Now that most of the portal chaos has settled down, I figured I’d take my usual shot at projecting the spring depth chart.
QB:
Poffenbarger
Roggow
This is the most talented quarterback room since Moorhead’s arrival when you look at it purely from a potential standpoint. Unfortunately, that doesn’t guarantee a worthwhile starter, especially since no one has proven production at the FBS level. It’d be easy to lump Poffenbarger in with Undercuffler for obvious reasons, but after watching some of Poffenbarger’s Albany film on YouTube, I think he shows much better touch than Undercuffler and seems to read the field better as well. Of course, that was a few years ago and at the FCS level, so we’ll see if Poffenbarger can reproduce that here.
I also wouldn’t rule out Roggow, Broughton, or Beals getting meaningful playing time. The position should be wide open, and higher production from this spot would make a huge impact on the offense. Somehow, the best quarterback in this system has been one the staff inherited in DJ Irons. The 2022 offense averaged 26.6 PPG and 408.1 yards per game. Since then, the offense has averaged 20.5 PPG and 329.5 yards per game (conference stats only). For anyone wondering, that’s fewer points and yards than Arth’s final season.
RB:
Gant
Patrick
Somehow, in the NIL era, every scholarship running back from last season is back. I’m not sure Gant will be able to reproduce another 1,000-yard season with what is basically a brand-new offensive line and a new quarterback who’ll be reading the defense and deciding whether to give or keep on RPOs. Also, I expect Patrick to step into a larger role and create a bigger impact. Gee and Curry are more power-type backs who could contribute if they stay healthy.
2025 was the best rushing year under this staff. I’ve been pretty vocal about the need to run the ball more. In most cases, teams with a strong running game tend to win. The Zips averaged 124 rushing yards per game last season, which is decent, but only good enough for ninth in the MAC. For comparison, Ohio and Western Michigan both averaged over 200 yards per game on the ground.
WR:
Ma. Williams
Sivon
WR:
Mason
Louis
WR:
Monteiro
Myers
Outside of Williams and Mason, almost any receiver could be penciled into the depth chart at this point. I don’t know which of the incoming players will work their way to the forefront, but I do think this room has as much talented depth as any other year.
2022 might’ve had the best group of starters, but the 2026 group has a chance to be one of the deepest from top to bottom. If the drops can be limited, the passing game has a chance to be one of the best in the MAC again.
TE:
Cravaack
Hook
Cravaack took over TE1 duties last season and steadily got better as the year went on. I have to assume that played at least some role in Newell transferring to Toledo. Incoming Michigan State transfer Hook and JUCO addition Alexander will provide depth.
The fewest amount of passes in the Moorhead era went to the tight ends last year. I’d think there’ll be more of an effort to get them involved in the passing game in 2026.
OL:
Honestly, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll be starting in 2026. I’m sure Lyons and A. Jones can be penciled in, but outside of that, I don’t know. The spring game should give a better indication.
Coach JRod has improved offensive line play each year he’s been here, though he’ll definitely have his work cut out for him this coming season. There’s some ability in the room, but I can’t say this group is any more talented than last year’s squad. I’d actually say it’s a bit less, although that doesn’t mean they can’t outperform if the right combination can build early cohesion.
DE:
Durham
J. Frazier
DT:
Hull
E. Davis
DT:
Highland
Mixon
DE:
Waye
D. Frazier
Similar to the offensive line, I can’t say this is a more talented unit with the losses of Laventure and Dall. The defense was the best it’s been during the current staff’s tenure in multiple MAC categories, including points per game (26.6), sacks (20), interceptions(8), and forced fumbles (7).
Durham and Hull return as starters, so that’s a positive. Waye is an edge player from the portal who looks a little raw but has some physical talent. Highland looks like a really good pickup on the interior, even if he’s more of a run stuffer. This unit still needs a few more additions, as the backups produced next to nothing last season and the starting group doesn’t currently look as strong on paper.
This time last year I was concerned about the DL, but the addition of Laventure after spring ball made a huge difference. Hopefully something similar happens this year, even though I do feel better going into 2026 than I did during the spring of 2025.
LB:
Hocker
Jones
I’m taking a shot in the dark projecting the linebacker depth chart. I’m frustrated, but not surprised, that Spriggs hit the portal. He was finally coming into his own and would have almost certainly been all-conference this coming season. That said, I’m not overly concerned about the position. Tibesar has consistently done a good job year over year getting production out of whoever is on the field. Talent isn’t the question — productivity is. Right now, nobody in the room has any meaningful FBS experience.
If the spring “game” looks anything like last year, we probably won’t learn much more than we already know, which is that these guys are athletic and can get downhill in a hurry. Realistically, it’s probably going to take until game one before we have any real idea where things actually stand.
CB:
White
McNeil
CB:
T. Thomas
Hobson
NB:
AL. Branch
AI. Branch
S:
David
Somerville
S:
Flowers
Hunter
I’d expect the starters and backups from last year’s secondary to at least open spring as starters or newly elevated starters. After that, though, things could shift pretty quickly. The new cornerbacks coach clearly emphasized speed this offseason, and now he’ll have his own recruits in the room to start molding.
Both nickelbacks are back, and there’s a solid group of safeties returning too — a unit that definitely had its share of highs and lows. With a year of legit FBS experience under their belts, I’d expect the safeties to be a lot more consistent in 2026.
ST:
I assume Schramm and Castle will kick things off as starters, but this room does not seem complete. Hills should have plenty of competition at kick returner as well.
To wrap up, I want to touch on recruiting. I think this year’s class probably lands somewhere in the middle of the MAC. That said, if a home run was hit at quarterback, it could make this class look a lot better than it actually is. High-end quarterback play usually means more points and, more often than not, more wins.
Until the NIL pool is competitive with the rest of the conference, I doubt there will be many, if any, years where Akron can realistically claim the top class in the MAC. On the flip side, there’s a lot of young talent on this roster — way more than during the Arth years — and honestly it’s mostly in line with the rest of the conference. So I don’t want to make it sound like not landing a top class means you can’t win. If it’s paired with strong coaching, winning seasons are still very much on the table.
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