AMHERST — It’s become quite clear that UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak was very busy recruiting throughout the holidays, as he’s signed five transfers since Christmas — four coming in the month of January alone.

On Jan. 7, he made his biggest splash of the cycle, landing former Yale quarterback Grant Jordan. Jordan, a senior who still has two years of eligibility remaining, had interest from Indiana, Bowling Green and North Texas, among others. He threw for 1,938 yards, 22 touchdowns and only three interceptions this past season with the Bulldogs, which went 7-3. During Yale’s final three games, Jordan averaged 266 yards, 3.3 touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s sure to give current UMass QB1 AJ Hairston a run for the starting job in the offseason.

𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓭 🖊️

Welcome to the #Flagship 🚩 @Grant_Jordan3 pic.twitter.com/pXceHEEy7U

— UMass Football (@UMassFootball) January 7, 2025

Joining Jordan in shifting from Yale to Amherst is linebacker Dean Shaffer, who signed on Jan. 6. Shaffer appeared in just four games in 2024, but came up with 25 tackles (including 2.5 tackles for loss) during that stretch. He was a team captain for the Bulldogs last season, and also set a school record in dead lifting.

Also signing on Jan. 6 was running back Rocko Griffin, a 5-foot-9, 200-pound back from Rincon, Ga. who played at both Vanderbilt and UTSA. He started with the Commodores and spent three seasons there before playing a pair with the Roadrunners. He only played in four games in 2024, rushing 17 times for 44 yards and recording a season-long carry of 17 yards against Texas. In 2023, Griffin played in all 12 games at UTSA and totaled 483 yards and six TDs.

Former Rutgers defensive lineman David Onuoha is the other January signee as of Jan. 7, as Harasymiak used his Scarlet Knights connection to grab the 6-foot-1, 237-pound New Jersey native. Onuoha doesn’t have much in-game experience under his belt yet (the junior saw his first game action in 2024), but he’s added depth to a rather thin UMass position group.

The Minutemen’s total incoming transfer number now stands at 21. For reference, Don Brown brought in 30 total transfers a year ago.

Cornerbacks coach Tre’ Bell on to next job

Less than a month ago, UMass hired Tre’ Bell as the program’s next cornerbacks coach. Bell had previously worked at West Virginia, Akron and Florida State prior to accepting the job in Amherst.

On Jan. 7, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Bell accepted a job at Charlotte to coach the 49ers’ secondary. Bell wasn’t even on staff for a full month, but he has found new work. Harasymiak and defensive coordinator Jared Keyte have a new position coach to fill on that side of the ball — one they thought they had filled already.