UMass football issued in the Charley Molnar era on Wednesday when the school announced its 2012 recruiting class, in which 24 players have signed letters of intent, committing them to the state university as it transitions to Division I.
"We are extremely pleased with this recruiting class and what they mean to the future of the UMass football program," Molnar said (via UMassAthletics.com). "With this class, we have increased our size on the offensive line, improved improved team speed especially in the defensive back and wide receiver positions, have added immediate help at defensive end, and added depth at several other key positions."
The Minutemen class of 2016 spans 11 different states and 19 players are from the northeastern region of the country. In addition to the new class, UMass introduced Jaurice Jones, Derek Beck and Rodney Mills, all of whom enrolled for the spring semester after completing postgraduate work during the fall.
Here is the complete list of UMass' committed recruits, courtesy of the school's website.
UMASS MINUTEMEN FOOTBALL - CLASS OF 2016
- Khary Baily-Smith (WR, Weymouth H.S./Weymouth, MA)
- Dereck Beck (WR, Bridgewater-Raritan HS, Bridgeton Acad. (ME)/North Bridgton, Maine)
- Stacey Bedell (RB/CB, William Floyd HS/Mastic Beach, N.Y.)
- Michael Boland (OT, Georgetown Prep/Rockville, MD)
- Byron Cooper (OLB/TE, Imhotep HS (PA)/Philadelphia, PA)
- Nevin Cyr (LB/TE, Cushing Academy (MA)/Pelham, NH)
- Bernard Davis (WR, Lake Worth H.S./Lake Worth, FL)
- A.J. Doyle (QB, Catholic Memorial (MA)/Lakeville, MA)
- Trey Dudley-Giles (WR/DB, Pasco H.S./Dade City, FL)
- Jaurice Jones (WR, Linden H.S./Linden, NJ)
- Julian Kaminoff (S/RB, New Hope-Solebury H.S./New Hope, PA)
- Robert Kitching (DL, Abraham Lincoln HS/Brooklyn, N.Y.)
- Leo Krizanovic (LB, Paramus Catholic HS/Clifton, N.J.)
- Vondell Langston (RB/OLB, Everett H.S./Everett, MA)
- Kassan Messiah (TE/LB, Orange H.S./Orange, NJ)
- Rodney Mills (WR, Jefferson HS • Milford Academy (N.Y.)/Gainsville, FL)
- Cameron Mock (OT, Clayton H.S./Clayton, NM)
- Bernardo Nunez (DL, Hoboken HS • Pittsburgh • Lackawanna College (PA)/Hoboken, N.J)
- John Robinson (LB, Cathedral High School • Worcester Academy/Springfield, Mass)
- Jovan Santos-Knox (LB/TE, Xavier HS (CT)/Middletown, Conn.)
- Tajae Sharpe (WR/DB, Piscataway Township HS/Piscataway, N.J.)
- Tyrell Smith (WR/DB, Lacey Township HS/Lanoka Harbor, N.J.)
- Matt Sparks (OL, Punahou School/Mililani, HI)
- D'Metrius Williams (DB, Salem H.S. (VA)/Virginia Beach, VA)
Learn more about UMass football's new players on the school's officiate website.
For more National Signing Day 2012 coverage, follow our stream and visit SB Nation.