The Professor - The Coaching Career of James Xavier

Post by **Captain Canada** » 15 Mar 2025, 11:15

2024 Schedule
Aug. 31 vs Eastern Michigan
Sep. 7 at Toledo
Sep. 14 at Buffalo
Sep. 20 vs. Central Connecticut State (FCS)
Sept. 28 at Miami (OH)
Oct. 5 at Northern Illinois
Oct. 12 vs 10 Missouri
OPEN
Oct. 26 vs. Wagner
Oct. 31 at Mississippi State
OPEN
Nov 16 vs. Liberty
Nov. 23 at 1 Georgia
Nov. 29 vs UConn

Post by **Captain Canada** » 16 Mar 2025, 11:45

Milford's Malcolm O'Neil would be a prized addition to Coach Brown's UMass Minutemen - and a big get for Coach Xavier in his first collegiate offensive recruiting class.

UMass looking to rebuild through trenches with recruiting

AMHERST, MA -- Tasked with building a strong recruiting class in his first collegiate cycle, offensive coordinator James Xavier leads the approach on offense while head coach Don Brown focuses exclusively on the defensive side. Xavier is expected to be on the road early and often with UMass’ recruiting pipeline extending from Massachusetts to Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Xavier being a Florida-native means the team cannot necessarily rule out Florida recruits as well.

2024 UMass Recruiting Board
Quarterback
#2842 QB Dalton Byard | 6’4”, 225 lbs | Milford, MA | 2-star | BC, UMASS, GEORGIA SOUTHERN, CHARLOTTE, UCONN
#2316 QB Vai Keke | 5’11”, 208 lbs | Avon, CT | 2-star | UCONN, DUKE, BC, TEMPLE, RICE

UMass currently features two pure freshman quarterbacks and one redshirt freshman on the roster. The team adds two targets with the expectation that one or two of these guys end up hopping into the transfer portal at the end of the season. Byard has the ideal size for a quarterback while Keke is smaller but fits the mold better skill-wise with his ability to extend plays with his feet.

Running back
#650 HB JaMichael Mooney | 6’1”, 188 lbs | Kingston, NY | 3-star | RUTGERS, UCONN, TEMPLE, UMASS, TOLEDO
#2997 HB Carter Gainwell | 6’0”, 197 lbs | Jersey City, NJ | 2-star | RUTGERS, UCONN, TEMPLE, UMASS, KENT STATE
#2804 HB Andy Greisen | 6’0”, 185 lbs | Bronx, NY | 2-star | 2-star | RUTGERS, UCONN, TEMPLE, UMASS, KENT STATE

The team will be in an absolute dogfight for these Rutgers-leaning running backs. The team isn’t desperate for running backs in this cycle but stealing talent away from rival UCONN is essential. The team wants to lead on their run game going forward. Mooney would be a huge acquisition.

Wide Receiver
#690 WR George Stewart | 6’5”, 211 lbs | Sparta, NJ | 3-star | RUTGERS, NAVY, UMASS, TEMPLE, UCONN

Stewart would be a huge get for a receiving room that has the bodies going past this season but could certainly use someone of his size. A three-star recruit would be huge for the team. Rutgers seems like the place he will be landing, considering he’s a New Jersey native, but you never know with someone like Xavier at the helm.

Tight End
#549 TE Gabe Colombo [JUCO] | 6’2”, 242 lbs | Wilton, CT | 3-star | UMASS, UCONN, TEMPLE, AKRON, WESTERN KENTUCKY
#1029 TE Callum Wishnowsky | 6’3”, 231 lbs | Watertown, CT | 3-star | UCONN, UMASS, NORTHWESTERN, RUTGERS, TOLEDO
#1244 TE Roderick Winbush | 6’3”, 224 lbs | Hightstown, NJ | 3-star | RUTGERS, TEMPLE, UMASS, UCONN, AKRON

Getting Colombo would be huge for a team that is graduating their top three tight ends at the end of the year. He is contemplating between the rivalry at the moment and it seems as though it’s a foregone conclusion that he will be heading to the team that fits him best. Wishnowsky is a great consolation prize, provided he puts on some more size when he gets onto campus.

Getting two of these guys would refill the cabinet substantially this cycle.

