/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45569848/usa-today-8083339.0.jpg)
If you were afraid that Mark Whipple wouldn't recruit down south then last weekend should have changed your mind. Of the seven recruits that committed on the 25th, six were from below the Mason-Dixon line including Artavious Lynn. Lynn is especially rare since he comes from Louisiana, a place that the Massachusetts Minutemen hasn't historically recruited many players from.
Scout.com is the only sight to rank Lynn and has him as a two star prospect. He didn't have a lot of nation attention as the only other school that he had an official offer from was South Alabama. He did have interest from La Monroe and University of Louisiana Lafayette and was considered a lock to go to ULL. Being able to get a commit from that deep in the south has to feel good for both Whipple and recruiting coordinator Shane Waldron. Lynn could be the foothold that UMass needs to create their own pipeline in the deep south and go after the talent that is usually reserved for only the local or elite programs.
Just made that commitment to UMass #futureMinuteMen
— 88_ThaGreat (@5Baby_Brim9) January 25, 2015
With Jean Sifrin leaving early for the NFL Draft there is now a 6-7 size redzone hole missing for the Minutemen. At 6-6 Lynn could certianly fill that. He is also a pretty good basketball player so you know he has a pretty decent vertical. Combine that with his very good ability to high point the football and he has all the makings of a dangerous redzone target. He is also athletic enough and has the talent to become a good every down tight end.
You can watch Artavious' highlights via Hudl: