Jeff Thomas of the Springfield Republican has an update on Kellen Pagel's return after missing the Villanova game due to injury. He also takes a look at the impact of Shane Vivieros' return to the defense in the recent weeks.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a story and notebook in today's paper following Media Day on
how Courtney Jackson and Shane Viveiros have acclimated to new roles in UMass' 3-4 defensive scheme. Jackson, formerly a defensive end, and Viveiros, formerly a safety, are both now linebackers.
"At first during the spring it was a little shaky," Jackson said. "Now that I've gotten used to it, I like it a lot."
"There's a lot more opportunities to run free," he added. "It's a chance to make plays. That's what I'm here to do. Pass rushing is fun. It's definitely where I get my excitement from."
Viveiros agreed.
"I'm excited for it. It's a chance to be in the box more and make more plays. They moved me because I have the ability to play in coverage as well as play in the box," said Viveiros, who added a few pounds in the off-season to prepare for the move. "As long as I can hit somebody. The best part about it is I get to rush, so there's an opportunity to get sacks."
Check out the UMass Football Practice 6 Report With MVPs. Interviews with Shane Viveiros, Julian Talley, Emil Igwenagu, Stephane Milhim, Theo Agnew and coach Kevin Morris. The next practice is slated for Saturday morning. The UMass Football Spring Game is April 30 at 4 p.m.
On Feb. 23, we wish best birthday wishes to track & field/cross country runner
Claire Pettit and defensive back
Shane Viveiros
The Bud Light UMass Football Radio Show returns to the airwaves on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Be sure to join us at the Hangar Pub & Grille for the show, or if you can't make it, listen on WRNX 100.9 FM in Western Mass or 1510 AM The Zone in Eastern Mass. The guests for Thursday's show alongside coach Kevin Morris will be senior quarterback Kyle Havens and junior defensive back Shane Viveiros.
The bar they're being measured against greets the University of Massachusetts safeties every time they walk into the stadium. Among the 20 UMass legends displayed on huge maroon banners on the University Drive side of McGuirk Stadium are three standout safeties - James Ihedigbo, Shannon James and Jeromy Miles.
Since the championship season of 1998, the Minutemen have always had either an All-American or a player who'd become an All-American at safety. Miles, who graduated in May, is the most recent addition to the UMass fieldhouse's wall of All-Americans where he joined recent safeties Ihedigbo, James, Anton McKenzie and Jeremy Robinson.
Read Matt Vautour's feature on UMass' current safeties in the Daily Hampshire Gazette.