UMass wide receiver Dallas Elliott will miss the remainder of the season “after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer,” according to coach Joe Harasymiak.
Harasymiak delivered the news as the Minutemen (4-4) began preparations for Wednesday night’s home game against Ball State. After being one of the feel-good stories of college football in September, UMass had an October to forget, capped by news worse than any four-game losing streak.
Elliott, a graduate student from nearby Northampton who attended Williston Northampton, started treatment earlier this week at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, according to Harasymiak.
“He’s a local walk-on that has earned a scholarship, earned a starting role, and was the hardest worker on our team to put himself into that,” he said. “He stuck with us, stuck with this place through some really, really hard times, and now we’re going to do that for him.
“He’s a fighter, if you’ve ever talked to him or met him, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s going to win this matchup.”
UMass wide receiver Dallas Elliott had six receptions for 58 yards in five games this season.UMass Athletics
Elliott appeared in the team’s first five games, starting the first three, and had six receptions for 58 yards. Elliott last played in the Oct. 3 loss to Eastern Michigan, the team’s first loss of the season after opening with four straight wins.
In the season-opening upset of Rutgers, Elliott had three receptions for 26 yards, both setting career highs. He had his longest catch in the following week, a 17-yarder, against Sacred Heart.
Elliott, who was a 2025 Academic All-MAC selection, has made 35 appearances for the Minutemen dating to 2023. He made his first career reception last season at Iowa, finishing the year with three catches, and has six career tackles on special teams.
Keith Pearson can be reached at keith.pearson@globe.com.