Offensive Line
#508 OT Malcolm O’Neil | 6’7”, 308 lbs | Milford, MA | 3-star | UCONN, KENT STATE, TEMPLE, UMASS, AKRON
#1361 OT Prince Mamula | 6’7”, 322 lbs | Bronx, NY | 3-star | RUTGERS, NAVY, TEMPLE, UMASS, UCONN
#1486 OT Dalton McClain | 6’4”, 284 lbs | Hammonton, NJ | 3-star | RUTGERS, UCONN, TEMPLE, UMASS, KENT STATE
#3478 OT Tanner Volk | 6’5”, 304 lbs | Bridgeport, CT | 1-star | UCONN, UMASS, DUKE, TOLEDO, TEMPLE
#3811 OT Ezekiel Ozougwu | 6’5”, 274 lbs | Cherry Hill, NJ | 1-star | UCONN, TEMPLE, UMASS, TOLEDO, JMU
#2981 OT Darian Riggs | 6’7”, 326 lbs | Suffield, CT | 2-star | UCONN, BC, TEMPLE, BUFFALO, UMASS

#1065 OG David Rossi | 6’3”, 306 lbs | Hightstown, NJ | 3-star | RUTGERS, TEMPLE, NAVY, BUFFALO, KENT STATE
#2609 OG Julius Braham | 6’0”, 290 lbs | Reading, PA | 2-star | KENT STATE, NAVY, UCONN, LIBERTY, EAST CAROLINA
#2692 OG Eric Hurns | 6’1”, 320 lbs | Ashland, PA | 2-star | KENT STATE, NAVY, UCONN, LIBERTY, EAST CAROLINA
#3573 OG Donte Finger | 6’3”, 279 lbs | Wallingford, CT | 1-star | UCONN, DUKE, JMU, TEMPLE, BUFFALO
#282 OG Saul Donahue | 6’3”, 298 lbs | Bridgeport, CT | 4-star | PENN STATE, BC, SYRACUSE, RUTGERS, PITTSBURGH

#2662 C George Vela | 6’0”, 288 lbs | Catawissa, PA | 2-star | NORTHWESTERN, UAB, RUTGERS, LIBERTY, MINNESOTA

Donahue is clearly the prize here, one of the highest rated recruits that UMass has on their recruiting board. Are they punching a little over their weight by competing with the likes of Penn State in the fight? Maybe. But, chances are Donahue will show up and start day 1, which is a big incentive for the Bridgeport native.

This will need to be a position of success when it comes to recruiting with the number of seniors leaving at year’s end.

Defensive Line
#516 DE Tyler Tongue | 6’4”, 278 lbs | Sudbury, MA | 3-star | UCONN, DUKE, TEMPLE, RICE, UMASS
#2530 DE Connor King | 6’5”, 274 lbs | Bayonne, NJ | 2-star | RUTGERS, UCONN, TEMPLE, UMASS, KENT STATE
#1851 DE Cam Hager | 6’1”, 227 lbs | Red Bank, NJ | 3-star | RUTGERS, TEMPLE, UCONN, BUFFALO, NAVY
#3276 DE Maxwell Brooks | 6’0”, 231 lbs | New Canaan, CT | 1-star | UCONN, UMASS, DUKE, TOLEDO, TEMPLE
#3245 DE Jamarcus Elkins | 6’4”, 248 lbs | Everett, MA | 1-star | UCONN, UMASS, DUKE, TOLEDO, TEMPLE

#76 DT Ryan Carney | 6’2”, 290 lbs | North Andover, MA | 4-star | PENN STATE, BC, SYRACUSE, RUTGERS, MIAMI(OH)

Linebacker
#1135 OLB Vinny Kinder | 5’11”, 229 lbs | Wayne, NJ | 3-star | RUTGERS, TEMPLE, UMASS, UCONN, VIRGINIA
#2057 OLB Imani Ojabo | 6’1”, 247 lbs | Scituate, MA | 2-star | UMASS, NAVY, DUKE, UCONN, RUTGERS

#610 MLB Callum Cantrell | 5’11”, 218 lbs | Lynbrook, NY | 3-star | RUTGERS, NAVY, TEMPLE, UMASS, UCONN
#2985 MLB Jeremiah Mauro | 5’11”, 216 lbs | Jackson, NJ | 2-star | RUTGERS, UCONN, TEMPLE, UMASS, KENT STATE

