AMHERST — The buzz around the UMass football team is real, and for good reason. New Minutemen head coach Joe Harasymiak continues to hit the transfer portal hard, and he’s recently signed three more three-star recruits to add to his loaded incoming group – one that 247 Sports ranks 10th in the Group of 5.

DD Snyder (6-foot, 186 pounds) officially committed to UMass last week, coming over from fellow Mid-American Conference foe Ball State to bolster the Minutemen secondary. Snyder spent two seasons at Ball State after a pair of years at Illinois. The three-star played in 11 games during the 2024 season, making 55 total tackles (29 solo and 26 assisted) while snagging two interceptions and forcing a fumble. He’s a proven starter in the conference, and posted 11 tackles in a 51-48 overtime loss against Buffalo back on Nov. 12. Landing a player from another MAC school is a good sign for Harasymiak early on in his tenure.

Elsewhere, on Jan. 8, the Minutemen picked up three-star linebacker Nick Hawthorne from Boise State, the No. 3 seed in the 2024 College Football Playoff. Hawthorne didn’t appear in a game with the Broncos during his two seasons there, but his 6-foot-2, 217-pound frame and strong high school numbers still has him as a three star in 2025. On top of making 44 tackles as a senior at Boswell High School (Fort Worth, Texas), Hawthorne added 10 pass breakups and four interceptions.

Considering UMass added a highly ranked recruit in the secondary and in the middle of its defense, Harasymiak completed the trifecta – signing a three-star defensive lineman from UConn, Timothy Passmore Jr. (6-foot-2, 295 pounds). Passmore Jr. didn’t see action with the Huskies in his three years there, but he helped Cocoa High School (Florida) to a Division 4A state championship as a senior with 10 tackles for loss and three sacks. He was a two-star prospect out of high school and was bumped up to a three-star prospect this offseason, according to 247 Sports.

UMass also signed another kicker on Jan. 12 when Derek Morris committed to the Minutemen after a strong freshman season in the ACC at California. Morris made 11 of his 15 attempts in 2024, including 3-for-5 from 40 yards or more. The Dayton, Ohio native made his debut against NC State Oct. 19, and went 3-for-4 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points. He tied the California program record against Oregon State, going a perfect 5-for-5 including a career-best 46-yarder – earning him ACC Specialist of the Week honors.

The Minutemen are now at 27 total transfers as of early Tuesday afternoon, and Harasymiak has shown no signs of slowing down.

Coaching staff updates

As first reported by CBS Sports, UMass is set to hire Jordan Hogan as its next wide receivers coach. Hogan was on staff with the San Francisco 49ers this past season as an offensive coaching fellow. From Newfane, N.Y., Hogan was Colgate University’s wide receivers coach in 2022 before spending two years with the 49ers in the NFL.

In Hogan’s role with the 49ers, he worked with the wide receivers – helping them execute practice and game plans. During the 2023 season, he helped Brandon Aiyuk earn AP Second-Team All-Pro honors following a career year (1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns). Aiyuk’s 17.9 yards per reception was second in the league. San Francisco wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. also set records in 2023, registering a career-high seven TDs on top of a career-high 60 receptions.

By all accounts, Hogan seems to be a home-run hire.

UMass also hired Kurt Anderson to coach the team’s offensive line. Anderson served as Northwestern’s offensive line coach for six seasons. 

At Northwestern, Anderson helped develop a pair of first-round NFL Draft picks in Peter Skoronski (2023) and Rashawn Slater (2021). Skoronski became the first unanimous First-Team All-American in Northwestern history, while earning Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honors, the Rimington-Pace Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and the Outland Trophy in 2022. Anderson has also coached many All-Big Ten Team members since hopping on board the Northwestern staff in 2019.

Before his time with the Wildcats, Anderson spent two years at Arkansas – also coaching the Razorbacks offensive line. Anderson mentored first-round NFL Draft pick and All-SEC offensive lineman Frank Ragnow. Prior to his time at Arkansas, Anderson spent three seasons with the Buffalo Bills as an assistant offensive line coach. Lastly, following the departure of defensive backs coach Tre’ Bell, UMass hired Donald Celiscar as his replacement. Celiscar comes over from another MAC school, Western Michigan, where he was coaching the Broncos’ secondary for three years. He started 40 games and played in 48 games at defensive back for Western Michigan from 2011-2014.