UMass: Minutemen upgrade their roster after a busy weekend of visits and commitments

Posted By on January 17, 2022

Don Brown and his staff have had a busy weekend. A weekend filled with official and unofficial visits and commitments. It was the most active weekend since Brown took the job and he and his staff secured commitments from several transfers and a key Florida recruit.

The most notable transfer commitment was that of George Johnson, a wide receiver/defensive back from Stuart, Florida. Johnson comes to UMass from Michigan. Brown recruited Johnson to Michigan so the relationship was already there. Johnson is a dynamic athlete. He played quarterback and receiver in high school and dominated. I know I am bias because I am offensive guy but he needs to play receiver. Johnson is too good an athlete not to.


The Minutemen also had Penn State transfer Tyler Rudolph on campus. The safety was a four star recruit out of St. Thomas More in Connecticut. He played for recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach Jeff Moore. Rudolph can step in and make an immediate impact on a defense that lacks that three level safety.

https://twitter.com/trudolphh/status/1482825503526555653?s=21

UMass picked up a commitment from California JUCO quarterback Gino Campiotti as well. Campiotti is a dual threat quarterback who has good size at 6-2 215. He could be a great scheme fit in offensive coordinator Steve Casula’s offense. The Minutemen could use him the same way Michigan used J.J McCarthy this past season.

Former Rutgers cornerback Darius Gooden committed to the Minutemen this past weekend. Gooden didn’t play much at Rutgers and has three years of eligibility left. He has good size and a good skill set.

The Minutemen also picked up commitments from two members of the Class of 2022. 3-Star safety Jeremiah McGill out of Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Hollywood, Florida committed. McGill was recruited to UConn by new defensive backs coach Darrell Perkins. When Perkins was let go at UConn and got hired at UMass, he maintained his relationship with McGill and got him to flip. McGill had offers from UConn, FIU and Campbell as well. McGill is the highest rated recruit UMass has signed in the Class of 2022.

https://twitter.com/jeremiahhmcgill/status/1482899679260123136?s=21

The Minutemen also picked up a commitment from St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL) linebacker Derrieon Craig. Craig is undersized at 5-10 210 but he plays fast downhill and he has a nose for the ball.

UMass also picked up a commitment from former Louisville Athlete Gregory Desrosiers. The 5-11 185 Desrosiers played his high school football at Central Catholic and Belmont Hill. Desrosiers is today’s spread receiver. He can make plays on the line and out of the slot. He can be effective on jet sweeps and perimeter screens. He was a big play machine.

Florida State grad transfer Marcus Cushnie committed today. It gives Don Brown and defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski another edge player who can rush the passer.

https://twitter.com/cushniemarcus/status/1483227668464246787?s=21

Several other recruits visited Amherst on official and unofficial visits. DB Brian Dilworth, LB Kobe McCloud, LB Michael Williams, DE Tyson Watson and OG Cole Garcia were on official visits. Desrosiers and kicker A.J Vinatieri were on unofficial visits.