Leaderboard

Now I know where they got the idea to install view-blocking light posts at the Rubber Bowl.

With the release of the 2020 MLS Full Schedule, today is a good day to start this thread. Besides Wil Trapp and Darlington Nagbe at any Crew home match, chances to see other Zips Men's Soccer alumni in Columbus include: April 4 - Richie Laryea, Toronto FC April 11 - Joao Moutinho, Orlando City FC May 9 - Evan Bush, Montreal Impact July 5 - Wil Trapp, Inter Miami July 25 - Jon Lewis, Colorado Rapids August 15 - Teal Bunbury, Scott Caldwell, New England Revolution August 22 - Saad Abdul-Salaam, Ben Lundt (season loan to Louisville City FC), Darren Mattocks, FC Cincinnati September 12 - Zarek Valentin, Houston Dynamo Edited 2/29/2020 Former Zips in MLS Colorado Rapids - Jon Lewis Columbus Crew - Darlington Nagbe FC Cincinnati - Saad Abdul-Salam, Darren Mattocks Houston Dynamo - Zarek Valentin Inter Miami - Wil Trapp LA Galaxy - Perry Kitchen (Happy 7th Birthday!) Montreal Impact - Evan Bush New England Revolution - Teal Bunbury, Scott Caldwell Orlando City SC - Joao Moutinho Toronto FC - Richie Laryea

I'll edit this as more information becomes available. Sat. Sept. 5 Youngstown State Sat. Sept. 12 at New Mexico State Sat. Sept. 19 at Clemson Sat. Oct. 17 UMass Home Bowling Green Miami Toledo Western Michigan Away Ball State Buffalo Kent Ohio

I was going to wait until after the season to dive into this, but I've got the itch this morning. There is no denying the coaching doesn't have room for improvement, but really trying to limit this discussion to players. Without a doubt, many holes need filled for this team to be competitive in the MAC again. My approach if I were the coach based on expectations to become bowl eligible next season without sacrificing the future: QB: I admire Kato's toughness and how he has seemed to grow as an individual throughout his career. However, his passing and decision making have not seemed to improve since he was a freshman and he seems to be less of a running threat now than ever. I don't believe he is a fit for the offense Arth is trying to install and I believe we've seen the last of him on the field. I propose a 3 way competition heading into camp - Gibson, Marousek, and a transfer QB (D. Clark maybe?). Another QB needs brought in to compete with Gibson. He could be the future, but I haven't seen enough to just hand him the job. RB: Tough to get a good read with the OL, but I believe Hayes-Patrick and Reese are pieces to work with. Still want to bring in a transfer for competition/depth, and at least 1 freshman. TE: We lose Junk, Johns, and Long after the season, leaving only Wofley on scholly. Need to bring in at least 1 transfer and true freshman. WR: Should be okay here for next year with Stewart, Scippio, Hicks, Knight, Morris, and Mathison. Need a few true freshman though to have guys ready after they are gone. OL: Council and Gray are building pieces. Another hole is opening up as we lose Brown. It will not bode well if the current starting C is starting next season. We have some true freshman who aren't playing this year, but if they aren't able to get on the field this year, will they be adequate next year? Bring in 2 transfers here...this is priority #1 with the team if you ask me, but there doesn't seem to be a lot out there in JUCO/transfer portal. Still bring in 3 freshman on top of that so this issue is hopefully fixed once and for all. DL: Cross has improved as the season has went on and I think Mitchell is adequate to plug the middle. We are bringing in one JUCO DL already for competition. The staffs current approach here is likely OK. Add 2 freshman. OLB: Scott, Sampson, Richardson, and Lawson are probably fine here. Really only one of these on the field most of the time with the use of the Nickel..add 1 freshman. ILB: Arslanian, Glover, and Watts are adequate I think. Need 2 freshman. CB: Hooks has developed well over the year. We have a few options to fill the other position, but I haven't seen enough to bank on natural development. 2 transfers and 2 freshman. Safety/Nickel: We are good with Watts and Thomas. There are a couple guys to step up and fill the other starting spot (Daranijo and Mack). I'd bring in 1 transfer and 1 freshman here. Scholarship breakdown based on the above: QB: (2) - 1 freshman, 1 transfer. RB: (2) - 1 freshman, 1 transfer. WR: (2) - 2 freshman. TE: (2) - 1 freshman, 1 transfer. OL: (5) - 3 freshman, 2 transfers. DL: (3) - 2 freshman, 1 transfer. OLB: (1) - 1 freshman. ILB: (2) - 2 freshman. CB: (4) - 2 freshman 2 transfers. Safety/Nickel: (2) - 1 freshman, 1 transfer. Total: 25 new additions. 16 freshman, 9 transfers. The biggest key for acceptable results next year is going to be the staff basically bringing attrition to a halt and have a very good hit rate on the transfers so we are getting immediate improvement. Go Zips..

