Massachusetts Football Announces Transfer Additions

AMHERST, Mass. – With the start of the new semester, head coach Don Brown and the University of Massachusetts football staff announced the next set of roster additions with 19 transfer student-athletes joining the team.

Among the 19 transfers, 12 are on the offensive side of the ball and seven on the defensive side. Additionally, there are three former four-star recruits and nine former three-star recruits.

The incoming student-athletes include defensive backs Brennen Bailey (Sandy Spring, Maryland) and Ryan Barnes (Gaithersburg, Maryland), wide receiver Keshawn Brown (Hallandale, Florida), defensive back Lake Ellis (Orlando, Florida), wide receiver Sterling Galban (Burnet, Texas), offensive lineman Mao Glynn (Cincinnati, Ohio), defensive linemen Time Grant-Randall (Conroe, Texas) and Jaylen Hudson (Fayetteville, North Carolina), quarterback Ryan Jankowski (Vero Beach, Florida), wide receivers Jakobie Keeney-James (Redlands, California) and Frank Ladson Jr. (Miami, Florida), tight end Jaelyn Lay (Atlanta, Georgia), tight end Dominick Mazotti (Pleasanton, California), offensive lineman Luke Painton (Reading, Pennsylvania), defensive lineman Etinosa Reuben (Riverside, Missouri), offensive lineman Brayden Rohme (Gilbert, Arizona), tight end Noah Staples (Piedmont, South Carolina), offensive lineman Paul Tchio (Milton, Georgia) and defensive back Jashon Watkins (Nashville, Tennessee).

Previously, Brown and the program announced the signing of 10 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on the first day of December's Early Signing Period (Dec. 20), including Da'Marion Alberic (RB), Tanner Burlingame (OL), Kezion Dia-Johnson (WR), Jadrian Gibbs (Viper), AJ Hairston (QB), Ludovic Martin (TE), Kenyon Massey (WR), Keith Sarkodieh (DB), Brock Taylor (OL) and Brahim Wynn (DE). The next high school signing period will open on February 7.

Additionally, three preferred walk-ons will join the team for the spring including Cookie Desiderio (RB/Tulsa), Will Perry (QB/ St. Thomas More High School) and Sam Staruch (WR/Michigan).

Brennen Bailey | DB | Sandy Spring, Maryland | 6'2" | 170 lbs.

Spent a season at West Liberty (DII), totaling 37 tackles (30 solo, seven assisted), a tackle for loss, three interceptions and nine pass breakups in 10 games played
Recorded a career-best nine tackles, including a career-high six solo takedowns, and a TFL for four yards at Frostburg State (9/16/23)
Had a career-long 40-yard interception at Charleston (WV) (11/2/23)
Attended Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
Registered six tackles as a senior
Aided the team to a second-place finish in the Capital Division of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference football standings
Made a playoff appearance as a senior

Ryan Barnes | DB | Gaithersburg, Maryland | 6'2" | 186 lbs.

Appeared in seven contests in three seasons at Notre Dame
Made his collegiate debut against Navy in the 2021 season
Attended Quince Orchard High School
A three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals.com
Ranked the No. 35 cornerback nationally and No. 15 player from Maryland by 247Sports
Rated the No. 63 cornerback nationally and No. 21 player from Maryland by Rivals.com
Ranked as the No. 52 player regionally, No. 29 cornerback nationally and No. 19 player from Maryland by ESPN
A 2020 Sports Illustrated All-American candidate
Helped team to the state semifinals in 2019
Member of the state championship team in 2018
Finished with 30-plus tackles, two interceptions (both returned for a touchdown) and 15 pass breakups in 2019
Earned All-Montgomery County Second Team Defense honors in 2019
Also ran track

Keshawn Brown | WR | Hallandale, Florida | 5'8" | 150 lbs.

