University of Massachusets Athletics
Photo by: Thom Kendall - UMass Athletics
Phil Steele Lauds Massachusetts Football With 11 Preseason Accolades
July 18, 2018 | Football
Minutemen featured heavily on All-Independent Team listing
AMHERST, Mass. - Ten members of the University of Massachusetts football program combined for 11 spots on the 2018 Phil Steele Preseason All-Independent listing, including first team laurels for Bryton Barr (linebacker), Andrew Ford (quarterback), Andy Isabella (wide receiver), Jake Largay (offensive line), Isaiah Rodgers (cornerback) and Marquis Young (running back). Additionally, Young earned a spot on the second team as a kick return specialist alongside, Lee Moses (cornerback) Sadiq Palmer (wide receiver), Joe Previte (defensive line) and Ray Thomas-Ishman, Sr. (offensive line).
Massachusetts returns 15 of its starters from the 2017 season, including nine on the offensive side of the ball. The Minutemen kick off the campaign at McGuirk Alumni Stadium against Duquesne on Sat., Aug. 25. Purchase single game, group and season tickets through the UMass Athletics Ticket Office via 866-UMASS-TIX, in-person at the Mullins Center Box Office or online through UMass Athletics Ticket Central.
Barr averaged 8.8 tackles per game, which ranked in the top 40 across FBS and equated to a team-high 105 stops. He produced 9.0 TFLs, including 5.0 sacks, forced one fumble, recovered another and picked off one pass. He won Phil Steele All-Independent First Team at linebacker in 2017 and took home All-ECACÂ Second Team as well.
Ford, a 2018 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List selection, started 10 of his 11 appearances as a redshirt junior in 2017 and finished the season 223-of-353 (63.2 percent) for 2,924 yards and 22 touchdowns. He threw for at least one touchdown in 10 contests, including multiple in five outings. Ford collected Phil Steele All-Independent First Team honors following his 2017 efforts.
Isabella continued his ascent of the UMass career receiver records in 2017 with 65 catches covering 1,020 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had 100 or more yards receiving against Coastal Carolina (101), Old Dominion (105), Maine (152) and Mississippi State (158) while he spread his 10 touchdown receptions across eight outings. Isabella picked up Phil Steele All-Independent First Team and All-ECAC Second Team in recognition of his 2017 season.
Largay was an anchor on the offensive line as a junior with 11 starts at right guard and one at left guard. He helped the team average 30.6 points and 432.8 yards of total offense per game over the course of the season, while he opened holes for the run game that averaged 135.3 yards per contest and protected for the pass game that put up 297.5 yards on average in each.
Moses started all 12 games at cornerback and notched 40 tackles alongside his six pass breakups and four interceptions. The Providence, Rhode Island, native spread his team-high four pickoffs across four quarterbacks and he nabbed one each against Appalachian State, BYU, Georgia Southern and Maine. Moses returned his interception against Maine 70 yards for a touchdown during the 44-31 victory.
Palmer hauled in 35 receptions for 518 yards during his first season starting at wide receiver. He recorded his first collegiate 100-yard game with 117 yards over seven receptions at Temple and followed with a touchdown at Tennessee in the near-upset of the Volunteers. The Red Bank, New Jersey, native earned Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team following his sophomore season in 2017.
Previte, the lone returning starter on the defensive line, totaled 25 tackles over his redshirt junior season in 2017, including 3.0 TFLs. He had at least one tackle in each of his 12 starts and capped the year emphatically with 2.5 of his 3.0 TFLs during the final two games of the season (1.0 at BYU; 1.5 at FIU).Â
Rodgers started opposite Moses at cornerback and produced 50 tackles, including 3.0 TFLs, the second-most by a defensive back on the team. He broke up 14 passes on the season - double the tally of the next Minuteman - and ripped down three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. Rodgers' consistency at cornerback ranked him tied for 11th in FBS for passes defended on the season (1.4; 17 total), which also put him second among all underclassmen. He was also a Phil Steele All-Independent First Team and All-ECAC Second Team choice.
Thomas-Ishman, Sr., made 11 starts at left tackle over his 12 appearances alongside Largay on the offensive line. He was part of the line that assisted the Minutemen in resetting the program record with 670 yards of total offense against Georgia Southern, including 350 passing and 320 rushing. UMass set FBS-era records for points in a quarter, points in a half and points in a game against Georgia Southern as well.
Young finished his third year as a Minuteman with 982 rushing yards over 192 carries (5.4 per carry) and led the squad with nine rushing touchdowns in 2017. The Fairport, New York, native added 241 kick return yards over 10 attempts, an average of 24.1 per return. A dynamic competitor, Young led Massachusetts in all-purpose yards per game with 125.3 per contest. He earned second team spots on the Phil Steele All-Independent Team listing in 2017 for his efforts at running back and kick return.
Tickets for the 2018 UMass football season are available now. Contact the UMass Ticket Office via 866-UMASS-TIX, in-person at the Mullins Center Box Office or online through UMass Athletics Ticket Central to purchase single-game, group or season tickets. Massachusetts opens the season at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Sat., Aug. 25 against Duquesne.
Follow Massachusetts football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).
Massachusetts On The Phil Steele Preseason All-Independent First Team
Bryton Barr • Graduate Student • Linebacker • Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Andrew Ford • Redshirt Senior • Quarterback • Camp Hill, Pa.
Andy Isabella • Senior • Wide Receiver • Mayfield, Ohio
Jake Largay • Redshirt Senior • Offensive Line • East Hartland, Conn.
Isaiah Rodgers • Junior • Cornerback • Tampa, Fla.
Marquis Young • Senior • Running Back • Fairport, N.Y.
