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UMass bolsters offensive line on signing day

UMass coach Mark Whipple is looking to improve on 2014’s 3-9 finish. File/mark Humphrey/AP

The University of Massachusetts football team had a busy day on Wednesday. The team signed a total of 20 players, including five offensive linemen. The Minutemen also are bringing in five spring enrollees and two recruits from 2014.

The Minutemen are looking to rebound off a 3-9 season (3-5 Mid-American), coach Mark Whipple’s first back at UMass after previously leading the Minutemen from 1998-2003.

“Our staff did a really good job,” said Whipple. “Hats off to our staff. I am really excited for the future.

“Last year we knew we had a couple holes we needed to fill.”

The Minutemen bolstered their offensive line, with three of the five linemen coming from Massachusetts — Derek Dumais (6 feet 5 inches, 320 pounds) of Marblehead, Joe Parsons (6-6, 300) from Division 1 Super Bowl champion Xaverian, and Michael Yerardi (6-6, 3-5) of Suffield Academy and Cohasset.

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“We got some good linemen,” said Whipple. “It was a really good year for linemen in New England.’’

UMass also signed three defensive linemen, including two big bodies in Mario Patton (6-3, 290) of University Heights, Ohio, and Marshall Robinson (6-4, 340) of Mars, Pa.

“We got a couple of defensive linemen that can stop the run,” Whipple said.

The team also added kicker Michael Caggiano from Englishtown, N.J., the 24th-ranked kicker in the country according to KohlsKicking.com.

“He’s been consistent,” Whipple said. “He’s kicked three over 40 yards, and made some kicks in pressure.”

Caggiano’s 195 career PATs is a New Jersey record.

“We are confident he will have a great career here,” Whipple said.

More than anything, Whipple is ecstatic for the added depth.

“Our depth is a lot better than it was,” Whipple said. “We have some guys that can come in and learn the program.”


Christopher Frangolini can be reached at chris.frangolini@globe.com

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