Injured UMass’ QB Tyler Lytle could start against Rhode Island

UMass’ chaotic situation at quarterback could be stabilized for Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. clash with Rhode Island at McGuirk Stadium.

Minutemen coach Walt Bell indicated that quarterback Tyler Lytle’s availability to compete was upgraded to possible against the Rams on Homecoming weekend.

“Tyler Lytle will be a game-time decision,” said Bell. “That’s not saying he’s going to play but he will at least have a chance.”

Lytle, a graduate transfer from Colorado, was brought in through the NCAA transfer portal to be the lynchpin of the UMass’ offense.

Lytle enjoyed a solid training camp and was anointed starter for the season opener at Pittsburgh on Sept. 4. The Minutemen took a huge hit when Lytle suffered a fractured wrist against the Panthers that, at the time, looked season-ending.

Freshman Brady Olson took over the huddle the following week against Boston College and was fulltime through the Minutemen’s win over UConn on Oct. 9. Bell platooned Olson with converted freshman wide receiver freshman Zamar Wise over the next two lopsided losses at Florida State and Liberty.

“Tyler is excited to have chance and now we just have to get through a practice week and find out truly where he is,” said Bell. “He wants to go as bad as humanly possible and we got make sure that he is prepared and decent.”

UMass is one of seven FBS programs that play an independent schedule with enough wiggle room to add a regional flavor to the slate. UMass will face three teams this season that were once part of the Yankee Conference, UConn, URI and Maine at home on Nov. 13.

The Minutemen also scheduled three of the seven Independents, Liberty, at Army on Nov. 20, and at New Mexico State on Nov. 27.

“Any chance you have to play an opponent close by it helps for a lot of things,” said Bell. “It’s good for us, it’s good for them and there is a lot of historical significance to the game.

“Hopefully it will be exciting for both teams.”

Both URI and Maine are FCS programs from the Colonial Athletic Association that were once classified as NCAA Division 1AA. Because of relaxed transfer rules and a portal full of FBS players looking for a fresh start, the talent line separating Group-5 teams and FCS programs has blurred according to Bell.

“Now with there being so much transition on terms of rosters, there are a lot of G-5 rosters near or less than FCS rosters,” said Bell.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3q251Mf