catdaddyp

They’re in a similar spot to us along the D-Line right now—either last year’s backups or new transfers will be stepping into starting roles. So, they’re still figuring out exactly what they’ve got. I agree that depth matters, but there’s also a chance the guys who went down weren’t going to be impactful contributors anyway. One was projected to start, but the last time he saw the field was 2023 and even then, it was in a backup role with fewer than 75 snaps all season. If I’m the head coach, I’m more concerned with the trend here—three achilles injuries? That’s not normal. One or two, sure, that happens. But three? I’d be taking a hard look at whatever the strength and conditioning staff is doing with these guys.

Doubt this matters too much at this point, as there’s still plenty of time to figure things out, but Wyoming is already down three defensive linemen for the season—a projected starter at DT, a backup DT, and a backup DE.

Wow, was not expecting that. This kid had offers from a number of big time programs at one point. Not sure if all offers were for QB or a different position, but major recruiting win for this staff.

He certainly said all the right things. Maybe he proves me wrong, but I still dont think he has enough talent and experience on this year’s roster to make much noise. They’ll probably start out with a win in their first game and then lose the next five. The back half of their schedule is definitely more manageable than the front half.

That’s one reason why it’s so important to win this year. We’re right back to two payday games next year—maybe even three Power 5 opponents if UNLV ends up in the PAC. Not sure how accurate this is, but I heard one outlet say the holdup with UNLV moving is because they have some kind of agreement not to leave Nevada behind. We’ll see what happens.

That’s exactly what schools like South Carolina and Illinois are doing with NIL. They know they don’t have the money to compete with the likes of Texas or Ohio State, so they’re using a big chunk of what they do have on retaining current players. Granted, they still have the flexibility to earmark a percentage for incoming recruiting classes — something a program like Akron just can’t afford to do.

Worth a listen.

2024 Rewind: Scott Loeffler decided to make his move to the NFL as a position coach after six seasons with the Falcons and wrapping up 2024 with a 7-6 record. In fairness, Loeffler seemed burned out and probably took Bowling Green as far as he could. Former Ohio State Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George will now attempt to find success as a head coach at the G5 level after finally breaking through at Tennessee State in his fourth year. Recruiting under George: 2025: On3 - 5th in MAC (prep only) 247 - 2nd in MAC Falcons on Offense: All-conference quarterback Connor Bazelak is finally out of eligibility and will be replaced by Missouri transfer Drew Pyne. Pyne’s best year came in 2022 at Notre Dame, but he hasn’t attempted more than 82 passes in a season since then. All-conference running back Terion Stewart has moved on, as has everyone else on the roster who had over 100 yards rushing. It’ll be a completely new group in the backfield, and honestly, it’s anyone’s guess who will be starting. Similar to running back, almost all of the production at receiver is gone. The Falcons brought in six transfers and will supposedly run more two tight end sets this season. Speaking of tight end, Harold Fannin was drafted by the Browns and leaves a huge void at the position. Although, I doubt this year’s offense will be involving the tight ends in the passing game all that often. One area where Bowling Green will have some consistency is along the offensive line, with four out of five starters returning. However, the best lineman from 2024 has moved on, and the four returners were above average at best. The offensive line probably won’t look as good this season without all the playmaking talent that was at the skill positions. Falcons on Defense: The new staff will be moving away from the 3-4 alignment to a more traditional four-man front. The Falcons were absolutely blistered with losses along the defensive line and have brought in a number of transfers, including George’s son, Eriq George, at defensive end. Outside of the coach’s son and returnee Evan Branch-Haynes at defensive tackle, it’s hard to predict how the depth chart will be filled amongst this group of linemen. The only linebacker returning with over 15 total tackles is Myles Bradley, and he’ll likely be moved to defensive end. This will basically be a new group made up of a mix of transfers and seldom-used backups from 2024. Safety Darius Lorfils is the only starter returning to the secondary. Backups Kal-El Pascal and Darius McClendon are expected to step into starting roles, along with Illinois State transfer MJ Cannon and Western Carolina transfer Mateo Studipo. Zach Long returns at kicker after hitting all his extra point attempts and going 13 of 19 on field goals. All-conference punter John Henderson is also back. Position Advantage: Due to Bowling Green being riddled with question marks and inexperience at this point in the year, I have to give most of the position advantages to Akron. That may change by the time this game is played. QB - Akron RB - Akron WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Bowling Green DL - Even LB - Akron DB - Akron ST - Bowling Green Way too Early Prediction: Going into this preview, I thought Bowling Green would be in contention for another six to seven win season. After completing the preview, I think they’ll struggle to reach five wins. There are so many holes and question marks at nearly every position, it’s hard to see this year’s Bowling Green squad being as competitive as they were last season. A lot of praise has been given to Eddie George, and he very well may take the Falcons to the next level—but I don’t think it’ll be in 2025. Nothing in his coaching history suggests that either—his first three seasons at Tennessee State went five wins, four wins, six wins, before finally breaking through with a nine-win season. Akron is always playing their best ball at the end of the season under Moorhead. That, coupled with what should be a down year for Bowling Green, has me thinking Zips win this one 28-20. Season Preview and Prediction Wrap Up: For those keeping track, I’ve predicted the Zips going 8-4. Honestly, that seems ludicrous given the past seven years or so. However, going through and breaking down each game on the schedule gives me reason to believe that it can be done. Playing a much easier out-of-conference schedule and then facing five teams during the conference slate with new head coaches bodes well for the Zips. If there was ever a year to make some noise and change the perception of the program, this is it. It’s well past time for this program to turn the corner. 35 days until kickoff. Let’s see how it all shakes out.

2024 Rewind: Kenni Burns was allowed to complete one of the worst two-year stints in college football, going just 1-23 during that span. Somehow, the team managed to regress following a one-win season, ultimately recording a historically bad 2024 campaign without a single victory. Mark Carney has now been tabbed as the interim head coach and inherits the nearly impossible task of trying to turn the Flashes around with very little recruiting time this offseason. The 2025 class is largely made up of players Burns brought in and leans heavily toward freshmen, making Carney’s job even more uphill from the start. Recruiting under Carney: 2025: On3 - 7th in MAC 247 - 7th in MAC Flashes on Offense: Kent State faces another gauntlet of a schedule, with road trips to Texas Tech, Florida State, and Oklahoma on deck—so who knows who the starters will actually be by the time this game rolls around. That said, it’s likely Fordham transfer CJ Montes will get the nod at quarterback to start the season. Behind him are Devin Kargman and Dru DeShields, both of whom have the tools to be solid players—if they’re ever given the chance to operate without a defender in their lap the moment the ball touches their hands. Minnesota transfer Jordin Nubin will compete for snaps with the oft-injured Gavin Garcia. The two backs should complement each other fairly well—assuming they can stay healthy and the offensive line gives them even a sliver of daylight to work with. Wide receiver might have more talented depth overall, but the unit will likely regress due to the lack of a true go-to target. All-conference receivers Chrishon McCray and Luke Floriea have moved on, leaving behind a massive production void that’ll need to be filled by youth and inexperience. Tight end will be manned by lower-level transfers, but it’s not a huge focal point—Kent hardly utilized the position in the passing game under Carney’s offense anyway. Dustyn Morell is the lone returning starter from what was the worst offensive line in the MAC last season. The rest of the group will be made up of either backups who saw minimal action a year ago or transfers who also struggled to crack the starting lineup at their previous stops. Even if the unit shows some improvement, there’s a good chance it still ends up being the worst offensive line in the conference. Flashes on Defense: It’ll be a new defensive scheme under this staff. According to Carney, this year’s defense will prioritize stopping the run first—marking a shift from last year’s bend-but-don’t-break, turnover-dependent approach. Backup defensive end Antoine Campbell and converted offensive lineman Mason Maddox are expected to step into starting roles. Beyond that, it’ll be a mix of four transfers and a handful of players with little to no experience rounding out the depth chart. Kent does return several linebackers who saw the field last year—that’s the good news. The bad news is that linebacker play left a lot to be desired in 2024, due to injuries and other issues. Mason Woods and true sophomore Nylan Brown are expected to start, but both will need to take significant steps forward if this unit is going to be anything more than a liability again. Safety Tevin Tucker is the lone returning starter in a secondary that struggled to stay healthy and maintain any sort of cohesion from week to week. The rest of the group is expected to be made up of a mix of returning backups, portal transfers who were also backups at their previous stops, and true freshmen. It’s a patchwork unit that will need to grow up fast. Will Hryszko is slated to return at kicker after converting all 15 of his extra point attempts and going 3-for-5 on field goals last season. Charlie Durkin, who didn’t see the field in 2024, will take over punting duties. Position Advantage: QB - Akron RB - Akron WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Akron DL - Akron LB - Akron DB - Akron ST - Even Way too Early Prediction: There’s really no other way to put it—Kent State will probably be the worst team in college football again. Burns went all-in on freshmen, leaving behind a surprisingly solid core of young talent—believe it or not—but then patched the rest of the roster with “players who wanted to be there.” In reality, that meant lower-division players or G5 backups whose only FBS offer came from Kent. If the freshmen happen to ball out, they’ll likely bolt for greener pastures, and the cycle will repeat—holes filled with more freshmen and even less impactful transfers. It’s a brutal, unsustainable model. Mark Carney faces a near-impossible task trying to turn things around under these conditions. Kent’s best hope at a win comes right out of the gate against Merrimack. Outside of that, I just don’t think there’s enough talent or experience on this roster to find another one. Maybe they catch a break and steal a win against a team breaking in a first-year head coach if everything lines up perfectly—but that’s a big maybe. As for the rivalry game, I’m calling for Akron to blow out the Flashes, 45-10.

