Bleacher Report has an in-depth feature on UMass football tight end Jean Sifrin as he prepares for the 2015 NFL Draft. The production crew spent several days with Jean and the UMass football program prior to the Minutemen's NFL Pro Day event at McGuirk Stadium.
Jean Sifrin is 27 and hoping to be a sleeper pick in this year's NFL draft. He ran an uninspiring 4.84 40-yard dash at the combine and needed to impress scouts at his pro day if he was going to have any chance of getting drafted.
At 23, Sifrin was scouted playing flag football, and three years later he found his way onto the University of Massachusetts roster. In his only D-I season, the 6'5", 245-pound tight end caught 41 balls for 637 yards and six touchdowns. He's now on the fringes of being drafted, but his age and speed are holding him back.
Making it to the NFL would mean providing a better life for his eight-year-old son, Jabari. Can Sifrin impress his way onto a roster?
With the NFL Draft coming this weekend, Dan Malone of MassLive.com takes a look at where Jean Sifrin could likely be drafted. While no other Minutemen are likely to be drafted, Stanley Andre does have a strong chance of being picked up as a free agent. Malone also looks ahead to next year as several Minutemen are potential Draft prospects including Tajae Sharpe, Blake Frohnapfel, Jovan Santos-Knox and Randall Jette.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a feature on the key role Tajae Sharpe will have on the development of freshman wide receiver Lamarriel Taylor. They gray shirt freshman figures to be the heir-apparent to Sharpe's record setting performances on offense.
The football team fell 41-21 last Friday against Buffalo in the season finale for the Minutemen. Despite a 3-9 record, the Minutemen won three of their last six games to end the year. The last two losses of the season came without starting quarterback Blake Frohnapfel who was in the midst of producing one of the best seasons in program history. Despite the tough way to end the year, many media members feel the upcoming season will be big for UMass.
It's a cold and snowy Tuesday morning here in Northern Ohio as the UMass football team gets ready for tonight's game at Akron which kicks off at 7 PM.
Massachusetts (3-7, 3-3 MAC) at Akron (4-6, 2-4 MAC)
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| Date | Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7:00 p.m. (ET) |
| Location | Akron, Ohio | InfoCision Stadium (30,000) |
| Tickets | 866-UMASS-TIX |  Ticket Info |
| TV | ESPN3 |
| Radio |  105.5 FM WEEI (Springfield/Amherst), 1440 AM WVEI (Worcester), 95.9 FM WATD (South Shore), 1200 AM WXKS (Boston, Worcester, Manchester, Providence); Listen Online | Use the TuneIn App for Mobile Devices to listen |
| Online Video |  www.espn3.com | WatchESPN (App) |
| Live Stats |  Live Stats |
Social Media
|  Twitter.com/UMassAthletics | Live Game Blog |
| MAC Teleconference | Whipple's Monday Conference Call Quotes (11/17) |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts Notes | Depth Chart | News Clips | 2014 Media Guide
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Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a notebook focusing on UMass football's mentality coming down the home stretch. Despite being out of contention for bowl eligibility, the Minutemen say finishing this season strong over the next three games is a key goal.
Toledo scored in the final minute of play and UMass was unable to find the equalizer in the final 34 seconds giving the Rockets a 42-35 win over the Minutemen on Saturday at the Glass Bowl.
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican has an update on where Tajae Sharpe now stands in the UMass record book for several receiving categories after his 13-catch, 193 yard performance against Eastern Michigan.
A big running day by Shadrach Abrokwah who scored four touchdowns along with Tajae Sharpe whose 13 receptions put him past Victor Cruz on the program's career receptions list helped the Minutemen get past Eastern Michigan 36-14 on Saturday afternoon. UMass has won two-straight games now going into next weekend's match-up at Toledo.
It's game day at Gillette Stadium today as the UMass football team hosts Eastern Michigan for the ever-popular Band Day. Read below for today's previews of the game along with all the information on how to watch and where to listen if you can't be there.
Massachusetts (1-6, 1-2 MAC) vs Eastern Michigan (2-4, 1-1 MAC)
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| Date | Saturday, Oct. 18 at 3:00 p.m. (ET) |
| Location | Foxboro, Mass. | Gillette Stadium (68,756) |
| Tickets | 866-UMASS-TIX | Ticket Info |
| TV | ESPN3 |
| Radio | 105.5 FM WEEI (Springfield/Amherst), 1440 AM WVEI (Worcester), 95.9 FM WATD (South Shore), 1200 AM WXKS (Boston, Worcester, Manchester, Providence); Listen Online | Use the TuneIn App for Mobile Devices to listen |
| Online Video | www.espn3.com |
| Live Stats | |
| Promotions | Band Day & Educators Day |
Social Media
| Twitter.com/UMassAthletics | Live Game Blog |
| MAC Teleconference | Whipple's Monday Conference Call Quotes (10/13) |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts Notes | Depth Chart | News Clips | 2014 Media Guide |
Mark Chiarelli of the Daily Collegian has a feature story on Tajae Sharpe and his strong start to the 2014 campaign through seven games. Because of his play-making abilities, Sharpe is facing additional attention from opposing defenses such as last week against Kent State.
John Connolly of the Boston Herald has a preview of Saturday's UMass football at Kent State game which includes a look at the role Tajae Sharpe has played in the success of the Minutemen's offense this season. Sharpe is one of the top wide receivers in the MAC and one of the top 10 wideouts in the nation entering this weekend.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a notebook on UMass football which includes an update on Tajae Sharpe being named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List on Tuesday morning.
"It's a great honor. It's real humbling and a great honor to be mentioned with those other guys," Sharpe said. "I wasn't thinking about it at all. I was just trying to go out every week and play the best I can. I didn't have any awards, especially an award as great as that, on my mind. When you work hard things like that happen."
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican has a feature on Tajae Sharpe's breakout season for the Minutemen which was highlighted by last weekend's 13 reception, 179 yard effort that included a pair of touchdowns. The junior is quickly closing in on the school's all-time top-10 career list for receiving yardage.
Wide receiver Tajae Sharpe and linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox joined head coach Mark Whipple on the September 4 edition of the Bud Light UMass Football Show, which featured highlights of the Boston College game and a preview of this Saturday's matchup against Pac-12 opponent Colorado. For a complete show schedule, visit our
football radio information page.
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican continues his countdown of the top 25 players to watch during the 2014 season with wide receiver Tajae Sharpe coming in at No. 2 on the list. Sharpe is the Minutemen's top returning wideout and considered one of the top players in the Mid-American Conference.
Jack McCluskey of ESPNBoston.com was on hand Wednesday morning as the UMass football team held a light practice at Gillette Stadium in preparation for the season-opener against Boston College next Saturday. Coach Mark Whipple said the trip was more about getting the players used to being in the environment again while giving the new players a chance to see the facility for the first time before game day.
Daniel Malone of the Springfield Republican caught up with UMass football head coach Mark Whipple and junior wide receiver Tajae Sharpe recently to discuss the potential for a successful downfield passing game in 2014, something Malone sees as an aspect of the game the offense missed in 2013. Malone believes a corp of speedy wide receivers, such as current Minutemen Marken Michel, Alex Kenney and Sharpe, could make the difference for UMass football in 2014.
Minutemen expecting more opportunities to throw deep | masslive.com
Several local media outlets along with the UMass Sports Network covered Wednesday's MAC Media Day at Ford Field in Detroit. Here's a look at some of the story lines that came from interviews with Mark Whipple, Stanley Andre and Tajae Sharpe as they represented the Minutemen.
Saba Aziz has a feature on Mark Whipple's return to the sidelines of the UMass football program with quotes from Tajae Sharpe and Trey Dudley-Giles on their expectations for the 2014 season.
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican has a story on Trey Duley-Giles and Tajae Sharpe being named to the Athlon Sports All-MAC preseason teams last Thursday. Dudley-Giles was named the second-team punt and kick returner, while Sharpe was named to the third-team offense as a wide receiver.
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican has a story featuring UMass football's selections to the Phil Steele preseason All-MAC squad with Trey Dudley-Giles, Randall Jette, Stanley Andre and Tajae Sharpe all receiving recognition.
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican includes Tajae Sharpe in today's edition of "5 Questions With..." Sharpe is one of the top offensive skill position players returning in 2014 and is expected to be a big playmaker for the Minutemen in Mark Whipple's new pro-style offense.
Check out the highlights from UMass football's loss at Buffalo including Tajae Sharpe's amazing over-the-shoulder, one-handed catch along the sideline.
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican hands out his weekly helmet stickers following UMass' loss at Buffalo. His top three players of the game were Tajae Shapre, Trey Dudley-Giles, and Blake Lucas.
Check out the Bud Light UMass Football Show from Monday night with Voice of the Minutemen Josh Maurer and head coach Charley Molnar. The player guests were Ed Saint-Vil and Tajae Sharpe - both of whom are off to terrific starts this season.
Dan Malone gives his analysis of which Minutemen performed best at Kansas State over the weekend. Joe Colton, Stacey Bedell and Tajae Sharpe each are singled out for their performances against the Wildcats.
Mark Chiarelli of the Daily Hampshire Gazette writes that the move to A.J. Doyle at quarterback gave the Minutemen some momentum for the Kansas State game. Although the offense was improved, Doyle and head coach Charley Molnar state that there are many things which need to improve during the next week of practice.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a story on Tajae Sharpe and the extra attention the wide receiver will get from the Kansas State defense after his performance against Maine.
Nick Canelas of the Daily Collegian has a story on Stacey Bedell's performance at Wisconsin and how his season-ending injury last year ended up being a valuable learning opportunity.
Bedell overcame the challenge of having to sit and watch his team play by turning the situation into a valuable learning tool. In that time, not only was he in the weight room physically preparing himself to play again, but he was also learning what it takes to be a college football player.
"When you make the transition from high school to college there's a lot of things. Really every aspect is different," UMass running backs coach Roderick Plummer said. "With him being someone that's really smart, he picks up on things quickly. But really there's steps to take every day at this level, especially when you're a freshman at this level for the first time."
Wide receivers coach Allen Suber mic'd up at University of Massachusetts football practice on Friday, August 16, 2013.
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican has a look at the UMass offense and what can be done this year to generate more big plays to help sustain drives. Wide receiver Tajae Sharpe says a balanced run game will help the Minutemen set-up the pass better in 2013.
Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe has a preview of Saturday's game at Western Michigan along with some commentary on the transition to the FBS level.
Harry Plumer of the Springfield Republican looks back at the individual highlights from the game against Indiana.
Harry Plumer of the Springfield Republican takes a look at freshman wide receiver Tajae Sharpe and his quick acclimation to the UMass offense during training camp. Wide receivers coach Alan Suber credits Sharpe's performance to his 'FBI' or Football Intelligence.
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