Phil Steele Tabs Five Minutemen Preseason All-Independent

AMHERST, Mass. – Five members of the University of Massachusetts football team have been named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-Independent Team, including first team recognition for Jarvis Miller (linebacker) and Ray Thomas-Ishman, Sr. (offensive line) plus second team honors for Larnel Coleman (offensive line), George Georgopoulos (punter) and Dennis Osagiede (defensive line).

Massachusetts opens the 2019 season on Fri., Aug. 30 at Rutgers, before kicking off the home slate on Sat., Sept. 7 vs. Southern Illinois at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Fans in search of more information on 2019 UMass football tickets can contact the UMass Athletics Ticket Office at (866) UMASS-TIX, through the UMass Athletics Ticket Central page or by visiting the Mullins Center Box Office (200 Commonwealth Ave., Amherst, MA 01003).

A native of Suffield, Connecticut, Miller returns to New England following four seasons at Penn State, during which he split time between roles as a linebacker and member of the special teams unit. Over 33 games played between 2016-18, Miller posted 23 total tackles and had 2.0 TFLs, 1.0 sacks, a pass breakup and one fumble recovery. He has one year of eligibility remaining and arrived at UMass in pursuit of a Master's of Education in Learning, Media, & Technology from the University of Massachusetts' College of Education.

Both Coleman and Thomas-Ishman, Sr. helped anchor the offensive line in 2018, with Coleman starting all 12 games at right tackle and Thomas-Ishman, Sr. starting all but one contest at left tackle. Collectively, the group protected for a squad that ranked 14th in FBS in passing offense (298.1 yards per game), 16th in passing efficiency (153.91) and 34th in total offense (437.6 yards per game).

Georgopoulos stepped into the punter role following the graduation of Logan Laurent at the conclusion of the 2017 season. The then-rookie averaged 39.21 yards on his 39 punts, including a season-long 60-yard boot at Georgia Southern (Sept. 8, 2018). Seven of his punts traveled 50 yards or more and four were pinned inside the 20-yard line.

As a freshman in 2018 Osagiede appeared in 10 games on the defensive line. He finished the campaign with 15 total tackles, including an assisted TFL as part of a four-stop performance at FIU on Sept. 15, 2018. Osagiede also had three takedowns in his collegiate debut vs. Duquesne (Aug. 25, 2018) and two in the regular season finale at No. 5 Georgia (Nov. 17, 2018).

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Massachusetts On The Phil Steele Preseason All-Independent First Team

Jarvis Miller • Graduate Student • Linebacker • Suffield, Conn.
Ray Thomas-Ishman, Sr. • Senior • Offensive Line • Philadelphia, Pa.

Massachusetts On The Phil Steele Preseason All-Independent Second Team

Larnel Coleman • Redshirt Junior • Offensive Line • Malden, Mass.
George Georgopoulos • Sophomore • Punter • Greenville, S.C.
Dennis Osagiede • Sophomore • Defensive Line • Missouri City, Texas

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Players Mentioned

Logan Laurent

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University of Massachusets Athletics