The 2021 UMass Minutemen football team represented the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Minutemen played their home games at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium and competed as an independent. They were led by third-year head coach Walt Bell; UMass fired Bell after nine games and offensive line coach Alex Miller took over as interim head coach.
Schedule
Game summaries At Pittsburgh
Statistics MASS PITT First downs 11 35 Total yards 209 598 Rushing yards 42 223 Passing yards 167 375 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 29:12 30:48 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing Tyler Lytle 14/31, 167 yards Rushing Kayron Lynch-Adams 11 rushes, 32 yards Receiving Jermaine Johnson 3 receptions, 52 yardsPittsburgh Passing Kenny Pickett 27/37, 272 yards, 2 TD Rushing Rodney Hammond Jr. 8 rushes, 45 yards Receiving Lucas Krull 5 receptions, 58 yards, TD
Boston College
Statistics BC MASS First downs 24 20 Total yards 475 335 Rushing yards 254 121 Passing yards 221 214 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 32:24 27:36 Team Category Player StatisticsBoston College Passing Dennis Grosel 11/14, 199 yards, TD Rushing Patrick Garwo III 15 rushes, 160 yards Receiving Trae Berry 5 receptions, 98 yards, TDUMass Passing Brady Olson 14/29, 214 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Ellis Merriweather 11 rushes, 56 yards Receiving Rico Arnold 2 receptions, 85 yards, TD
Eastern Michigan
Statistics EMU MASS First downs 26 30 Total yards 507 519 Rushing yards 184 209 Passing yards 323 310 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 29:29 30:31 Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Michigan Passing Ben Bryant 14/21, 298 yards, TD Rushing Jawon Hamilton 16 rushes, 122 yards, TD Receiving Hassan Beydoun 6 receptions, 101 yardsUMass Passing Brady Olson 22/38, 285 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ellis Merriweather 23 rushes, 144 yards Receiving Melvin Hill 4 receptions, 82 yards, TD
At No. 17 Coastal Carolina
Statistics MASS CCU First downs 13 30 Total yards 153 558 Rushing yards 28 312 Passing yards 125 246 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 26:06 33:54 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing Brady Olson 14/23, 81 yards Rushing Ellis Merriweather 6 rushes, 30 yards Receiving Rico Arnold 4 receptions, 38 yardsCoastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 10/14, 162 yards, 2 TD Rushing Braydon Bennett 8 rushes, 83 yards, TD Receiving Jaivon Heiligh 5 receptions, 118 yards, TD
Toledo
Statistics TOL MASS First downs 22 8 Total yards 455 134 Rushing yards 223 23 Passing yards 232 111 Turnovers 0 4 Time of possession 34:55 25:05 Team Category Player StatisticsToledo Passing Carter Bradley 11/18, 110 yards, TD Rushing Bryant Koback 11 rushes, 82 yards, 2 TD Receiving Isaiah Winstead 4 receptions, 75 yardsUMass Passing Brady Olson 9/22, 106 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kayron Lynch-Adams 12 rushes, 23 yards Receiving Rico Arnold 3 receptions, 44 yards
UConn
Statistics CONN MASS First downs 14 21 Total yards 291 407 Rushing yards 163 247 Passing yards 128 160 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 20:49 39:11 Team Category Player StatisticsUConn Passing Steven Krajewski 13/24, 128 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Nate Carter 20 rushes, 136 yards Receiving Keelan Marion 4 receptions, 80 yards, TDUMass Passing Brady Olson 10/22, 162 yards Rushing Ellis Merriweather 39 rushes, 171 yards, 2 TD Receiving Eric Collins 3 receptions, 66 yards
At Florida State
Statistics MASS FSU First downs 14 25 Total yards 241 586 Rushing yards 112 365 Passing yards 129 221 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 30:17 29:43 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing Brady Olson 12/27, 110 yards, 2 INT Rushing Zamar Wise 12 rushes, 60 yards Receiving Ellis Merriweather 4 receptions, 65 yardsFlorida State Passing Jordan Travis 5/10, 123 yards Rushing Jashaun Corbin 11 rushes, 127 yards, TD Receiving Andrew Parchment 2 receptions, 65 yards
At Liberty
Statistics MASS LIB First downs 15 26 Total yards 284 604 Rushing yards 210 195 Passing yards 74 409 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 36:35 23:25 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing Brady Olson 9/25, 74 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ellis Merriweather 24 rushes, 149 yards Receiving Rico Arnold 1 reception, 30 yards, TDLiberty Passing Malik Willis 19/27, 307 yards, 4 TD Rushing T. J. Green 5 rushes, 60 yards, 2 TD Receiving D. J. Stubbs 2 receptions, 72 yards, TD
Rhode Island
Statistics URI MASS First downs 16 21 Total yards 337 335 Rushing yards 168 108 Passing yards 169 227 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 30:38 29:22 Team Category Player StatisticsRhode Island Passing Kasim Hill 11/20, 169 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jaylen Smith 16 rushes, 111 yards, TD Receiving Paul Woods 3 receptions, 55 yardsUMass Passing Tyler Lytle 15/28, 227 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ellis Merriweather 30 rushes, 118 yards, TD Receiving Rico Arnold 6 receptions, 99 yards
Maine
Statistics ME MASS First downs 18 15 Total yards 366 297 Rushing yards 157 184 Passing yards 209 113 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 31:23 28:37 Team Category Player StatisticsMaine Passing Joe Fagnano 16/27, 209 yards, 2 TD Rushing Elijah Barnwell 16 rushes, 84 yards, 2 TD Receiving Devin Young 8 receptions, 78 yards, TDUMass Passing Brady Olson 14/29, 113 yards, TD Rushing Ellis Merriweather 27 rushes, 177 yards Receiving Tray Pettway 2 receptions, 48 yards
At Army
Statistics MASS ARMY First downs 12 20 Total yards 277 419 Rushing yards 199 377 Passing yards 78 42 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 27:04 32:56 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing Garrett Dzuro 7/13, 78 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Ellis Merriweather 17 rushes, 110 yards Receiving Tray Pettway 1 reception, 38 yardsArmy Passing Christian Anderson 2/12, 42 yards Rushing Tyrell Robinson 9 rushes, 137 yards, TD Receiving Isaiah Alston 2 receptions, 42 yards
At New Mexico State
Statistics MASS NMSU First downs 16 30 Total yards 405 623 Rushing yards 281 203 Passing yards 124 420 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 27:30 32:30 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing Garrett Dzuro 12/23, 124 yards, TD Rushing Ellis Merriweather 23 rushes, 168 yards, 2 TD Receiving Rico Arnold 2 receptions, 77 yards, TDNew Mexico State Passing Jonah Johnson 26/32, 420 yards, 2 TD Rushing Juwaun Price 24 rushes, 156 yards, 4 TD Receiving Jared Wyatt 6 receptions, 126 yards, TD
Notable players RB Ellis Merriweather
QB Brady Olson
WR Rico Arnold
References