University of Massachusets Athletics
Mark Whipple Announces 2016 Signing Class
February 04, 2016 | Football
#OptiMass16 Central | #OptiMass16 Storify
AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts football head coach Mark Whipple announced the signing of 24 players to National Letters of Intent as part of the class of 2016 on Wednesday. Those 24 student-athletes joined six midyear enrollees as part of a live show, #OptiMass16, presented by MAPFRE Insurance, with an in-house audience at the Football Performance Center.
"I don't think I've ever been more excited (for National Signing Day) than this morning," Whipple said. "Listening to the guys we've signed, they're spreading the word. We're heading in the right direction. Kids have been offered scholarships from Power 5 schools and they did not take the visit. That's a sign we've never had before. We're fighting against the ACC and the Big Ten and we're right in there. We're having kids visit. We didn't have that last year. Word is getting out that we're doing things the right way. This is a great place to get an education and a great place to play."
Offensively, Whipple and staff signed talented skill players Andrew Ford (QB, 6-3, 211, Camp Hill, Pa.), Bilal Ally (RB, 5-10, 185, Middleburg, Fla.) Peytton Pickett (RB, 5-8, 183, Arlington, Texas), Tyler Thompson (RB, 5-11, 180, Wanamassa, N.J.), Brennon Dingle (WR, 5-10, 170, Whitemarsh, Md.), Sadiq Palmer (WR, 6-3, 185, Red Bank, N.J.) and Infinite Tucker (WR, 6-5, 198, Huntington, N.Y.).
Blocking the path for the skill players will be RaQaun Thomas (OL, 6-4, 345, Philadelphia, Pa.), Cody Banks (TE, 6-7, 260, Henrico, Va.), Taylor Edwards (TE, 6-4, 228, Wilmington, Del.) and Avien Peah (TE, 6-3, 230, Providence, R.I.).
Defensively, the front line will gain size and physicality from Taylor Riggins (LB, 6-2, 213, Webster, N.Y.), Leyshawn Askew (DL, 6-6, 285, Wayne, N.J.), Larnel Coleman (DL, 6-7, 249, Malden, Mass.), T.J. Rayam (DL, 6-1, 290, Alabaster, Ala.), Sharif Saleem (DL, 6-7, 250, Euclid, OH) and Charly Timite (DL, 6-3, 250, Philadelphia, Pa.).
The Massachusetts secondary builds its athleticism and ability with safeties Cycoby Burch (6-1, 190, Orlando, Fla.), Patrick Volcy (6-3, 190, Naples, Fla.) and Antione Webster (6-0, 185, Miami, Fla.). The cornerbacks welcome Bakhari Goodson (6-0, 170, Orlando, Fla.), Martin Mangram (5-11, 180, Buford, Ga.) and Isaiah Rodgers (5-11, 160, Tampa, Fla.)
Tyshaun Ingram has been recruited and announced as an athlete with the ability to participate in all three phases. He's a 6-0, 185 graduate of Winter Park High School and a native of Winter Park, Fla.
The 24 National Letters of Intent student-athletes join six Minutemen the program welcomed in January with the start of the spring semester: Ali Ali-Musa (DL, 6-3, 275, Annandale, Va.), Patrick Amara Jr. (DB, 6-2, 195, Philadelphia, Pa.), James Bowe Jr. (ILB, 6-2, 200, Miami, Fla.), Leon Flanagan Jr. (OLB, 6-3, 195, Staten Island, N.Y.), Teddy Lowery (S, 6-0, 225, Austin, Texas) and James Reilly (OL, 6-4, 285, Norwell, Mass.).
Additionally, Randy Alay, a kicker from Waltham, Mass., has been accepted to the University of Massachusetts and will join the team as a walk-on at the start of summer classes. As a senior for Waltham High School in 2015, he converted all 16 of his extra points and 10 of 12 field goals. For his career, he is 9-of-10 on field goal attempts beyond 30 yards, and 6-of-7 in attempts beyond 40 yards.
For continued coverage of UMass football, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram @UMassFootball and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassFootball.
