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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Miami (OH)
Football Heads To Miami (OH) On Saturday
September 23, 2024 | Football
Minutemen face off against the RedHawks at Yager Stadium at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
| University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes & Information | |
| Game 5 | Massachusetts (1-3) at Miami (OH) (0-3) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, September 28 | 3:30 p.m. |
| Location | Oxford, Ohio | Yager Stadium |
| Tickets | Purchase Tickets Here |
| Series History | Miami (OH) leads, 4-1-0 Last Meeting | Sept. 10, 2023 | McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Amherst, Mass. | Miami (OH) 41, Massachusetts 28 |
| Game Notes & Team Information | Massachusetts: Game Notes | Game Program | Record Book Miami (Ohio): Game Notes |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Listen | WHMP 101.5 FM, 1240AM & 1400AM | WCRN 830 AM App: Download The Varsity Sports Network on your mobile device |
| Live Statistics | SideArm Stats |
| @UMassFootball | @FBCoachDBrown | |
| UMass Football | |
| UMass Football | |
AMHERST, Mass. -- University of Massachusetts football travels to Miami (OH) on Saturday, September 28, to face the RedHawks at Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
SERIES HISTORY
In a series dating back to 2012, Massachusetts and Miami (Ohio) have met five times, with the RedHawks holding the all-time series edge 4-1-0. UMass is 0-2 all-time at Miami.
The teams most recently met on September 9, 2023 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium with Miami Ohio prevailing 41-28 in a game that took nearly six-hours due to a pair of severe weather delays.
In his first career FBS start, quarterback Carlos Davis was 22-for-32 in the passing game, throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, Deshaun Jerkins pulled down a pick six, Gerrell Johnson added a team-high eight tackles and Billy Wooden added a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
Massachusetts' last win in the series came on October 12, 2013, when the Minutemen posted a 17-10 victory against the RedHawks in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Quarterback A.J. Doyle led the team with 249 passing yards and two touchdowns in the win over Miami Ohio.
QUICK HITSThe Minutemen are one of 20 FBS teams without a fumble (lost) this season.
UMass ranks 39th in FBS (39 of 133) in total defense, allowing 298.5 yards against per game. Oregon (Big Ten) ranks 38th at 298.3 and UAB (AAC) ranks 40th at 300.00.
The Minutemen (79.7), rank fifth in the NCAA in plays per game, trailing Wake Forest (83.5), USF (83.3), Arkansas (82.3) and Texas Tech (81.3).
Jacquon Gibson (4.0) and Jakobie Keeney-James (4.0) are tied for 110th in the FBS in receptions per game rankings. That mark is also good for second among the Independent ranks (Notre Dame, UConn, UMass, Oregon State and Washington State).
Keeney-James also ranks 75th in FBS in Receiving Yards with 256.
Last week against Central Connecticut State, Jackson Paradis (1-yard run), Owen Anderson (2-yard catch) recorded the first touchdowns of their careers, while Ryan Barnes recorded his first career interception.
Against CCSU the Massachusetts offense recorded eight plays of 15 yards or more.
The Minutemen posted four pass breakups against CCSU, marking their third game of the season with at least four pass breakups (4 vs. Eastern Michigan and 9 at Toledo). Tyler Rudolph leads the team with three pass breakups.
POWER FOUR TRANSFERS FOR 2024
Massachusetts added 14 transfers into the program with previous power four experience:
Owen Anderson - Illinois
Brandon Campbell - Houston/USC
Sterling Galban - Texas Tech
Mao Glynn II - Cincinnati
Jaylen Hudson - Wake Forest
Frank Ladson Jr. - Miami/Clemson
Jaelyn Lay - Clemson
Jacob Lurie - Vanderbilt
Brandon McElroy - Arizona State
Etinosa Reuben - Georgia Tech/Clemson
Brayden Rohme - California
Benjamin Roy Jr. - UCLA
Sam Staruch - Michigan\
Paul Tchio - Georgia Tech/Clemson
Additional players on the 2024 roster who previously joined from the Power Four include:
Ryan Barnes – Notre Dame
John Burton – Arizona
RJ Edwards – Arizona
Jalen Harrell – Miami
Zukudo Igwenagu – Rutgers
Shambre Jackson – Florida State
Jalen John – Arizona
Steven Ortiz – Arizona/Minnesota
Taisun Phommachanh – Clemson/Georgia Tech
Tyler Martin – Arizona
Tyler Rudolph – Penn State
Isaiah Rutherford – Notre Dame
Matt Smith – Duke
Tyson Watson – Michigan State
Jermaine Wiggins Jr. – Arizona
THE CENTURY MARK...
