University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts Official Athletic Site - Football
1998 Player Bios III
All-Atlantic 10 Conference candidate ... Slated to get the
starting nod at one defensive end position, after making the
transition from outside linebacker ... Aggressive player with the
speed to make plays from sideline to sideline ... Has played in 22
career games, making 11 starts ... Also a solid special teams
performer ... 1997: Started all 11 games at outside linebacker ...
Registered 103 tackles (41 solo) with six tackles-for-loss and two
sacks ... Had two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, six
quarterback hurries and one pass breakup ... Finished third on the
team and ninth in the Atlantic 10 in tackles (103) ... Had a
career-high 15 tackles (four solo) and two quarterback hurries vs.
Richmond (Aug. 30) ... Made 14 tackles (six solo) and a pass breakup
at Maine (Sept. 13) ... Recorded 13 tackles (seven solo) with three
tackles-for-loss and a sack vs. New Hampshire (Oct. 4) ... Posted 12
tackles (seven solo) and recovered a fumble vs. James Madison (Sept.
20) ... Had 12 tackles (six solo) in the 26-20 victory at Buffalo
(Oct. 18) ... Made nine tackles (four solo), including one
tackle-for-loss, a sack and a fumble recovery in the 18-14 victory
over Rhode Island (Sept. 27) ... Recorded three quarterback hurries
to go along with seven tackles (two solo) vs. Hofstra (Nov. 1) ...
Named to the UMass Athletic Director's Honor Roll (GPA over 3.0) in
both the fall and spring semesters ... 1996: Saw action in all 11
games ... Recorded 12 tackles (seven solo) with two tackles-for-loss
and one interception on the season ... Made strong contributions to
the punt and kickoff coverage teams ... Had five tackles (three solo)
at Villanova (Sept. 7) ... Posted two tackles, both for loss, in the
43-12 win over Boston University (Oct. 12) ... Had his first
collegiate interception in the 41-20 win vs. Buffalo (Oct. 19) ...
High School: Played for Coach Bill Maver at Acton-Boxboro ... Posted
247 tackles and 14 sacks during his high school career ... Four-year
letterwinner and three-year starter at middle linebacker ... Recorded
87 tackles and six sacks as a senior ... Set the school record for
most tackles in a season and career ... MVP of the Dual County League
during his senior year ... All-Scholastic pick by the Boston Globe,
Boston Herald, Middlesex News and the Lowell Sun as a senior ...
Played in the Shriner's All-Star Game after his senior year ...
Personal: Full name is Christopher Michael Price ... Son of David
and Barbara Price ... Born October 11, 1976 in Red Bank, N.J. ...
Majoring in Economics. Listed as the backup to Jeremy Robinson at the free safety spot
heading into fall drills... Versatile defensive back who can play
either safety position ... Strong special teams performer ... Has
played in 21 career games ... Redshirted in 1994 ... 1997: Saw
action in 10 games in the defensive backfield, making three starts at
strong safety while filling in for the injured Jerard White (Hofstra,
Boston University and Connecticut) ... Also saw extensive time on
special teams ... Finished with 28 tackles (13 solo), including one
tackle-for-loss and one pass breakup ... Made seven tackles (three
solo) and a pass breakup vs. UConn (Nov. 15) ... Had seven tackles
(three solo) vs. Delaware (Oct. 25) ... Recorded three tackles (two
solo) vs. both Hofstra (Nov. 1) and BU (Nov. 8) ... Registered three
tackles (one solo) vs. New Hampshire (Oct. 4) ... 1996: Saw action
in all 11 games, seeing the bulk of his action on special teams ...
Recorded eight tackles (five solo) on the season ... Posted two solo
tackles at Villanova (Sept. 7) ... Had two tackles in the win over
UConn (Nov. 16) ... Had a strong showing in the spring game,
recording six total tackles, two interceptions and one pass breakup
... 1995: Did not see any game action ... High School: Played for
Bruce MacPherson at Melrose ... Four-year letterwinner at cornerback
... Middlesex League All-Star selection during his senior year ...
