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From the MAC Stats: Team stats: Akron is 5th in PPG (77.1); 1st in PPG surrendered (65.6) 2nd in field goal percentage; 2nd in opponent FG% 5th in team 3-point FG%; 2nd in opponent 3 point FG% 5th in free throw shooting percentage 4th in rebounds per game; second in opponent rebounds surrendered; last in offensive rebounds; 3rd in defensive rebounds; 1st in rebounding margin 4th in turnover margin; 3rd in turnover ratio 9th in blocked shots; 2nd in assists Individual stats (in top 25 in MAC): Freeman- 5th in scoring; 1st in rebounding; 2nd in FG%; 24th in FT%; 4th in blocks; 10th in minutes played Tribble- 11th in FG%; 2nd in FT%; 15th in APG Nate Johnson- 19th in FG%; 8th in 3PFG%; 9th in steals Hunter- 16th in 3PFG% Thornton- 7th in APG; 1st in assist/turnover ratio; 13th in steals Dawson- 24th in steals Ali is not in the stats. I suspect that he hasn't played enough total games. This all tells me, not surprisingly, that these Zips are winning with defense first.

Looking like it'll be Akron @ James Madison for Part 2 of the Sun Belt/MAC challenge.

https://x.com/akronecho/status/1745917016148410790?s=46

Here’s a compiled list of recruits (scholarship only) during the Moorhead era. Like all classes, some pan out and some don’t. OL recruiting usually lags behind the skill positions because solid OL are at a premium in the portal and harder to land, while HS signees take longer to develop. QB In: 2022 - Dijon Jennings (HS) 2022 - Jeff Undercuffler (TP) Albany 2023 - Tahj Bullock (TP) Virginia Tech 2023 - Steele Wasel (HS) 2024 - Brayden Roggow (HS) 2024 - Ben Finley (TP) California Out: Dijon Jennings = (TP) Weber State Jeff Undercuffler = Graduation Steele Wasel = (TP) 2022 class - Undercuffler will be remembered for his performance against Kent State this past season. Beyond that, he struggled with consistency. Jennings never saw the field and transferred out. 2023 class - Bullock has all the physical tools to be successful, but was in essence a freshman in a redshirt sophomore’s body. I say that because 2023 was his only true significant action of his college career. If he ever puts it all together, watch out. Until then, he’s a situational player. Wasel had a high ceiling, but did not see the field and transferred out after two springs. 2024 class - Roggow and Finley are new additions to the roster. Roggow will be a true freshman, while Finley arrives with the most experience of the current quarterbacks. Looking around the conference, Finley may be one of the better passers in the MAC come 2024. That being said, he will need to work on limiting the turnovers. Expect another QB to be added to the roster before the season starts. RB In: 2022 - Charles Kellom (HS) 2022 - Anthony Stallworth (HS) 2022 - Clyde Price (TP) Kansas State 2022 - Cam Wiley (TP) Minnesota 2023 - Lorenzo Lingard (TP) Florida 2023 - Drake Anderson (TP) Arizona 2024 - Jordon Simmons (TP) Michigan State 2024 - Marquese Williams (TP) Minnesota 2024 - Sean Patrick (HS) Out: Anthony Stallworth = N/A Cam Wiley = (TP) DII Lorenzo Lingard = Graduation Drake Anderson = Graduation Clyde Price = (TP) 2022 class - Wiley and Price split time in the backfield in 2022. Each had their own strengths and weaknesses, yet neither was a complete back. Wiley transferred out and Price had a season ending injury. Remains to be seen what type of form Price returns in. Stallworth never saw the field and left the team. Kellom redshirted in 2022 and became a key special teams player in 2023. He will be a redshirt sophomore in 2024. 