This recruiting class was as good as we could expect. That being said I was hoping we could get more OL & DL JUCO's who could make an immediate impact. But when you are 0-12 it is not realistic to expect superior talent to come in with 2-3 years left to play. They want to go somewhere to experience winning and championships. So with that being said I believe the coaching staff did a pretty good job. Arth seems to have gotten his type of player and I hope he can deliver as the talent base grows. It will be interesting to see what he does on the next signing date in February to complete this year's class. I sincerely wish him, and us, well as he builds our program. Let's hope he has a few pleasant surprises to reveal in February. He also may want to hold a couple of scholies back for graduate transfers after spring practice is completed across the country. We have hope and as Andy Duphayne said "Hope is a good thing, perhaps the best of things."

Ohio took a football buy game against Purdue at a discount (something like 550k) a few years ago in exchange for a home and home in basketball the last 2 years.

SOS can be a little misleading. It doesn't factor non-D1 games into the equation. EMU has played 3 of those games thus far. Tulane has actually played 0 of those games. Sure Alcorn State & SE Louisiana are terrible teams, but they're still better than D2 and NAIA teams. Tulane could quickly improve their SOS by dropping those low D1 opponents and schedule 2-3 D2 teams instead.

Not casting dispersion on previous recruiting classes or current Zips, but it looks like, from the above bios, that we have a nice class of STUDENT-athletes, lots of good grades and academic honors, which usually translate into less issues off the field, both in the class room and in the community.....

Coach Arth Is Positive About His Process Coach Arth takes questions from ZipsNation (photo by Dr Z) Video Highlights of Signees -- Zips YouTube Channel Signee Biographies (source: gozips.com) DEACON ALLEN Defensive Lineman • Freshman • 6-1 • 320 Rockmart, Ga. | Rockmart HS Will enroll at Akron in January 2020. High School: Three-star recruit by 247Sports.com ... four-year letterwinner for coach Biff Parson at Rockmart HS ... played on defensive and offensive lines ... team went 11-1 in 2019 en route to the second round of the playoffs ... 2019 second-team All-Region selection ... team went 14-1 in 2018 and was the state championship runner-up ... 2018 first-team All-State and All-Region at offensive line and second-team All-Region at defensive line ... 2017 second-team All-region ... 2018 Honorable Mention All-Region ... also participated in wrestling and track ... finished fourth in 2017 state wrestling championship. TRISTIAN BRANK Tight End • Freshman • 6-4 • 230 Asheville, N.C. | Clyde A. Erwin HS High School: WMAC All-Conference at tight end and defensive end for coach Rodney Pruett at Clyde A. Erwin HS ... ... as a senior, had 43 catches for 579 yards and nine touchdowns ... as a junior, had 30 catches for 346 yards and three touchdowns ... defensively, had 29 tackles and eight sacks ... also lettered in basketball. RONAN CHAMBERS Offensive Lineman • Freshman • 6-5 • 270 Olmsted Township, Ohio | St. Edward HS High School: Three-star recruit by 247Sports.com ... two-year letterwinner for coach Tom Lombardo at St. Edward HS ... 2019 third-team All-State, first-team All-District, and Honorable Mention All-Plain Dealer selection ... ... team was 2019 regional runner-up ... 2018 OHSAA Division I state champion ... also played basketball ... National Honor Society student. ISIAH CHILDS Running Back • Freshman • 6-1 • 205 Manhattan, Kan. | Wamego HS High School: Three-star recruit by 247Sports.com ... two-way player for coach Weston Moody at Wamego HS ... saw action at running back and safety ... 2019 3A Offensive Player of the Year finalist ... 2019 Top 100 Seniors ... first-team All-State at running back and first-team All-Conference ... during prep career, totaled 2,356 all-purpose yards and 34 touchdowns ... as a senior in 2019, helped team to a 6-3 record ... had 1,115 yards and 16 touchdowns ... participated in the Kansas Shrine Bowl ... also participated in basketball and track ... had an offer from Kansas State. TEON DOLLARD Running Back • Junior • 5-11 • 200 Lake City, Fla. | Columbia HS | Independence CC Will enroll at Akron in January 2020. College: Three-star recruit by 247Sports.com ... As a Sophomore (2019): Saw action in 10 games at Independence Community College in 2019 under head coach Kiyoshi Harris... rushed for 569 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 56.9 yards per game ... helped the Pirates to a 8-2 overall record and 6-1 conference mark ... had 13 carries for 84 yards and two touchdowns against Highland ... rushed for 130 yards and a score on 15 carries in the win at Iowa Central ... had two touchdowns in the win over Butler ... As a Freshman (2018): Played at Alabama A&M for the 2018 season ... rushed 21 times for 61 yards and a touchdown ... scored first collegiate touchdown at Arkansas-Pine Bluff ... also had a 13-yard reception ... had 10 carries for 28 yards at Cincinnati ... had an offer from Stephen F. Austin. High School: Played for coach Brian Allen at Columbia HS ... third-team All-Conference ... over prep career, had 176 carries for 1,444 yards ... as a senior, had 1,191 yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging 8.4 yards per carry. TONY GEORGES Offensive Lineman • Freshman • 6-2 • 290 Westlake, Ohio | Saint Ignatius HS High School: Three-year letterwinner for coach Chuck Kyle at Saint Ignatius HS, the alma mater of coach Tom Arth ... played tackle, guard, and center ... 2019 Honorable Mention All-District and Honorable Mention All-Plain Dealer pick ... also a four-year letterwinner in track and field. COLE GEST Running Back • Redshirt Senior • 5-9 • 195 Solon, Ohio | St. Edward HS | Indiana Will enroll at Akron in January 2020. College: Spent three seasons at Indiana ... earned bachelor’s degree in liberal studies in 2019 ... As a Redshirt Junior (2019): Played in four games ... rushed four times for 12 yards and a touchdown ... also registered a 21-yard kickoff return ... As a Redshirt Sophomore (2018): Academic All-Big Ten selection ... suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the season-opening win at Florida International ... rushed five times for 17 yards and caught one pass for 10 yards ... As a Redshirt Freshman (2017): Academic All-Big Ten selection ... played in 10 games with one start (at Maryland) ... finished second on the team with 428 yards on 93 attempts (4.6 average) with one touchdown in 10 games with one start (at Maryland) ... his 428 yards were the fourth-highest freshman total in the Big Ten ... made 10 catches for 83 yards and one touchdown ... reached the century mark for the first time with 104 yards on a career-high 23 carries (4.5) with one score in the Rutgers win ... ran for 82 yards on 17 attempts (4.8) the previous weekend in the victory at Illinois ... also recorded a career-best three receptions for 27 yards for a career-high 109 all-purpose yards, making him the IU Offensive Player of the Game ... pulled in a 23-yard touchdown and finished with a career-high 28 yards on two catches at Maryland ... added a career-best three receptions for 27 yards to push his career-high all-purpose yardage total to 109 ... recorded 40-plus yards over three straight weeks vs. Georgia Southern (45), at No. 4 Penn State (48) and vs. Charleston Southern (47) ... pulled in a 23-yard touchdown and finished with a career-high 28 yards on two catches at Maryland ... IU offensive player of the game (Illinois) ... As a Freshman (2016): Rushed for 47 yards on 10 attempts in the first three games before suffering a season-ending injury and received a medical redshirt ... returned five kickoffs for 110 yards. High School: Running back for head coach Tom Lombardo at St. Edward HS ... led St. Edward to Division I state championships in 2014 and 2015 and a 27-3 record ... finished his prep career as the school’s all-time leading rusher with nearly 4,000 yards and 50 career rushing touchdowns ... scored at least one TD in 24 consecutive games ... first-team All-Ohio and first-team All-District in 2015 ... rushed for 2,097 yards with 25 scores as a senior ... added 20 receptions, 342 yards and three touchdowns ... also had 20 receptions, 342 yards and three touchdowns as a senior ... collected 1,854 rushing yards and 25 TDs as a junior ... named first-team All-District and special mention All-Ohio ... rated the No. 65 prospect in Ohio by Rivals. WOOBENDY GUERRIER Defensive Back • Junior • 6-0 • 200 Homestead, Fla. | South Dade HS | Butler CC Will enroll at Akron in January 2020. College: Three-star recruit by 247Sports.com ... As a Sophomore (2019): Played cornerback for coach Tim Schaffner at Butler Community College ... team went 10-3 overall ... saw action in four games ... had eight tackles and a break-up ... As a Freshman (2018): Played for Dodge City Community College ... saw action in six games ... had seven tackles and an interception. High School: Played safety and corner for coach Nat Hudson at South Dade HS ... participated in the 2017 All-Star game ... also ran track ... competed in the 100- and 200-meter races as well as the long jump. JULIAN HICKS Wide Receiver • Redshirt Junior • 6-3 • 200 Cleveland, Ohio | Mayfield HS | Central Michigan Current Akron student, transferred 2019. As a Redshirt Sophomore (2019): Played in 11 games with nine starts at wide receiver ... had 32 receptions for 212 yards and two touchdowns ... made his first reception as a Zip at Central Michigan ... had two receptions for 12 yards and a touchdown at UMass ... had four receptions for 28 yards and a one-yard rush against Kent State ... led the Zips with a career-high 51 yards on nine receptions against Buffalo ... led the Zips with three receptions for 22 yards at Northern Illinois ... had an 11-yard reception at Bowling Green ... led the Zips with seven receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown against Eastern Michigan ... led the Zips with five receptions for 40 yards at Miami. MYJADEN HORTON Defensive Back • Freshman • 6-2 • 190 Cincinnati, Ohio | Princeton HS Will enroll at Akron in January 2020. High School: Three-star recruit by 247Sports.com ... three-year letterwinner at quarterback and safety ... played for coach Mike Daniels at Princeton HS as a senior ... transferred to Princeton after junior season at La Salle ... as a junior, threw for 742 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 362 yards and three touchdowns ... began his prep career at Lakota West ... as a sophomore in 2017, threw for 989 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 134 yards and three touchdowns in 2017 ... had offers from Kentucky and Louisville. JUAN JARRETT Linebacker • Freshman • 6-2 • 185 Cincinnati, Ohio | Princeton HS High School: Three-star recruit by 247Sports.com ... two-year letterwinner for coach Mike Daniels at Princeton HS ... registered more than 30 tackles as a senior ... also ran track ... had offers from Central Michigan, Georgia Tech, and Kansas. JOEY MAROUSEK Quarterback • Freshman • 6-2 • 195 North Royalton, Ohio | North Royalton HS High School: Three-star recruit by 247Sports.com ... four-year letterwinner at quarterback for coach Nick Ciulli at North Royalton HS ... three-year team captain ... three-time All-Ohio, All-District, and All-Suburban League selection ... 2019 OHSFCA Academic All-Ohio ... during prep career, went 402-of-772 for for 6,613 yards and 64 touchdowns ... rushed for 1,787 yards and 26 touchdowns ... first sophomore team captain in school history ... also participated in baseball and track ... two-time All-Suburban League pick in baseball ... 