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I believe Alex Abreu was inducted into the DEA and United States Postal Service Halls of Fame.

Our old friend Bob Huggins is reportedly going to be one of this year's inductees into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Congrats Bob. Well deserved.

Here is a possible fit. Currently in the portal from Georgetown. Local Cleveland player from Lutheran East that we previously showed interest in before he committed to Georgetown. https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2021/jalin-billingsley-259900

Receiver was again the deepest position on offense, but the struggles at QB prevented a higher level of production in 2023. Alex Adams - [Grad., Returning] - (5.7) 3 ⭐️ - Former transfer from LSU. Adams was an explosive player in high school that hadn’t lived up to his potential at LSU. In his first year at Akron, that explosiveness returned and he was voted 1st Team All-MAC. Adams played in 11 games in 2022 and collected 63 receptions for 855 yards and 9 touchdowns. Adams spent the majority of 2023 injuried and only caught 22 passes for 188 yards and 2 touchdowns. Adams was held out during the 2024 spring game. HS FILM * Star Rating Take: It’s still early for Adams, but he’s definitely trending towards his original (5.7) 3 ⭐️ status. Tim Grear - [Redshirt Senior, New] - (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (JUCO) / (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (Portal) - Transfer from Fresno State. Former JUCO that may have two years of eligibility left. Myles Walker - [Redshirt Senior, Returning] - (5.3) 2 ⭐️ - Walker exhibits a fluid stride and gets up to his top end speed quickly. He did not see playing time in 2022, but was the surprise of the receiving corps during the spring game in 2023. Walker finished the season with 8 receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown. Walker was a starter in the 2024 spring game and flashes the ability to runs solid routes and catch the ball when it comes his way. HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD Brandon “Bebe” Hills - [Redshirt Sophomore, New] - (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (HS) / (5.4) 2 ⭐️ Portal - Transfer from Washington State. Israel Polk - [Redshirt Sophomore, Returning] - (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (HS) / ((5.5) 3 ⭐️ (Portal) - Transfer from Pittsburgh. Polk is a smooth strider with deceptive speed and excellent body control. He did not play much during his freshman year at PITT, but has the potential to develop into an All-MAC caliber player. There is a ton of talent at wide receiver, so it remains to be seen how quickly Polk pushes for significant snaps. Polk was a post spring roster addition. HS FILM * Jean Louis - [Redshirt Sophomore, Returning] - (5.3) 2 ⭐️ - Louis has great hands and excellent balance. He tends to make over-the-shoulder catches look easy when they can often be tricky. As expected, Louis redshirted in 2023. He looked like a receiver who is on the verge of being ready to contribute in the 2024 spring game. HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD Paul Davis - [Redshirt Sophomore, Returning] - (5.5) 3 ⭐️ - Davis is a former Duke commitment out of Georgia. He has a college ready frame at 6’0” 195lbs and is a strong athlete. Davis’ best traits are probably his body control and excellent hands. He flashes a large catch radius and attacks the ball in the air. Davis does not seem that fast on film, yet defenders have a difficult time both chasing him down and tackling him. Davis redshirted in 2023. Like Louis, Davis looked like he is in the verge of being ready to contribute during the spring. HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD Kyan Mason - [Redshirt Freshman, Returning] - (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Mason is a long strider who has a lot of similarities to Shocky Jacques-Louis coming out of HS. He has sure hands, understands angles, and finds a way to get open. Mason also returned punts and kickoffs. He enrolled post spring. HS FILM * Cameron Monteiro - [Redshirt Freshman, New] - Transfer from Pittsburgh. Marcel Williams - [Redshirt Freshman, New) - Transfer from Marshall. Luke Sivon - [Freshman, New] - NR - Late addition to the early signing period and first prep signee by coach Brookhart. Sivon has excellent body control and great feet. He also has a smooth stride with seeming plenty of speed. It’ll be difficult for Sivon to crack the rotation as a freshman, but he may turn out to be a sneaky good pickup down the road. HS FILM Dominic Monds - [Redshirt Freshman, Returning] - NR - Walk-on. Troy Hazuda - [Freshman, New] - Walk-on. New wide receivers coach JD Brookhart has already made his mark on this group with the post spring portal additions of Granger and Polk. Wide receiver will likely prove to be the most talented position on offense again, but consistent QB play is needed to throw them the ball. - JUCO Jacobi Moore did not make it to campus. Scholarship Players: Alex Adams Tim Grear Myles Walker Brandon Hills Jean Louis Paul Davis Ahmarian Granger Israel Polk Kyan Mason Cameron Monteiro Marcel Williams Luke Sivon Added: Tim Grear Brandon Hills Cameron Monteiro Marcel Williams Luke Sivon Removed: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (HS) - Bobby Golden - TP = Louisville (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (HS) - Adrian Norton - TP = Marshall (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (JUCO) - Jarvis Rush - TP = (5.6) 3 ⭐️ (HS) - Phaizon Wilson - TP = (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (HS) - Ahmarian Granger - TP (?) = (5.2) 2 ⭐️ (JUCO) - Justin Campbell - Graduation (?) NR - Isaiah Jones - Walk-on Removed Before 2024 Season: (5.8) 4 ⭐️ (HS) - Daniel George - Graduation. - Star Rating Take: (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (TP) - Jasaiah Gathings - TP = UCONN - Star Rating Take: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ ️ (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - Caleb Anderson - TP = Alcorn State - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ (5.3) 2 ⭐️ (HS) (Walk-on) - Jax Smith - TP = Southwestern Oklahoma State Removed Before 2023 Season: (5.7) 3 ⭐️ - Shocky Jacques-Louis - Grad. - Star Rating Take: (5.5) 3 ⭐️ NR - Jalen Knight - Grad. - Walk-on NR - Shawn Naim - TP (12/31/2022) = Vanderbilt- Walk-on NR - Tony Grimes - TP (1/11/2023) = Slippery Rock - Walk-on NR - Jameel Williamson - TP? - Walk-on NR - Clayton Bone - TP? - Walk-on (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Dakota Thomas - TP (5/23/2023) = Southern Miss - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ (5.6) 3 ⭐️ - Anthony Williams - TP (6/16/2023) = Alcorn State - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ Before 2022 season: (5.2) 2 ⭐️ - Oran Singleton Jr = Hutchinson CC - Star Rating Take: (5.2) 2 ⭐️ NR - Timothy Scippio - Walk-on NR - Alec LeSpina - Walk-on NR - Bryce Profitt - Walk-on

If the basketball gods don't honor the sanctity of April Fool's Day, there's no hope left in the world.

Last year, RB started as a position of strength, but it went down hill fast. The serious fans remember the details with the arrest and dropouts. So, I am not yet calling this a position of strength until we get into the season with no casualties. Norrils - I really like his running, even out of high school. However, he got in the dog house last year for whatever reason and played little to none in several games. He should be the lead RB starting the season. He has good speed and power, and I like his inside running. Although he is listed as a sophomore due to Covid, this will be his third year and a breakout year. Williams - I loved this transfer, but he did little to impress last year. Hopefully, the new staff will turn him around. Wiley - add depth, but he had little success at Minnesota. He fills a position of need as a backup, but I am not expecting him to contribute much. Kellom - As I have stated in other posts, I expect him to be great by his second year. I saw Kareem Hunt play multiple times in high school at Willoughby South and college at Toledo, and I am hoping Kellom follows suit. He has size, speed, shiftiness, and he sat out almost half of the second half of his senior games since they were skunking their opponents. Let him get acclimated to college, and then let him take off. On first glance, we are set at this position pending no injuries or suspensions, but I thought the same thing last year. In Joe We Trust!!!!

Trimble has landed at Missouri State

I think The Pointer Sisters sang about this back in the day. "I need a Center with a soft hand, I need a Zip with an easy touch."

#FreeGeorgeThomas

On my phone so can’t post link, but we’ve received a verbal commitment from an OL. Maurice Long, 6-6, 285, out of South Point, Ohio.

TOS to OU

Who's Boles

Agreed. That was an excellent class that Arth brought in. As far as Singleton and Walker go, they really need to be pushing towards 185 lbs to give themselves their best chance to make it through an entire season. Golden is already in that range and could be an X-factor this year, depending on how the dominos fall. Im really excited about Adams as well. We may land a few more like him as all teams have to get down to the 85 scholarship limit before the 2022 season starts. So that means more talented players, that haven’t quite lived up to their potential, will be entering the portal after spring ball.

https://www.prohoopscombine.com/

I have read many of the posts and have the following comments: Irons - I am not a fan. He is a good runner and has had some hot stretches, but he is very inconsistent. He missed many wide open receivers. Also, I did not like his decision making. Gibson took over and played much better and put us in position to win games. We have better options. Marousek - I have not seen enough of him to comment. Although he did not play a great high school schedule. Jennings - As I have stated in other posts, I get nervous on QB's who are sub. 500 with their high school record. He has some good tapes, and the good plays are high lighted. Give him time to develop and we will see. Jankowski - first team all Florida in the biggest division. Reminds me of Rothlisberger since he played behind a starter until his senior year. The difference is that Rothlisberger played behind the coaches son and Ryan's dad was the coach. I think he has the arm strength and can run when needed. He will be successful. I will support whoever wins the job. In Joe We Trust!!!

No longer April Fool's Day. Don't want people who didn't see this on APD to think it's real, thus jinxing the program potentially. If this actually happens, you may take a community poll to vote me off the island (AKA ban me from ZipsNation).

Groce tried playing them together on the court numerous times and it didn't work offensively. It just made it easier for opposing teams to double Freeman to force him to have to pass and allowed defenses to pack the paint to prevent guards from getting to the hoop as Aziz shooting range is about 2 feet from the basket and Freeman is less than 10 feet. Freeman is at his best when he is isolated in man defense in the low post. If he's playing next to another post player you want said post player to be able to at least knock down a mid-ranger that way it can keep the defense honest.

It happens. Arizona State football had a kid who went in, then committed to return then went back in and transferred. It's all nuts.

Aziz is a Pivot man. Freeman is a PF. I don't see a conflict. Though I do think Freeman and Ali had a developing chemistry that will be missed.

How about sending Ali Ali to Ball State to complete the trade for K.J. Walton?

South Point OH is named very appropriately. Aren't going to find much out there on Mr. Long besides his short Hudl film. Seems basically non-existent on social media outside of his twitter profile with 2 posts.

I don’t know the numbers for each team in college football. Nor do I know where I can find an accurate scholarship count for Akron - 247’s list is not correct. I know most Power 5 teams were/are over the limit due to last year’s senior class - and any players who were currently enrolled - getting an extra year of eligibility if they wanted it. The NCAA permits up to 25 scholarships to be given each year. For this year, each school received an extra scholarship to give for each player that transferred out up to 7 max. So if 7 or more players transferred out, a school would have up to 32 scholarships to give for this years class. However, not all schools give the full allotted amount every year as it is. As a way of getting around the numbers, blueshirting has gained popularity. It’s a way to add more players to the current year’s class, but the scholarship actually counts towards the following year.

Thank you! I enjoy doing it and it helps me to get to know the roster more thoroughly. On a side note, I tried to like your post, but it looks like a technical glitch won’t let me. 😕

I really liked Arth's last WR class of Singleton, Mumpfield, Gathings, and Walker. Mumpfield obviously gone. We saw some flashes from Singleton last year as a true freshman (though he got banged up some). Gathings was out all year injured, and as far as I know Walker was fine but didn't get PT...but his HS tape was explosive as hell. Shockey and Adams should at worst case be solid MAC WRs. Its really hard for me NOT to be excited about a young WR from LSU. Not playing young isn't an indictment against him IMO considering that talent that comes out of there, which is in the same tier of OSU and Bama. We know Scippio and Grimes are capable of playing at this level as well, though there probably just-a-guy at most. I think we'll be pleasantly surprised with this group.

@catdaddypI really appreciate your in-depth analysis of the various positions and all of your contributions. Welcome to Zipsnation and I look forward to reading all of your future posts. My two cents on the WR's. I am looking for immediate WR1 contributions from Shockey and I'm hoping that Adams is going to step in an be our WR2 and live up to his potential. I really am interested to see how Golden develops and believe he will get some playing time as a Freshman and become a starter by his Sophomore season. Grimes sort of came out of nowhere a couple seasons ago and was impressive at times, but really disappeared last season. I'm not sure where I stand on the rest of the group yet.

I sure hope you didn't just jinx us Let'sGoZips94!

I vote we do that anyway!!!

AHA, it's your fault.

Well with all the transfers, it might be Evan Wilson’s time! 😂

Dawson in Minneapolis for the ProHoops Combine. https://twitter.com/CoachJackson21/status/1509250715222425601?s=20&t=JTxtuEGY4dNulzTxV7rsGQ

Excellent! Have not heard about Shultz in a while.

https://www.greenvilletriumph.com/news/2022/03/31/trialists-cox-ashwood-nate-shultz-sign-contracts-for-2022/

When our returning OL were true FR, we had a 1000 yd rusher(that threw this career down the toilet). They are bigger & stronger now. With the additions, l think MO's Offense will allow us to move the ball on the ground and air.