UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak shouts instructions to his team during a Minutemen fall camp practice at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst. PHOTO BY CHRIS TUCCI/UMASS ATHLETICS
UMass quarterback Brandon Rose throws a pass during a Minutemen fall camp practice at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst. PHOTO BY CHRIS TUCCI/UMASS ATHLETICS
UMass defensive lineman Shymell Davis rushes the passer in a drill during a Minutemen fall camp practice at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst. PHOTO BY CHRIS TUCCI/UMASS ATHLETICS
UMass defensive lineman Shymell Davis rushes the passer in a drill during a Minutemen fall camp practice at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst. PHOTO BY CHRIS TUCCI/UMASS ATHLETICS
UMass wide receiver Elijah Pedro catches a pass during a Minutemen fall camp practice at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst. (CHRIS TUCCI/UMASS ATHLETICS) PHOTO BY CHRIS TUCCI/UMASS ATHLETICS
UMass wide receiver Tyree Kelly catches a pass during a Minutemen fall camp practice at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst. (CHRIS TUCCI/UMASS ATHLETICS) PHOTO BY CHRIS TUCCI/UMASS ATHLETICS
UMass wide receiver Elijah Pedro catches a pass during a Minutemen fall camp practice at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst. (CHRIS TUCCI/UMASS ATHLETICS) PHOTO BY CHRIS TUCCI/UMASS ATHLETICS
UMass wide receiver Jaquon Gibson runs with the ball after catching a pass during a Minutemen fall camp practice at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst. (CHRIS TUCCI/UMASS ATHLETICS) PHOTO BY CHRIS TUCCI/UMASS ATHLETICS
UMass wide receiver Jake McConnachie celebrates after making a play during a Minutemen fall camp practice at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst. (CHRIS TUCCI/UMASS ATHLETICS) PHOTO BY CHRIS TUCCI/UMASS ATHLETICS
Staff Writer Published: 08-07-2025 5:38 PM Amherst MA UMass Sports UMass football facebook Homecenterpiece 2
AMHERST — This Saturday marks three weeks until the UMass football team takes the field at McGuirk Alumni Stadium for its season opener against Temple on Aug. 30, and the Minutemen are continuing to make strides during fall camp as year No. 1 under Joe Harasymiak swiftly approaches.
Practices have been sharp, detailed and extremely organized. Players on both sides of the ball are showing out, and each unit — offense, defense and special teams — has had their share of days where they shine.
Harasymiak is pleased with the trajectory his football team is on.
“Yeah, they are,” Harasymiak said when asked if his team is progressing how he had hoped through two weeks of practice. “Our guys are doing a good job of winning the mental battle with themselves. Camp is a grind, they understand that. We’re pushing through it… Every fourth day we kind of do a run through/walkthrough. We’re progressing. We’re going… We’re kind of finding out what the guys can handle and what they can’t. It’s been going really well. Taking a small step forward every day.”
The UMass coaching staff is constantly evaluating each practice. And when it’s over, they rewatch it on film to see if there’s anything they may have missed. Whether it’s good or bad, Harasymiak and his crew keep tabs on each individual player.
“Where we are right now is exactly where we want to be,” Harasymiak said. “There are some guys elevating their game, there are some guys staying put and some guys have to pick it up. That’s what happens in camp. But they have to take ownership of that and push forward. I think we’re right where we want to be. I’m happy with the way they’re responding to things.”
This Saturday also marks scrimmage day, as the Minutemen will gear up and give it their all for the first time this summer. UMass has worn pads for certain sessions thus far, but the contact is limited.
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Let’s start with the importance of this weekend as we get into our weekly football notebook.
Saturday’s scrimmage provides opportunity
Harasymiak shared with the media on Thursday afternoon that his plan is to run through about 60 to 80 live plays in Saturday’s scrimmage, each one with live tackling at full speed. It will be a sizable leap forward since the Minutemen have only done about 20 or 30 total live plays to this point.
It’ll be an opportunity for everyone involved. The scrimmage is a chance for the players to prove themselves and put their hard work to the test, a chance for the coaching staff to truly see who/what needs work and who/what is on the right path, and it’s certainly a chance for the three quarterbacks — AJ Hairston, Grant Jordan and Brandon Rose — to show out in a live setting (more on this later).
