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University of Massachusets Athletics
Massachusetts Football Camp Countdown - Linebackers
August 26, 2022 | Football
Jay Burnham discusses the Minutemen's linebackers with defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Keith Dudzinski.
In our latest Camp Countdown conversation, Jay Burnham talks with defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Keith Dudzinski about the Minutemen linebackers who have a solid core of returnees to lead the group. Dudzinski is in his third stint in Amherst, after helping UMass win a national championship in 1998 and return to the title game in 2006 and is thrilled with the depth in his linebackers room. "What we've done is we've created a great deal of competition will all the guys, young and old," said Dudzinski.
He praises his group for taking notes and asking great questions as they absorb all the defensive tactics and how they take every snap like it's a game snap. "We play fast, we're aggressive, we've got to know our fits and obviously we're the centerpiece of the defense," Dudzinski said. "We're sitting right the in the middle. We've got to make sure everything is lined up and ready to roll."
Nahji Logan – Yeadon, Pa. – Hatboro-Horsham – 6-4 – 225
Logan, a three-star recruit out of high school, played in all four games as a true freshman in 2020 and made two starts. He had 33 tackles on the year in 2021.
Keith Dudzinski on Logan – "He's playing our weak side linebacker, our 'WILL'. Obviously the first thing you look at him he's a big physical guy. His best attribute is his ability to run. You'll see him in the lineup at a lot of different positions. He's very athletic, explosive. He has the ability to make some really big time plays for us."
Myles Turner – Silver Spring, Md. – The Bullis School – 6-1 – 235
Turner is coming off an injury that resulted in him missing the entire 2021 campaign after appearing in all four games in 2020, splitting time between linebacker and special teams coverage. Dudzinski describes him as a football junkie who always wants to get better.
Keith Dudzinski on Turner – "He's right now playing MIKE linebacker. He's a big physical guy, he's really done a good job playing inside. He's a really good leader, communicator, gets the team lined up and plays with a lot of confidence.
Gerrell Johnson – Washington, D.C. – New Town (Md.) – 6-3 – 225
Johnson led UMass in tackles with 81 in 2021, forced three fumbles and recovered two. He appeared in all four games of the abbreviated 2020 campaign as well, recording six tackles, a nine-yard sack, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.
Keith Dudzinski on Johnson – "Playing the WILL position, he's very comfortable as a run defender right now and has done a really good job in the past. He brings a physical nature and can really run and really cover the field."
Jalen Stewart – Bethlehem, Pa. – Freedom – 6-2 – 225
Stewart was recruited by Don Brown at Michigan but landed at Monroe Community College where he played in 10 games last season, registering 26 tackles, one pass deflection, one block and one fumble recovery.
Keith Dudzinski on Stewart – "He's another one. Every day he goes out there he just flashes and flashes and he's playing with a lot of confidence. He's playing that MIKE linebacker position as well. He really is a physical kid. He's not the tallest guy, but he plays big and physical so I'm really happy with him."
Jalen Mackie – Miramar, Fla. – St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fla.) – 6-1 – 240
Mackie played three seasons at Dartmouth where he earned his undergraduate degree and weas an All-New England Team and First Team All-Ivy honoree.
Keith Dudzinski on Mackie – "He's just a football junkie. Once he decided to come here, we did a lot of Zoom calls to just try and bring him up to speed on the defense and he's done a great job since he enrolled here and got here learning the defense. He brings a nice physical play to the field, very smart, very cerebral, asks a lot of good questions and he's starting to get better and better as these camp days go on."
Da'Shon Ross – Moore Haven, Fla. – Moore Haven – 6-1 – 235
Ross saw his playing time rise as the 2021 season progressed, finishing the year with 76 tackles, good for second on the team, while contributing 2.0 TFLs, one sack and one QB hurry. He started on multiple special teams units as well. Ross also appeared in all four games during the 2020 season.
Keith Dudzinski on Ross – "He's like a piece of iron that guy. He probably is our most physical guy pound-for-pound. He can run, he's physical and, again, he's made a lot of plays. You've got guys like him and Gerell coming back who have probably had the most tackles last year at linebacker. When you watch Deshaun play the thing that always stands out is his physical play."
Derrieon Craig – Boynton Beach, Fla. – St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fla.) – 5-10 – 210
Craig was a two-time state Defensive MVP and First Team All-County at St. Thomas Aquinas where he compiled 185 tackles, seven forced fumbles and 12 fumble recoveries.
Aaron Alexander – Belleville, Mich. – Belleville – 6-1 – 205
Alexander recorded 76 tackles, two forced fumbles and one interception for Belleville High School last season.
Keith Dudzinski on Craig and Alexander – "What we try and do with those guys right now, they're both playing the WILL position. We're trying to get them to take advantage of some of the package situations and then obviously get to learn the MIKE/WILL a little bit more. They might not get as many reps as those other guys right now, but with the packages they both can run, they're both athletic, they're both a little bit different in stature."
Josh Brunelle – Worcester, Mass. – Doherty Memorial – 6-0 – 235
Brunelle has not seen game action since coming to UMass in 2020 but is starting to put himself on the radar.