2023 class - Despite having little production before arriving at Akron, Lingard was a major pickup and was arguably underutilized in the first half of 2023. Anderson was also underutilized. That said, it is difficult to make a case for Anderson receiving more touches out of the backfield when Lingard was the other option. 2024 - Simmons, Williams, and Patrick are the newcomers. Simmons is probably somewhere between Lingard and Wiley/Price as far as talent goes. Even though Simmons does not have the top end speed of Lingard, he should be RB1 in 2024. Williams and Patrick are small in frame and unproven, yet were dynamic at the high school level. WR In: 2022 - Shocky Jacques-Louis (TP) Pittsburgh 2022 - Daniel George (TP) Penn State 2022 - Alex Adams (TP) LSU 2022 - Caleb Anderson (JUCO) 2022 - Bobby Golden (HS) 2023 - Paul Davis (HS) 2023 - Jean Louis (HS) 2023 - Adrian Norton (HS) 2023 - Dakota Thomas (TP) Western Kentucky 2023 - Phaizon Wilson (TP) Grambling 2024 - Kyan Mason (HS) 2024 - Justin Campbell (JUCO) 2024 - Jacobi Moore (JUCO) 2024 - Jarvis Rush (JUCO) Out: Shocky Jacques-Louis = Graduation Dakota Thomas = (TP) JUCO (now Southern Miss) Caleb Anderson = (TP) Alcorn State Daniel George = Graduation 2022 class - Jacques-Louis was named All-MAC 3rd Team. Adams was named All-MAC 1st Team in 2022 and then spent most of 2023 injured. George was deserving of an All-MAC selection in 2022, but was snubbed. He came back in 2023 and was named All-MAC 2nd Team. C. Anderson was stuck behind George on the depth chart and transferred out. Golden has seen his role increase each year as a receiver and is also the starting punt returner. 2023 class - Norton was one of only two freshmen that did not redshirt in the 2023 class. Coach Moorhead called him the most talented receiver on the roster. Louis, Davis, and Wilson redshirted. They will all have an opportunity to claim significant snaps in 2024. D. Thomas transferred out before the season started and went JUCO. 2024 - Mason is a highly touted freshman even though Rivals inexplicably downgraded him recently. Campbell, Moore, and Rush are all physically talented JUCOs that will push for snaps immediately. TE In: 2022 - TJ Banks (TP) West Virginia 2022 - Caden Clark (TP) Alabama 2022 - Marquell Darnell (HS) 2023 - Connor Cravaack (HS) 2023 - Jacob Newell (TP) Arizona State 2024 - Max Whisner (TP) Missouri 2024 - Khalil Witherspoon (HS) Out: TJ Banks = Graduation Marquell Darnell = (TP) Caden Clark = Retired 2022 class - Banks was, at bare minimum, a part time starter from day one. He was solid, but never seemed to take the next step in his development. Darnell and Clark left the team without contributing much. 2023 - Newell has the potential to be an All-MAC candidate and split time with Banks this season. Cravaack redshirted and has a high upside. 2024 - Whisner will likely see significant snaps early and may be the best blocking TE on the roster. Although Witherspoon has a ton of potential, he will need to add mass and will likely redshirt. Another TE will probably be added to the roster before the season starts. OL In: 2022 - Keylen Davis (HS) 2022 - Jourden Hale (HS) 2022 - Tyhler Williams (HS) 2022 - Ka’Marii Landers (HS) 2022 - Max Banes (TP) Houston 2022 - Anthony Whigan (TP) Penn State 2023 - Josh Blanchard (TP) South Florida 2023 - Ben Frank (TP) Hobart 2023 - AJ George (TP) Cincinnati 2023 - Keon Kindred (TP) Maryland 2023 - Jayvin James (HS) 2023 - Jonas Mann (HS) 2023 - Delvin Morris (HS) 2024 - Roosevelt Mitchell (HS) 2024 - Eli Fields (TP) Southern 2024 - Laurence Seymore (TP) Miami (FL) 2024 - Dayne Shor (TP) UCONN 2024 - Da’Quan Thomas (TP) North Carolina Central 2024 - Jerrod Burrell (JUCO) 2024 - Alex Fox (JUCO) Out: Ka’Marii Landers = (TP) JUCO Jourden Hale = (TP) JUCO Max Banes = (TP) Houston Anthony Whigan = Graduation Ben Frank = Graduation 2022 class - Landers became a starter at left tackle, as a freshman, before transferring out and going JUCO. Hale did not play and also went JUCO. Williams and Davis redshirted and then became starters as redshirt freshmen. Banes was a starter before injuries and then transferred back to Houston. Whigan was named All-MAC 3rd Team. 2023 class - Blanchard was the starter at left tackle before an injury at Indiana derailed his season. Kindred also dealt with injuries. Frank started 10 games at LG and had his ups and downs. George did not see any snaps. Mann, James, and Morris have high upside, but redshirted. 2024 class - Seymore is a proven IOL from Miami (FL) and should be an immediate contributor. Thomas was voted 1st team All-Conference in the MEAC and should also be an immediate contributor. Shor was originally an Alabama signee that transferred to UCONN. He has all the physical attributes, yet has not done much at the FBS level. Fields is a massive lineman that could play either guard or tackle. Burrell is a JUCO with size and should at least be on the two deep. Fox brings positional flexibility and will likely land on the two deep. Mitchell is a freshman who should redshirt. DT In: 2022 - Curtis Harper (TP) Syracuse 2022 - Ravontae Holt (TP) Wyoming 2022 - Devon Robinson (TP) Memphis 2022 - Kyle Thomas (JUCO) 2022 - Kiawan Murphy (HS) 2023 - Marcus Moore (HS) 2023 - Tyler Carter (JUCO) 2023 - Terray Jones (TP) Tennessee State 2023 - Lama Lavea (TP) New Mexico State 2024 - Nathan Kapongo (TP) New Hampshire 2024 - Elijah Davis (HS) 2024 - Ronald Hull (HS) Out: Curtis Harper = Graduation Tyler Carter = Graduation Ravontae Holt = N/A Devon Robinson = (TP) N/A Kyle Thomas = (TP) N/A 2022 class - Harper started all 12 games of his single season and led the DTs in sacks. Holt was injured in the first half of his single season, but was the best DT on the roster by the end of 2022. Robinson and Thomas developed into a solid backups before transferring out. Murphy has played in 6 games to this point and will be a redshirt sophomore. 2023 class - Jones could have made an All-MAC team (probably would have if the team record was better) as he played just as well and had similar stats to a few of the DTs that did make it. Lavea started and played in 11 games. Moore was one of two freshmen who did not redshirt and has an incredible amount of potential. Carter hardly contributed. 2024 class - Kapongo is expected to push for a starting role or, at bare minimum, be a top backup. Davis and Hull have high upside, but will probably redshirt. Another portal or JUCO DT will probably be added. DE In: 2022 - Victor Jones (TP) Wyoming 2023 - Ahmad Rabah (TP) American International 2023 - Kam Cheatom (HS) 2023 - Bruno Dall (HS) 2023 - LaJoshua Jackson (JUCO) 2023 - CJ Nunnally (JUCO) 2023 - Kabbash Richards (JUCO) 2023 - Antonio Smith (JUCO) 2024 - Tristen Graham (HS) 2024 - Jahvon Frazier (HS) Out: Victor Jones = Graduation Ahmad Rabah = N/A Antonio Smith = (TP) 2022 class - Jones led the team in sacks in his single season. 