UMass Junior Day Preview
A look at some of the key targets who are expected in Amherst today.
UMass is hosting another major recruiting event today and while Saturday is called ‘Junior Day,’ in reality, it is much more than that.
The Minutemen will be hosting dozens of prospects from the 2026, 2027 and 2028 classes as they continue to showcase the program’s new energy under head coach Joe Harasymiak and his staff.
With events this large, it is difficult to nail down an exact Visit List beforehand and even if you do, you’re bound to have a handful of scratches and even some late additions.
But, we did some digging and were able to uncover several top targets who are expected to be in Amherst on Saturday.
We continue to be encouraged by the geographical areas and schools Harasymiak and his staff are targeting and this weekend’s list is no different.
2026 New Jersey quarterback Lamar Best plays for one of the Garden State’s top programs - St. Joseph Regional - and one of the region’s top high school coaches - Augie Hoffmann.In fact, Hoffmann and Harasymiak spent a season together on the Rutgers staff, when Hoffmann was coaching offensive line.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Best, who already has offers from Marshall, Temple, Delaware and Old Dominion, is a true dual-threat quarterback.
CHECK OUT HIS JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS HERE
Mekhi Armour is another 2026 New Jersey target expected to make the trip and is one to watch. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound cornerback/athlete from Weequahic High School landed an offer from Towson earlier this week and has also received interest from Michigan State, where he visited last month.
Armour is an explosive prospect on both sides of the ball and represents the type of prospect the Minutemen want to be in the mix for right now.
CHECK OUT HIS JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS HERE
The Minutemen are also expected to host 2027 New Jersey athlete Sydney Padilla. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder from West Orange High School could play defensive end, tight end or receiver. He has a pair of offers; one from Marshall and one from Syracuse.
Padilla is young, but he already looks like the kind of jumbo athlete that could help a program in a variety of ways regardless of what side of the ball he’s put on.
CHECK OUT HIS SOPHOMORE HIGHLIGHTS HERE
And always, there will be a heavy Massachusetts flavor to it.
The Minutemen are also clearly taking some big swings. They will be hosting several in-state underclassmen who currently project as Power-4 prospects, including 2027 cornerback Anthony Whaley (Springfield Central), 2027 offensive lineman Grady Holmes (Tabor Academy) and 2027 offensive lineman Botond Varga (Tabor Academy).
It may be too early to label all of them as no-doubt Power 4 prospects, but all three currently have such offers and are definitely tracking in that direction. Still, for a variety of reasons, it makes sense for the Minutemen to build relationships and do their best to recruit such prospects and that’s exactly what they’re doing.
Owen DeSalvo from Buckingham Browne & Nichols School is only a 2028 prospect, but expect the cornerback/athlete to receive as much attention as anybody today…and beyond.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder is one of the most highly-coveted prospects on UMass’ board right now regardless of class. This is a kid you’re probably going to be hearing a lot about over the next couple of years, so remember the name.
CHECK OUT DeSALVO’S FRESHMAN HIGHLIGHTS HERE
We’re also keeping an eye on 2026 Massachusetts athlete Matthew Tybor from Lawrence Academy and another Tabor Academy prospect, 2026 defensive lineman Marcus Almada.