UMass Spring Practice Pt. 1

By Kevin McCaskill Jr.

3/29/26 * 9:18 PM

(AMHERST, MA) UMass Football Spring Practice started this week in Amherst. The Minutemen went 0-12 in HC Joe Harasymiak’s first season. He has been honest about his perspective on UMass Football’s place in the College Football landscape. He might also realize that if things don’t improve, he could be looking for another football job.

The most interesting aspect of Spring Practice has been watching the QBs. Brandon Rose, AJ Hairston and Grant Jordan have all left the program.

This season, the Minutemen QB Group is Will “Pop” Watson III, RJ Johnson III, Aedan McCarthy and Will Perry.

Watson is transferring from Virginia Tech. He saw limited time on the field there. He attended Central HS in Springfield, MA, where he was an All-American and MIAA State Champion.

Johnson is transferring from Florida A&M. He completed 65% of his passes last season; he threw for 2.597 yards, 18 TDs, 4 INTs; he also ran for 3 TDs.

McCarthy is a true Freshman from Bluffton, SC. He was a 3 ⭐️ recruit.

Perry is from Andover, MA and was on the roster last season.

Watson looked good at Thursday’s practice. McCarthy and Johnson also looked good.

The biggest difference I see, especially between Johnson and Watson, is throwing motion. Watson’s throwing motion is tighter and the ball pops out of his hand. Johnson has a more elongated throwing motion. Watson seemed to have more accuracy. Overall, Watson’s movement - drop-backs, handoffs, pocket movement - was crisp and what you would want to see from an FBS QB.

Johnson, from what i saw on Thursday, has the best deep-ball of the 3 QBs.

McCarthy has a strong arm as well and his accuracy is good.

There have been major issues with Special Teams over the past several seasons in Amherst. Last season, there was a bright spot with the punter but overall the same issues.

One issue that shouldn’t be an issue this season is FG kicking. Derek Morris is back for his second season as starting kicker. His accuracy was displayed at practice, as well as kicking from distance.

The new punter, Edward Phillipson, got off some good kicks.

Outside of Special Teams, the Minutemen Secondary group has also struggled over the years. They’re still a work in progress.

Another Springfield, MA native, Joe Griffin Jr., is on the Minutemen roster this season. He was a 4 ⭐️ WR recruit coming out of Central HS. He went to Boston College and had a breakout Freshman season, catching 5 TDs in 18 receptions. He transferred to Wisconsin after a coaching change @ BC. According to the ESPN app, in two seasons at Wisconsin, he had 1 catch for 5 yards. I’ve heard one of those seasons he may have been injured. I haven’t seen any verified reporting on that claim however.

Griffin is now back in Western MA and has a great opportunity to get his collegiate and potential professional career on track. On Thursday, he looked healthy and caught passes well.

An aspect about practice I thought was great was the enthusiasm of the football support staff. Young people catching passes, gathering footballs, getting equipment, getting the athlete-students water - the football support staff works hard  🫡

After practice LB Tyler Martin and WR TY Harding spoke to the much-maligned press in Hampshire County, which I’m a part of [4 consecutive seasons as a credentialed media outlet 📈].

Both young men stated they are grateful for their opportunity. They understand the position the program is in and they both want to be, and have to be, a part of the winning formula that hasn’t been generated yet in Amherst.

It’s early Spring,

The Minutemen are laying the foundation for a new formula in Amherst.