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I think the staff has done a really nice job recruiting the OL. In general, it just takes longer to develop offensive linemen than most other positions. The OL was in rough shape when Moorhead took over. There were a handful of players that had talent, but still needed developing. The rest really should have been nothing more than situational backups. From the 1st class (2022) Landers started as a freshman and unfortunately was lost to JUCO. The following year Williams and Davis became starters as redshirt freshmen (expecting both of them to only get better from here). Whigan was an immediate starter and All-MAC guard from the portal. Banes was a starter from the portal when he wasn’t injured. The 2nd class (2023) brought in two starters from the portal in Blanchard and Frank. All of the freshmen (Morris, James, and Mann) redshirted, so still too early for them, but they look promising. The 3rd class (2024) has 2 JUCO All-Americans (Walker and Fox), 1 JUCO that was on the All-American watchlist before the year began (Burrell), 1 All-MEAC (Thomas), a part-time starter at Miami (Seymore), a starter at Southern (Fields), a former Alabama recruit (Shor), and a prep recruiting win over Boston College (Mitchell). There were 5 linemen that transferred out this offseason and 5 that transferred out last offseason from the previous staff. So 10 OL didn’t get the job done at a high enough level that the current staff inherited. That’s tough. They won’t all work out but the talent and athleticism has been increased dramatically. As far as the stars go, most of these guys would be fringe 3 star guys according to Rivals ratings, which basically means either a multi-year starter, potential all-conference player, or potential late round pick in the NFL draft. This ought to be the year we see substantial improvement from the OL.

No doubt. I like a lot of what this staff does, but not bringing in another QB could really come back to bite us if the plan is to start Finley at the beginning of the season (which they should). Going to be a tall task for the OL to keep those P4 players from getting to our QB in our meat grinder OOC schedule.

I mentioned this point in another thread. I have zero confidence in Bullock (and I hate posting things like that b/c I can just imagine a young man getting online & reading that from a fan 😬, but I've got to be honest). Roggow looked promising in the Spring Game (shockingly moreso than Wassel) but he's only a true freshman. ALL of our chips are on Finley 😬😬😬🤞🙏🤞🙏

Bumping all of these. I think I have everyone added now.

Really hoping these guys can get to the QB a few times at Tosu. And Rutgers. And USC.

Perhaps, but we need several over-sized guys to make up for Marshon. 2025 VERBAL COMMITMENTS Cibastian Broughton, QB, 6-0 175, Fleming Island HS, Fleming Island, FL Tairan Davis, S, 5-11, 180, Ursuline HS, Youngstown, OH Marshon Gregory-Bey, DE, 6-4, 230, Miamisburg HS, Miamisburg, OH Gavin James, LB, 6-0, 215, Lincoln HS, Tallahassee, FL Vann Kavals, DE, 6-5, 235, OLSH HS, Coraopolis, PA