2019 Prep Baseball Report All-State and All-District pick ... four-year Class President ... National Honor Society student ... Highest Academic Honors (all grading periods) ... eight-time Suburban League Scholar-Athlete ... Student Advisory Board member ... Lettermen’s Club member. RYAN McCLAIN Linebacker • Sophomore • 6-4 • 250 Albuquerque, N.M. | La Cueva HS | Garden City CC Will enroll at Akron in January 2020. College: As a Freshman (2019): Played defensive end for coach Tim Minnick at Garden City Community College ... Honorable Mention All-KJCAA ... team went 8-3 overall ... tallied 44 tackles, five sacks, and 10 TFL ... spent 2018 at Arizona Western College but did not play ... Dean’s List student ... had an offer from Kent State. High School: Three-year letterwinner for coach Brandon Back at La Cueva HS ... team was the 2017 state championship runner-up ... All-State, All-6A Conference, and Team MVP ... as a senior, had 12 sacks ... invited to the All-Star game. JONZELL NORRILS Running Back • Freshman • 5-10 • 205 Toledo, Ohio | Central Catholic HS High School: Played running back for coach Greg Dempsey at Central Catholic HS ... 2019 first-team All-State, All-TRAC and D-II Northwest Ohio All-District selection ... helped team to 2019 Three Rivers Athletic Conference championship and eighth consecutive regional final ... team made three appearance in the state quarterfinals and won three regional championships ... as a senior, rushed for 1,965 yards and 31 touchdowns on 298 carries ... also played basketball and ran track ... All-TRAC honoree in basketball ... Honor Roll student. CHU OGBONNA Defensive Back • Redshirt Junior • 6-2 • 180 Marietta, Ga. | Wheeler HS | Hutchinson CC Will enroll at Akron in January 2020. College: Three-star recruit by 247Sports.com ... As a Redshirt Sophomore (2019): Saw action in nine games for coach Rion Rhoades ... team went 10-2 overall and finished No. 3 nationally .... had six tackles and three break-ups ... had two tackles each in the win over Butler and at Highland ... had a stop and a break-up in the win over Dodge City ... As a Redshirt Freshman (2018): Spent two seasons at Middle Tennessee ... did not play ... As a Freshman (2017): Redshirted ... had an offer from UMass. High School: Two-year letterwinner for coach Mike Collins at Wheeler HS ... 2017 All-Conference selection ... had four interceptions and 12 break-ups. MICHAEL SNOWDEN Linebacker • Freshman • 6-2 • 195 Pittsburgh, Pa. | University Prep High School: Three-star recruit by 247Sports.com ... played running back and linebacker for coach Lou Berry at University Prep ... as a senior, helped team to a 6-1 record and 4-0 mark in City League play en route to the City Championship game ... 2019 City League Hall of Fame ... had 1,267 yards and 19 touchdowns on 176 carries ... finished second in rushing in program history ... finished second in rushing in program history ... 2019 City League Hall of Fame ... as a senior, had 1,267 yards and 19 touchdowns on 176 carries ... also had 11 receptions for 94 yards as well as 110 tackle at linebacker ... 2017 Newcomer Award ... also ran track ... finished third in the 100- and 200-meter events. NAZIR SY Defensive Lineman • Sophomore • 6-2 • 290 Peachtree Corners, Ga. | Norcross HS | Butler CC Will enroll at Akron in January 2020. College: As a Freshman (2019): Two-star recruit by 247Sports.com ... played for coach Tim Schaffner at Butler Community College ... team went 10-3 overall ... saw action in 13 games ... registered 42 tackles, including 13 solo stops and 7.5 TFL, and 4.5 sacks for a loss of 30 yards. High School: Three-year letterwinner for coach Keith Maloof at Norcross HS ... All-Conference selection. JANIRR WADE Defensive Lineman • Freshman • 6-4 • 280 Stone Mountain, Ga. | Stephenson HS Will enroll at Akron in January 2020. High School: Three-star recruit by 247Sports.com ... played defensive end, tackle, and tight end for coach Ron Gartrell at Stephenson HS ... 2019 and 2018 All-Region and All-County selection ... over prep career, had 200 tackle, 16 sacks, 27 TFL, and five forced fumbles ... also participated in track and field ... had offers from Bowling Green, Purdue, and Rutgers. NATE WILLIAMS Offensive Lineman • Freshman • 6-6 • 295 Utica, Ohio | Newark Catholic HS High School: Three-year letterwinner for coach Ryan Aiello at Newark Catholic HS ... 2019 All-Ohio AP Special Mention, first-team All-Advocate, first-team All-Conference ... three-time Player of the Week ... 2018 Honorable Mention All-Conference ... saw action on offensive and defensive lines .... also played baseball for two years ... National Honor Society student ... four-year Honor Roll member ... volunteered for two years as junior high assistant football coach. BRYCEN YARMO Tight End • Redshirt Sophomore • 6-5 • 250 Hudson, N.H. | Phillips Exeter Academy | Coffeyville CC Will enroll at Akron in January 2020. College: As a Redshirt Freshman (2019): Spent the 2019 season at Coffeyville Community College ... played tight end for coach Aaron Flores ... Honorable Mention All-Jayhawk Conference selection saw action in seven games ... had three receptions for 32 yards ... As a Freshman (2018): Redshirted as a true freshman at Arizona Western College ... had offers from BYU and UMass. High School: Spent one season of post-grad play at Phillips Exeter Academy for coach Rob Morris ... participated in the 2015 New Hampshire vs. Vermont Shrine Bowl ... also wrestled ... graduated from Alvirne HS in 2015. Press Conference

