Humphrey Looks Forward To Days Ahead At UMass Lowell

STANDISH, Me. - The recruiting process certainly had its ups and downs for Jacob Humphrey.

“It kind of started the beginning of my junior year,” the Bonny Eagle High School senior reflected. “That’s when I started talking to coaches and I stayed in contact through Covid. In the summer I really started talking to coaches, but it was hard getting my name out there because of Covid. Only a few coaches had seen me before summer.

“It was really stressful at some points, but overall I enjoyed it. Talking to coaches and hearing about their program and how they do things and how others do it differently, I thought it was really interesting.”

None more so than in conversation with UMass Lowell after interest began while Humphrey was playing in a tournament in New Jersey and caught the eye of head coach Ken Harring who was watching his son play.

“I had a good game and after that I started getting in contact with him and he talked with my travel coaches a lot,” Humphrey noted.

By the time senior year of high school began, Humphrey not only was making a name for himself but had received an offer from the America East Conference school.

“I like the skill set of Humphrey,” Dennis Healy, PBR Maine Director of Scouting, said after the Academic Games in July. “He’s an athletic infielder that can play all over the infield. The bat has a real chance to be special.”

Humphrey also impressed UMass Lowell, which was the only school besides Amherst College to show strong interest according to the second baseman/shortstop.

“They like how I play the game hard,” Humphrey said. “I’m a blue-collar baseball player. I’m by no means the biggest or strongest, but I work hard out on the field.”

Love for the game began early.

“I’ve played baseball since I was real young,” Humphrey related. “Me and my dad would be in the backyard and he’d be pitching to me or hitting ground balls with me. Since Little League my dream has been to play college baseball at the highest division I could.”

It was far from easy.

“Freshman year I was tiny and not ready physically for varsity baseball,” admitted the 5-10 155-pounder. “But the next year I matured and became a lot better at baseball.”

Strides have continued to be made.

“I’ve become a lot stronger than what I was,” pointed out Humphrey, who was timed in the 60 at 6.71 at the PBR Academic Games while producing a 92 exit velocity. “I’m trying to be better every day - fielding, agility, strength, hitting … all the aspects of the game.”

Humphrey understands more improvement is needed in order to continue playing the game he loves as long as possible.

“I definitely need to improve my hitting and strength and see the zone better,” Humphrey said. “I think strength will be a key role in my development.”

Making a decision on the UMass Lowell offer did not prove difficult.

“I toured the campus with my mom and brother in September,” Humphrey noted. “The field is amazing and the clubhouse was awesome.”

There was more that stood out to the middle infielder.

“I like how they play a schedule with strong out-of-conference teams,” Humphrey said.

A commitment followed for Humphrey, who admits to nerves as an uncommitted senior prior to the big decision with UMass Lowell.

“It definitely was in the back of my mind that it was getting late,” Humphrey admitted. “I feel I’d bring a hard work ethic to any college I’d go to but unfortunately with Covid I wasn’t getting the exposure we all were planning for.”

A 3.96 student rated ninth academically out of 278 in his high school class, Humphrey believes he can benefit the UMass Lowell program.

“I’ll bring hard work and dedication,” said the three-sport standout, who junior year was first-team all-conference cornerback on the Class A state championship football team and the conference defensive player of the year on the state runner-up basketball team. “I want to be a leader for the team, someone people can come to when they’re feeling down. I want to be a good teammate.”

Humphrey points to high school coach Ricky Hession and travel coaches Ryan Copp and Mike D’Andrea as being influential in a baseball journey that has brought relief after making a college commitment.

“It’s like a weight was lifted off my back,” Humphrey said of committing to a school located an hour and 45 minutes from his Maine home. “The pressure was starting to get to me. I’d think about it almost every day. Now I’m able to relax. I’m really happy with my decision.”

The anticipation of playing baseball in college is strong for Humphrey, who plans to major in business management or something involved with engineering.

“It will definitely be a lot different than anything I’ve ever done before,” Humphrey said. “I can’t wait to meet my new teammates and new coaches. Traveling all around and playing baseball so much will be awesome.”