[timmyboy]

Carlton Jackson, the redshirt freshman who headed into the first day of spring practices Thursday as the University of Akron's No. 1 quarterback, didn't even take one snap. He was kept out of practice by coach J.D. Brookhart.

``We held him out, but he'll be back out and ready to take repetitions (today),'' he said.

Jackson, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound Pompano Beach, Fla., native who played in just one game last season, was seen jogging around the practice field while backups Chris Jacquemain and Sean Hakes, No. 2 and 3 on the depth chart, respectively, took all the snaps.

Brookhart was tight-lipped, but it's possible Jackson might have been disciplined for some minor infraction and this was Brookhart's way of slapping Jackson on the wrist.

And it wasn't as if Brookhart was putting in some kind of sophisticated spread offense, either. The first day of spring practices was all about enthusiasm and energy. The players were in jerseys, shorts and helmets. The first day with pads will be Saturday.

But when Jackson is on the field, his athletic ability is impressive.

The last two quarterbacks for UA (Luke Getsy and his predecessor, Browns quarterback Charlie Frye) were outstanding passers but weren't known for their scrambling abilities.

Jackson, a left-hander, has a fairly strong arm but his ability to produce big plays running and scrambling out of the pocket brings a dimension to UA's offense that it hasn't seen since Nick Sparks was the starter in the 2001 season opener against Ohio University. That lasted just two quarters because he injured his toe just before halftime. Frye took over in the third quarter and never relinquished the starting job.

``You see the athleticism of quarterbacks beating you, so now it's exciting to have that on your side of the ball,'' Brookhart said about Jackson. ``Plays aren't going to go how they're supposed to a lot of times and we have a guy that can make some plays and be athletic enough to do that. All of our guys can do that.''

Jacquemain battled Jackson during last fall for the No. 2 position and it looks as though that battle will continue this spring and into the preseason in early August.

``So many things can change by August,'' Brookhart said. ``For instance, the commitment level from the kid. They just need experience, all of them. Especially in live situations.

``Jacquemain has been very focused and he's had a good spring,'' Brookhart said. ``Hakes is kind of a wild card. He can really impress you at times and then he can look bad at times. But he's a freshman and he'll develop some inconsistencies.''

-- HARVEY ABSENT FROM PRACTICE --
Sophomore wide receiver/kick returner David Harvey is not with the team, for now. Harvey was named to the 2006 Scripps/Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American team as a kick returner and The Sporting News selected him for its first-team Freshman All-America squad as a kick returner and an honorable mention wide receiver.

Harvey caught 43 passes for 914 yards and averaged 21.3 yards per catch and set a UA freshman record with 10 touchdown receptions.

``David is on leave from the team taking care of some personal matters,'' Brookhart said. ``There's no set timetable when he'll be back.''

-- HARD LINE --
The Zips' offensive line lost all but one starter (6-6, 300-pound left tackle Chris Kemme) from last year's team, but Brookhart is relying on right guard Mike Schepp (6-4, 315) to emerge as another veteran leader.

``To me, we've got two starters back,'' Brookhart said. ``You can say Mike was a starter, he was just a backup at every position. He was that valuable. We have a little different (offensive line) this year. It's a taller, more athletic crew. We don't have all these guys who can bench 400 pounds.''




I dont believe that its fair for the beacon to assume that CJ was held out because it was a form of discipline, have they ever thought that maybe it was due to an injury that he had gotten in the offseason..... Im thinking that is more fo the case! CJ knows what he has to keep his head on straight an stay out of trouble, and i think he has matured alot over the last year. He will be ready to lead this team!

[ZippyAlum]

Harvey is just one of the surprises (disappointments) I was talking about. There are others too.

[UADavid]

Harvey is just one of the surprises (disappointments) I was talking about. There are others too.

Thankfully most here didn't see him and his outbursts at the Ohio game. He was vocally negative toward the offense, quarterback and team. He was crying to family in the stands about anything and everything. Very sad to see. Family did the same.

[blueandgold]

Harvey is just one of the surprises (disappointments) I was talking about. There are others too.

Thankfully most here didn't see him and his outbursts at the Ohio game. He was vocally negative toward the offense, quarterback and team. He was crying to family in the stands about anything and everything. Very sad to see. Family did the same.

So what does this mean? He is still part of the team I hope.

[Ada Zip]

I dont believe that its fair for the beacon to assume that CJ was held out because it was a form of discipline, have they ever thought that maybe it was due to an injury that he had gotten in the offseason..... Im thinking that is more fo the case! CJ knows what he has to keep his head on straight an stay out of trouble, and i think he has matured alot over the last year. He will be ready to lead this team!

I totally disagree with you here. I am 99.99% sure that it is a discipline thing. Had it been an injury, Brookhart would have said so. Why would he have tight lips about an injury ?

[zff]

It only takes one piss poor attitude to bring a whole team down.

Regardless of who the player is we don't need that on the team.

[blueandgold]

It only takes one piss poor attitude to bring a whole team down.

Regardless of who the player is we don't need that    on the team.

True, but we all saw what type of offense we put out on the field for the OU and WMU games. It was pretty darn pathetic.

[UADavid]

So what does this mean? He is still part of the team I hope.

I believe he is. Hopefully he's still enrolled and taking classes. Definitely a talented player who's in desperate need of a time out.

[timmyboy]

So what does this mean? He is still part of the team I hope.

I believe he is. Hopefully he's still enrolled and taking classes. Definitely a talented player who's in desperate need of a time out.

maybe he hung out with jabari an learned the whole team concept this off season. arthur is the perfect image of what a team player is. He could have very easily said "no i wont move to WR" back when he was at QB an the staff came up with the thought of moving him... but he didnt, he took the move willingly to help the team, and look where it has gotten him, he is in IMO the most underrated player on the Akron team, if not in the MAC.... cant wait to see how well he does this season. But i hope that it is nothing very serious for Harvey ( such as family health issues or anything like that). I hope that he comes back soon and is determined to get us back to that MAC title game!

[RACER]

say what you want about harvey is was the one guy one this team coming back who could make big plays.im not trying to get on jd because it's the players who have to produce on the feild. if people think we are better team without d.harvey (whatever.)
i just hope the guy comes back.not to sound negative ,but i just don't see this team going over 6-6 this year.at the same time we do play in the mac not the big ten;so there are plenty of winnable games on the schedule.it seems like every year there is a team in the mac that surprises eveyone. hope that will be us.

[GP1]

Harvey caught 43 passes for 914 yards and averaged 21.3 yards per catch and set a UA freshman record with 10 touchdown receptions.

Football games are won and lost with big plays. This is a big play player who needs to be on the field.

A significant amount of kids playing big time college football are a-holes to some degree...it's just something the coaches have to deal with in this day and age. The kids are just part of a larger poorly behaved culture. Is he out because he is home sick or knocked up his girlfriend or sick relative or is he just misbehaving and feeling sorry for himself?

[Zipmeister]

"Is he out because he is home sick or knocked up his girlfriend or sick relative or is he just misbehaving and feeling sorry for himself?"

or is his girlfriend home sick and he is felling sorry for himself because he knocked up a sick relative?

[74ZIP]

it was said here during last season, harvey was going to be a problem...as was jackson...JD obviously has taken some chances on guys with less than stellar CHARACTER...there are reasons jackson 'ended up' at AKRON and not at a bigger school...harvey is the same...if these guys get their heads screwed on straight AND play the ZIPS will have a good year...if JD has to start booting guys again...IGOR...it could get ugly...

[74ZIP]

more on harvey...i was at the OU game last year...saw harvey's antics...also saw him drop a crucial pss in the 2nd half that could have gotten the ZIPS back in the game...this kid is whatever going on 15...

[ZippyAlum]

Ok, here's what I've heard. First the coaching changes: Bleil-TEs and tackles, Reno Ferri-RBs, Mauro Monz-receivers. Players: Aaris Reed should be back this week. Long is not transferring and is doing well. Jermaine Lindsay is doing great on the field. Jabari Arthur has a broken foot and will miss spring. Allen is running and in for plays but no contact. There has been no sign of Brinson but if he was a non-qualifier I don't think he's allowed to be there. Oh, there's another article on gozips that says an updated roster will be released on Monday.