Kellen Pagel

UMass got some good news on its roster front as QB Kellen Pagel, running back Chris Burns and defensive back Ryan Campbell will all be eligible for the 2011 season.

Through department spokesman John Sinnett, Kim Callicoate, UMass associate athletic director for compliance confirmed that the NCAA has ruled the trio eligible.

Pagel transferred from Bowling Green, Burns from Pittsburgh and Campbell from Mississippi.

The question regarding their eligibility stemmed from the Minutemen's upgrade from FCS football to FBS. Transfer rules allow a player to transfer down a division and be eligible immediately. UMass has gotten considerable contributions over the years from FBS (Division I-A) players who have transferred down.

Players transferring from an FBS program to another FBS program have to sit out a season. If a player hasn't already redshirted he still has four years of eligibility remaining. But if that player has used his redshirt year then he loses the year.

Because Pagel, Burns and Campbell signed with UMass prior to the upgrade, but will be joining the Minutemen when the team is an FBS program, albeit a transitional one, it was uncertain whether they'd have to sit out.