Appeared in 20 games through three seasons at Duquesne, totaling 42 receptions for 709 yards and seven touchdowns
Recorded 25 rushing yards on five attempts
Had a career-high 103 receiving yards, including a career-long 89-yard catch, and a touchdown vs. Stonehill (11/11/23)
Registered first career catch for seven yards at Florida State (8/27/22)
Attended Champagnat Catholic High School
Helped team to a FHSAAA Class 2A State Championship
Led the team with 12 receiving touchdowns for over 1,000 yards as a senior
Named First Team All-Dade County selection

Lake Ellis | DB | Orlando, Florida | 6'0" | 180 lbs.

Spent four years at Bryant, tallying 130 tackles (98 solo, 32 assisted), 1.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions and 19 pass breakups
Posted a career-high seven tackles twice in 2023 and once in 2021
Had a career-best one TFL at Robert Morris in 2022
Tallied three interceptions during the 2023 season
Named NEC Defensive Player of the Week in 2021
Attended The First Academy (Orlando, Florida)
Was a regional finalist as a senior
Helped the team to back-to-back district championships
Named to the First Team All-State
Landed on the First Team All-Area list
District Player of the Year honoree as a senior
Chosen as one of the Orlando Sentinel's Top 60 seniors in 2019
Participated in the Blue/Grey All-American Game
FACA North/South All-Star Game participant
Selected to the First Team All-Area at defensive back and First Team All-District at defensive back and wide receiver as a junior
Four-year member of the track and field team and three-year member of the basketball team
Was a District Champion in triple jump and State Champion in 4x100 relay

Sterling Galban | WR | Burnet, Texas | 5'10" | 180 lbs.

Spent two seasons at Jacksonville State, appearing in 24 games
Caught 39 passes for 559 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing eight times for 30 yards
Added a completed pass for five yards and a touchdown in the 2002 season
Had a career-long 73-yard catch against Stephen F. Austin (8/27/22), finishing the day with a career-best 99 yards receiving
Competed at Texas Tech for four years prior to Jax State (missed the 2018 and 2019 seasons due to injury before redshirting in 2020 and making his collegiate debut in 2021)
Attended Burnet High School
Was a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com, ESPN and 247Sports
Registered 942 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior
Tallied 451 yards and five touchdowns in the air as a sophomore
Earned First Team All-District honors as a junior
Rated as the No. 180 player in the state of Texas and No. 27 wide receiver by 247Sports

Mao Glynn II | OL | Cincinnati, Ohio | 6'3" | 300 lbs.

Spent two seasons at Cincinnati, appearing in seven games on the offensive line in 2022
Attended Walnut Hills High School
Two-time Southwest Ohio Football Coaches Association Division I All-City selection
Three-star recruit listed as the No. 27 player in the state of Ohio and No. 35 offensive guard in the 2021 class
2020 Division I Second-Team All-Ohio honoree
Named to the 2020 First Team All-Southwest Ohio District team
Earned a spot on the 2020 First Team All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference team

Tim Grant-Randall | DL | Houston, Texas | 6'0" | 285 lbs.

Competed in 24 games at Eastern Michigan in three seasons
Totaled 48 tackles (21 solo, 27 assisted), eight tackles for loss for 28 yards, 2.5 sacks for 16 yards, an interception and five pass breakups
Had a career-high six total takedowns, including three solo, with 1.5 sacks for a loss of eight yards vs. Howard (9/1/23)
Registered a career-best two TFLs against Massachusetts (10/1/22)
Also played at Blinn College, seeing action in seven contests and notching 26 tackles and two sacks
Attended Oak Ridge High School
Was a four-sport athlete, competing in football, basketball, track and powerlifting

Jaylen Hudson | DL | Fayetteville, North Carolina | 6'3" | 227 lbs.

Appeared in 45 contests at Wake Forest, tallying 37 tackles (21 solo, 16 assisted), two tackles for loss for seven yards and a forced fumble
Recorded a career-high three tackles in four consecutive games in the 2022 season
Had a career-best three takedowns, all solo, and a key forced fumble in the win over nationally ranked Florida State (10/1/22)
Member of the 2022 All-ACC Academic Team
Attended Cape Fear High School
Was one of the top-115 nationally ranked linebackers by ESPN and 247Sports
A team captain and consensus three-star athlete
Earned First Team All-Patriot 3A-4A Conference honors at linebacker
As a senior, registered 111 tackles, 22 TFLs and five sacks
Helped team become the best defense in the Patriot Conference and reach the playoffs
Posted 61 tackles, five TFLs and tied for third among Cumberland County players with four interceptions at safety as a junior
Aided the team to a 10-4 record and a spot in the third round of the 3-AA State playoffs
Member of the state runner-up team as a sophomore

Ryan Jankowski | QB | Vero Beach, Florida | 6'3" | 215 lbs.