Defensive Back
#567 CB Mike Leamon | 5’11”, 180 lbs | Gibsonia, PA | 3-star | TEMPLE, RUTGERS, UMASS, CHARLOTTE, TOLEDO
#1145 CB Matt Yates | 6’2”, 199 lbs | Egg Harbor City, NJ | 3-star | RUTGERS, NAVY, TEMPLE, UMASS, UCONN

Athlete
#2647 ATH Alex Pilgrim | 6’4”, 225 lbs | Massapequa, NY | 2-star | RUTGERS, TEMPLE, UCONN, UMASS, AKRON
#691 ATH Tavares Holiday | 6’0”, 295 lbs | Romeo, MI | 3-star | MICHIGAN, CENTRAL MICHIGAN, TOLEDO, MIAMI(OH), SOUTH ALABAMA

Post by **Soapy** » 18 Mar 2025, 08:01

the table is being set, we rolling

Post by **Captain Canada** » 19 Mar 2025, 11:23

Week 1 Preview: vs Eastern Michigan

Last Year's Record: 6-7, 4-4 MAC
Head Coach: Chris Creighton
Offensive Scheme:Multiple
Defensive Scheme: 4-2-5

Returning Team Leaders
Passing: Cole Snyder (59% cmp, 2,684 yards, 15 TD, 9 INT, 123.6 RTG, 4 rush TD)
Rushing: Delbert Mimms III (184 att, 805 yards, 4.4 AVG, 9 TD)
Receiving: Oran Singleton (64 rec, 639 yards, 2 TD)
Blocking: 32 sacks allowed, 264.1 YPG
Defense: Luke Murphy (94 tackles, 1 FR, 1 INT)

Eastern Michigan Projected Starters
QB #15 Cole Snyder, R-Senior | 6’2”, 205 lbs | 79 overall
HB #34 Delbert Mimms III, R-Senior | 5’11”, 220 lbs | 79 overall
WR #2 Oran Singleton, Junior | 5’9”, 164 lbs | 78 overall
WR #1 JB Mitchell III, Senior | 6’0”, 200 lbs | 74 overall
WR #9 Porter Rooks, Senior | 6’1”, 195 lbs | 74 overall
TE #5 Max Reese, R-Junior | 6’2”, 237 lbs | 79 overall
LT #50 Owen Snively, Senior | 6’4”, 310 lbs | 75 overall
LG #63 Mickey Rewolinski, R-Senior | 6’5”, 303 lbs | 86 overall
C #75 Carson Lee, Senior | 6’2”, 307 lbs | 79 overall
RG #73 Josh Anderson, Junior | 6’4”, 310 lbs | 73 overall
RT #54 Blake Bustard, Senior | 6’7”, 310 lbs | 65 overall
---------------
EDGE #5 Justin Jefferson, R-Senior | 5’10”, 234 lbs | 80 overall
EDGE #45 Joey Zelinsky, R-Senior | 6’4”, 250 lbs | 76 overall
NT #92 Dylan Shelton, Senior | 6’1”, 292 lbs | 75 overall
DT #9 Peyton Price, Senior | 6’2”, 284 lbs | 74 overall
LB #20 Luke Murphy, Junior | 6’1”, 227 lbs | 66 overall
LB #40 Bryce Eliuk, Sophomore | 6’1”, 225 lbs | 72 overall
CB #4 Daiquan White, Sophomore | 5’10”, 172 lbs | 77 overall
CB #1 Joshua Scott, Senior | 5’11”, 180 lbs | 77 overall
Nickel #7 Dramarian McNulty | 5’11”, 185 lbs | 75 overall
S #3 Quentavius Scandrett | 6’3”, 200 lbs | 78 overall
S #6 Bryce Llewellyn | 6’0”, 202 lbs | 73 overall
K #35 Jesus Gomez | 6’1”, 218 lbs | 78 overall
P #30 Mitchell Tomasek | 6’4”, 218 lbs | 76 overall
R #9 Porter Rooks, Senior | 6’1”, 195 lbs | 74 overall

Coach James Xavier's Offensive Gameplan

"We have a lot of stuff to figure out as an offense to see our strengths and what we need to work on. We're going to run the ball, make the easy plays, and take advantage of their mistakes. We're certainly wary of #3 [Quentavius Scandrett] and his ability to be mobile and cover space with that speed. We won't want to gamble with that."

Post by **djp73** » 20 Mar 2025, 05:26

Here we go!