Team MVP as a senior ... Also a three-year letterwinner in track and
two-year letterwinner in basketball ... Personal: Full name is
Dustin Michael Reid ... Son of Walter and Kaitlan Reid ... Born March
31, 1976 in Winchester, Mass. ... Majoring in Sport Management. Enters fall drills as the backup to Mim Hill at right tackle ...
Versatile offensive lineman who can play either guard or tackle spot
... Redshirted in 1995 ... 1997: Saw action in three games, all as a
backup at right guard (Buffalo, Boston University and Connecticut)
... 1996: Did not see any game action ... High School: Three-year
starter who played both offensive and defensive line for Jon
Schultheis at Keansburg ... Posted 70 tackles, three sacks and three
fumble recoveries during his senior season ... Played in the New
Jersey All-Star Game after his senior year ... All-State Group I pick
by the Woodbridge News Tribune as a senior ... All-Area selection by
the Newark Star-Ledger during his senior year ... Also earned All-C
Division and All-Monmouth County honors as a senior ... His high
school team won the New Jersey Central Group I state title ...
Personal: Full name is Brian Joseph Riley ... Son of Dennis and Dale
Riley ... Born December 26, 1975 in Hoboken, N.J. ... Majoring in
History. Slated as the starter at free safety heading into fall practice
... Should be a major factor in the defensive backfield this season
... Redshirted in 1997 ... High School: Two-year letterwinner for
Craig Reopell at Nottingham High School ... Played quarterback in
high school ... Threw for 998 yards and ran for 760 yards as a
senior, leading his team to a 7-2 mark and the state semifinals ...
Named to the New York State All-Star team in his senior campaign ...
Tossed for 1,270 yards and ran for 680 yards as a junior ... Cited as
the New York Empire State Player of the Week during his junior
season, when he set a state passing record with 399 yards in one game
... Also a four-year letterwinner in basketball, playing guard and
forward ... His high school basketball team posted a 20-6 record and
won the Section III, Class A championship in his junior year, before
registering a 17-5 mark and advancing to the sectional semifinals in
his senior season ... Football and basketball team MVP as a senior
... Personal: Full name is Jeremy J. Robinson ... Son of Homer and
Robin Baker ... Born March 4, 1979 in Ocean City, N.J. ... Enrolled
in the College of Arts & Sciences. Listed as the top backup to Jamil Thomas at one defensive tackle
position ... Redshirted in 1997 ... High School: Played for Fred
Oliveri at Curtis High School ... Recorded 108 tackles, six
quarterback sacks, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions
during his senior season ... Named a co-recipient of the Fabbri
Award, honoring the Player of the Year on Staten Island ... Four-team
All-State choice in his senior year ... Named to the New York Daily
News All-Star team as a senior ... Posted 181 tackles, 23 fumble
recoveries, 21 sacks and three interceptions during his high school
career ... Personal: Full name is Joseph A. Romero ... Son of Enid
Lopez and Juan Romero ... Born November 11, 1979 in Manhattan, N.Y.
... Majoring in Sport Management. lated as the backup to Chris Price at one defensive end spot ...
Redshirted in 1997 ... High School: Four-year letterwinner for
Marcus Borden at East Brunswick High School ... New Jersey Super 100
pick, as one of the top 100 high school seniors in the state ...
All-State and All-Greater Midwest Conference pick during his senior
season ... Recorded 71 total tackles (51 solo), including nine sacks,
seven tackles-for-loss and seven forced fumbles during his senior
campaign ... Set a school single-game record with seven sacks during
his senior year ... Participated in the New Jersey North-South
All-Star Game after his senior season ... Versatile athlete who saw
action at defensive end, defensive tackle, linebacker and free safety
during his high school career ... Personal: Full name is Joel
Frederic Sarapin ... Son of Marvin and Janice Kohl Sarapin ... Born
September 6, 1979 in West Lafayette, Ind. ... Enrolled in the College
of Arts & Sciences. Starter at one defensive end position heading into fall drills ...
Atlantic 10 Conference All-Academic team candidate ... Tough,
hard-nosed competitor ... Has the size and quickness to be a solid
contributor ... Excellent special teams performer ... Also listed as
the top backup to Khari Samuel for the long-snapping duties ...
Redshirted in 1996 ... 1997: Saw action in all 11 games at defensive
end, all as a reserve ... Finished with 21 tackles (seven solo) with
two tackles-for-loss on the year ... Made four tackles (one solo) vs.
New Hampshire (Oct. 4) ... Recorded four tackles (one solo) at Boston
University (Nov. 8) ... Had three tackles (two solo) with one
tackle-for-loss vs. Delaware (Oct. 25) ... Posted three tackles (one
solo) at Maine (Sept. 13) ... Made three tackles (all assisted) at
James Madison (Sept. 20) ... Named to the UMass Athletic Director's
Honor Roll (GPA over 3.0) in both the fall and spring semesters ...
1996: Named to the UMass Athletic Director's Honor Roll (GPA over
3.0) in the fall 1996 semester ... High School: Four-year
letterwinner and three-year starter at defensive tackle for Ray
Cosenza at Fitchburg ... Recorded nine sacks as a senior ... Named to
the Worcester Telegram & Gazette Super Team during his senior
season ... Defensive MVP of the Mid-Wachuset Class "A" league ...
Played in the Shriner's All-Star game following his senior season ...
Also earned four letters in basketball and track & field ... Team
captain for football and basketball as a senior ... Member of the
National Honor Society ... Personal: Full name is Daniel Justin
Schneider ... Son of Joe and Brenda Schneider ... Born February 28,
1978 in Oelwein, Iowa ... Majoring in Sociology. The top backup to Deyate Hagood at center ... Has fully recovered
from a sprained right lower leg suffered late last year ... Will also
serve as the top short-snapper on the team ... Redshirted in 1995 ...
1997: Saw action in three games at center, making two starts
(Hofstra, Boston University) ... Suffered a sprained right lower leg
vs. Boston University and missed the season-finale vs. Connecticut
... Got the starting nod in those two games when Deyate Hagood
suffered a sprained left ankle in the Delaware game ... Made the
transition from defensive end to offensive line during spring
practice ... 1996: Did not see any game action ... High School:
Played for Phil Ziglar at Boone ... Recorded 304 tackles, 26 sacks,
15 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries while blocking two
punts during his scholastic career ... Posted 126 tackles with 14
sacks, nine forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and blocked one
punt as a senior ... First-team All-Metro (coaches) and All-County
pick during his senior season ... Played in the Florida North-South
All-Star Game as a senior ... Team captain and defensive MVP during
his senior season ... Earned his high school's Athlete of the Year
honor as a senior ... Four-year letterwinner in track and
weightlifting ... Also earned one letter in wrestling ... Four-year
student council representative ... High school teammate of former
UMass quarterback Anthony Catterton (1994-97) ... Personal: Full
name is Scott Edward Shearer, Jr. ... Son of Scott and Kathy Shearer
... Born June 7, 1976 in Hialeah, Fla. ... Majoring in Sport
Management. All-Atlantic 10 Conference candidate ... Has earned the starting
tailback duties after an impressive true freshman campaign ...
Exciting runner and receiver out of the backfield who should shine in
Mark Whipple's offensive system ... Slashy ball-carrier who makes
people miss in the open field ... Good upper-body and leg strength
allows him to gain yards after contact ... Will also see action as a
kick returner ... 1997: Saw action in all 11 games at tailback,
starting the last nine ... Finished with 139 carries for 756 yards
(5.4 avg.) with four touchdowns ... Set school record for freshman
rushing yards (756), breaking John Johnson's previous mark of 729
yards set in 1990 ... Had 10 receptions for 161 yards ... Led UMass
in carries (139), rushing yards (756), average rushing yards per game
(68.7) and all-purpose yards (1,209) ... Averaged 109.9 all-purpose
yards per game ... Finished second on team in scoring with 24 points
and kick return yardage with 292 yards on 17 returns (17.2 avg.) ...
