The Massachusetts football team added 14 defensive transfers and a long snapper to its roster this offseason as head coach Joe Harasymiak and his coaching staff prepare for a second season in the Mid-American Conference. The Minutemen lost 23 defenders from their 2025 roster, replacing them with potential immediate contributors and future depth pieces.
DL Zakar Morris | University of Albany
UMass began adding to its defensive front by bringing in former University of Albany defensive tackle Zakar Morris. The redshirt sophomore forced and recovered a fumble, broke up a pass and recorded 40 tackles with 3.5 tackles for a loss during the 2025 season. Morris’ best game came against Delaware State in September, posting a career-high 12 tackles during the contest.
At 6-foot-2 and 286 pounds, Morris currently projects as the Minutemen’s starting nose tackle next season, ensuring run gaps are sealed. The UMass defense allowed 221.3 rushing yards per game, according to the NCAA — the third-most in the FBS.
DL Justin Krueger | William & Mary
Justin Krueger primarily rushed the passer from the edge of the defensive line at William & Mary, but with his 6-foot-4, 270-pound frame, he can be moved inside as well, next to Morris. In 2025, the redshirt sophomore totaled 52 tackles with eight for a loss and two sacks. He also made three pass breakups and three forced fumbles for the Tribe.
DL William DePaepe | Indiana
The Minutemen add a national champion in William DePaepe, who spent his previous two seasons with Indiana. The redshirt sophomore appeared in one game during 2025 after his redshirt season, recording his first career tackle against Indiana State.
The 6-foot-6, 265-pound pass rusher currently projects as one of UMass’ top edge rushers. DePaepe was a consensus three-star prospect out of Moline High School in Illinois and was ranked the No. 37 recruit in the state on ESPN.
DL Andrew DePaepe | Indiana
DePaepe’s brother, Andrew, is joining his sibling in Amherst after two seasons with Indiana and one at Michigan State. A highly touted prospect out of Iowa, the redshirt junior was ranked No. 3 in the state by ESPN as a four-star recruit out of Pleasant Valley High School.
After his redshirt season at Michigan State, Andrew missed the entire 2024 season due to injury and only played in four games last season for the Hoosiers, logging two tackles and 0.5 for a loss.
DL Zachary Betts | Saint Francis
Zachary Betts spent the previous two seasons at Saint Francis, posting 63 tackles, seven sacks, one forced fumble and a pass deflection for the Red Flash. The junior pairs his exceptional pass rush ability on the edge with stout run defense. At six-foot-two and 245 pounds, Betts projects as one of the Minutemen’s premier pass rushers.
DL Kamarion Thomas | North Carolina
The extensive list of additions on the defensive line continues with Kamarion Thomas, who redshirted in his only season at North Carolina. The redshirt freshman was a three-star recruit on 247Sports after concluding his senior season at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. with over 40 tackles and 20 for loss. At 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, Thomas serves as immediate depth with an opportunity to break into an impact role.
DL Aubrey Melvin | Connecticut
Another redshirt freshman, Aubrey Melvin, has joined the defensive line corps in Amherst. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound tackle can provide immediate depth as a nose tackle after a redshirt season at Connecticut. A Brandywine, Md. native, Melvin was the County Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Gwynn Park High School.
LB Khari Bendolph | Jacksonville State
UMass also added a versatile group at linebacker to its core, starting with Khari Bendolph, who appeared in 13 contests for Jacksonville State as a true freshman. While there, he recorded 16 tackles for the Gamecocks. The incoming sophomore had a strong high school resume at Naples High School in Florida, having been named a two-time All-Area and All-County selection. In two varsity seasons, Bendolph registered 179 tackles with 33 for a loss, 18 sacks and 26 quarterback hurries.
LB Kendric Council | Saint Francis
A teammate of Betts, Kendric Council also spent his last two seasons at Saint Francis, logging 53 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2025. In high school, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker earned second-team All-State honors at Charles Herbert Flower High School in Maryland as a junior. Arriving in Amherst as a junior, Council provides reliable second level run defense and also has special teams experience.
LB Joshua Iseah | North Carolina A&T
Joshua Iseah has played in 35 career games over three seasons with North Carolina A&T. In 2025, he totaled 83 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups. The incoming senior was named a Sports Illustrated Freshman All-American in 2023. At 6-foot-2, 238 pounds, Iseah can put his hand in the dirt to rush the passer and sit in the box to provide run defense.
STAR Michael Robinson III | Rutgers
Following five seasons at Rutgers, Michael Robinson brings considerable special teams experience to the Minutemen roster in kick coverage. The graduate appeared in 28 games for the Scarlet Knights, missing his freshman and junior seasons.
Robinson was a multi-positional player in high school at Montclair High School in New Jersey, taking snaps at quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back. Fans could see the 5-foot-11, 194-pound hybrid safety on the field in nickel and dime packages with at least five defensive backs on the field.
CB Isaiah Reed | UCF / Brown
UMass lost seven defensive backs this offseason to graduation and the transfer portal. Isaiah Reed arrives to provide stability with lengthy starting experience at Brown over four seasons. While there, the graduate led the Ivy League with five interceptions as a junior in 2023 and earned first-team All-Ivy honors.
Although Reed has competed in 38 collegiate games, he’s battled injuries over the previous two seasons. The 6-foot, 180-pound cornerback only played in four contests in 2024, and he experienced the same outcome after transferring to UCF, having his 2025 season cut short after another four games.
CB Chris Stanley | Garden City Community College / Feather River College
After graduating from Garden City Community College in 2025, Chris Stanley joins the cornerback room as a top rotational option. The sophomore from Akron, Ohio, totaled 14 tackles and one interception for the Broncbusters in 2025. Stanley also played his freshman season at Feather River College, posting 19 tackles, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
S Jahmad Harmon | Ball State / Kent State
Jahmad Harmon offers extensive MAC experience, recording 28 tackles, five pass breakups and two tackles for a loss in two seasons at Ball State. The five-foot-ten, 180-pound safety redshirted his freshman year at Kent State and missed the 2024 season due to a preseason injury. Harmon, a redshirt junior, was named first-team All-County during his senior year at Lawrence Central High School in Indiana.
LS Grant Mills | Ohio State / North Carolina
Grant Mills spent the 2025 season at Ohio State after one year with North Carolina, and the redshirt sophomore joins the Minutemen without any collegiate game experience. The Mooresville, N.C. native played high school football at The Cannon School, where Mills was a finalist for the 2024 Man of the Year Award.
Andrew Guindon can be reached at [email protected] and followed on X @NestPgs.
