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Lots of folks disagreeing with me. That's OK, but I'm still not convinced that BVP is good for us. Groce does best when guys are in his system 2-3 years. I don't believe he helps us that much. In fact I don't think he is quick enough to play in Groce's trapping ZeeFence. Keep helping me understand the error of my ways. We all want the Zips to excel. On second thought, the hell with excel. Let's kick everyone's ass!

He did play and did quite well until he came up against the famous kryptonite defense of coach Lex Luther. It was ugly. A little known fact is that on Luther's staff was a young rookie assistant called Satan. After learning all he could from Luther Satan changed his name to Sabin and the rest is history. If you want facts you will find them here at ZNO.

Any transfer we are going to get is either going to be a player who felt they were “too good” for their situation or clearly not “good enough” for their situation. Choose wisely. I want the best players for our team. I don’t care if they come from Ohio, Long Beach State, or Wake Forest. I’m not going to pretend I know if a player doesn’t have a team oriented attitude or won’t commit to playing defense. Coaches job is to vet that.

Louisville 1 Marshall 4 FINAL Dayton 1 Ohio State 0 FINAL Marshall wins the South, awaits the winner of Bowling Green/Akron tomorrow.

The defensive backs were not elite, but were quietly solid in 2023 - finishing with the 4th best pass defense in the MAC. Pass defense improved to 187.3 YPG, which is an upgrade from 243.8 YPG in 2022. The DBs will look to take another step forward with a lot of new faces and a new cornerbacks coach. (CB) Alex Branch - [Redshirt Senior, New] - (5.3) 2 ⭐️ (HS) / (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (Portal) - Transfer from Kent State. Malcolm DeWalt - [Redshirt Senior, Returning] - NR (JUCO) - Long DB with excellent size. DeWalt is physically ready to contribute and can play most positions in the secondary, but is best suited at cornerback. DeWalt has excellent hand/eye coordination and is able to fight off blocks due to his size and reach. DeWalt enrolled post spring. JUCO FILM Silas Proby - [Redshirt Senior, Returning) - NR (HS) / NR (Portal) - Physical defensive back that has the tools and frame to see time at cornerback and Nickel. Proby did not see the field in 2023 and redshirted. JUCO FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD Ben Kamara - [Redshirt Junior, New] - NR (HS) / NR (Portal) - Transfer from Upper Iowa (DII) where he was 2nd Team All-Conference. Iesa Jarmon - [Redshirt Junior, Returning] - (5.2) 2 ⭐️ (JUCO) - JUCO transfer. Lazy rating by Rivals as Jarmon was a 3 ⭐️ commitment to Cincinnati in the 2021 class. Jarmon is a physical and versatile defensive back that can play anywhere in the secondary. He is an impressive athlete and his physical abilities match up with his HS rating. Jarmon should immediately compete for playing time. Jarmon did not participate in the 2024 spring game. JUCO FILM * Elijah Reed - [Redshirt Junior, Returning] - (5.6) 3 ⭐️ (HS) / (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (Portal) - Transfer from Kentucky. Reed was heavily sought after by Kentucky, Utah, and Purdue coming out of HS. He was a key special teams player at UK, but rarely saw the field on defense. Reed has the potential to become an All-Conference player if he develops. He has the ability to play any position in the secondary, but will likely stick at cornerback. Reed arrived post spring. HS FILM Catrell White - [Redshirt Sophomore , Returning] - (5.3) 2 ⭐️ - Cornerback who is not afraid to come up and assist in run support. White reads the flight of the ball well and has a sense of when to make contact and knock the ball loose. He played in 1 game on special teams and redshirted. White worked opposite Golden-Nelson in the spring and will be ready to contribute this season. HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD. Keyveon Johnson - [Redshirt Freshman, Returning] - (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Former WR that transferred high schools and converted to DB. A little raw as a DB, yet long and athletic. Expect Johnson to redshirt in 2024. Johnson arrived after the spring. Katory Henry-Shaw - [Redshirt Freshman, Returning] - NR - Walk-on. HS FILM * (NB/S) Darrian Lewis - [Redshirt Senior, Returning] - (5.3) 2 ⭐️ - Lewis is physical, a former HS WR, and turned out to be a great fit at Nickel. He played in all 12 games and started 8 in 2022. Lewis took a step forward in 2023 and was the second highest rated defensive back. He started 7 of the 12 games he playing in, collecting 74 total tackles, half a sack, and 3 passes defensed. Lewis will be the starter at NB. HS FILM * Star Rating Take: Somewhat early but probably (5.4) 2 ⭐️. Aman Greenwood - [Redshirt Senior, New] - (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (HS) / (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (Portal) - Grad transfer from Syracuse with 2 years of eligibility. Greenwood started 7 games in 2020 and has seen significant action on defense in 15 games since then. He is a physical player and sure tackler that could play Safety or Nickel. Greenwood should immediately push for a starting position. Greenwood participated in the 2024 spring game. HS FILM * - Portal Offers: Western Kentucky. * Terence Thomas - [Redshirt Junior, Returning] - (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (HS) / (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (Portal) - Thomas signed with Purdue’s 2022 class. However, he was released from his scholarship and never saw playing time. Thomas would probably be productive on either side of the ball, but will be slotted at Nickel. Thomas has plenty of potential to become a big time contributor, but only saw action in 4 games in 2023 on special teams. Thomas participated in the 2024 spring game. HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD. (S) Justin Anderson - [Redshirt Senior, Returning] - NR (JUCO) - All-conference JUCO DB. Anderson is a long and rangy defensive back that could play anywhere in the secondary. Anderson is at his best when coming downhill and is not afraid to assist in run support. He flips his hips well enough to play corner, but may be best suited at safety. Daymon David - [Redshirt Senior, Returning] - (5.8) 4 ⭐️ (HS) / (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (Portal) - Transfer from Oregon. David was a 4 star recruit coming out of HS that has not lived up to the billing as of yet. He possesses all of the physical characteristics that a 4 star would and could become an impact player. David was pushing for a starting spot in the spring. HS FILM. * DiMarco Johnson - [Redshirt Senior, Returning] - (5.3) 2 ⭐️ - Johnson is an athlete with size and length. He’ll go get the ball and displays excellent hand-eye coordination. Johnson was coached well in high school, playing for one of the premier programs in South Carolina. Johnson did not see the field in 2022, but played in all 12 games on special teams in 2023. He collected 6 total tackles. Johnson participated in the 2024 spring game. HS FILM * Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ may be accurate. Mekhi Flowers - [Redshirt Junior, New] - (5.8) 4 ⭐️ (HS) / (5.6) 3 ⭐️ (Portal) - Transfer from Penn State. Jamari Somerville - [Redshirt Sophomore, New] - (5.2) 2 ⭐️ (HS) / (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (Portal) - Transfer from James Madison. Rodrick Hunter - [Redshirt Freshman, Returning] - (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Early enrollee and hard hitting safety that understands angles. Rodrick reads the flight of the ball well and will aggressively come up in run support. He has the potential to eventually become an all-conference player, but will probably redshirt his freshman year. HS FILM * Tairan Davis - [Freshman, New] - (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - HS FILM As expected, a number of defensive backs hit the portal this offseason. 9 new players were brought in with 7 of them from the portal or JUCO. Similar to the defensive line situation during the 2023 peaseason, the DBs have a ton of athleticism, length, and physicality, but there are still many questions to be answered. The only known starters at the moment are Golden-Nelson at one cornerback spot and Darrian Lewis at Nickelback. Every other position in the defensive backfield is open. The good news is no matter who plays, all of the DBs now physically look the part of a G5/P5 athlete and will benefit from a stout defensive front. Scholarship Players: Darrian Lewis DiMarco Johnson Catrell White Terence Thomas Silas Proby Justin Anderson Iesa Jarmon Keyveon Johnson Rodrick Hunter Daymon David Aman Greenwood Macolm DeWalt Elijah Reed Tairan Davis Alex Branch Ben Kamara Jamari Somerville Added: Tairan Davis Alex Branch (TP) Ben Kamara (TP) Jamari Somerville (TP) Mekhi Flowers (TP) Removed: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - Paul Lewis = Graduation. (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (HS) - Darius Owens = TP (5.2) 2 ⭐️ (HS) - Noel Roach = TP (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (HS) - Devonte Golden-Nelson = West Virginia (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - Joey Hunter = TP NR - Sean Conroy - Walk-on = Graduation. NR - Davion Jennings - Walk-on - TP Removed Before 2024 Season: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - S Rishad Hence - TP = Eastern Kentucky (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - S Jaden Woods - TP = East Tennessee State (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - CB Judson Tallandier - Graduation (5.7) 3 ⭐️ (HS) - S Nate Thompson - Graduation. (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (HS) - S KJ Martin - TP = NC State (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - CB Cameron Threatt - TP (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - CB Tyson Durant - TP = Washington State (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (TP) - S Corey Thomas - TP = Virginia (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (HS) - S MyJaden Horton - TP? NR - S David Jester - JUCO NR - CB Zayden Laing-Taylor - JUCO Removed Before 2023 Season: (5.7) 3 ⭐️ - Jaylen Kelly-Powell = Grad. - Star Rating Take: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (5.3) 2 ⭐️ - Chu Ogbonna = Retired = Star Rating Take: (5.2) 2 ⭐️ (5.2) 2 ⭐️ - Charles Amankwaa = TP Rutgers - Star Rating Take: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Ronald Jackson = TP Montana - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ (5.5) 3 ⭐️ - Jalen Hooks = Grad. - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Adetutu Daranijo = Retired - Star Rating Take: (5.2) 2 ⭐️ NR - Joe Malchesky = TP Robert Morris - Walk-on NR - Logan Day = Grad. - Walk-on NR - Kavari Adams = TP? - Walk-on NR - Dontae Pollard = TP - Walk-on Before 2022 season: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Woobendy Guerrier = Retired. - Star Rating Take: (5.2) 2 ⭐️ (5.2) 2 ⭐️ - Randy Cochran Jr. = Retired. - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ NR - Nasari Jackson - Walk-on NR - Quentin Woodall - Walk-on

He bailed on Boals because he felt he was too good. Sounds like another Walton. I trust Groce will bring in a more team-oriented, less me-oriented, transfer.

Top scorer in the nation, Goose from Top Gun - I mean Doug Edert, and a brawl in the stands last season. They're going to have to call it the House that Tim O'Shea Built.

Stretch 4 "drink"

Thad Matta just got himself an 8 to 10 ppg Big East player.

Groce learned under Thad Matta, now Thad Matta is poaching a Groce player. Full circle? Probably the best possible move for Ali aside from staying is going to play for someone that is probably very similar to Groce or at least has an open line of communication with Groce to understand Ali's game.

Diogo Pacheco scored his first professional goal last night for MNUFC 2. Turned out to be the eventual winner in a 3-2 win.

Good! The university and the city have much to gain by cleaning up Exchange Street and making it more friendly for the public. Look at what Kent has done with redeveloping their main drag. It is very nice and a destination for people after work and weekends. Exchange Street could be the same with forethought and imagination. The university has so many events that can draw people. With a nice Exchange Street with shops and restaurants those people will stay. The street improvement is the first step.

2006, post championship in the Fieldhouse. I met Jason Taylor at BW3 and he took a break from his round of Golden Tee to sign my bobblehead box. Won't ever forget it, he was very cordial and flattered.