2023 class - Nunnally was named All-MAC 1st Team. Jackson and A. Smith were backups in their first season. Richards was injured during most of the season. Cheatom and Dall redshirted. Coach Moorhead said Cheatom “will be a star in this league.” Rabah left the team before the season started. 2024 class - Graham and Frazier has plenty of upside, but will likely redshirt. LB In: 2022 - Bryan McCoy (HS) 2022 - Jaharon Griffin (HS) 2022 - Antavious Fish (JUCO) 2022 - Tim Terry (TP) Buffalo 2023 - Shammond Cooper (TP) Illinois 2023 - Gage Summers (JUCO) 2023 - Melvin Spriggs (HS) 2024 - Jason Hocker (HS) 2024 - Dahvon Frazier (HS) 2024 - Rich Benenge (TP) Army Out: Tim Terry = Graduation Jaharon Griffin = (TP) Alcorn State 2022 class - Terry started all 7 games in the back half of the year in 2022 and finished as the highest rated player on defense. Fish played in 10 games in 2022 and then become a full time starter in 2023. An argument could be made Fish was deserving of an All-MAC spot. McCoy saw action in 11 games as a freshmen and followed that up with leading the team in tackles as a sophomore, earning All-MAC 3rd Team status. Griffin was mostly a special teams player, but did become a solid backup as a sophomore, before transferring out. 2023 class - Cooper started 8 of the 11 games he played in. Summers and Spriggs redshirted. 2024 class - Benenge should immediately push for snaps on the two deep. Hocker and Frazier have plenty of athletic ability and will likely redshirt. CB In: 2022 - Cam Threatt (JUCO) 2022 - Devonte Golden-Nelson (TP) Memphis 2023 - Joey Hunter (TP) South Carolina 2023 - Judson Tallandier (TP) Pittsburgh 2023 - Zayden Laing-Taylor (HS) 2023 - Catrell White (HS) 2023 - Silas Proby (JUCO) 2024 - Justin Anderson (JUCO) 2024 - Iesa Jarmon (JUCO) 2024 - Keyveon Johnson (HS) Out: Judson Tallandier = Graduation Cam Threatt = (TP) N/A 2022 class - Golden-Nelson dealt with injuries during his first year and then tied for the team lead in interceptions during his second season. Threatt contributed little and transferred out. 2023 class - Tallandier started all 12 games. Hunter was injury prone, but still played in 8 games. Laing-Taylor and White have plenty of ability, but redshirted. Proby did not see any snaps on defense. 2024 class - Anderson and Jarmon will likey push for starting snaps and should, at bare minimum, land on the two deep. Johnson only spent one year of HS as a DB, so it’s safe to expect a redshirt. S In: 2022 - KJ Martin (TP) West Virginia 2022 - Nate Thompson (TP) Duke 2022 - Jaden Woods (TP) Eastern Kentucky 2023 - Terence Thomas (TP) Purdue 2023 - David Jester (HS) 2023 - Darius Owens (HS) 2024 - Rodrick Hunter (HS) 2024 - Daymon David (TP) Oregon 2024 - Aman Greenwood (TP) Syracuse 2024 - Paul Lewis (TP) Cornell Out: Nate Thompson = Graduation KJ Martin = (TP) N/A Jaden Woods = (TP) East Tennessee State 2022 class - KJ Martin was All-MAC 3rd Team in his second season. Thompson started 18 games in two seasons. Woods regressed in his second year and transferred out. 2023 class - Thomas did not contribute on defense in his first year and will be a redshirt sophomore. Jester and Owens have high upside, but redshirted. 2024 class - Lewis should be an immediate contributor and will probably start. Greenwood will likely start opposite Lewis. David should land on the two deep. Hunter will most likely redshirt.

Hope no one’s visiting campus this weekend 🥶🥶

After watching some video of Eric, I see him playing a similar guard role as Maishe Dailey. Long, lean, quick-twitch elite perimeter defender. He looks like a shorter Ali for sure, but I think Marvin M-K is probably more likely to replace Ali’s role (in theory). Eric does have a good awareness and makes nice passes. Jr. Year Highlights https://www.hudl.com/profile/15373608/Eric-Mahaffey

I naturally get more excited with P5s, but reality is there’s success to be had in going both routes. We’ve had All MAC players from both during Joe Mo’s time so far.

Dayton vs. Duquesne Part 2

I still cant take WMU seriously. Good on them for getting to 4-0, but I feel it's more of a testament of how bad the rest of the MAC is. Someone has to win these 200+ vs 200+ match-ups

Western looked good but Ohio lost Elmore James early with an injury and also had tons of foul trouble. That being said, WMU will be coming to the JAR with confidence. and to state the utterly obvious, Zips can't do what they did last night and expect another easy win.

He’s definitely been busy issuing offers. DL and DB are two positions we are under the scholarship limit compared to what we had last year.

Back in chilly Ohio for a family function and Hubby and I went to the Zips game last night vs. Buffalo, and I was pleasantly surprised and excited by the size of crown, after reading some of the posts leading into this weekend. Still wasn't like the "old days", but nice crown, engaged, and the game was great. Still a sorely lacking student contingent. We were talking about it with our seat-neighbors and we all agreed that waaay back, the student population was not only a larger number enrolled, but also a huge number of students were "commuter" students, not living on campus or really that many out-of-towners. So it was always great to get out of the apartment, Mom and Dad's house, grab a local beer before and after the game, then drive home. Students grew up on the Zips, not moved to campus from other regions and had to form a loyalty quickly. Abd there was a heck of a lot of night school students (us included) that used to stop by and catch whatever part of the game was left. Just a few pbservations....

Never give up! Keep digging 💪

Many MW schools are located in places where they're either the only show or one of the few shows within hundreds of miles. Especially with the disintegration of the PAC12, the Mountain West is now the premier western-USA athletic conference. Within a 45-60 minute radius of Akron are 3 other DI basketball programs (PCCC, Cleveland State, and Youngstown State). In addition to Akron and the aforementioned 3 schools, Ohio also has BUGS, Toledo, Wright State, Dayton, Xavier, Cincy, Ohio State, and Ohio. We also have the Guardians, Browns, and Cavaliers within 40 minutes of Akron. Compare that to Utah State, Boise State, Wyoming, etc. There's only so much "entertainment money" to go around for the average family, especially in this economy. There are way too many options for people to place their fandom and money for Akron to get a larger slice of the pie without 1) a conference change and/or 2) better marketing/gameday experience. @GP1 can say all he wants that a different conference wouldn't make a difference for Akron, but he also is a Wake Forest fan which literally rides the coat tails of the rest of the ACC financially while contributing borderline nothing to the conference for 1-2 decades when it comes to the revenue sports. Athletically, the MAC/CUSA/Sun Belt would make more sense for Wake Forest, but not financially which is why they won't be leaving the ACC anytime soon. And an elevated conference for Akron would absolutely do the same. The MAC's media deal is one of the best for G5 football. However, there is virtually zero incentive for a network to match or increase that deal when it expires. The American is already more lucrative and the Sun Belt has arguably surpassed the MAC. More money = JAR renovations/new arena, better gameday experience, better marketing, etc. Why would anyone in Northeast Ohio care about Akron vs. (insert directional Michigan or almost any other MAC program aside from PCCC, OU, and somewhat Toledo)? Make that Akron vs. the A10, and you get a little more interest. Akron vs. the American, and you probably get even more interest. Akron vs. American/A10/etc. + an improved gameday atmosphere/marketing, and by George, I think you've cracked the code. There are things Akron can do in the present to improve the gameday experience/marketing which would draw a certain number of fans to the games that may not otherwise attend. But as you stated, @Illini Zip, Akron basketball is pretty much at its ceiling in the MAC (aside from winning a NCAA Tourney game).

TJ Peatross has a nice write up from the Holy Grounds Classic I attended last weekend. The article is free & talks about Eric. TJ lists Eric at 6'5" and I think that's more accurate than the 6'3" which was published in the Moeller roster distributed at the event.