Post by **Captain Canada** » 01 Apr 2025, 12:42

‣ CFB 2024 Regular Season, Week 1 - Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Hadley, Massachusetts
(0-0, 0-0 MAC) Eastern Michigan Eagles at UMass Minutemen (0-0, 0-0 IND)

EMU | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 24
MASS | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21

Turnovers galore lands UMass loss in season debut against Eagles

Despite scoring a long touchdown on the second offensive snap of the game, the UMass Minutemen dropped their long-awaited season debut against the Eastern Michigan Eagles by a score of 24-21 after an offensive explosion in the fourth quarter from East Michigan.

The team started strong with a long, 62-yard passing touchdown to Jakobie Keeney-James to start the game, as well as a strong running effort from Jalen John. That was before the turnovers began.

“I don’t know how we were expecting to win if we kept deciding to turn the ball over at key junctures of our drives,” said offensive coordinator James Xavier in his collegiate debut. “We can’t win when we give our opponent the ball over and over again. We can’t expect our defense to hold forever. We lost this one.”

The team managed a few excellent offensive drives in the first half, the first of which would be capitalized in the second quarter by a Jalen John short-yardage touchdown. They would immediately be interrupted by a Taisun Phommachanh interception and then a fumble from Starling Galban.

Phommachanh would end the game with four interceptions, finishing off a tough night with a pass intended for tight end Dominick Mazotti being taken away from by the Eagles’ swarming secondary. He would add a fumble as well.

The team also missed two long field goal attempts (one from 55 and another from 46) by kicker Riley Moore that certainly could have changed the tide of the game.

“It’s really disappointing. I strayed away from our offensive game plan and took a few shots rather than exercising the patience we’ve been preaching about all spring. I need to get my act together. This one is on me,” commented quarterback Taisun Phommachanh.

“We did some things right,” said head coach Don Brown. “It’s easy to focus on the turnovers and the missed opportunities, but we played a half-decent game that was easier to clean up than expected. It’s a brand new offense. We’ll get there.”

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter

Jakobie Keeney-James, 62-yard pass from Taisun Phommachanh (Riley Moore kick) [8:48]

Jesus Gomez, 36-yard field goal [0:09]

2nd Quarter

Jalen John, 4-yard run (Riley Moore kick) [6:19]

Jesus Gomez, 37-yard field goal [0:24]

3rd Quarter

Jesus Gomez, 50-yard field goal [1:52]

Quarter 4

C.J. Hester, 14-yard pass from Taisun Phommachanh (Riley Moore kick) [9:23]

Dontae McMillan, 27-yard run (Jesus Gomez kick) [7:38]

Delbert Mimms III, 2-yard (2-point conversion successful) [5:09]

Player Stats

QB Taisun Phommachanh: 21-34, 335 yards, 2 touchdowns, 4 interceptions

QB Cole Snyder: 14-35, 142 yards, 13 carries, 45 yards

HB Jalen John: 18 carries, 70 yards, touchdown

HB C.J. Hester: 4 carries, 23 yards, 2 receptions, 19 yards, touchdown

HB Delbert Mimms III: 11 carries, 36 yards, touchdown, 4 receptions, 46 yards

HB Dontae McMillan: 2 carries, 29 yards, touchdown

TE Dominick Mazotti: 6 receptions, 91 yards

WR Jakobie Keeney-James: 4 receptions, 133 yards, touchdown

WR T.Y. Harding: 5 receptions, 40 yards

WR Oran Singleton: 5 receptions, 58 yards

WR Porter Rooks: 3 receptions, 25 yards

EDGE Jaylen Hudson: 4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss

OLB Gerrell Johnson: 4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss

S Bryce Llewellyn: 11 tackles

EDGE Trey Laing: 6 tackles, 3 tackle for loss, 1 sack

S Quentavius Scandrett: 7 tackles, 1 interception

CB Daiquan White: 4 tackles, 1 interception

Post by **djp73** » 01 Apr 2025, 12:47

oof that one hurts, probably one of only a few winnable games

Post by **Captain Canada** » 01 Apr 2025, 13:21

djp73 wrote: ↑
01 Apr 2025, 12:47
oof that one hurts, probably one of only a few winnable games

Yeah, we were superior but let them off the mat far too many times.

