Leaderboard

Just finished watching this YouTube interview. Wow! Coach Joe has hired some fantastic staff. I defy anyone to watch this interview and not come away thinking our program is destined for excellence. I want to do everything I can to keep Joe and his staff here for as long as possible. I can't wait for the fall. we will not win 'em all, but this team will make us proud. In Joe We Trust!

I could be wrong, but doesn't there have to be 6 teams in a conference for the conference champ to get an automatic bid? Also, what happened to Georgia State and Georgia Southern who were both in the MAC for men's soccer last year?

It’s early, but assuming we line up in a 4-3 I’m guessing the defense will look something like what’s listed below. What I like about the 2022 version is the versatility we have - especially on the defensive line. If we go into a 4-2-5, like was mostly shown in the 2nd half of the spring game (I missed the first half), we’d drop the SAM LB and add a Nickel. In that case, I’d guess Boateng would be shifted to WILL and one of defensive backs would be slotted at Nickel. For pass rush, we shifted down the OLBs to the edge and slid one or both DEs inside. WDE: Ryan Johnson Zach Morton NT: Curtis Harper Bryce Wilson DT: Devon Robinson Ravontae Holt SDE: Victor Jones Curtis Fann WILL: Corey Thomas Jr. Julian Richardson MIKE: Bubba Arslanian Andrew Behm SAM: Jeslord Boateng Ryan McClain CB: Cam Threatt Tyson Durant FS: KJ Martin Nate Thompson SS: Jaylen Kelly-Powell Jaden Woods CB: Jaylen Hooks Devonte Golden-Nelson There are a number of different combinations that could be fielded. We definitely have more talent on the defensive side of the ball than in 2021, so it’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out. What are the board’s thoughts?

Soccer recruiting has changed greatly since the Porter years. Akron used to get a decent amount of top 25 to top 50 recruits from 2007 to 2010. Now, with MLS and MLS Next and foreign leagues. probably 30 out of the top 35 ranked recruits turn pro and do not go to college. Signing the 53th ranked player is an outstanding coup for zips recruiting. In the fall 2022 recruiting class, I believe that Stefan Dobrijevic and Levi Stephens are the 2 highest rated recruits. They are in the range of 89 to 92. For the fall 2021 recruiting class, I think that GK Mitchell Budler was the highest ranked recruit. Mitchell was ranked in the high 50's. I am sure that Joshua Hardin participates in many national soccer events. It would be tremendous if young Mr. Hardin could convince some other top 100 recruits to come to Akron.

Go Zips

I wasn’t sure where to put Tim Terry as we haven’t heard much about him. I could definitely see Durant and Hawkins pushing for starting minutes.

This is actually one of my favorite preseason pastimes, but we have so many new players I'm really at a loss. We were so bad last year one has to assume most of our transfers on D will at least make the 2-deep this season. But being unfamiliar with what seems like half the roster has me flying blind this summer. Here's my two-deep. To highlight how unprecedented this is, I've italicized the transfers who are new to the roster this season. DT: Curtis Harper Ravontae Holt DT: Logan Hawkins Devon Robinson DE: Victor Jones Ryan Johnson DE: Zach Morton Curtis Fann LB: Jeslord Boateng Brian McClain LB: Bubba Tim Terry LB: Julian Richardson Corey Thomas Jr. CB: Cam Threatt Devonte Golden-Nelson CB: Tyson Durant Jalen Hooks S: Kerry Martin Jr. Nate Thompson S: Jalen Kelley-Powell Noel Roach

I see that there are no replies to this very thought provoking post. For the most part, I cannot agree or disagree with the 2 deep since I have not been present at the spring practices and may not possess the skills to evaluate all of the positions. I do not believe that fans can put together an accurate 2 deep depth chart without in depth knowledge of what is going on in the practices. Based on pure speculation and reading the signing clips of the players, I think this analysis is pretty good. Based on past performances, I do seriously question the WDE and WILL two deep persons listed above. The remainder may work, we shall see. In Joe We Trust!!!!

Let’s just be honest. He was a complete joke. Zero relationship with the players. All the best ones left and won elsewhere. It was cool to have a household name, but you can’t go home to Florida for months at a time and kill it in college sports. Kids today don’t have a damn clue who players from the 80s and 90s are. Go hire a college baseball coach. Not some “name”.

Totally in over his head from the jump, as would just about anyone. The entire strategy of bringing back baseball and adding WLAX was a total cluster*** by Larry Williams & Co. Thank goodness for the Skeeles family for donating the funds to at least give us a D1 facility. But UA baseball is not currently setup to even be average in the MAC. UA half-assed the revival to this point. Big opportunity here for Guthrie to right the ship.

I never heard many good things about the guy

Not a surprise. Guthrie was not happy with his leadership nor how he ran the program. It had nothing to do with wins and losses.

https://www.audacy.com/wqam/podcasts/south-florida-high-school-sports-radio-141/coach-joe-moorehead-with-larry-blustein-06-01-22-1444046924