Spent three seasons at Akron, appearing in two games with one pass attempt
A three-year varsity letterwinner at Vero Beach High School, competing for head coach and father Lenny Jankowski
Tabbed First Team All-State honoree as a senior, placing third in the voting for the Florida 8A Player of the Year
Led the team to a 13-1 record and a regional title
Passed for 2,400 yards, completing over 72 percent, with 22 touchdowns
Secured Vero Beach's 62nd -consecutive regular season victory in the Regional Championship as a senior

Jakobie Keeney-James | WR | Redlands, California| 6'1" | 197 lbs.

Spent the past five seasons at Eastern Washington, competing in 37 contests
Accumulated 825 yards receiving on 61 catches and four touchdowns
Rushed once for six yards and had five kick returns for 83 yards
Totaled a career-high 246 yards on 17 receptions and three touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore in 2021
Earned a spot on the 2021 Big Sky Conference All-Academic Team
Caught a career-long, 54-yard touchdown pass against Montana (12/3/21) in the FCS Playoffs
Attended Redlands High School
Two-time First Team All-Citrus Belt League selection (junior, senior)
Earned Second-Team All-CBL honors as a sophomore
Four-year varsity letterwinner in track and field

Frank Ladson Jr. | WR | Miami, Florida | 6'3" | 205 lbs.

Competed at Miami for two seasons, seeing action in 17 games with nine starts
Caught 27 passes for 298 receiving yards with one touchdown
Spent three seasons at Clemson, catching 31 passes for 428 yards with six touchdowns in over 30 contests
Hauled in 18 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games as a sophomore in 2020
Caught a 21-yard touchdown for first career reception as a true freshman in 2019
Had a career-long 57-yard reception versus Virginia in the 2019 ACC Championship Game
Attended South Dade High School
Rated No. 23 player in the nation by USA Today Chosen 25
Ranked 33rd best overall player by 247Sports
Listed as fourth-best receiver in the nation and fourth-best overall player from Florida by 247Sports
Rated 35th overall, third-best from state of Florida and fifth-best wide receiver by ESPN
36th-best overall, fifth-best from Florida and seventh-best wide receiver, according to Rivals.com
Ranked 51st among Tom Lemming's top-100 players
Set school records as a senior with 50 catches for 1,133 yards and 13 touchdowns
Had 29 receptions for 675 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior
Played in the All-American Bowl

Jaelyn Lay | TE | Atlanta, Georgia | 6'6" | 245 lbs.

Competed at Alabama State for two seasons, tallying seven receptions for 75 yards in 17 games played
Saw action in nine games in 2022, recording five receptions for 56 yards, including a career-long 26-yard catch vs. Alabama A&M (10/29/22)
Spent three seasons at Clemson, catching two passes for 25 yards in 149 snaps over 19 games from 2019-2021
Two-time ACC Honor Roll Selection (2020, 2021)
Caught a 20-yard pass in collegiate debut vs. Georgia Tech (2019)
Attended Riverdale High School
Rated one of the top-five tight ends or H-backs in the nation by ESPN and Rivals.com
Ranked fourth-best tight end/H-back by ESPN, while ranking fifth by Rivals.com
Rated No. 165 best all-around player in the nation and 16th-best player from the state of Georgia
Was ranked the 21st overall tight end by 247Sports
Aided team to an 8-4 record as a senior
Accumulated 29 receptions for 240 yards and four touchdowns as a junior

Dominick Mazotti | TE | Pleasanton, California | 6'4" | 223 lbs.

