AMHERST — With camp winding down, UMass coach Mark Whipple highlighted some of the players whose stock has gone up.
Offensive linemen Larnell Coleman, Jaylen Larry and James Reilly all figure to be part of an offensive line rotation that’s less experienced, but deeper than it has been in recent years.
“Larnell Coleman has gotten stronger and will have a role on the offense,” Whipple said. “Jaylen Larry has done pretty good. James Reilly has gotten better. We’re a little deeper there.”
Redshirt freshman defensive linemen Charly Timite missed time with an injury in the spring, but made up for lost time.
“Charley Timite is probably the most improved of anybody since he came in,” Whipple said. “He gained some weight. He’ll get some time.”
True freshman defensive end/linebacker Chinedu Ogbonna has adapted quickly to college
“Chinedu has been good,” Whipple said. “We thought he would be.”
Junior safety Zeke Edmonds, who redshirted last year with an injury, has bounced back strong as well.
“Zeke is a guy who wasn’t here in the spring and has been really solid,” Whipple said.
Junior Jarell Addo struggled to get on the field as a safety under former defensive coordinator Tom Masella, but in Ed Pinkham’s system, he’s thriving as an outside linebacker.
“Jarell Addo couldn’t play last year, and it looks like he’ll split time at outside linebacker with Teddy (Lowery),” Whipple said.
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage