Nashua South's Josh Tripp, shown scoring againt Nashua North, announced he's continuing his football career at UMass-Amherst. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA — It’s always a saying in life, as well as college football recruiting:

When one door closes, usually another one opens.

That was clearly the case for Nashua High School South’s Josh Tripp, who was originally planning on having the University of New Hampshire be his next academic and football home.

But a complete change to the Wildcats coaching regime closed that door, but the one that opened was at UMass Amherst and Sunday evening Tripp walked through it, as he and the Panthers announced on social media he’d attend the school for academics (business) and football next fall.

“I’m excited to announce my commitment to UMass Amherst to continue my football and academic career,” Tripp, who was a standout receiver and defensive back with the Panthers, wrote. “Thank you to my family, friends and coaches for your support. GO MINUTEMEN!”

“Things had changed, not in Josh’s favor, so we reached out to some teams that had expressed interest early on,” South coach Josh Porter said, “and found him a home. Found him a home.”

Tripp was going to have to be patient this winter, waiting to recover from a knee injury suffered during the Panthers’ football season so he could play basketball. He got on the court at the end of January and ironically his first big night back, vs. rival North, was the night when UMass had begun to open the door, a day after UNH had closed it. Tripp, Porter said, will be a recruited walk-on with the chance to earn a scholarship.

The twist is that Tripp has been recruited as a tight end. Porter had been at a coaches clinic during the winter and talked with UMass assistant Garrett Gillick, who mentioned the team was short on tight ends. Bingo.

“Originally, they were looking at him as a box safety,” Porter said. “Coach Gillick was saying ‘My tight ends coach won’t stop talking about him’, and said, ‘You know what, you can have him.’

“He played some tight end for us earlier in the year and did a good job. Then he had that little knee injury and we kept him to defense. I think how they envision him is they’ll add a little bit of weight to him, and try to create some mismatches vs. linebackers and stull like that.

“It’s a great fit for him, really. He’s thrilled about it. He heard that news and was very pumped.”

Tripp was a four-year varsity player for the Panthers, standing out as a freshman, especially as a receiver. After suffering injuries early in his career, he also thrived in the defensive backfield.

During the second half of this past season, he was nursing an undisclosed injury and sat out a game but also limited a lot of his time on the field to defense.

Not only will Tripp be playing a position he wasn’t originally targeting, he’ll be at a program a higher level than UNH – but with far less success rate. UMass is at the big-time Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. It’s a level the Minutemen have struggled mightily at since moving up from the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) level (where UNH is) in 2012. The team plays in the Mid-American Conference.

The Minutemen are coached by former UMaine head man Joe Harasymiak, who was the FCS Coach of the Year in 2018.

Porter said Tripp is not deterred by UMass’ struggles at the top level.

“I think it’s an opportunity,” Porter said. “He’s been part of changing the culture and building a program here. That’s right up his alley for sure. He’s excited. Has been on campus, loves the atmosphere there.”

For the Panthers, it’s a feather in their cap to have a major college recruit.

“It’s exciting stuff,” said Porter, who Monday was filling in the staff about Tripp and the fact 11 of their17 seniors will be playing some type of college athletics next year. “It’s incredible, it speaks to the work this class, the Class of ’26, has put in. It’s exciting to be a part of it.”

After the UNH experience,Tripp was cautious to say anything until things had been completely firmed up. As late as Feb. 4 he put his 2025 highlight tape on social media, tagging several coaches, saying “Looking for my 2026 home!.”

Apparently, he’s found it.