Competed at San Jose State for five years, playing in 34 games with 20 starts
Totaled 747 yards on 57 receptions with five touchdowns
Tallied a career-high 100 yards on a career-best seven catches and first career touchdown vs. UNLV (10/7/22)
Fourth Team Preseason Athlon Sports All-Mountain West Offense member (2023)
Named to Phil Steele's 2023 Preseason Mountain West Fourth Team
Selected as an All-Mountain West Honorable Mention Selection (2022)
Academic All-Mountain West honoree (2022)
Attended Amador Valley High School
Earned the 2018 East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) Most Valuable Player award
First-Team All-EBAL Quarterback
Second-Team All-EBAL Tight End
Bay Area News Group Second-Team utility honoree
San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro honorable mention
Rushed for 1,245 yards and 18 touchdowns, completed 58.3 percent of his passes for 822 yards and nine touchdowns, while catching 10 passes for 254 yards and four scores as a senior
As a junior, completed 54.2 percent of passes for 1,102 yards and 10 touchdowns, and rushed for 488 yards with six scores
Was also a sprinter and high jumper on the track and field team

Luke Painton | OL | Reading, Pennsylvania | 6'6" | 310 lbs.

Competed at Columbia for five seasons, spending three at the tight end position, before switching to the offensive line
Recorded 35 receptions for 235 yards in 28 games played, with four touchdowns
Caught a career-high four passes for a career-best 37 yards at Princeton (10/2/21)
Earned the team's Maniatty-Remmer Unsung Hero Award in 2021
Attended Berks Catholic High School, playing three years of varsity football
Two-time Pennsylvania Class 4A All-State Team member as a defensive end
A two-time Pennsylvania Football Writers All-State selection
Two-time All-District honoree
Two-time Defensive Lineman of the Year in Section Two of the Berks League
Three-time All-Berks Section 2 member as both a tight end and defensive lineman
Was a two-time reading Eagle All-Berks Team selection
Competed in the PSFCA East-West All-Star Football Game
Guided team to back-to-back state Class 4A runner-up finishes
Also played varsity basketball and lacrosse
Selected to All-County twice as a lacrosse defender
Earned All-Division Lacrosse LSM honors

Etinosa Reuben | DL | Kansas City, Missouri | 6'3" | 295 lbs.

Competed at Georgia Tech for the 2023 season, seeing action in seven games and had one tackle
Also played at Clemson for four years (2019-22), competing in 30 games with one start
Three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection
Tallied 19 tackles (10 solo, nine assisted), 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, a pass breakup, a fumble recovery and a blocked field goal
Recorded first career field goal block at Boston College in 2022
Had first career start at No. 23 Pitt in 2021, collecting two tackles and first career fumble recovery
Attended Park Hill South High School
Was a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports
Ranked as sixth-best overall player in the state of Missouri and 28th-best defensive end in the nation by 247Sports
Rated as ninth-best overall player from Missouri in the class and 41st overall best defensive end in the nation by Rivals.com
Ranked as 11th-best player in the Missouri and 35th-best defensive end in the nation by ESPN
Two-time team Defensive Lineman of the Year
Named First-Team All-Conference, All-District and Second-Team All-State by the Missouri Football Coaches Association
Earned Mr. Panther Award (team award)
Nominated for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive lineman or linebacker in Greater Kansas City
Completed senior season with 62 tackles, 16 TFLs, three sacks and a safety
Finished with 55 tackles, seven TFLs, three sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery as a junior
Tabbed All-State, All-Conference and All-District honors as a senior

Brayden Rohme | OL | Chandler, Arizona | 6'6" | 290 lbs.

Competed at California for five seasons on the offensive line
Attended Perry High School
Three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals.com and ESPN
Rated No. 80 by Rivals.com in national offensive tackle ratings
Ranked 16th by Rivals.com, 21st by 247Sports and 31st by ESPN in Arizona's overall player ratings
Helped prep team to a combined 35-13 record, a pair of Conference 6A state runner-up finishes and one state semifinal appearance through four varsity seasons
Won the Frank Kush Award as the top senior offensive lineman in Arizona as a senior
Earned First Team All-State, All-District and All-CUSD selections
Named Top 25 player in Arizona
Nominee for the Ed Doherty Award for Arizona's best player overall
Set school record for most pancakes in both a season and game (eight) as a senior
Was Second Team All-Region and All-CUSD honoree as a junior

Noah Staples | TE | Piedmont, South Carolina | 6'3" | 235 lbs.