Don Brown posted his 100th career win as a collegiate head coach in the victory over Central Connecticut State University (Sept. 21).
Brown's career total includes wins at Plymouth State, Northeastern and the University of Massachusetts.
CONTROLLING THE CLOCK
Massachusetts ranks third in FBS in average time of possession (36:53), trailing only fellow independent Oregon State (37:56) and Army West Point (36:56).
In overall time of possession, UMass also ranks third (147:34), also trailing Oregon State (151:43) and Army West Point (110:48).
MINUTEMEN IN THE NFL
Former cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2016-19) signed with the Eagles after three seasons with Indianapolis.
Former running back Ellis Merriweather (2020-22) was elevated to the Packers' active roster from the practice squad ahead of their season opener against the Eagles in São Paulo, Brazil. It was his first career regular season game on an active NFL roster, but he did not appear in the contest.
Former long snapper Evan Deckers (2018-21) won the Tampa Bay Buccaneers job out of camp and made his season debut in week one.
Former offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson (2013-16) is on the practice squad for the Atlanta Falcons.
The NFL coaching ranks also include a lot of former Minutemen, including Tampa Bay Offensive Coordinator Liam Cohen (2004-08) and Chiefs Defensive Line Coach Joe Cullen (1986-89).
RECEIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Wide receivers Jakobie Keeney-James (GS) and Jacquon Gibson (R-So.) stepped up for the Minutemen to turn in career-best days in the loss at Toledo.
Keeney-James caught six passed for 93 yards and a touchdown, which was his first as a Minuteman and the fifth of his career. His six receptions marked a career-high total.
Gibson hauled in a career-high six receptions to go along with a career-high 72 yards while also grabbing a career-long 39-yard reception in the second quarter (previous long was a 29-yard catch against Arkansas State on Nov. 11, 2022).
DUDES WITH DEGREES
Thirty-two Minutemen open the season having already earned undergraduate degrees. Seven of the 32 have degrees from UMass including Josh Atwood, Ethan Mottinger, Aaron Beckwith, Zukudo Igwenagu, Te'Rai Powell, Tyler Rudolph and Myles Turner.
Additional players with undergraduate degrees include Will Jones, Luke Painton, Brayden Rohme, Paul Tchio, Sterling Galban, Jakobie Keeney-James, Frank Ladson, Sam Staruch, Dom Mazotti, Jaelyn Lay, Matt Smith, Taisun Phommachanh, Ben Roy, Tim Grant-Randall, Brandon McElroy, Jaylen Hudson, Etinosa Reuben, Macklin Ayers, Leonard St. Gourdin, John Burton, Lake Ellis, Arsheen Jiles, Isaiah Rutherford, Jay Watkins and Jacob Lurie.
COACHING AT THE ALMA MATER
UMass employs two alums in full-time coaching roles in 2024, including assistant head coach/special teams coordinator/defensive lines coach, Ben Albert, and associate head coach/offensive line coach, Alex Miller.
Albert is a 1995 graduate of the University of Massachusetts and was an All-Conference defensive lineman. During the 2002 and 2003 seasons, he served as the inside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator, where he aided the Minutemen to the 2003 Atlantic 10 Conference championship.
Miller developed into one of the most celebrated offensive lineman during his playing days at Massachusetts. His four years starting on the line culminated with multiple first team all-America awards following the team's appearance in the 2006 National Championship Game. Miller cemented his legacy as a durable and reliable centerpiece for the Minutemen with starts in all 50 games played during the 2003-06 seasons
An additional coaching staff member earned a degree from UMass in Graduate Assistant Garrett Dzuro '23.
