Kill has a track record of success at every stop – including at lower levels of college football and FBS from stints at Northern Illinois and Minnesota – and knows how to maximize resources. Also, the hire of new coach Jerry Kill was one of the best in an active carousel. The Aggies are joining Conference USA in 2023, which should make scheduling and overall competitiveness at the FBS level a little easier for a program currently playing as an FBS Independent. It’s no secret New Mexico State is one of the toughest jobs in college football, but things might be looking up in Las Cruces. But the goal in Brown’s first year should be small signs of progress on both sides of the ball and more overall competitiveness on the scoreboard. A schedule that features only one Power 5 opponent creates opportunities to surprise. Brown’s track record and the addition of a couple of transfers should provide some optimism, however. Improvement on offense (16.3 points a game in ’21) is likely, but the Minutemen have greater concerns on a defense that surrendered 43.1 points a contest and 7.3 yards per snap last fall.
The quarterback battle between Brady Olson and Zamar Wise will continue into the fall. The strength of the offense resides at running back with Ellis Merriweather (1,138 yards last season), and a receiving corps has potential options, including Rico Arnold, Jermaine Johnson and tight end Josiah Johnson.
FBS Independence isn’t easy for UMass, but a new staff and a roster returning 14 starters should be able to show some signs of progress. The Minutemen went 43-19 under Brown from 2004-08 – a far step ahead of the 2-26 mark the program has recorded over the last three years. College Football Top 131 Team Rankings for 2022ĭon Brown is the perfect coach to lead UMass, but the Massachusetts native is likely to find the going a little tougher in his second stint in Amherst.
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