AMHERST — Brice McAllister was confident enough to be vocal during spring practices for UMass.
The problem was that he was making the wrong calls from his spot at safety.
The fifth-year senior spent his first four seasons at Connecticut before electing to transfer to UMass in January in time for spring practices. He tried to immerse himself in the defense as much as possible once he arrived in Amherst, but that didn’t stop him from letting his old habits creep in during his first few practices with the Minutemen.
“The hardest part was trying to erase the defense from UConn out of my head,” McAllister said with a laugh. “I was still making some calls from back at UConn. But now I forgot all those calls and (my teammates) have helped me learn all these UMass calls.”
McAllister’s ability to make the correct calls on game day will be critical to the defensive success this season. Defensive coordinator Ed Pinkham said McAllister’s experience gives him confidence the fifth-year senior will be able to execute during a game.
That message was reiterated on Tuesday when Pinkham stopped McAllister after practice for a brief chat.
“I’m really relying on him,” said Pinkham, who also coaches the UMass safeties. “I think he brings not only a lot of athleticism, but he brings a lot of poise and the ability to think under pressure and make the correct adjustments. Our safeties are taxed with a lot of the calls, they got to make adjustments left and right in the heat of the battle and with quickness and confidence. He’s doing a great job with that.”
McAllister, who played in 33 games for the Huskies over four years, slides into the starting safety spot vacated by Jesse Monteiro’s graduation. The Minutemen return all three of their other starters in the secondary, giving the East Longmeadow native plenty of help on the field as he still tries to perfect the scheme.
Pinkham said McAllister has all the tools of a great defensive back and has been able to blend in with the experienced core of UMass’ secondary.
“He’s fit right in,” Pinkham said. “When you’re a defensive back, you’ve got to be one of those guys that’s has a little swag, you have to let things that don’t go your way roll off your back and not affect you. He’s a really mature guy.”
McAllister said he’s been helped tremendously by the return this summer of senior safety Tyler Hayes, who missed spring following offseason shoulder surgery. The partnership has shaped up well as the two have learned how to play together in what coach Mark Whipple said he is hoping will be interchangeable roles.
The veterans “definitely make the job a lot easier because those guys have a lot of experience … (and) they know all the calls before I do, so they help out a lot,” McAllister said. “I feel way more comfortable with the defense ever since the spring. Especially with Tyler Hayes back for fall camp, he’s helped me out a lot, too. I’m just trying to learn the ins and outs of the defense and everybody’s position because that’s what you’ve got to do as a safety.”
Whipple said the benefits of McAllister practicing with the Minutemen in the spring are showing during the first week or so of preseason. He said the safety looks more comfortable within the scheme and is already making big plays for the unit in practice.
“He practiced in the spring, so he has an understanding (of our scheme) and he’s a hard worker and is a guy who studies,” Whipple said. “He’s made some plays, he’s has two or three really good interceptions on some deep balls. He understands leverage and he understands players, he’s a smart player, so we’re really excited about him.”
Josh Walfish can be reached at jwalfish@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshWalfishDHG. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage.