Courtesy of UMass Athletics

If you are a UMass Football fan, you will need to keep your spring program handy to figure out who is on the roster. New coach Joe Harasymiak and his staff

Offensively, all eyes are on the quarterbacks as three new faces are expected to compete for the starting job in the spring. Sophomore A.J Hairston has the big arm and athleticism the offensive staff looks for at the position. If there was ever an early favorite, it is Hairston. Yale grad transfer Grant Jordan also has a shot to show what he can do. Hairston threw for 1,938 yards and 22 touchdown passes last season. He will compete with fellow transfer Brandon Rose who is coming in from Utah. Rose will be rehabbing an injury to start the spring.

Running back will be a position where there will be plenty of competition this spring. The incumbent starter, CJ Hester is transferring which means the limited number of running backs on the roster can compete for an opportunity to show what they can do. Redshirt juniors Brandon Campbell and Rocko Griffin appear to have the inside track as of now. Sophomore Jackson Paradis and redshirt freshmen Cookie Desiderio could also get more of an opportunity this spring.

Wide receiver is another position where the Minutemen have some intriguing pieces. T.Y Harding returns and the dynamic slot receiver has a chance to make a difference in this offense. Kezion Dia-Johnson gives the offense a stretch receiver at the X. Sterling Galban and redshirt sophomore Jaquon Gibson are versatile pieces that can line up at the Z and the F receiver spots.

Tight end is going to be a big part of what new offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian does. Expect a lot of 12 and 13 personnel formations this season. Redshirt junior transfer Max Dowling and Central Florida transfer Reece Adkins are players to watch this spring. Owen Anderson will so factor in when the team utilizes 13 personnel.

The offensive line will feature several new faces as well most notably former Dexter Southfield transfer and West Virginia transfer Sullivan Weidman could slide into a starting spot. He will be competing against other tackles on the roster like Luke Painton and Cole Erickson. The guard and center spots are up for grabs. Tanner Burlingame, William Jones, Brock Taylor and Ryan Mossesso will be among the players to compete in the interior. Harasymiak and Bajakian want to be physical the run game, especially inside. Harvard transfer Michael Enwhistle and Dartmouth transfer Kyle Brown add experience and will also be in the mix inside at guard and center.

Defensively new defensive coordinator Jared Keyte will run an aggressive scheme predicated on getting pressure but also being situationally sound. The front four will be relied on heavily to get consistent pressure.

The defensive line will be counted on to bring the heat. Zuduko Igwenagu, Anquan Robinson, Jermaine Wiggins and Joshua Nobles are among the defensive ends expected to step up this spring. Athleticism is a plus but Keyte will want  The Minutemen are well stocked inside with Tim Passmore, Maine transfer  Shymell Davis, Virginia Tech transfer Malachi Madison and Tim-Grant Randall. The defensive line has length and they possess the requiste explosiveness but there is a lot of inexperience in the group.

Tyler Martin leads the linebacker room and the Minutemen have some intriguing pieces in that group. Rutgers transfer Timmy Hinspeter played for Harasymiak and knows the defensive scheme. Follow former Scarlett Knight David Onuoha can play off the edge as a pass rusher and drop into  coverage as an off-ball linebacker. Donovan Dyson and Rashad Henry offer athleticism and bring a level of explosiveness to the position. Nick Hawthrone and Derrieon Craig both expect to get some quality reps this speing as well.

The secondary has been a strength for UMass but several key contributors most notably Leonard St. Gourdain and Lake Ellis must be replaced. Davidson transfer TJ Magee and Concord University transfer Kendall Bournes along with ACC veteran Malcolm Greene are expected to compete with returners like Steven Ortiz, Jashon Watkins, Brennan Bailey and Ryan Barnes. 

Harasymiak’s first spring will be about establishing a winning culture and getting to know the staff. It will be all about the players getting acclimated.