Massachusetts On The Phill Steele Preseason All-Independent Second Team
Lee Moses • Senior • Cornerback • Providence, R.I.
Sadiq Palmer • Junior • Wide Receiver • Red Bank, N.J.
Joe Previte • Redshirt Senior • Defensive Line • Brockton, Mass.
Ray Thomas-Ishman, Sr. • Junior • Offensive Line • Philadelphia, Pa.
Marquis Young • Senior • Kick Return • Fairport, N.Y.
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Massachusetts returns 15 of its starters from the 2017 season, including nine on the offensive side of the ball. The Minutemen kick off the campaign at McGuirk Alumni Stadium against Duquesne on Sat., Aug. 25. Purchase single game, group and season tickets through the UMass Athletics Ticket Office via 866-UMASS-TIX, in-person at the Mullins Center Box Office or online through UMass Athletics Ticket Central.
Barr averaged 8.8 tackles per game, which ranked in the top 40 across FBS and equated to a team-high 105 stops. He produced 9.0 TFLs, including 5.0 sacks, forced one fumble, recovered another and picked off one pass. He won Phil Steele All-Independent First Team at linebacker in 2017 and took home All-ECACÂ Second Team as well.
Ford, a 2018 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List selection, started 10 of his 11 appearances as a redshirt junior in 2017 and finished the season 223-of-353 (63.2 percent) for 2,924 yards and 22 touchdowns. He threw for at least one touchdown in 10 contests, including multiple in five outings. Ford collected Phil Steele All-Independent First Team honors following his 2017 efforts.
Isabella continued his ascent of the UMass career receiver records in 2017 with 65 catches covering 1,020 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had 100 or more yards receiving against Coastal Carolina (101), Old Dominion (105), Maine (152) and Mississippi State (158) while he spread his 10 touchdown receptions across eight outings. Isabella picked up Phil Steele All-Independent First Team and All-ECAC Second Team in recognition of his 2017 season.
Largay was an anchor on the offensive line as a junior with 11 starts at right guard and one at left guard. He helped the team average 30.6 points and 432.8 yards of total offense per game over the course of the season, while he opened holes for the run game that averaged 135.3 yards per contest and protected for the pass game that put up 297.5 yards on average in each.
Moses started all 12 games at cornerback and notched 40 tackles alongside his six pass breakups and four interceptions. The Providence, Rhode Island, native spread his team-high four pickoffs across four quarterbacks and he nabbed one each against Appalachian State, BYU, Georgia Southern and Maine. Moses returned his interception against Maine 70 yards for a touchdown during the 44-31 victory.
Palmer hauled in 35 receptions for 518 yards during his first season starting at wide receiver. He recorded his first collegiate 100-yard game with 117 yards over seven receptions at Temple and followed with a touchdown at Tennessee in the near-upset of the Volunteers. The Red Bank, New Jersey, native earned Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team following his sophomore season in 2017.
Previte, the lone returning starter on the defensive line, totaled 25 tackles over his redshirt junior season in 2017, including 3.0 TFLs. He had at least one tackle in each of his 12 starts and capped the year emphatically with 2.5 of his 3.0 TFLs during the final two games of the season (1.0 at BYU; 1.5 at FIU).Â
Rodgers started opposite Moses at cornerback and produced 50 tackles, including 3.0 TFLs, the second-most by a defensive back on the team. He broke up 14 passes on the season - double the tally of the next Minuteman - and ripped down three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. Rodgers' consistency at cornerback ranked him tied for 11th in FBS for passes defended on the season (1.4; 17 total), which also put him second among all underclassmen. He was also a Phil Steele All-Independent First Team and All-ECAC Second Team choice.
Thomas-Ishman, Sr., made 11 starts at left tackle over his 12 appearances alongside Largay on the offensive line. He was part of the line that assisted the Minutemen in resetting the program record with 670 yards of total offense against Georgia Southern, including 350 passing and 320 rushing. UMass set FBS-era records for points in a quarter, points in a half and points in a game against Georgia Southern as well.
Young finished his third year as a Minuteman with 982 rushing yards over 192 carries (5.4 per carry) and led the squad with nine rushing touchdowns in 2017. The Fairport, New York, native added 241 kick return yards over 10 attempts, an average of 24.1 per return. A dynamic competitor, Young led Massachusetts in all-purpose yards per game with 125.3 per contest. He earned second team spots on the Phil Steele All-Independent Team listing in 2017 for his efforts at running back and kick return.
Tickets for the 2018 UMass football season are available now. Contact the UMass Ticket Office via 866-UMASS-TIX, in-person at the Mullins Center Box Office or online through UMass Athletics Ticket Central to purchase single-game, group or season tickets. Massachusetts opens the season at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Sat., Aug. 25 against Duquesne.
Follow Massachusetts football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).
Massachusetts On The Phil Steele Preseason All-Independent First Team
Bryton Barr • Graduate Student • Linebacker • Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Andrew Ford • Redshirt Senior • Quarterback • Camp Hill, Pa.
Andy Isabella • Senior • Wide Receiver • Mayfield, Ohio
Jake Largay • Redshirt Senior • Offensive Line • East Hartland, Conn.
Isaiah Rodgers • Junior • Cornerback • Tampa, Fla.
Marquis Young • Senior • Running Back • Fairport, N.Y.
Massachusetts On The Phill Steele Preseason All-Independent Second Team
Lee Moses • Senior • Cornerback • Providence, R.I.
Sadiq Palmer • Junior • Wide Receiver • Red Bank, N.J.
Joe Previte • Redshirt Senior • Defensive Line • Brockton, Mass.
Ray Thomas-Ishman, Sr. • Junior • Offensive Line • Philadelphia, Pa.
Marquis Young • Senior • Kick Return • Fairport, N.Y.
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