For the season, averaged 7.3 yards every time he touched the ball
(166 touches, 1,209 yards) ... Had two 100-yard rushing efforts (110
vs. Connecticut and 104 vs. Hofstra) ... Rushed for over 75 yards in
a game six times ... Had a career-high 110 yards on 17 carries,
caught two passes for a career-high 75 yards and returned three kicks
for 33 yards to produce a career-high 218 all-purpose yards vs.
Connecticut (Nov. 15) ... Rushed for 104 yards on 16 carries and
caught two passes for 14 yards vs. Hofstra (Nov. 1) ... Gained 97
yards on 16 carries at James Madison (Sept. 20) ... Rushed a
career-high 22 times for 82 yards, including a four-yard touchdown
run, in the 18-14 victory over Rhode Island (Sept. 27) ... Before
UMass: Played one year of prep ball for Jeff Bevino at Milford
Academy ... Played his high school ball for John Iurato at Passaic
Tech ... Ran for 1,510 yards and 24 touchdowns on 172 carries (8.8
avg.) during his senior season ... A New Jersey Super 100 pick, as
one of the top 100 high school seniors in the state ... Participated
in the New Jersey North-South All-Star Game ... First-team All-State
choice as a senior ... Two-time Newark Star-Ledger and North Jersey
Herald-News All-Area pick ... Ran for 3,239 yards and 42 touchdowns
on 429 carries (7.8 avg.) in his prep career ... Personal: Full name
is Marcel Cornelius Shipp ... Son of Ida Shipp ... Born August 8,
1978 in Paterson, N.J. ... Enrolled in the College of Arts &
Sciences. Will get the starting nod at strong safety ... Should be a major
factor in the UMass secondary this season ... Came to UMass as a
cornerback, but switched to strong safety at the beginning of spring
practice ... 1997: Saw action in all 11 games at defensive back, all
as a reserve cornerback ... Registered 12 tackles (eight solo) and
one pass breakup ... Made career-high five tackles (four solo) and a
pass breakup vs. Connecticut (Nov. 15) ... Named to the UMass
Athletic Director's Honor Roll (GPA over 3.0) in both the fall and
spring semesters ... High School: Played for George Kosanovich at
Concord High School ... Recorded 78 tackles and 14 sacks during his
senior season ... Saw time at wide receiver, making 20 receptions for
495 yards and five touchdowns ... Also returned a punt 70 yards for a
touchdown ... First-team All-Blue Hen Conference choice on defense
and second-team All-Blue Hen Conference pick on offense as a senior
... Lettered in basketball and track ... Captain of both the football
and basketball teams as a senior ... Team's leading scorer on the
basketball squad ... Ran the 4x100 and 4x200 relays and competed in
the high jump for Concord's track team ... Personal: Full name is
Brian Lamont Smith ... Son of Garfield and Lavina Smith ... Born July
15, 1979 in Chester, Pa. ... Majoring in Computer Science. The top backup to Todd Bankhead entering fall drills ... Had high
expectations last year after an impressive true freshman campaign,
but endured a tough season ... Combines a strong arm from the pocket
along with the ability to scramble and effectively run the option ...
Will also back up Andrew Maclay as the holder on field goals and
extra points ... Has played in 16 career games, making 12 starts ...
1997: Started the first five games at quarterback before losing the
job to Anthony Catterton ... Completed 49-of-125 (.392) for 480 yards
with four touchdowns and eight interceptions on the season ... Tied
career-highs in completions and attempts by connecting on 18-of-39
passes for 186 yards with a touchdown and one interception vs.
Richmond (Aug. 30) ... Was 11-of-24 for 105 yards and two touchdowns
in the 18-14 victory over Rhode Island (Sept. 27) ... Replaced
Anthony Catterton against Boston University (Nov. 8) and went 4-of-7
for 73 yards with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Darryl Thomas in the
fourth quarter ... Named to the UMass Athletic Director's Honor Roll
(GPA over 3.0) in the spring 1998 semester ... 1996: Played in 10
games, making seven starts ... Assumed the starting quarterback
duties in the Rhode Island game (Oct. 5) ... Completed 70-of-161
passes (.435) for 871 yards with seven touchdowns and eight
interceptions on the year ... His 871 yards passing ranks third on
the all-time UMass freshman single-season passing yardage list ...
Ran the ball 81 times for 142 yards (1.8 avg.) and two touchdowns ...
Ranked sixth on the team in rushing ... Had a string of 46 passes
without an interception to start the season, which was broken in the
Boston University game (Oct. 12) ... Completed 5-of-12 passes for 62
yards in his collegiate debut at Villanova (Sept. 7), after entering
the game in the fourth quarter ... Replaced Anthony Catterton in the
fourth quarter and led the Minutemen to their come-from-behind
victory at Richmond (Sept. 21); connected with Erik Henry on a
20-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with three seconds remaining in
regulation to force overtime in the win over Richmond; completed
5-of-11 passes for 76 yards in the Richmond game ... Became the first
true freshman to start at quarterback since Vito Campanile
(Northeastern, Oct. 30, 1993) when he started the Rhode Island game
(Oct. 5) ... Completed 8-of-18 passes for 78 yards while running for
22 yards on 12 carries and his first collegiate touchdown at Rhode
Island ... Went 5-of-10 for 139 yards with two touchdowns, while also
rushing for 50 yards on 13 carries in the 43-12 win over Boston
University (Oct. 12) ... Connected with Frank Alessio for a
career-long 43-yard pass vs. BU ... Was 6-of-13 for 76 yards and one
touchdown in the 41-20 win over Buffalo (Oct. 19) ... Also ran for a
career-high 59 yards on 13 carries in the Buffalo game ... Completed
13-of-26 passes for 141 yards at William & Mary (Nov. 9) ... Had
his best game of the season, posting career-highs in pass completions
(18), attempts (39), yards passing (206) and touchdown passes (three)
in the dramatic win over Connecticut (Nov. 16) ... Led UMass to the
greatest comeback in school history in that win over UConn, rallying
the Minutemen from a 38-19 deficit with 12 minutes remaining to the
39-38 victory; again connected with Erik Henry on a 20-yard touchdown
pass on fourth down with 31 seconds remaining for the game-winning
score ... Before UMass: Played one season of prep ball for Brendan
Smith at Worcester Academy ... Ranked the No. 1 quarterback in
Central Massachusetts by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette ...
Passed for 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns with a 63 percent completion
rate, while leading Worcester to a 9-0 record ... Also lettered in
basketball and track ... Had a 3.7 GPA at Worcester ... Played at
Greece Olympia High School in Rochester, earning All-Monroe County
honors ... Passed for 840 yards and eight touchdowns during his
senior year at Greece Olympia ... Personal: Full name is Jeffrey
Joseph Smith ... Born January 19, 1977 in Rochester, N.Y. ... Son of
Jeff and Debbie Smith ... Uncle, Jerry Healey, played football at
Northeastern from 1981-1984 ... Majoring in Sport Management. Returns for his second season as a starting cornerback ...
Big-time hitter who is a good cover man ... Found a home at the
corner after beginning his career at UMass as a wide receiver ... Has
played in 23 career games, making 11 starts ... Redshirted in 1994
... 1997: Started all 11 games at cornerback ... Registered 43
tackles (26 solo) with two interceptions and six pass breakups ...
