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Showing posts from January, 2019

Clarification on scheduling change

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On Tuesday, we reported on Twitter that Springfield Central and Everett would be linking up for a Sept. 13 game this coming season . However, since then, a few things have changed. Springfield Central is now back to playing Central Catholic on that weekend, as is Everett with Xaverian. Those were the original matchups scheduled, but Springfield Central and Everett fell victim to some mutual confusion over the dates involved. The source of the miscommunication stemmed from rotation into the extra week that the 2019 season has built in. Here is the explanation of that framework on the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association website : In the case of Everett and Springfield Central, the Week 1A/Week 1 distinction that does not exist most seasons threw everything off-kilter. From what we were able to gather, there was not any willful attempt on anyone's part to drop one opponent for another. This was simply an error of trying to schedule games without having ev...

Q&A with Brockton RB Ahmik Watterson

HANOVER — One of the best showings from Sunday's MASS ELITE 7v7 Underclassmen Showcase came from Brockton running back Ahmik Watterson. The junior, who transferred into Boxer country from Tennessee over the offseason, came on toward the end of the season, rushing for 672 yards and eight touchdowns on 82 carries (8.2 yards per rush). At Sunday's event at the Starland Sportsplex, Watterson did well in both testing and drills. After measuring in with a height and weight of 5-9.5, 185 pounds, he clocked a 4.53-second hand-timed 40-yard dash. His 4.72 laser time would likely have been in the lower-4.6 range had he not veered slightly to the side toward the end of his run. Watterson also posted a 35-inch vertical, and 9-foot, 11-inch broad jump. Watterson is also off to a strong season in indoor track, and posted a 55-meter dash time of 6.65 seconds at the beginning of the month. We spoke to Watterson briefly after the event. Here is an edited version of that conversation. ...

Q&A with Milton Academy RB/LB Kalel Mullings

HANOVER — Although he did not participate in testing or drills, Kalel Mullings came to the MASS ELITE 7v7 Underclassmen Showcase Sunday at the Starland Sportsplex, and interacted afterward with those who did. Mullings, a junior running back and outside linebacker from Milton Academy, had an injury-shortened 2018 season, but that has not slowed down his recruitment in the slightest. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder has offers from the likes of Clemson, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Boston College, UMass, and Stanford. Mullings was also recently selected to play in the 2020 All-American Bowl in San Antonio. We spoke with Mullings after Sunday's event. Here is an edited version of that conversation. MassVarsity: What has your winter been like? What kind of stuff have you been up to? Kalel Mullings: Not much. Nothing much. Just focusing on school. We have exams coming up soon. So that's a big, big thing for us, for me to just knock those out of the park. So nothing much. Not...

Q&A with Dennis-Yarmouth WR Geoffrey Jamiel

HANOVER — Only a sophomore, Dennis-Yarmouth wide receiver Geoffrey Jamiel has already made his mark as one of the top players in the state at his position. At Sunday's MASS ELITE 7v7 Underclassmen Showcase at the Starland Sportsplex, Jamiel again displayed the attributes that make him so tough to cover. Not only does the 5-foot-8, 150-pounder have good speed and quickness, but his route-running skills, body control, and hands never disappoint. We spoke to Jamiel for a few minutes after the event. Here is an edited version of that conversation. MassVarsity: How many times have you been to showcases like this? Geoffrey Jamiel: Over the summer I went to the New England Elite Clinic. But, since then, I haven't really gone . . . I've gone to more private ones, like one days for colleges. But this is my first showcase, kind of, with a bunch of other kids. MV: Obviously, you had another great year, and today really stood out again. What kind of feedback are you getting...

Q&A with Lawrence Academy QB Brady Martin

HANOVER — On Sunday, we checked out the MASS ELITE 7v7 Underclassmen Showcase at the Starland Sportsplex. One of the top quarterback prospects in attendance was Lawrence Academy junior Brady Martin. A Leominster native, the 6-foot, 195-pound Martin was recently offered by UMass. We spoke to Martin for a few minutes after the combine to get his thoughts on that, and a few other subjects, as well. Here is an edited version of that conversation. MassVarsity: What was it like to get offered by UMass? Brady Martin: Honestly, it took a huge weight off my shoulders, not only for myself, but for my family, too. It's something I've been working for since I was a little kid. Now that it's happened, it's pretty awesome. MV: What was your conversation like with new UMass coach Walt Bell when he gave you the offer? BM: Most of the coaches followed me on Twitter first, and then he DM'd me to call him. Then I called him up, and he offered me a scholarship. He was ju...

Q&A with BB&N OL Andrew Nee

HANOVER — After a stellar showing at the All-American Underclassmen Combine in San Antonio, BB&N offensive lineman Andrew Nee was back at it on Sunday for the MASS ELITE 7v7 Underclassmen Combine at the Starland Sportsplex. Nee, as he was down in Texas, was again dominant in drills, so we spoke with the 6-foot-4, 285-pound Walpole native for a few minutes. Here is an edited version of that conversation. MassVarsity: How important was it for you to go down to San Antonio and show your stuff and get named All-Combine? Andrew Nee: Being from Massachusetts, I feel you've got to prove yourself that much more on the national spectrum to prove you can play at the next level. So, having the opportunity to go down to compete against four-stars, five-stars, and just show what I can do, and put me in that conversation meant a lot to me. MV: Since Massachusetts doesn't get a ton of respect from other states, how fun was it to compete and show you're as good as those guys?...