Post by **Captain Canada** » 01 Apr 2025, 17:33

Week 1 Top Stories

Georgia struts their stuff and maintains their ranking at top of the country, dominating #17 Clemson 45-24

#7 Notre Dame survives near scare, slides past Texas A&M late

Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty starts season strong with 128 rushing yards and a score against Georgia Southern

Heisman Watchlist

WR/CB Travis Hunter » Bye Week

HB Ashton Jeanty » Bye Week

QB Shedeur Sanders » Bye Week

QB Dillon Gabriel » Bye Week

WR Tetairoa McMillan » Bye Week

Biggest Fallers
# 7 » # 17 Penn State (L 32-28 at West Virginia)
# 17 » # 24 Clemson (L 45-24 at #1 Georgia)

Players of the Week

WR Jeremiah Hunter (Washington) » 9 receptions, 148 yards, 3 touchdowns, 6 carries, 36 yards, 2 touchdowns

CB Jakob Robinson (BYU) » 3 tackles, 3 interceptions, touchdown

Post by **Captain Canada** » 01 Apr 2025, 21:42

Week 2 Preview: at Toledo

Last Year's Record: 11-3, 8-0 MAC
Head Coach: Jason Candle
Offensive Scheme: Spread
Defensive Scheme: 4-2-5

Returning Team Leaders
Passing: Tucker Gleason (22-31, 284 yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception, 2 carries, 65 yards, touchdown)
Rushing: Jacquez Stuart (12 carries, 69 yards)
Receiving: Larry Stephens (4 receptions, 87 yards, touchdown)
Blocking: 4 sacks allowed, 45.0 PPG
Defense: Jeremiah Peters (7 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 sacks)

Toledo Projected Starters
QB #4 Tucker Gleason, R-Junior | 6’3”, 245 lbs | 81 overall
HB #0 Jacquez Stuart, R-Senior | 5’9”, 175 lbs | 84 overall
WR #1 Jerjuan Newton, R-Senior | 5’11”, 192 lbs | 88 overall
WR #2 Junior Vandeross III, Junor | 5’8”, 182 lbs | 84 overall
WR #9 Larry Stephens, Junior | 5’11”, 188 lbs | 76 overall
TE #88 Anthony Torres, R-Senior | 6’6”, 250 lbs | 86 overall
LT #79 Allen Jones Jr., Senior | 6’6”, 305 lbs | 74 overall
LG #72 Ethan Spoth, R-Sophomore | 6’4”, 302 lbs | 79 overall
C #78 Jakob James, Senior | 6’5”, 298 lbs | 79 overall
RG #66 Carter Fourty, R-Junior | 6’4”, 294 lbs | 76 overall
RT #74 Cole Rhett, R-Freshman | 6’7”, 301 lbs | 73 overall
---------------
EDGE #10 D’Andre Ragin, R-Senior | 6’2”, 252 lbs | 83 overall
EDGE #4 Deshawn Holt, R- Senior | 6’5”, 245 lbs | 81 overall
NT #9 Darius Alexander, R-Senior | 6’4”, 310 lbs | 84 overall
DT #52 Cavon Butler, R- Senior | 6’3”, 300 lbs | 76 overall
LB #31 Daniel Bolden, R- Senior | 6’1”, 242 lbs | 82 overall
LB #5 Jackson Barrow, R-Senior | 6’0”, 225 lbs | 77 overall
CB #12 Avery Smith, R-Junior | 5’10”, 185 lbs | 84 overall
CB #3 Andre Fuller, Senior | 6’2”, 202 lbs | 74 overall
Nickel #21 Nasir Bowers, Junior | 5’9”, 182 lbs | 74 overall
S #7 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Junior | 6’2”, 202 lbs | 88 overall
S #25 Maxen Hook, Senior | 6’0”, 203 lbs | 89 overall
K #29 Luke Pawlak, R-Senior | 5’10”, 176 lbs | 75 overall
P #36 Emilio Duran, Sophomore | 6’0”, 195 lbs | 73 overall
R #19 Terrell Crosby Jr., Sophomore | 5’10”, 182 lbs | 67 overall

Coach James Xavier's Offensive Gameplan

"The weather isn't going to help us get our passing game going. I trust that Taisun Phommachanh will make good decisions with the ball. Ball security is certainly our biggest priority, and he's athletic enough to make some plays with his feet. I'll tell you what - this is a Jalen John game for sure. Tough running between the tackles. This is a stout secondary we're facing and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has a ton of range back there. We will certainly be careful when it comes to airing out the ball."

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