The Massachusetts football team’s leading receiver in touchdown passes isn’t a receiver, nor is he even a tight end.

Instead, fullback Rodney Mills is the owner of three touchdown receptions through three games this season. He’s lined up in a variety of roles this season – he can play fullback, tight end and split out wide – and even noted that he backs up at long snapper. It’s difficult to designate exactly what position Mills plays, so UMass coach Mark Whipple made it a tad bit easier.

“He’s just a really good football player,” Whipple said on his weekly teleconference. “He could play defense for us, he’s a good special teams player for us. Not a real big guy, but just a really good football player who captures the ball well.”

The 6-foot-1, 215 pound junior’s role is as versatile as possible. And his performance so far this season has caught Whipple’s eye enough to warrant a larger portion of the offensive pie headed Mills’ way.

“We’ve got to try and get him the ball more because he makes the most out of his opportunities and that’s a nice thing to have,” Whipple said.
Mills’ most notable touchdown this season came – shockingly enough – in the most unexpected manner.

With the Minutemen leading 7-0 midway through the first quarter against Vanderbilt last Saturday, the UMass punt team took to the field in what was disguised as a simple punt play. Only upon diagnosing the Commodores’ formation at the line of scrimmage, the Minutemen determined it was time to dip into their bag of tricks.

Mills – who was the last player along the right side of the line of scrimmage – feigned a blocking stance after UMass snapped the ball. He noted it was “clear as day” that Vanderbilt would try to block the punt. Once the Vanderbilt rushers passed by, Mills released into the flat. Minutemen punter and former Fitchburg State quarterback Brian McDonald gathered the snap and immediately eyed Mills, releasing a pass which almost came up too short.

But Mills hesitated, caught the ball and turned around. All he could see was green turf and the end zone.

“I got so excited, I tried to not to show it, I didn’t want to tip them off,” Mills said. “Once we got up to the line and got the look we wanted, I knew it would be a big play.”

“He underthrew it a little bit, I had to stop and come back and get it but I was staring at the end zone and I wasn’t going to stop until I got there.”

And a big play it was, indeed. Mills sped down the right side of the field and simply outran three tardy Vanderbilt defenders for a 53-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead. It was the essence of Mills – versatile, underrated and suddenly successful.

It was Mills’ second touchdown of the game. His first, which was the first touchdown of the entire game, was a 13-yard touchdown pass from Blake Frohnapfel. In total, Mills caught three passes for 76 yards and the two scores.

Mills also made an impact a week prior against Colorado, yet again uniting with Frohnapfel for a score. The touchdown – which was also the Minutemen’s first of the game – came on a designed play-action play for Mills. As the offense faked a run to the left, Frohnapfel rolled back to his right and dropped a pass over a safety in coverage into Mills’ arms in the back corner of the end zone.

Not many fullbacks are capable of catching those.

“I like to think I can make something happen when I get the ball,” Mills said.

As UMass progresses through 2014, finding ways to get playmakers like Mills the ball will become paramount. His ability to factor into the passing game despite lining up in various spots is a unique luxury that other teams must account for.

And that, according to Mills, is a big mistake.

“Yeah, but that will be a mistake because we have so many other weapons on offense,” he said. “It’s going to hurt them if they key in on one person.”

Kicking battle reignites

A season ago, UMass kicker Blake Lucas missed a 22-yard field goal against Western Michigan which ultimately affected the Minutemen’s ability to win a game in which they lost 31-30.

On Saturday, Lucas again missed a 22-yard field goal, this time missing a kick which would have sent the game to overtime as time expired.
Lucas lost his kicking job to Brandon Levengood in 2013 after going 3-of-10 on field goals and missing against the Broncos. Fast forward to 2014, and Lucas is yet again fighting for his job following a crucial miss, this time with freshman Matthew Wylie.

“It’s been going on,” Whipple said of the kicking competition. “(Wylie) is getting better…(Lucas) kicked well in practice. He’s our best kicker right now but the younger guy is getting better.”

Mark Chiarelli can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @Mark_Chiarelli.