University of Massachusets Athletics
Bell Welcomes First 2018-19 UMass Football Signees
December 19, 2018 | Football
December Signing Period commitments include seven student-athletes
AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts football head coach Walt Bell welcomed the addition of seven student-athletes to the UMass football 2019 roster during National Signing Day on Wed., Dec. 19. The seven signees to Bell's first recruiting class at UMass include Kevin Brown (running back), Helber Fagundes (offensive line), Jermaine "OC" Johnson (wide receiver), Taj Jones (athlete), Cletus Mathurin (defensive line), Malik Sanders (defensive back) and Bryce Wade (offensive line).
"These young men are building the foundation for what we're now working to achieve here at the University of Massachusetts," Bell said. "I'm excited to call them Minutemen and proud to have them as the first members of our first signing class at UMass. These young men share our vision and our goals for this program and I'm looking forward to working with them soon."
The early signing period (Dec. 19-21) continues through Friday. Any additions to the UMass football incoming class will be announced through the program's Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball) as well as on UMassAthletics.com.
Massachusetts Football Signees
Name: Kevin Brown
Position: Running Back
Height/Weight: 6-0/225
Hometown: Dorchester, Mass.
High School: Everett
Notes: Played for John DiBiaso at Everett High School ... Posted 11 carries covering 100 yards and three touchdowns during a 36-20 win over rival Masconomet at Fenway Park in 2017 ... Helped Everett roll to a 12-0 record and the 2017 Massachusetts Division I Championship ... Ripped off a 98-yard touchdown run down the right sideline that gave the Crimson Tide an insurmountable 28-10 lead over Xaverian in the 2017 Massachusetts Division I Championship.
Name: Helber Fagundes
Position: Offensive Line
Height/Weight: 6-5/290
Hometown: Methuen, Mass.
High School: Everett
Notes: Four-year letterman and offensive tackle/defensive lineman for John DiBiaso at Everett High School ... Member of the Boston Globe All-Scholastic team ... Helped Everett High School put up 41.8 points per game and win the Division 1 MIAA Football State Championship in 2017 ... Selected to the 2017 All-State Super 26 football team as one of only five offensive lineman lauded ... Is a native of Brazil.
Name: Jermaine "OC" Johnson
Position: Wide Receiver
Height/Weight: 5-10/165
Hometown: Hyattsville, Md.
High School: DeMatha Catholic
Notes: Three-star recruit according to 247sports ... Played at DeMatha Catholic for coach Elijah Brooks ... Ranked No. 31 in the state of Maryland ... Also held offers from Florida Atlantic and Maryland, among others.
Name: Taj Jones
Position: Athlete
Height/Weight: 6-2/200
Hometown: Paterson, N.J.
High School: Pope John XXIII
Notes: Three-star recruit via 247sports ... Played for coach Brian Carlson at Pope John XXIII High School in New Jersey ... Also held offers from Buffalo, Old Dominion, Rutgers, Temple and Toledo, among others.
Name: Cletus Mathurin
Position: Defensive Line
Height/Weight: 6-2/290
Hometown: Hartford, Conn.
High School: Cheshire Academy
Notes: Played for coach David Dykeman at Cheshire Academy ... Held offers from Army, Buffalo, Navy and Old Dominion, among others ... Three-star recruit according to 247sports ... Ranked as the No. 14 player in Connecticut.
Name: Malik Sanders
Position: Defensive Back
Height/Weight: 5-11/180
Hometown: Greenville, Miss.
High School: Greenville
Previous College: Northwest Mississippi
Notes: Played for Benjy Parker at Northwest Mississippi College in 2017 and 2018 following his scholastic career at Greenville High School for coach Phil Short ... Made 20 tackles, broke up two passes and recovered a fumble during the 2018 season after he had 21 takedowns, two pass breakups and an interception in 2017 ... Helped Northwest Mississippi go 16-5 during his two seasons, with eight wins and postseason appearances in each ... Held offers from Florida Atlantic, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee State and Old Dominion, among others.
Name: Bryce Wade
Position: Offensive Line
Height/Weight: 6-7/260
Hometown: Albuquerque, N.M.
High School: Eldorado
Previous College: Jones County
Notes: Attended Jones County College in 2018 following one year at West Texas A&M ... Three-star prospect by 247sports ... Helped Jones County win the Mississippi Bowl, 27-7 over Eastern Arizona and go 10-2 overall during the 2018 season ... Went to Eldorado High School in Albuquerque, N.M., and played for coach Charlie Dodson ... Earned first team all-state honors as a junior and senior ... Also held offers from Eastern Kentucky and Eastern Michigan, among others.