Had at least one tackle in every game ... Tied a career-high of six
tackles in four different games ... Made six tackles (four solo) with
an interception and a pass breakup vs. Richmond (Aug. 30) ... Posted
six tackles (four solo) and two pass breakups vs. Hofstra (Nov. 1)
... Recorded six tackles (all solo) and one pass breakup at Boston
University (Nov. 8) ... Had six tackles (four solo) and one pass
breakup in the 26-20 victory at Buffalo (Oct. 18) ... Had a 19-yard
interception return vs. Connecticut (Nov. 15) ... 1996: Saw action
in all 11 games ... One of the squad's top special teams players ...
Saw time in nickel packages and as a backup to Leggie Beckford at
cornerback ... Made 15 tackles (13 solo) with one pass breakup and
one interception ... Posted his first collegiate interception and had
a pass breakup at Rhode Island (Oct. 5) ... Recorded a career-high
six tackles (five solo) in the win vs. Boston University (Oct. 12)
... 1995: Appeared in one game (Lehigh), seeing action on the
special teams ... 1994: Named to the UMass Athletic Director's Honor
Roll (GPA over 3.0) in the spring 1995 semester ... High School:
Played for Lou Grasso at Abraham Clark ... Played tailback, wide
receiver, tight end and defensive back during his high school career
... Rushed for 586 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns in only
four games at tailback as a senior ... Also averaged five tackles per
game at his defensive back post ... Made four interceptions and set a
school record with a 100-yard return for a touchdown ... Team
co-captain as a senior ... First-team All-Mountain Valley Conference
pick during his senior year ... Second-team All-Area and third-team
Newark Star-Ledger All-Essex County selection as a senior ... Also
played basketball and baseball and ran track ... Tri-captain of the
basketball squad during his senior year ... Personal: Full name is
Michael Walter Smith, Jr. ... Son of Vanessa and Michael Smith ...
Father, Michael, Sr., is the assistant football and basketball coach
at Abraham Clark ... Born September 10, 1976 in Newark, N.J. ...
Majoring in Exercise Science. Enters fall drills as the starter at one defensive tackle position
... Excellent size makes him a valuable run-stopper for the Minutemen
... 1997: Saw action in all 11 games at defensive tackle, making one
start (Villanova) ... Finished with 23 tackles (five solo) with one
tackle-for-loss ... Made four tackles (two solo) in lone start at
Villanova (Oct. 11) ... Had four tackles (one solo) vs. New Hampshire
(Oct. 4) ... Posted three tackles (one solo) vs. Richmond (Aug. 30)
... Recorded three tackles (all assisted) vs. Hofstra (Nov. 1) ...
1996: Saw action in the first five games of the season ... Made
three tackles (one solo) ... 1995: Did not see any game action ...
High School: Played offensive and defensive tackle for Steve Ross at
James Madison ... Recorded 100 tackles including a school-record 10
sacks during his high school career ... Made 60 tackles and six sacks
as a senior ... All-City, All-New York Daily News and All-Borough
selection during his senior year ... Team captain as a senior ...
Played in the Brooklyn Coaches All-Star Game after his senior season
... Personal: Full name is Jamil Thomas ... Son of Jimmy and Phyllis
Thomas ... Born December 3, 1976 in Brooklyn, N.Y. ... His uncle,
Cliff Pedrow, was a member of UMass' 1978 football team that played
in the first-ever NCAA Division I-AA championship game ... Majoring
in Sociology. Will challenge for time in UMass' talented linebacking corps ...
Also a solid special teams performer ... Transferred to UMass from
Hudson Valley Community College prior to his junior season ... 1997:
Played in seven games (all but Richmond, Maine, James Madison and
Connecticut), all as a reserve linebacker and on special teams ...
Made three tackles on the season, all solo stops vs. Rhode Island
(Sept. 27) ... 1996: Walked-on to the team during fall practice ...
Did not see any game action ... Before UMass: Two-year letterwinner
at linebacker for Dave Bochette at Hudson Valley Community College in
Troy, N.Y. ... Attended Brockton High School ... Personal: Full name
is Christopher Alan Tobiaz ... Son of Alan Tobiaz and Valarie St.
Jean ... Born April 2, 1972 in Stoughton, Mass. ... Majoring in
Sociology. Listed as the top backup to Khari Samuel at middle linebacker ...
Has the versatility to play all three linebacking spots ... Excellent
special teams contributor ... Fully recovered from a mid-season torn
meniscus in his right knee last year ... 1997: Played in six games as
a true freshman (Maine, James Madison, Rhode Island, New Hampshire,
Villanova and Buffalo), all as a reserve linebacker or on special
teams ... Made two tackles (one solo) on the year, both coming at
Maine (Sept. 13) ... Suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee at
Buffalo (Oct. 18), forcing him to miss the final four games of the
season ... High School: Played for Jim DiBennidetto at Brooklyn Tech
High School ... Recorded 68 tackles and one interception during his
senior season ... Posted 152 tackles over the course of his high
school career ... Served as team co-captain in the Brooklyn Big 44
All-Star Game, recognizing the top high school seniors in the
Brooklyn area ... Received the highest GPA award on his high school
team as a senior ... Also earned the team's Most Courageous Award ...
Personal: Full name is Compton M. Webster ... Son of Compton, Sr.
and Murice Webster ... Born May 17, 1979 in Guyana, South America ...
Enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences. Begins fall drills as the top backup to Tehran Hunter at one
corner slot ... Made the transition from strong safety to corner
during spring practice ... Should also see action as a kick returner
... Has good speed and quickness to the ball ... Has fully recovered
from a knee injury suffered late last season ... Solid tackler with a
knack for the big hit ... Has played in 19 career games, all starts
... 1997: Started the first eight games at strong safety, before
missing the final three games with a sprained left knee suffered in
the Delaware game ... Registered 48 tackles (20 solo) with one for a
loss, one sack, four quarterback hurries and five pass breakups ...
Returned six kicks for 89 yards (14.3 avg.) ... Made a career-high 11
tackles (three solo) and two quarterback hurries vs. Richmond (Aug.
30) ... Had seven tackles (five solo) and three pass breakups in the
26-20 victory at Buffalo (Oct. 18) ... Recorded seven tackles (two
solo) with two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry at James Madison
(Sept. 20) ... Posted six tackles (two solo) with a sack and a
quarterback hurry in the 18-14 victory over Rhode Island (Sept. 27)
... Made six tackles (three solo) at Maine (Sept. 13) ... Had five
tackles (four solo) and returned six kicks for 89 yards at Villanova
(Oct. 11) ... 1996: Started all 11 games at strong safety ... Posted
52 tackles (34 solo) with six tackles-for-loss and five pass breakups
... Second on the team with two interceptions ... Returned 14
kickoffs for a team-high 282 yards (20.1 avg.) ... Finished sixth in
the Yankee Conference in kickoff returns (20.1 avg.) ... Recorded
seven tackles (five solo), while making his first career interception
and breaking up a team-high three passes in the season-opening loss
at Villanova (Sept. 7) ... Made seven tackles (three solo) in the
21-14 win over Northeastern (Sept. 28) ... Picked off a pass and went
30 yards for his first collegiate touchdown in the 43-12 win over
Boston University (Oct. 12) ... The play marked the first time a
UMass player had returned an interception for a touchdown since 1994
(Tony Williams, 31 yards, vs. William & Mary) ... Recorded seven
tackles (five solo) with one tackle-for-loss in the 41-20 win over
Buffalo (Oct. 19) ... Had seven tackles (five solo) with one
tackle-for-loss and one pass breakup at New Hampshire ... Posted a
career-high 47-yard kickoff return in the Connecticut game (Nov. 16)
... Before UMass: Played one year of prep ball at Valley Forge ...
