[Captain Kangaroo]

The Beacon Zips beat writer has been to all of one Zips practice thusfar this August. I guess it is a 1000% improvement over last year...but that's about it.

Who’s looking better than expected?
Dennis Kennedy is looking great. Biggs’ hold on the starting job is solid, but we won’t lose much if he sits a series. Also, although it would be nice to redshirt him, true freshman Alex Allen seems too good to keep off the field. Look for him to play in 2005.

Jermaine Reid is playing very well on the D-line.

John Ferguson has a lock on the #2 QB position. He’s shown a very strong arm thus far, and it looks like he can manage a game if called upon.

Jabari is looking solid as a WR. The sky is the limit for him.

Hixson was great last season, but he’s taken things to another level this year. He should be REALLY exciting to watch!

Any notable players quit or been declared ineligible?
Nope.

Injuries
Donaldson we know. Jemall Benjamin is still recovering from his injuries. He’s at practice, but not yet in a position to begin drills. He’ll play this year, but not immediately.

Tight End
Merce Poindexter is the heir apparent to Dennis Basch as the #2 TE. Great things are being said about him. Kasparek still a solid #1.

Offensive Line Status
By season’s end, we could have 3 freshmen starting! Zack Anderson and Elliot Bates look great (for frosh).

OL Chris Kemme (Upper Arlington) has been the most pleasant freshman surprise of camp. He's come ready to play.

FB Depth chart
McDaniel, then Tuzze.

Recruiting:

At this time there are no new verbals…just the Alliance DL and the Mentor Kicker. BTW: No one appears too concerned about losing the commitment of the Alliance player, or any other one for that matter. It a given that, if Ohio State wants to give a late scholarship offer to a Zip “commit,” they could lose him. But if any other school tries to “steal” a Zip commit, people are very confidant the players that commit to the Zips program will follow through on the commitment. Last year, every Zips verbal became a signing on February 2nd. (Jarvis was a non-scholarship grayshirt offer).

400lb WPa OL Nate Hartung is on his Mormon mission, but still on the recruiting radar for 2007…if he can get his weight down a little.

Pitt recruit Marlon Terry, a Prop 48 this year, is simply a beast. Look for him to start in 2006.

Look for a 2006 signee or two to come out of the state of Georgia this year.

[Buckzip]

Thanks for the update Captain. Keep them coming.
I am confused. Is Terry with the Zips now, or still Pitt?

[zff]

Nice Work Capn'

I don't mind seeing any freshman play but if they only play as much as Johnny Long did last year I think that is a waste. Nothing aganist the way Long played last year but he just was not on the field enough to really contribute anything.

Ferguson was very highly rated coming out og highschool. Good to know we have a capable backup on hand.

If the o-line can come together the Zips could have a very good offense. Maybe better than last year.....

I thought the beacon said Fife was going to be the #2 TE........I would check you notes again Capn' I will have to go with the Beacon on this one.....

Marlon is on UA campus and grade willing will be a Zip nextyear.

Again nice work Capn!!!!!

[Captain Kangaroo]

Thanks for the update Captain. Keep them coming.
I am confused. Is Terry with the Zips now, or still Pitt?

He was never with Pitt. Pitt dropped their offer when he didn't make grades.

[Buckzip]

Got it , thanks.

[InTheZone]

A few comments...

From what I've heard and seen, Ferguson has looked so good, he's not just a locked #2, he may just take Getsy's job right out from under him.

You're right about Poindexter. He has looked very good, while I'm hearing Kasparek is dropping a lot of balls.

On the o-line, I'm hearing Anderson has the potential to start. He's dominated some upperclassmen in drills apparently. Kemme has looked good, but the staff still wants to red-shirt him and give him a year to improve his strength and add some bulk. I don't know where you're getting your information on Bates though. I've heard he's looked clumsy and has a long way to go before he can even think about touching the field.

Terry's a good prospect, but a beast is pushing it. I've heard he's big, but needs to work on his quickness. Also, the guy is almost 20 years old, so he should be ahead of most freshman physically. Hopefully he'll work hard in his prop year and be able to contribute next season. Can't see him starting though with Reid and Gonzales coming back and Nate Robinson in the fold.

[Buckzip]

Gonzales is a seniot this year. he won't be back.
Hopefully Hight will play next year. That could be a good d-line with Hight, Terry, Robinson, along with the other new recruits. However, they will be first year starters, so it will take some time to be dominant.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Another recruiting-related thing I overheard:

A WR that had been at an Akron camp this summer called and wanted to commit. He was turned away. There were simply too many other higher-quality WR recruits on the Zips radar. All of whom are felt to have a good chance to sign with the Zips. The WR recruit ended up committing to a Big East school last week.

Nice to be in a position where we're turning down Big East caliber recruits! The combination of this coaching staff and the new facilities is really paying dividends.

[zff]

Just a thought.....

I just read where Akron Butchel Star Bryan Williams did not qualify to play this year for Pitt. Does he follow his teammate Marlon Terry and become a Zip???

This would be huge, Bryan is a very good and fast DB. He could come in next year and start.

[zipboy]

Thanks Captain, great post. It is good to see Anderson as good as advertised. While I like to redshirt the O Line, if we are pointing to 2007 as a top 25 team, an extra year of playing time now will only help in 07. Also I saw that USA Today picked Jabari as the breakout player for the Zips this year. Not the guy that I would have initially thought of but good to hear that he is looking good.

[InTheZone]

Gonzales is a seniot this year. he won't be back.
Hopefully Hight will play next year. That could be a good d-line with Hight, Terry, Robinson, along with the other new recruits. However, they will be first year starters, so it will take some time to be dominant.

Gonzales was a prop, which means that yes, he listed as a senior, but if his grades are high enough he can still earn a year back for next season. He looks to be on track to do that.