Leaderboard

I wanted to touch on most of the potential starters. Not mentioned are many new players in backup roles who may also work their way into significant action. QUARTERBACK - California transfer Ben Finley was clearly the best QB in the spring game and seems to have solidified his position as the starter through fall camp. Tahj Bullock (former Virginia Tech transfer) will be the backup and participate in situational packages. RUNNING BACK - Michigan State transfer Jordan Simmons will likely be the starter and split snaps with redshirt sophomore Charles Kellom. WIDE RECEIVER - 2022 1st Team All-MAC Alex Adams (former LSU transfer) will reprise his role in the slot, if healthy. True sophomore Adrian Norton is set for a breakout season. The third receiver spot could be claimed by a number of players. Juniors Bobby Golden and Myles Walker will see significant playing time. Newcomers Jarvis Rush (JUCO) and Ahmarian Granger (Old Dominion/JMU) should also push for significant roles. TIGHT END - After coming on strong late in the 2023 season, Jake Newell (former Arizona State transfer) will claim the starting spot. The top backup will be Missouri transfer Max Whisner. OFFENSIVE LINE - This is an area that could feature a number of different players. The top offensive tackles are Josh Blanchard (former South Florida transfer), redshirt freshman Jayvin James, NC Central transfer Da’Quan Thomas, and Alabama/UCONN transfer Dayne Shor. The guards are Miami(FL) transfer Laurence Seymore, redshirt sophomore Keylen Davis, redshirt junior Colin Lyons, and JUCO Jerrod Burrell. Center should be filled by either redshirt sophomore Tyhler Williams or JUCO Alex Fox. DEFENSIVE LINE - 1st Team All-MAC CJ Nunnally (former JUCO) will start at one end, while senior Bennett Adler will start on the opposite side. Lama Lavea (former New Mexico State transfer) returns as a starter at defensive tackle. The other tackle spot will be occupied by either New Hampshire transfer Nathan Kapongo or true sophomore Marcus Moore. LINEBACKER - A deep linebacker corps returns three players that started over the course of 2023 in 3rd Team All-MAC Bryan McCoy, Antavious Fish (former JUCO), and Shammond Cooper (former Illinois transfer). DEFENSIVE BACK - Devontae Golden-Nelson (former Memphis transfer) has one cornerback spot locked up. The opposite CB spot could be filled by either Joey Hunter (former South Carolina transfer), redshirt freshman Catrell White, JUCO Justin Anderson, or JUCO Iesa Jarmon. Darrian Lewis returns at Nickelback. Safety will likely be a rotation between Cornell transfer Paul Lewis, Oregon transfer Daymon David, and Syracuse transfer Aman Greenwood. SPECIAL TEAMS - Owen Wiley returns at kicker and will be challenged by McNeese State transfer Garrison Smith. Punter Dante Jackson (former JUCO) has competition with Augustana transfer Avery Book.

If you click on the full you tube video, you will get to hear Jared speak for over 10 minutes

4-8, I guess. Normally I pick us to win a random road game every year, so I think that will be OU. Not very confident in that though. I have been too confident the last couple of seasons so I am just going to expect us to go 3-9, any worse than that is unacceptable. L @Ohio State L @Rutgers W vs. Colgate L @ South Carolina W @ Ohio L vs.Bowling Green L @ Western Michigan L vs. Eastern Michigan W vs. Buffalo L @ Northern Illinois W @ Kent State L vs Toledo

3-9. 4-8 if they beat Colgate. I hate making that prediction but after years of misery I am in "show me" mode.

if you click on the full you tube video, you will get to hear co-captains Daragh (on left) and Jonas (on right) speak for over 6.5 minutes

Indeed!

Love it! We never realized how good we had it with ESPN+

I'll take Lingard over any MAC runner. He was behind a poor line and still proved to be dangerous any time he touched the ball. Thank you for putting me in the same opinion as Bud Went. He dreams big and then produces. Akron needs more of him.

Answered my own question with a couple quick searches.

I was too optimistic in 2022 and 2023 ( I thought 6 wins in each year), so I have to pull back a bit. I think UA wins 4 games this fall. That's an improvement, but it does not give me much hope for 2025 considering that the landscape of college football in general and the circumstances and challenges of the Group of 5 in particular has changed dramatically. Once a coach could build off of a progression of increased success (something to sell to new and higher ranked recruits, etc.). Now, you have to rebuild the team each year because whatever player success reveals itself during the season means those players will leave through the portal.

Be specific - they didn't list us as the worst, which means we could prove em wrong in a couple different ways. 😉