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‘Less Severe Than the Rumors of a Broken Foot,’ ‘Next Man Up’ — UMass Turns to Freshman Aedan McCarthy as Ankle Injury Sidelines Pop Watson

UMass quarterback **William Watson III** will miss Saturday’s homecoming matchup against Miami (OH) after suffering an ankle injury, forcing the Minutemen to turn to true freshman **Aedan McCarthy** for his first career start. Watson, a senior transfer from Virginia Tech, has been a key performer this season, completing 74 of 100 passes for 820 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions, while also rushing for four more scores.

His absence comes after UMass’s first loss of the year to Eastern Michigan, where he went 20 of 27 for 210 yards with a touchdown and an interception, later acknowledging penalties as a contributing factor to the defeat. McCarthy, a recruit from Bluffton, South Carolina, has appeared in two games this season, including a brief relief stint against Sacred Heart where he completed two passes for 11 yards.

Despite his limited college experience, McCarthy boasts an impressive high school resume, throwing for 6,643 yards with 69 touchdowns and 11 interceptions before committing to UMass over 11 other Division I offers. Head coach Joe Harasymiak has expressed confidence in McCarthy and the team’s depth, though he had hoped to avoid relying on the freshman so early in the season.

The Minutemen now face Miami (OH), a MAC team also navigating its own struggles, in a Week 6 matchup that will test McCarthy’s readiness as UMass looks to rebound from its recent setback.

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