This was taken yesterday. "Newer" field.

Ball State knocks off Georgia Tech.

For fun - what we've done so far compared to my wants: QB: (1) 1 freshman (-1 transfer) RB: (4) 2 freshman, 2 transfers. (+1 freshman, +1 transfer) WR: (1) 1 Hicks (counting him as a transfer) (-2 freshman, +1 transfer) TE: (2) - 1 freshman, 1 transfer. (no difference) OL: (3) - 3 freshman (-2 transfers) DL: (3) - 2 freshman, 1 transfer (no difference) LB: (3) - 2 freshman, 1 transfer (not going to attempt to guess if they will play inside/outside, -1 freshman, +1 transfer) DB: (3) - 1 freshman 2 transfers (not going to attempt to guess where they will play, -2 freshman, -1 transfer)

If you go look at the 2019 recruiting thread you can see who. There were very who stayed committed to Arth. Too early to tell about their on field impact as so many Freshmen redshirt.

Gotta have a big back who can run behind a competent O-line. I am still old enough to believe that a team in the MAC still needs a running game capable of getting 100 yards week in and week out. Used to drive me crazy how much they ran the ball in the 70's under Dennison. BUT,while I know this is not the '70's teams still have to be able to have a credible run threat no matter the QB. Makes life much easier for any O-line. Don't know if they have a RB on this roster but they need to get one.

