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University of Massachusets Athletics
Massachusetts Football Camp Countdown - Wide Receivers
August 29, 2022 | Football
Jay Burnham talks with wide receivers coach Ryan Partridge about the Minutemen’s wideouts.
In the latest installment of our Camp Countdown conversations, Jay Burnham talks with wide receivers coach Ryan Partridge about the Minutemen's wideouts for the upcoming 2022 campaign. According to Partridge, "they're hungry to learn. They all have different skill sets, they're great personalities and they're good people."
UMass having a run-heavy offense does not mean there isn't a role for wide receivers. "Any successful football team needs to be able to run the ball and, likewise, pass the ball," said Partridge. "We take pride in it too, blocking on the perimeter and it's all good, we're on board with it."
"When you get a new offensive scheme, a bunch of new coaches, a bunch of new techniques and fundamentals and plays it takes time. As you can see from spring to now, a lot things have changed and we're hitting on some connections that we need to.
Despite a lot of new pieces and moving parts that all need to come together this fall, Partridge is excited for what's to come. "Every day we are just going so so hard," he said. "They're completely bought in and we have a great opportunity in front of us and we have a good team."
Cameron Sullivan-Brown – Bowie, Md. – Saint Vincent Pallotti – 6-0 – 195
Sullivan-Brown joins the Minutemen after playing in 25 career games at Penn State, including a career-high 13 contests with one start in 2018.
Ryan Partridge on Sullivan-Brown – "First off, he brings such a maturity to the room and a pro mindset that is really good for our room. He's unbelievable in the playbook, already knows everything. He's got an incredible catch radius and can run. We're really excited and lucky to have him."
Isaiah Holiness – Redlands, Calif. – Redlands East Valley – 5-10 – 183
A San Jose State transfer, Holiness played in 25 career games, including eight contests in 2021 that saw him accumulate 54 rushing yards and 35 receiving yards.
Ryan Partridge on Holiness – "He was a slot back/running back for them, so he has a unique skillset. This is his first season playing full time at wide receiver. He's an incredible route runner and day-by-day is making more plays."
George Johnson III – Stuart, Fla. – Martin County – 6-0 – 186
Johnson comes to UMass after three seasons at Michigan, first seeing game action in 2021 as he appeared in four contests in the secondary and on special teams.
Ryan Partridge on Johnson – "George is the thermostat of the room. He's an incredible personality. He's a leader in regards to the details and fundamentals we do. He's a great route runner and already knew how to do things, which helped us progress."
R.J. Brandon – Williamsville, N.Y. – Canisius High School – 6-2 – 180
Brandon spent four seasons at Dartmouth and appeared in three games in 2021 as a senior.
Ryan Partridge on Brandon – "He's coming along. He's also new. We're getting him involved in the playbook and just getting him going."
Jacquon Gibson – Fayetteville, N.C. – Palmetto Prep – 5-11 – 185
Ryan Partridge on Gibson – "He's doing an incredible job. He's such a strong kid. Pound-for-pound may be the strongest kid on the team, which is unique for the wide receiver position so that's going to give him a chance to play early here and he's just got to lock in on the playbook. He's got all the skillset to play early here."
Michael Fitzgerald – Roswell, Ga. – Roswell – 6-6 – 200
Fitzgerald appeared in four games last season for UMass and made three catches for 35 yards.
Ryan Partridge on Fitzgerald – "Big Mike has an enormous catch radius. We're really excited to have Big Mike. He just has to keep working on the fundamentals and keep going and is going to be a huge asset for us."
Onuma Dieke – Riverdale, Ga. – North Clayton – 6-5 – 205
Dieke, who has been at UMass since 2020, appeared in all four games as a reserve wide receiver that fall and followed up by logging 14 receptions for 130 yards and appearing in all 12 games in 2021, starting the last eight of the season.
Ryan Partridge on Dieke – "O.D. is displaying great route detail right now. He's such a great listener and a great learner. He can run, he can catch the deep ball, he can go up and get the ball, but he can also go over the middle so O.D. brings a great skillset. He's an all-around receiver, not just a tall guy who can run so he's going to play a big part for us too."
Jermaine "OC" Johnson, Jr. – Washington, D.C. – Dematha Catholic – 5-9 – 170
Johnson has been a fixture in the UMass lineup since arriving on campus, appearing in all 12 games and starting 10 as a freshman and leading the team with 37 receptions in 2019 with 272 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Last fall he had nine receptions for 85 yards and registered 133 yards on seven kickoff returns.
Ryan Partridge on Johnson – "We're just getting O.C. back. He'll be back soon and he's ready to roll. He's just such a good dude. We need him back."
Rico Arnold – Athens, Ga. – Clarke Central – 6-1 – 190
The Charlotte transfer made an impact in his first season with the Minutemen in 2021, totaling 27 catches for 461 yards and three touchdowns over 11 games. He was a Conference USA All-Freshman Team honoree with the 49ers in 2018.
Ryan Partridge on Arnold – "Rico has had a great fall camp. He's really bought in to the offense and the receiving corps and he's being a great leader and he's got the playbook down. On the field it's proven, he's doing a great job."
Isaac Ross – Rock Hill, S.C. – South Pointe – 5-9 – 165
Ross played in 10 games last season at UMass after transferring from Charleston Southern.
Ryan Partridge on Ross – "He's going to have a role. Whether it's a punt returner or playing in the slot, he knows what he's doing. He's a very smooth athlete and has a great focus in our fundamentals and is putting it on tape."
Jamir Roberts – Owings Mill, Md. – McDonough School – 5-10 – 180
Roberts featured as a kickoff returner for the Minutemen as a freshman in 2021 and had a total of 156 yards on seven kickoff returns on the year.
Ryan Partridge on Roberts – "To play college football, it's good if you can run and Jamir can run, he can catch, he has good route detail. He's certainly going to be a piece of our offense."
Melvin Hill – Mobile, Ala. – Baker – 6-2 – 205
Hill, who is entering his sixth year at UMass, played in all 12 games in 2021 and had 12 catches for 171 yards. He played in all four games in 2020 and all 12 games in 2019 as well.
Ryan Partridge on Hill – "He's the heartbeat of the team. He's the heartbeat of the offense. In our offensive unit meetings we share a little bit about ourselves and his story was just so powerful and reached every single one of us in the room. When Melvin Hill walks in the room with a smile, you can't help but love the guy. He is such a great person, great work ethic, good player. I can't say enough about Mel."
UMass having a run-heavy offense does not mean there isn't a role for wide receivers. "Any successful football team needs to be able to run the ball and, likewise, pass the ball," said Partridge. "We take pride in it too, blocking on the perimeter and it's all good, we're on board with it."
"When you get a new offensive scheme, a bunch of new coaches, a bunch of new techniques and fundamentals and plays it takes time. As you can see from spring to now, a lot things have changed and we're hitting on some connections that we need to.
Despite a lot of new pieces and moving parts that all need to come together this fall, Partridge is excited for what's to come. "Every day we are just going so so hard," he said. "They're completely bought in and we have a great opportunity in front of us and we have a good team."
Cameron Sullivan-Brown – Bowie, Md. – Saint Vincent Pallotti – 6-0 – 195
Sullivan-Brown joins the Minutemen after playing in 25 career games at Penn State, including a career-high 13 contests with one start in 2018.
Ryan Partridge on Sullivan-Brown – "First off, he brings such a maturity to the room and a pro mindset that is really good for our room. He's unbelievable in the playbook, already knows everything. He's got an incredible catch radius and can run. We're really excited and lucky to have him."
Isaiah Holiness – Redlands, Calif. – Redlands East Valley – 5-10 – 183
A San Jose State transfer, Holiness played in 25 career games, including eight contests in 2021 that saw him accumulate 54 rushing yards and 35 receiving yards.
Ryan Partridge on Holiness – "He was a slot back/running back for them, so he has a unique skillset. This is his first season playing full time at wide receiver. He's an incredible route runner and day-by-day is making more plays."
George Johnson III – Stuart, Fla. – Martin County – 6-0 – 186
Johnson comes to UMass after three seasons at Michigan, first seeing game action in 2021 as he appeared in four contests in the secondary and on special teams.
