking at both venues. A Gillette Stadium mini-plan starts at just $60, while McGuirk Stadium mini-plans start at $50.
Single-game ticket prices will remain the same as last year at $20 for games at McGuirk Stadium and $25 for games at Gillette Stadium. Youth tickets for all games at McGuirk Stadium will also remain $10 this upcoming season.