After playing touch football for most of the offseason, it’s time to put on a hat and make some tackles. Harasymiak can’t wait.
“Especially defensively, it’s a big thing defensively; everybody is a great tagger in practice but it’s a little different putting your face on people,” he said. “So we got to get that evaluated. And offensively, you have to make sure you secure the ball. That’s going to be important for us moving forward. I think they’re in a good mindset and they’re ready for [the scrimmage].”
The players are equally as eager to simulate a live game as closely as possible with the Temple game on the horizon.
“I’m excited,” defensive lineman Shymell Davis said. “We had a little bit of thud tempo, tag tempo, so you kind of get the urge. We’re taught to be safe in practices and stuff, so I think the scrimmage is going to be a really good time to show players and to show coaches and to show everybody else what we’re capable of going into Week 1.”
Quarterback status
No, there has not been a starter named quite yet, but Harasymiak did say he’s getting closer to a decision. He’s still giving each quarterback equal first-team reps, and it truly is pretty tough to tell which way he is leaning. Hairston, Jordan and Rose are all starting-caliber guys at the Division 1 level and each have had stellar moments in camp.
Although he may be leaning one way or the other, Harasymiak made it clear last week that he doesn’t have a timetable on the QB1 decision — which is intentional.
“The reason we didn’t give those guys a date, or any depth-chart decisions a date, is because that’s all they’ll think about. And then they won’t perform,” Harasymiak said. “We just want them focused. Listen, all three of them are doing a great job. We’re rotating the reps. This Saturday, when the live bullets are flying, certainly they won’t get hit still, but that’ll be big. Everybody else around them is doing a great job. So they’re progressing good.”
Redshirt junior Jacquon Gibson, who has spent three seasons in Amherst, says he is confident in all of the Minutemen’s options at quarterback.
“I feel like all of them are awesome,” Gibson said. “Sometimes I don’t even know who’s throwing the ball because all of them are great balls. It’s a great competition, everybody doing their part and we’re just going to have to see August 30 who the quarterback is going to be. But I mean, I trust every one of those guys, even the freshman Will Perry, I trust him to be out here too throwing the ball. All them guys are doing a good job.”
Once again, continued updates on UMass’ quarterback competition will be provided as camp progresses.
Playmakers galore on the outside
This year’s UMass wide receiver corps has the potential to be the most skilled group the team has had this decade. The Minutemen have blistering speed with T.Y. Harding, Gibson, Kezion Dia-Johnson and more, and they also hold the ability to win 50/50 balls on the outside with long, rangy pass catchers like power-5 transfer Jake McConnachie (Pittsburgh) and USF transfer Tyree Kelly.
Not only are they having strong summers, they’re also connecting off the field, which is important considering many of them are coming in from different schools.
“Since day one, I feel like it’s a [great] team bond,” Gibson said. “Me and my brothers. TK (Tyree Kelly), J-Mac (Jake McConnachie), Kez (Kezion Dia-Johnson), T.Y., like all those guys bring something new to the table, so every time we out here I’m learning from them guys. I feel like we’re in a good spot right now.”
Much of there ascension has to do with UMass wide receivers coach Jordan Hogan, who came over from the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers where he worked on the offensive coaching staff. Hogan has experience working with some of the game’s elite pass catchers in Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings.
Bringing that knowledge to young, hungry college kids trying to one day make it to the NFL has proved to be invaluable to the Minutemen’s wide receiver room.
“Coach Hogan, coming from the 49ers, I feel like he’s teaching me that every inch matters,” Gibson said. “It’s always more on the table. Coach Hogan is doing a lot. I feel like he’s going to really get me to that next point in my career where I want to go… Every day he shows me Deebo clips, Brandon Aiyuk and stuff like that. Every day I’m learning there is always more meat on the bone, you have to be better. At the spot you’re at, you have to be the best where you’re coming from. Coach Hogan is always pushing me. You can’t get comfortable. Every day you have to prove yourself. I never feel bigger than what I am. I take coaching from everybody, even the defensive guys. I just feel like it’s a blessing to be with coach Hogan.”