This article is 2+ months old now, but I don't think anyone posted it previously. Nice to see 2 Zips, DeAndre Yedlin and Darlington Nagbe, rightfully included in this list. A dream 11 men's college soccer players active professionally DeAndre Yedlin – Akron (2011-12) In those two years, Yedlin appeared in each of the Zips’ 45 matches. The versatile wing back was a difficult matchup given his speed and thorough understanding of multiple positions. Yedlin tallied six assists in both years with Akron, helping the Zips to the third round of the NCAA tournament each time. He was a two-time All-MAC selection. Since turning pro, Yedlin became the first Zip to play for the United States Men’s National Team at the FIFA World Cup. That international attention prompted a move from the MLS to the English Premier League, where he currently plays for Newcastle United. Darlington Nagbe – Akron (2008-10) Nagbe began his career at Akron as a freshman beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. By the end of his junior year, the midfielder was the engine that drove Akron to its first-ever national championship. The Zips were at the pinnacle of college soccer during Nagbe’s tenure, going 62-4-7 in that stretch. Nagbe registered 57 points over his career, was twice named an All-American, in addition to three All-MAC nods, a place on the College Cup All-Tournament Team and the 2010 MAC Hermann Award He’s played the full extent of his professional career in the MLS. After seven seasons with the Portland Timbers, Nagbe was traded to Atlanta United. He’s won two MLS Cup titles, one with each club.

QB: No idea what Kato will do next season. If he transfers it'd likely be to a MEAC program. I'm a big fan of Gibson. If he can get a decent line in front of him, I think he can do some great things at UA. Assuming Kato departs, a 5th year senior makes sense to bring in and compete with Gibson. RB: Hayes-Patrick has a ways to go. But he'll be a RS Fr next season, so it will be interesting to see how he improves in the off-season. Tough to bank on Reese. He was off the roster for the bulk of the season, and was injured almost immediately. Is he another Deltron? We need a game-breaking RB so freaking bad. When't the last great back we've had at UA? Brett Biggs? Dennis Kennedy? It's been 15 years since a marquee player toted the ball for the Zips. TE: Wofley is a beast. But can he hold up? I'd LOVE to see the Zips get a tall TE. A 6'5" or taller legit pass-catching threat who can also help protect on the edge rush. WR: Tough to be a Zips WR this season, when 1/2 way into your routes the QB is on his back. Looking forward to getting Morris back. I'll take a game-breaking WR if he's out there, but we have much greater needs than WR in 2020. OL: To me, Council and Gray are the only two guaranteed starters in 2020. I hope the other incumbents have monster season's in the weight room and surprise next year, but I'd go hard with JUCO's and Grad Transfer's here. Love to see 3-4 of them. DL: We need a lot of help here. Ditto with 3-4 JUCO DL's. We also need edge rushers BADLY. Our defense under Bowden was so effective with guys like Jamal Marcus, Jatavis Brown and Jamal Davis. Opposing QB's jersey's were way to clean in 2019. We need disruptive ballers coming off the edge! LB: Definitely room for an impact JUCO or two here. Scott and Glover are ok. Bubba is ok. but if we're running a 3-4, we need to upgrade here. Will Sampson ever get above 210 lbs? If he could put on 15 ponds this off-season, we'd have something. He has the motor, but not the strength. CB: The young guys did a nice job as the season progressed. Adding a JUCO or two would be helpful. Safety/Nickel: We'll miss Davis. Daranijo is my favorite to make an impact in 2020. Watts can definitely play too, but will he play CB or DB? Punter - My Hudson homie Jonah Wieland had a very pedestrian season. I don't know that we'll see him punting for the Zips in 2020. Kyle Romenick was a 5-star recruit, and will definitely get a long look next year. Kicker - Corey Smigel seems destined to assume the PK role. He's looked reliable in limited opportunities. 0-12 is what it is. Everyone's job should be up for grabs. Hopefully we get a big time talent influx next season. Especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Can we get back to the pinnacle? My guess (and hope) is YES!

.