The Massachusetts football team brought in ten new contributors to the offense, including several special teams pieces, through the transfer portal this offseason. This marks head coach Joe Harasymiak’s second portal cycle at UMass, as he continues to add players who fit his system while the program further adjusts to Mid-American Conference competition.
QB William “Pop” Watson III | Virginia Tech
Watson, a local product of Springfield, Mass., is a dual-threat quarterback who projects early as the Minutemen’s starter. The Virginia Tech transfer has seen limited action as a redshirt junior, appearing in just 11 games and starting in two, briefly filling in for an injured Kyron Drones in 2024. Watson was named the ACC Rookie of the Week after leading the Hokies to a 37-17 win over Virginia, throwing for 254 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 48 yards and another score.
ESPN listed the five-foot-11, 200-pound quarterback as a three-star recruit and the No. 20 overall quarterback in the class of 2023. At Springfield Central High School, Watson led the program to two MIAA Division One State Championships in 2019 and 2021, three title-game appearances and a 33-6 record.
QB RJ Johnson III | Florida A&M
UMass also added a quarterback with FCS starting experience in Johnson, who started 10 games for Florida A&M last season, throwing for 2,597 yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions. The six-foot-two, 210-pound quarterback can also produce with his legs, adding another three scores on the ground in 2025.
Johnson spent the prior two seasons at MAC rival Toledo, where the Atlanta, Ga., native did not appear in any contests. The Westlake product was a three-star recruit on 247Sports and elected to the All-State First Team as a senior. Johnson will compete with Watson throughout the offseason.
QB Logan Inagawa | Drake
On Monday night, Inagawa announced his commitment as a Minuteman as a late addition in the transfer portal. Starting as a true freshman at Drake in 2025, the Atlanta native posted 1,393 passing yards and nine touchdowns to four interceptions. He also flashed with his legs, scoring nine more on the ground while leading the Bulldogs to a Pioneer League championship.
At Starr’s Mill High School in Fayetteville, Ga., Inagawa was named Region Offensive Player of the Year twice. UMass has filled its depth chart with dynamic quarterbacks who greatly stress defenses with their physical attributes.
RB Jordan Washington | Murray State
After losing running backs Rocko Griffin to graduation and Brandon Hood to the transfer portal, the Minutemen needed talent in the backfield. Washington arrives in Amherst as a sophomore 16 games of experience at Murray State. He appeared in all 12 games for the Racers last season, totaling 340 yards and three touchdowns on 86 carries.
Washington can also be an effective kick-return option and pass catcher, hauling in 202 yards and one touchdown on 22 receptions in 2025 — averaging 9.2 yards per catch. The six-foot-one, 216-pound ball carrier earned First-Team All-State honors during his senior year at Helena High School in Alabama, after rushing for 1,810 yards and 24 touchdowns.
RB Justin Williams-Thomas | Marshall / California / Tennessee
Williams-Thomas began his collegiate career at Tennessee and California but transferred to Marshall for the 2025 season in search of a bigger role. The six-foot, 210-pound running back appeared in nine games for the Herd, recording 197 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 41 receiving yards and another score.
Ranked a four-star recruit and the No. 22 running back in the 2022 class by ESPN, Williams-Thomas adds immediate depth in the backfield for UMass. In high school, he ran for 3,246 yards and 30 touchdowns in his final two seasons at East Paulding in Dallas, Ga.
WR Joseph Griffin Jr. | Wisconsin / Boston College
Griffin Jr., a teammate of Watson’s at Springfield Central, was a highly touted recruit in 2022, ranking as the No. 1 receiver in Massachusetts on 247Sports. The six-foot-three, 208-pound receiver began his collegiate career at Boston College, where he played 20 games and totaled 579 yards and six touchdowns for the Eagles. Griffin Jr. later transferred to Wisconsin, redshirting the 2024 season and saw limited action in early 2025 before being sidelined by an undisclosed injury for the final seven games.
The senior was Watson’s primary target during Springfield Central’s 2021 title run, hauling in 896 yards and 11 touchdowns on 49 receptions during his senior campaign. Both players have several years of chemistry together, which could translate into Amherst when Watson looks the outside receiver’s way.
WR Devin Matthews | East Texas A&M
After three seasons at East Texas A&M, Matthews projects as a starting receiver for the Minutemen and could contribute to an explosive three-receiver set alongside Griffin Jr. and a healthy TY Harding.
The five-foot-nine, 185-pound pass-catcher posted 649 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games for the Lions in 2025, while also gaining experience as a punt returner in 2024. Matthews arrives as a junior with an accomplished high school career, having been named to the All-State team in Texas and the District 12-5A MVP at Seguin High School.
OL Aitor Urionabarrenechea | Colorado State
Urionabarrenechea projects as UMass’ starting center next season as a junior, who can also slide to either guard spot if needed. The six-foot-five, 320-pound lineman started all 12 games for Colorado State last season and primarily played on special teams in 2024, appearing in 13 contests. The Lancaster, Calif., native was a three-star recruit on ESPN out of Chaminade College Prep.
OL Greg Knox | McNeese State
Another addition to the offensive line with extensive experience is Knox, arriving in Amherst with two seasons as a starter at McNeese State. The Alexandria, La., native primarily played left tackle for the Cowboys and didn’t allow a sack during the 2024 season on 559 snaps played. The six-foot-six, 303-pound lineman brings exceptional play strength and provides stability on the blindside.
OL Nick Dalessandro | Colgate
Dalessandro serves as depth, contributing as a swing tackle on either edge of the offensive line to mitigate roster stress in case there are injuries up front. The Minutemen dealt with a multitude of injuries throughout the 2025 season to the point that Harasymiak had to fill in as a scout-team defender during a midseason practice.
The six-foot-four, 295-pound lineman started in 17 and appeared in 31 games through his four seasons at Colgate. Dalessandro performed on both sides of the ball for Chagrin Falls High School in Ohio, recording a 90% blocking grade, 72 tackles and two total touchdowns during his senior year while being voted First Team All-Ohio.
Andrew Guindon can be reached at [email protected] and followed on X @NestPgs.
