Football: O'Hara's Blyden commits to UMass

Cardinal O'Hara's J.T. Blyden, a fleet-footed running back and defensive back, orally committed Monday afternoon to play at Massachusetts. He made the announcement in a press conference in the school's lobby.

The 5-foot-11, 203-pound senior, who is projected to play running back for the Minutemen, also had scholarship offers from Army, Eastern Michigan, and Rutgers.

Last year, after a regional panel denied a petition for transfer to District 12's O'Hara from District 1's Avon Grove, Blyden enrolled and played at Camden Catholic.

As a sophomore at Avon Grove, Blyden, also dangerous as a kick returner, carried 221 times for 1,127 yards and 10 touchdowns. He spent his freshman year at Bishop Shanahan.