Played his high school football for Archbishop Carroll ... Personal:
Full name is Jerard D. White ... Son of Leroy and Pat White ... Born
October 27, 1977 in Washington, D.C. ... Enrolled in the College of
Arts & Sciences. Academic All-America candidate who carries a 3.95 cumulative GPA
in Accounting ... Returns for his second season as the starting left
guard ... Good size and physical skills ... Has earned a perfect 4.0
GPA in four of his first six semesters on campus ... Redshirted in
1995 ... 1997: Started all 11 games at left guard ... Part of an
offensive line unit which helped UMass rank fourth in the Atlantic 10
Conference in rushing (163.3 ypg) ... The offensive line allowed just
18 sacks, which tied for the third fewest total in the Atlantic 10
... Posted a perfect 4.0 GPA in the fall 1997 semester ... Named to
the Atlantic 10 All-Academic team ... Selected to the University
Division GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-District I team ... Named to the
UMass Athletic Director's Honor Roll (GPA over 3.0) in both the fall
and spring semesters ... 1996: Did not see any game action ...
Posted a perfect 4.0 GPA and was named to the UMass Athletic
Director's Honor Roll (GPA over 3.0) in both the fall and spring
semesters ... 1995: Did not see any game action and was redshirted
... Posted a perfect 4.0 GPA in the spring 1996 semester ... Named to
the UMass Athletic Director's Honor Roll (GPA over 3.0) in both the
fall and spring semesters ... High School: Three-year starter at
offensive and defensive tackle for Jim Gallagher at Sterling ...
Honorable mention All-South Jersey choice as a senior ... First-team
All-Group II defensive tackle during his senior season ... Three-time
All-Colonial Conference second-team offensive tackle ... Team captain
and offensive MVP as a senior ... Also lettered in wrestling ...
Personal: Full name is Michael Christopher Wynne ... Son of John and
Jacqueline Wynne ... Born October 19, 1976 in Voorhees, N.J. ...
Majoring in Accounting.Chris Price
Junior * DE * 6-3 * 226
Boxboro, Mass. (Acton-Boxboro)
Dustin Reid
Senior * DB * 6-0 * 180
Melrose, Mass. (Melrose)
Brian Riley
Junior * OL * 6-5 * 298
Keansburg, N.J. (Keansburg)
Jeremy Robinson
Redshirt Fr. * DB * 6-2 * 184
Syracuse, N.Y. (Nottingham)
Joe Romero
Redshirt Fr. * DL * 6-2 * 250
Staten Island, N.Y. (Curtis)
Joel Sarapin
Redshirt Fr. * DE * 6-3 * 238
E. Brunswick, N.J. (E. Brunswick)
Dan Schneider
Sophomore * DE * 6-4 * 245
Fitchburg, Mass. (Fitchburg)
Scott Shearer
Junior * OL * 6-0 * 236
Orlando, Fla. (Boone)
Marcel Shipp
Sophomore * TB * 6-0 * 195
Paterson, N.J. (Milford Academy)
Brian Smith
Sophomore * SS * 6-1 * 195
Wilmington, Del. (Concord)
Jeff Smith
Junior * QB * 6-2 * 199
Rochester, N.Y. (Worcester Academy)
Mike Smith
Senior * DB * 5-11 * 188
East Orange, N.J. (Abraham Clark)
Jamil Thomas
Senior * DL * 6-2 * 278
Brooklyn, N.Y. (James Madison)
Chris Tobiaz
Senior * LB * 6-2 * 225
Brockton, Mass. (Hudson Valley CC)
Compton Webster
Sophomore * LB * 5-11 * 215
Brooklyn, N.Y. (Brooklyn Tech)
Jerard White
Junior * DB * 6-1 * 208
Fort Washington, Md. (Valley Forge, Pa.)
Mike Wynne
Junior * OL * 6-2 * 285
Somerdale, N.J. (Sterling)