Keith Dudzinski on Brunelle – "He goes in there and just lines us up. He's steady Eddie. He takes control of the defense, he's a very good communicator. He maybe doesn't have the same skill set as some of the other guys in terms of being the fastest guy but he might be one of the smartest and always in the right position and makes plays. I see him helping us in some of the depth chart and special teams."
He praises his group for taking notes and asking great questions as they absorb all the defensive tactics and how they take every snap like it's a game snap. "We play fast, we're aggressive, we've got to know our fits and obviously we're the centerpiece of the defense," Dudzinski said. "We're sitting right the in the middle. We've got to make sure everything is lined up and ready to roll."
Nahji Logan – Yeadon, Pa. – Hatboro-Horsham – 6-4 – 225
Logan, a three-star recruit out of high school, played in all four games as a true freshman in 2020 and made two starts. He had 33 tackles on the year in 2021.
Keith Dudzinski on Logan – "He's playing our weak side linebacker, our 'WILL'. Obviously the first thing you look at him he's a big physical guy. His best attribute is his ability to run. You'll see him in the lineup at a lot of different positions. He's very athletic, explosive. He has the ability to make some really big time plays for us."
Myles Turner – Silver Spring, Md. – The Bullis School – 6-1 – 235
Turner is coming off an injury that resulted in him missing the entire 2021 campaign after appearing in all four games in 2020, splitting time between linebacker and special teams coverage. Dudzinski describes him as a football junkie who always wants to get better.
Keith Dudzinski on Turner – "He's right now playing MIKE linebacker. He's a big physical guy, he's really done a good job playing inside. He's a really good leader, communicator, gets the team lined up and plays with a lot of confidence.
Gerrell Johnson – Washington, D.C. – New Town (Md.) – 6-3 – 225
Johnson led UMass in tackles with 81 in 2021, forced three fumbles and recovered two. He appeared in all four games of the abbreviated 2020 campaign as well, recording six tackles, a nine-yard sack, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.
Keith Dudzinski on Johnson – "Playing the WILL position, he's very comfortable as a run defender right now and has done a really good job in the past. He brings a physical nature and can really run and really cover the field."
Jalen Stewart – Bethlehem, Pa. – Freedom – 6-2 – 225
Stewart was recruited by Don Brown at Michigan but landed at Monroe Community College where he played in 10 games last season, registering 26 tackles, one pass deflection, one block and one fumble recovery.
Keith Dudzinski on Stewart – "He's another one. Every day he goes out there he just flashes and flashes and he's playing with a lot of confidence. He's playing that MIKE linebacker position as well. He really is a physical kid. He's not the tallest guy, but he plays big and physical so I'm really happy with him."
Jalen Mackie – Miramar, Fla. – St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fla.) – 6-1 – 240
Mackie played three seasons at Dartmouth where he earned his undergraduate degree and weas an All-New England Team and First Team All-Ivy honoree.
Keith Dudzinski on Mackie – "He's just a football junkie. Once he decided to come here, we did a lot of Zoom calls to just try and bring him up to speed on the defense and he's done a great job since he enrolled here and got here learning the defense. He brings a nice physical play to the field, very smart, very cerebral, asks a lot of good questions and he's starting to get better and better as these camp days go on."
Da'Shon Ross – Moore Haven, Fla. – Moore Haven – 6-1 – 235
Ross saw his playing time rise as the 2021 season progressed, finishing the year with 76 tackles, good for second on the team, while contributing 2.0 TFLs, one sack and one QB hurry. He started on multiple special teams units as well. Ross also appeared in all four games during the 2020 season.
Keith Dudzinski on Ross – "He's like a piece of iron that guy. He probably is our most physical guy pound-for-pound. He can run, he's physical and, again, he's made a lot of plays. You've got guys like him and Gerell coming back who have probably had the most tackles last year at linebacker. When you watch Deshaun play the thing that always stands out is his physical play."
Derrieon Craig – Boynton Beach, Fla. – St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fla.) – 5-10 – 210
Craig was a two-time state Defensive MVP and First Team All-County at St. Thomas Aquinas where he compiled 185 tackles, seven forced fumbles and 12 fumble recoveries.
Aaron Alexander – Belleville, Mich. – Belleville – 6-1 – 205
Alexander recorded 76 tackles, two forced fumbles and one interception for Belleville High School last season.
Keith Dudzinski on Craig and Alexander – "What we try and do with those guys right now, they're both playing the WILL position. We're trying to get them to take advantage of some of the package situations and then obviously get to learn the MIKE/WILL a little bit more. They might not get as many reps as those other guys right now, but with the packages they both can run, they're both athletic, they're both a little bit different in stature."
Josh Brunelle – Worcester, Mass. – Doherty Memorial – 6-0 – 235
Brunelle has not seen game action since coming to UMass in 2020 but is starting to put himself on the radar.
Keith Dudzinski on Brunelle – "He goes in there and just lines us up. He's steady Eddie. He takes control of the defense, he's a very good communicator. He maybe doesn't have the same skill set as some of the other guys in terms of being the fastest guy but he might be one of the smartest and always in the right position and makes plays. I see him helping us in some of the depth chart and special teams."
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