Ryan Partridge on Johnson – "George is the thermostat of the room. He's an incredible personality. He's a leader in regards to the details and fundamentals we do. He's a great route runner and already knew how to do things, which helped us progress."
R.J. Brandon – Williamsville, N.Y. – Canisius High School – 6-2 – 180
Brandon spent four seasons at Dartmouth and appeared in three games in 2021 as a senior.
Ryan Partridge on Brandon – "He's coming along. He's also new. We're getting him involved in the playbook and just getting him going."
Jacquon Gibson – Fayetteville, N.C. – Palmetto Prep – 5-11 – 185
Ryan Partridge on Gibson – "He's doing an incredible job. He's such a strong kid. Pound-for-pound may be the strongest kid on the team, which is unique for the wide receiver position so that's going to give him a chance to play early here and he's just got to lock in on the playbook. He's got all the skillset to play early here."
Michael Fitzgerald – Roswell, Ga. – Roswell – 6-6 – 200
Fitzgerald appeared in four games last season for UMass and made three catches for 35 yards.
Ryan Partridge on Fitzgerald – "Big Mike has an enormous catch radius. We're really excited to have Big Mike. He just has to keep working on the fundamentals and keep going and is going to be a huge asset for us."
Onuma Dieke – Riverdale, Ga. – North Clayton – 6-5 – 205
Dieke, who has been at UMass since 2020, appeared in all four games as a reserve wide receiver that fall and followed up by logging 14 receptions for 130 yards and appearing in all 12 games in 2021, starting the last eight of the season.
Ryan Partridge on Dieke – "O.D. is displaying great route detail right now. He's such a great listener and a great learner. He can run, he can catch the deep ball, he can go up and get the ball, but he can also go over the middle so O.D. brings a great skillset. He's an all-around receiver, not just a tall guy who can run so he's going to play a big part for us too."
Jermaine "OC" Johnson, Jr. – Washington, D.C. – Dematha Catholic – 5-9 – 170
Johnson has been a fixture in the UMass lineup since arriving on campus, appearing in all 12 games and starting 10 as a freshman and leading the team with 37 receptions in 2019 with 272 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Last fall he had nine receptions for 85 yards and registered 133 yards on seven kickoff returns.
Ryan Partridge on Johnson – "We're just getting O.C. back. He'll be back soon and he's ready to roll. He's just such a good dude. We need him back."
Rico Arnold – Athens, Ga. – Clarke Central – 6-1 – 190
The Charlotte transfer made an impact in his first season with the Minutemen in 2021, totaling 27 catches for 461 yards and three touchdowns over 11 games. He was a Conference USA All-Freshman Team honoree with the 49ers in 2018.
Ryan Partridge on Arnold – "Rico has had a great fall camp. He's really bought in to the offense and the receiving corps and he's being a great leader and he's got the playbook down. On the field it's proven, he's doing a great job."
Isaac Ross – Rock Hill, S.C. – South Pointe – 5-9 – 165
Ross played in 10 games last season at UMass after transferring from Charleston Southern.
Ryan Partridge on Ross – "He's going to have a role. Whether it's a punt returner or playing in the slot, he knows what he's doing. He's a very smooth athlete and has a great focus in our fundamentals and is putting it on tape."
Jamir Roberts – Owings Mill, Md. – McDonough School – 5-10 – 180
Roberts featured as a kickoff returner for the Minutemen as a freshman in 2021 and had a total of 156 yards on seven kickoff returns on the year.
Ryan Partridge on Roberts – "To play college football, it's good if you can run and Jamir can run, he can catch, he has good route detail. He's certainly going to be a piece of our offense."
Melvin Hill – Mobile, Ala. – Baker – 6-2 – 205
Hill, who is entering his sixth year at UMass, played in all 12 games in 2021 and had 12 catches for 171 yards. He played in all four games in 2020 and all 12 games in 2019 as well.
Ryan Partridge on Hill – "He's the heartbeat of the team. He's the heartbeat of the offense. In our offensive unit meetings we share a little bit about ourselves and his story was just so powerful and reached every single one of us in the room. When Melvin Hill walks in the room with a smile, you can't help but love the guy. He is such a great person, great work ethic, good player. I can't say enough about Mel."
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