Competed at College of the Canyons at both the quarterback and tight end positions
Completed five-of-10 passing attempts for 45 yards and a touchdown, and rushed four times for 23 yards as a freshman
Caught 15 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore
Attended Wren High School
A three-year varsity letterwinner, playing in 22 contests
Passed for 3,961 yards with 310 total completions and 25 touchdowns
Rushed for 380 yards on 84 carries, adding one touchdown

Paul Tchio | OL | Roswell, Georgia | 6'5" | 290 lbs.

Spent two seasons at Georgia Tech, seeing action in two contests
Also competed at Clemson for two years, appearing in 14 games with one start
Helped Clemson exceed both 200 rushing yards and 200 passing yards with 33 snaps against South Carolina State in 2021
Made first collegiate start at NC State, playing 42 snaps in 2021
Had collegiate debut with 15 snaps at Wake Forest (9/12/2020)
Appeared in the ACC Championship Game against then-No. 2 Notre Dame
Attended Milton High School
Rated a four-star prospect by Rivals.com, 247Sports and ESPN
Rated the No. 85 overall player in the nation, the third-best offensive guard and the ninth-best player in Georgia by 247Sports
Ranked the No. 143 overall player in the nation, fifth-best offensive guard and 15th-best player in Georgia by ESPN
Ranked the No. 140 overall player, fourth-best offensive guard and 17th-best player in Georgia by Rivals.com
Rated the No. 150 overall, seventh-best offensive guard and 18th-best player in Georgia by PrepStar
Played on the offensive and defensive line in high school, scoring a touchdown and two-point conversion as a senior
Earned Athlete of the Week Selection by WSB-TV in Atlanta
Recorded 113 pancake blocks as a junior, helping the team to a 13-2 record and a state championship for the first time in school history
First Team All-State and All-Region Selection as a junior
Selected to U.S. Army All-American Bowl
An Adidas All-American honoree
Tabbed North Georgia Lineman of the Year

Jashon Watkins | DB | Nashville, Tennessee | 6'4" | 215 lbs.

Spent two seasons at Tennessee State, accumulating 21 tackles (17 solo, four assisted), a tackle for loss, an interception, four pass deflections and forced one fumble
Competed at Memphis for three years prior, appearing in two contests
Attended East Nashville Magnet High School, primarily playing at wide receiver and defensive back, while seeing some time at quarterback
Helped the team earn four-straight Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Class 3A playoff berths
Completed 51-of-96 passes for 519 yards and five touchdowns
Rushed for 571 yards on 89 carries and 10 touchdowns, while adding 43 receptions for 641 yards and nine touchdowns
Posted 120 total tackles, 18 pass breakups and six interceptions
2018 Toyota East-West All-Star Game selection
Named to the 2018 Tnhighschoolfootball.com Metro Nashville Ultimate Team (safety 1)
Two-time Metro Nashville Football Coaches Association 3A/4A All-City Team (2018, 2019)
2018 All-Region 5-3A and Tennessean preseason Dandy Dozen (No.11) honoree
Also played basketball competed on the track and field team as a freshman

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Da'Marion Alberic

Brennen Bailey

Ryan Barnes

Keshawn Brown

Tanner Burlingame

Kezion Dia-Johnson

Lake Ellis

Sterling Galban

Jadrian Gibbs

Mao Glynn II

Tim Grant-Randall

AJ Hairston

Jaylen Hudson

Ryan Jankowski

Jakobie Keeney-James

Frank Ladson Jr.

Jaelyn Lay

Ludovic Martin

Kenyon Massey

Dominick Mazotti

Luke Painton

Etinosa Reuben

Brayden Rohme

Keith Sarkodieh

Noah Staples

Brock Taylor

Paul Tchio

Jay Watkins

Brahim Wynn

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics