Former Massachusetts running back Michael Cox was selected by the New York Giants with 47th pick of the seventh round (253rd overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft on Sunday.
Cox, who joined the Minutemen in the summer of 2012 after receiving his degree from Michigan, ran for 715 yards and five touchdowns on 198 attempts in 2012. Should he make Giants’ 53-man roster (which might be a long shot given his seventh-round status), Cox would join former UMass wide receiver Victor Cruz in New York as the newest NFL player to come from the Minutemen’s ranks.
Though the Giants selected running back David Wilson in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, there is potentially room on the depth chart for Cox following the free agency departure of long time back Ahmad Bradshaw.
Cox graduated from Michigan and then transferred to Massachusetts to get more playing time. He has good size and adequate speed, but limited experience is an issue and he hasn’t shown he can contribute on third down.
The Mid-American Conference officially released its set of 2013 football schedules on Friday. Below you’ll find UMass’ complete set of opponents for the upcoming season, its second as a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision (location and time in parentheses):
2013 Schedule
Saturday, April 20: UMass Spring Game (McGuirk Stadium, TBD)
Saturday, Aug. 31: at Wisconsin (Camp Randall Stadium, TBD)
Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Maine (Gillette Stadium, TBD)
Saturday, Sept. 14: at Kansas State (Bill Snyder Family FB Stadium, TBD)
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Vanderbilt (Gillette Stadium, TBD)
Saturday, Sept. 28: OPEN
Saturday, Oct. 5: at Bowling Green (Doyt Perry Stadium, TBD)
Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. Miami (OH) (Gillette Stadium, TBD)
Saturday, Oct. 19: at Buffalo (UB Stadium, TBD)
Saturday, Oct. 26: vs. Western Michigan (Gillette Stadium, TBD)
Saturday, Nov. 2: vs Northern Illinois (Gillette Stadium, TBD)
Saturday, Nov. 9: OPEN
Saturday, Nov. 16: vs. Akron (Gillette Stadium, TBD)
Saturday, Nov. 23: at Central Michigan (Kelly/Shorts Stadium, TBD)
Friday, Nov. 29: at Ohio (Penden Stadium, TBD, ESPN/ESPN3*)
Friday, Dec. 6: MAC Championship Game (Ford Field, 8 p.m. EST, ESPN2)
*Note that ESPN will announce 12 days ahead of the scheduled road game at Ohio which MAC matchup it will air on which outlet. Only one game will be selected by each outlet (for a total of two aired games). The decision will be made between UMass’ game with the Bobcats, Bowling Green at Buffalo, Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan, Miami (OH) at Ball State and Toledo at Akron. Here’s the complete press release provided by the official MAC website.
The 2013 NFL Scouting Combine is taking place this weekend at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis, and the Massachusetts football team has one representative at the annual event: offensive lineman Stephane Milhim. Milhim, who played tackle for the Minutemen, but is ranked by ESPN Insider as the 16th-best guard prospect in the 2013 draft class, is scheduled to take part in Saturday’s on-field drills after undergoing psychological testing, medical exams and one-on-one interviews earlier in the week.
Official Measurements (rank out of 58 OL participants)
Height: 6’4″ (T-30th)
Weight: 314 lb (T-25th)
Arm length: 34 1/4″ (17th)
Hands: 10 1/4″
Drill results
40-yard dash: 5.23 (23rd; clocked unofficially at 5.12)
Bench press: DNP
Vertical jump: 28 1/2″ (T-17th)
Broad jump: 8’8″ (25th)
Three cone drill: DNP
20-yard shuttle: 4.87 (32nd)
60-yard shuttle: Results pending
Here’s what’s being said about Milhim around Twitter as the combine progresses:
A question Stephane Milhim might not have expected: What is your favorite Antonio’s pizza slice? His answer: Chicken bacon ranch. #UMass
After an extra day of deliberation, it appears the Massachusetts football team has landed its coveted three-star running back prospect after all. Lorenzo Woodley, a 6-foot, 210-pound power back, tweeted on Thursday that he would be signing with the Minutemen a day after saying he would “need more time to think.” Woodley had garnered interest from a number of schools throughout the recruiting process, including several BCS programs. Here is Woodley’s Twitter declaration followed by UMass coach Charley Molnar’s characteristically-quirky acknowledgement of the big get:
With much thought and prayer I have decided to sign with the University of Massachussets! #UMass#Minutemen#ZooMass ✒📋
Molnar said during his afternoon press conference on Wednesday that the team would be holding onto a few scholarships in case another player expressed interest in the program, presumably referring to Woodley, who ran for 1,086 yards and 25 touchdowns on 171 attempts during his final Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Fla. Here is what ESPN Insider has to say about Woodley, who received a 76 overall recruiting grade:
Woodley could move up our board with a productive senior season as a featured back. This guy has a good blend of size, strength and straight-line speed and the physical tools to project high as a future college load-back. Strong, well-built frame with good thickness. Looks capable of high carries but upright style does raise concern about durability at the next level. One of a one-cut and get North type of back that can hit the cutback and possesses enough quickness to get through tight seams. Not a back with a lot of outside speed but he can stretch with a hard up-field plant. Shows he can jump-cut out of a cloudy hole as well but for the most part takes what is blocked for him. Does lack good burst out of his cuts and acceleration to separate when he gets into the second level. More of a one-speed back that produces with strength and power. Wards off tacklers more than separates cleanly. Consistently runs through first contact and shows good body balance absorbing a hit and bouncing off. Keeps his legs driving to pull through arm-tackles. Second effort guy that can wear on a defense and finish runs falling forward. Retains balance well but does need to avoid getting tripped up when DB’s come in low. Needs to avoid getting upright. Shifty in traffic but lacks open field elusiveness and speed; earns most yards from a grinding, downhill style and feel production may be limited to that type of scheme in college. Overall, Woodley is a promising back with deceptive speed and feet for a power-guy. Needs to continue developing receiving and blocking skills but has every-down tools.
And here is a Woodley highlight video posted to Youtube on Oct. 20, 2012:
Today is the 2013 National Signing Day, which marks the first time high school seniors can officially sign their National Letters of Intent to play at the collegiate level. Typically held on the first Wednesday of February, it is a time of great joy (and sometimes sorrow) for many college football fans across the country, as they get a first look at the future of their favorite programs.
The scene is no different for the Massachusetts football team. UMass coach Charley Molnar and his staff have been hard at work for months trying to lock up fresh talent to help pull the Minutemen up from the 1-11 disappointment that was its first season as a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision. So far, UMass has signed:
