AMHERST — The first signature arrived in Walt Bell’s hands at 7:01 a.m. Wednesday.
Taj Jones, a 6-foot-2 receiver from New Jersey, officially went down as the first player Bell signed as the UMass football coach. Over the next three hours, five more recruits sent in their National Letters of Intent to play football for the Minutemen next season. Most of the time, the letters would arrive in those morning hours, but Bell was in it for the long haul on his first signing day at UMass.
Everett High School running back Kevin Brown was announced as the Minutemen’s seventh commit shortly after 3:30 p.m. But it wasn’t until 6 p.m. that Bell knew he was done for the day as Jaylin Bannerman became the eighth and final signee for UMass in the early signing period.
“There’s worry,” Bell said. “Some of it was a little bit of a clerical issue, but Jaylin’s situation, we were kind of recruiting until it’s over. There’s a little bit of stress in that, knowing we have a great need for what he can do, but there’s other schools that had a great need for what he could do as well. That was a big one to get it done there at the end.”
Bannerman was the highlight recruit in Bell’s eight-player class that officially signed Wednesday on the first day of the early signing period. The former Kentucky linebacker spent last season at Arizona Western College after being unhappy with the Wildcats’ future plans for him. But he fit perfectly into the type of defense Bell is hoping to implement at UMass, which relies on versatile defenders who can help defend against the spread offense proliferating across college football.
Bell said Bannerman gives the Minutemen more flexibility on their defense with his ability to play in a two-point or three-point stance depending upon the situation.
“Jaylin’s going to be a guy who can play multiple spots on the defense,” Bell said. “He’s a 6-5, 225-pound kid who played in a two-point stance in college, played linebacker and (defensive) end. So whether he ends up as a Mike or a hybrid end backer, he’s just long, can run, physical. He kind of fills two different roles depending upon where he ends up with his physical maturity once he gets here.”
Bannerman was one of three junior college players who signed with UMass, joining defensive back Malik Sanders and offensive lineman Bryce Wade. Sanders brings some much-needed help to a secondary that is losing three starters from the 2018 season and doesn’t have experienced depth. Bell said Sanders could play any of the three cornerback positions for UMass next year, but could also play safety if needed because of his physicality.
Wade is a converted tight end who spent his freshman year at Division II West Texas A&M before playing last year at Jones County College in Mississippi. He will add depth at the tackle spot behind returning starters Larnel Coleman and Ray Thomas-Ishman with his long frame and quick feet.
“Bryce is a long-level, long edge player, he is going to be a tackle,” Bell said. “He’s a guy with great foot quickness, a chance to win in those one-on-one pass rush situations and also a frame that’s buildable. He’s almost 6-7, he was 265, so now when we get him up to 285-290, we’re adding strength to somebody who’s already a good mover, so hopefully that allows you to win some of those one-on-one matchups.”
The Minutemen also added some help at a skill positions with Jones, a receiver who Bell said could also be converted to a safety depending upon his comfort level, and Jermaine Johnson, a 5-10, 165-pound receiver who Bell said would be able to play any of the receiver positions in his system. Johnson first appeared on Bell’s radar when the 34-year-old was the offensive coordinator at Maryland and Johnson attended one of the Terrapins’ camps.
But Bell admitted there was still plenty of holes UMass needs to fill with the February signing period. The new coach said he needs to build depth at defensive tackle and safety, both of which have very few scholarship players left. Joseph Norwood is the only safety listed on the Minutemen’s 2018 roster who is set to play in 2019 and there are only four defensive linemen listed at 280 pounds or heavier expected to return next season.
UMass did add some depth on the interior of the defensive line with Cletus Mathurin out of Cheshire Academy in Connecticut. However, those two positions will be a major focus of Bell’s January recruiting efforts along with trying to find two quarterbacks – a young, developmental prospect and an older veteran who could compete for playing time right away. Bell said he wants to use all available avenues, including transfers after spring practice, to fill out his roster.
Yet, Bell said he was pleased with the eight players who signed with UMass and thinks they’re a great beginning to the foundation he plans to lay in Amherst.
“It’s a group of kids that, one, addresses some immediate needs that we have,” Bell said. “Also, having spent time with all of them, that it’s a group of great kids. A foundational group of kids that I’m excited to see what they’ll be in the long term. … But we still have an incredible amount of work to do between now and February.”