Follow Massachusetts football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball) for the most up-to-date information on the program.
"These young men are building the foundation for what we're now working to achieve here at the University of Massachusetts," Bell said. "I'm excited to call them Minutemen and proud to have them as the first members of our first signing class at UMass. These young men share our vision and our goals for this program and I'm looking forward to working with them soon."
The early signing period (Dec. 19-21) continues through Friday. Any additions to the UMass football incoming class will be announced through the program's Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball) as well as on UMassAthletics.com.
Massachusetts Football Signees
Name: Kevin Brown
Position: Running Back
Height/Weight: 6-0/225
Hometown: Dorchester, Mass.
High School: Everett
Notes: Played for John DiBiaso at Everett High School ... Posted 11 carries covering 100 yards and three touchdowns during a 36-20 win over rival Masconomet at Fenway Park in 2017 ... Helped Everett roll to a 12-0 record and the 2017 Massachusetts Division I Championship ... Ripped off a 98-yard touchdown run down the right sideline that gave the Crimson Tide an insurmountable 28-10 lead over Xaverian in the 2017 Massachusetts Division I Championship.
Name: Helber Fagundes
Position: Offensive Line
Height/Weight: 6-5/290
Hometown: Methuen, Mass.
High School: Everett
Notes: Four-year letterman and offensive tackle/defensive lineman for John DiBiaso at Everett High School ... Member of the Boston Globe All-Scholastic team ... Helped Everett High School put up 41.8 points per game and win the Division 1 MIAA Football State Championship in 2017 ... Selected to the 2017 All-State Super 26 football team as one of only five offensive lineman lauded ... Is a native of Brazil.
Name: Jermaine "OC" Johnson
Position: Wide Receiver
Height/Weight: 5-10/165
Hometown: Hyattsville, Md.
High School: DeMatha Catholic
Notes: Three-star recruit according to 247sports ... Played at DeMatha Catholic for coach Elijah Brooks ... Ranked No. 31 in the state of Maryland ... Also held offers from Florida Atlantic and Maryland, among others.
Name: Taj Jones
Position: Athlete
Height/Weight: 6-2/200
Hometown: Paterson, N.J.
High School: Pope John XXIII
Notes: Three-star recruit via 247sports ... Played for coach Brian Carlson at Pope John XXIII High School in New Jersey ... Also held offers from Buffalo, Old Dominion, Rutgers, Temple and Toledo, among others.
Name: Cletus Mathurin
Position: Defensive Line
Height/Weight: 6-2/290
Hometown: Hartford, Conn.
High School: Cheshire Academy
Notes: Played for coach David Dykeman at Cheshire Academy ... Held offers from Army, Buffalo, Navy and Old Dominion, among others ... Three-star recruit according to 247sports ... Ranked as the No. 14 player in Connecticut.
Name: Malik Sanders
Position: Defensive Back
Height/Weight: 5-11/180
Hometown: Greenville, Miss.
High School: Greenville
Previous College: Northwest Mississippi
Notes: Played for Benjy Parker at Northwest Mississippi College in 2017 and 2018 following his scholastic career at Greenville High School for coach Phil Short ... Made 20 tackles, broke up two passes and recovered a fumble during the 2018 season after he had 21 takedowns, two pass breakups and an interception in 2017 ... Helped Northwest Mississippi go 16-5 during his two seasons, with eight wins and postseason appearances in each ... Held offers from Florida Atlantic, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee State and Old Dominion, among others.
Name: Bryce Wade
Position: Offensive Line
Height/Weight: 6-7/260
Hometown: Albuquerque, N.M.
High School: Eldorado
Previous College: Jones County
Notes: Attended Jones County College in 2018 following one year at West Texas A&M ... Three-star prospect by 247sports ... Helped Jones County win the Mississippi Bowl, 27-7 over Eastern Arizona and go 10-2 overall during the 2018 season ... Went to Eldorado High School in Albuquerque, N.M., and played for coach Charlie Dodson ... Earned first team all-state honors as a junior and senior ... Also held offers from Eastern Kentucky and Eastern Michigan, among others.
Follow Massachusetts football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball) for the most up-to-date information on the program.
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