The OL was better in 2023 compared to 2022, but still not where they needed to be. 2024 should be much improved. (IOL) Colin Lyons - [Redshirt Senior, Returning] - (5.2) 2 ⭐️ - Interior lineman who also played defensive end in high school. Lyons brings Center to Guard value and saw action in just 4 games in 2022 before an abrupt injury ended his season. Lyons was the backup Left Guard in 2023, before sliding over to backup Right Guard. He played in 10 games and started the last 4 games of the season at Right Guard. Lyons graded out well in pass protection. He started at LG in the 2024 Spring Game. - HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD Amarie Archer - [Redshirt Junior, New] - NR (JUCO) / NR (Portal) - Transfer from East Carolina. JUCO FILM Alex Fox - [Redshirt Junior, Returning] - (5.2) 2 ⭐️ (JUCO) - JUCO transfer. Fox was a 1st Team JUCO All-American who brings positional flexibility. Fox is at his best when pulling as he has great feet and displays an explosive burst in short space. He also runs extremely well for a guy his size. Expect to see Fox compete for significant snaps at Center and Guard. Rivals missed the mark on his rating. Fox arrived after the spring. - JUCO FILM. * Keylen Davis - [Redshirt Junior, Returning] - (5.5) 3 ⭐️ - Strong and agile interior lineman that brings Center to Guard value. Davis played in 1 game in 2022 before redshirting. He became the starting Right Guard in 2023 for 6 games and played through injuries the majority of the time. Similar to Tyhler Williams, Davis struggled in pass protection as a redshirt freshman and was better at run blocking. Davis started at RG in the 2024 Spring Game. - HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD Delvin Morris - [Redshirt Sophomore, Returning] - (5.3) 2 ⭐️ - Late addition to the 2023 class and brings guard to tackle value. Morris is out of Texas and has a high level of athleticism for someone his size. He is raw, but has plenty of potential. If Morris develops, he will be considered a steal in the 2023 class. Morris played in 1 game in 2023 at Left Tackle and redshirted. He was the backup Left Guard in the 2024 Spring Game - HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD Roosevelt Mitchell - [Redshirt Freshman, Returning] - (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Mitchell played on both sides of the ball in HS. He is somewhat raw and will need to reshape his body before contributing at a high level. That said, Mitchell runs and moves extremely well for someone his size. Expect Mitchell to redshirt his freshman year. Kenneth McManus - [Freshman, New] - (5.6) 3 ⭐️ - HS FILM Frank McClelland - [Redshirt Sophomore, Returning] - NR - Walk-on. HS FILM. * Max Mobley - [Redshirt Freshman, Returning] - NR - Walk-on. Mobley was the backup Center in the 2024 Spring Game. - HS FILM * Nathan Covert [Redshirt Freshman, Returning] - NR - Walk-on. HS FILM * (OT) Dayne Shor - [Redshirt Senior, Returning] - (5.6) 3 ⭐️ (HS) / (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (Portal) - Transfer from UCONN. Shor was an Alabama signee out of HS before transferring to UCONN. He was dominant at the HS level and has everything physically any team would want from an offensive lineman. That said, he has yet to be a productive player at the collegiate level. Shor has 3 years of eligibility remaining and did not play in the 2024 Spring Game. Darrell (DJ) Johnson - [Redshirt Senior, New] - (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (JUCO) / NR (Portal) - Transfer from Western Kentucky. Former JUCO that may have two years of eligibility remaining. JUCO FILM Andrew “AJ” George - [Redshirt Junior, Returning] - NR (HS) / (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (Portal) - Transfer from Cincinnati where he was a walk-on. George has Guard to Tackle value along with size and reach. George did not see the field in 2023 and I did not notice him in the 2024 spring game. HUDL College Practice Film * Star Rating Take: TBD Gregory Allen Jones - [Junior, New] - NR (HS) / NR (Portal) - Transfer from West Alabama (DII). Maasai King - [Redshirt Sophomore, New] - NR - JUCO FILM Jonas Mann - [Redshirt Sophomore, Returning] - (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Mann was a long time Zips commitment who brings a huge frame to campus. He has Guard to Tackle value, but projects as a Right Tackle. Mann already has excellent size with long arms, solid feet, and will continue to reshape his body. It will take some time to adjust to the speed of college football, but Mann should become a contributor in a few short years. Mann did not see any action and redshirted in 2023. He was the backup Right Tackle in the 2024 Spring Game. - HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD Jaiden Brown-Demery - [Freshman, New] - (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - HS FILM Jon Gould - [Freshman, New] - NR - HS FILM Nick Stopiak - [Redshirt Junior, Returning] - NR - Big offensive tackle that moves well. He played OT and NG in high school and dominated, although he didn’t seem to play against great competition. He reportedly had a number of Division II offers coming out of HS. Stopiak did not play in 2022 or 2023. Former walk-on. HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD Jacob Kumfert [Redshirt Junior, Returning] - NR - Walk-on transfer from St. Francis. HS FILM * Jeremiah Ndiaga [Redshirt Freshman, Returning] - NR - Walk-on. HS FILM * The OL was inconsistent last season due to injuries, quarterback play, lack of significant game experience at certain spots, and sometimes bewildering play-calling. Akron used the offseason to increase the overall athleticism and also bring in veteran players with proven success at various levels. A total of 8 new linemen have been added to the roster. There is no excuse for poor play from the OL this year as only one holdover remains from the previous regime. Depth and athleticism is the best it’s been since Moorhead’s arrival, although OL looked like it still needed much work during the spring game. That is not surprising as Akron’s defensive front should be one of the best in the MAC and it often takes the OL longer to gel. Since spring ended, two 1st Team All-American JUCOs and a 1st Team All-MEAC player have been added to the roster. The talent is in place to have a much improved OL. Scholarship Players: Keylen Davis Colin Lyons Jonas Mann Delvin Morris AJ George Roosevelt Mitchell Dayne Shor Alex Fox Maasai King Jaiden Brown-Demery Jon Gould Kenneth McManus Darrell Johnson Amarie Archer Gregory Allen Jones Added: Maasai King Jaiden Brown-Demery Jon Gould Kenneth McManus Darrell Johnson Amarie Archer Gregory Allen Jones Removed: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - Josh Blanchard - Graduation - Star Rating Take: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (TP) - Da’Quan Thomas - Graduation - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - Eli Fields - Graduation - Star Rating Take: (5.2) 2 ⭐️ (5.3) 2 ⭐️ (HS) - Jayvin James - TP = Maryland (5.6) 3 ⭐️ (TP) - Laurance Seymore - TP = Western Kentucky (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (JUCO) - Jerrod Burrell - TP = (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (HS) - Tyhler Williams - TP = Georgia State Removed Before 2024 Season: NR - Ben Frank - Graduation - Star Rating Take: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ NR - Barry Duff - Walk-on. (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - Ronan Chambers - TP = Auburn - Star Rating Take: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - Nate Williams - TP = San Diego State - Star Rating Take: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - Tony Georges - TP = Kent State - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - Brian Kilbane - TP = UMASS - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - Alex Robarge - TP = Southern Illinois - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ NR - Keon Kindred - TP - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ NR - Issiah Walker - TP = West Florida (DII) Star Rating Take: N/A Removed Before 2023 Season: (5.2) 2 ⭐️ - Jordan Daniels - TP = UNC Charlotte - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ (5.8) 4 ⭐️ - Anthony Whigan - Grad. - Star Rating Take: (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (5.2) 2 ⭐️ - Xavior Gray - TP = Liberty - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Owen Murphy - TP = East Carolina - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ (5.2) 2 ⭐️ - Caleb Herring = TP? - Star Rating Take: (5.2) 2 ⭐️ NR - Ryan Beckman - TP = East Carolina - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ NR - Max Banes - TP = Houston - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Ka’Marii Landers = JUCO - Star Rating Take: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Jourden Hale-Frater = JUCO - Star Rating Take: (5.2) 2 ⭐️ Before 2022 season: NR - Canaan Sheets - Walk-on NR - Stefan Monahan - Walk-on

Meister, don't you know the low man always wins in line matchups. That is why we went after Marshon hard. There was a three footer that we wanted but OSU got him with their limitless NIL money. 😁

I won’t have much to add about the specialists except stats, but I figured it was time for an update with so much turnover. (K) Garrison Smith - [Redshirt Junior, New] - Transfer from McNeese State. Was 48 of 48 on extra points and 18 of 21 on field goals in two years at McNeese. Also handled kickoff duties. FCS freshman All-American. Owen Wiley - [Sophomore, Returning] - Went 12 for 12 on extra points and 4 of 6 on field goals. Only misses were beyond 40 yards. Matthew Schramm - [Freshman, New] - Chose Akron over Marshall. (P) Dante Jackson - [Redshirt Senior, Returning] - Former JUCO. 3 for 3 on extra points and 2 of 3 on field goals. 65 punts for a 37.5 average. Also handled kickoff duties. Avery Book - [Senior, New] - Transfer from Augustana. 48 punts for a 44.8 average in 2023. 1st Team All-conference for two years. Joseph Castle - [Sophomore, Returning] - Did not play in 2023. (LS) Liam Reardon - [Redshirt Junior, New] - Transfer from Iowa. Emmet Rhoades - [Redshirt Freshman, New] - Transfer from Florida A&M.

I'm worried about Finley getting hurt at OSUcks & then us going O-fer.

yes it was his grades, he didn't do crap he first semester and got to far behind, his mistake now he's learned from it. He'll bounce back and might be back in Akron who knows!

Puke.

And for the record i was VERY disappoint when i heard the news in fact i hung the phone up! First time away from me and he couldn't handle himself. I couldnt wait for the season especially after that spring game. The Ohio State game would have just been another game for him, that #1 WR JJ was his teammate in the 10th grade, Tate #17 Zayden played him when he was at IMG lined up on an island 0 catches, Inns beat him in the state game so this would have been one tha i wanted to see but its not happening. I wish the Zips the best!