2024 Rewind: Don Brown was let go before the season ended in his third year with the Minutemen, as they stumbled to a 2-10 finish. He wasn’t able to recapture the same success he had leading UMass during their FCS days. Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak is the new man tabbed to take on the seemingly endless UMass turnaround. Recruiting under Harasymisk: 2025: On3 - 13th in MAC 247 - 13th in MAC Minutemen on Offense: UMass will have a tremendous amount of new faces seeing significant playing time this season, including at quarterback, which will be filled by either Yale transfer Grant Jordan or little-used Utah transfer Brandon Rose. The running back room will be almost completely new and feature mostly youth and inexperience. UTSA transfer Rocco Griffin will be the only player with significant snaps at the G5 level. Ty Harding and Jacquon Gibson return at wide receiver, with USF transfer Tyree Kelly rounding out the starting group. Harding and Gibson combined for 42 catches, 604 yards, and 6 touchdowns last season. Reece Adkins will compete with Illinois transfer Owen Anderson at tight end. The offensive line will be almost entirely new, with only interior lineman Benjamin Roy and tackle Ryan Mosesso returning as starters. As we’ve seen in some other situations, so many new faces at an underperforming position may not actually be a bad thing. Minutemen on Defense: UMass will likely run a different defensive scheme than what “Dr. Blitz” had in place. Three of the four starters up front will be new to the team, with incoming transfers from Jackson State, UConn, Virginia Tech, Maine, McNeese State, and Rutgers all in the mix. Former Zips defensive line coach Nyeem Wartman now holds the same position at UMass. There are questions at linebacker, with no guaranteed starters heading into fall camp. It'll be a competition between transfers and some of last year’s backups to see who earns the job. The secondary is more of the same, with transfers and last season’s backups competing for spots. That said, this group probably has the most upside talent on the defensive side of the ball, despite their lack of overall experience at this level. Cal transfer Derek Morris will take over at kicker, while Texas A&M transfer Keegan Andrew takes over at punter. Position Advantage: I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I don’t see a single position—at least at this point in the offseason—where UMass is a clear favorite over Akron. QB - Akron RB - Akron WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Even DL - Even LB - Akron DB - Akron ST - Even Way too Early Prediction: UMass has a lot to figure out on both sides of the ball. Chances are, by the time this game is played, a number of different starters will be on the field compared to who began the season. UMass may be heavily investing in their football program by MAC standards, but I have a hard time seeing many wins on their schedule in 2025. Who knows though—maybe they’ll be the surprise team of the conference this year. Extremely doubtful, but there’s always one or two that catch everyone off guard. I’m sure the UMass fanbase is circling this matchup as a certain win, yet I just don’t think the Minutemen have enough in the tank to pull it out. Also, this is usually the point in the season where things really start clicking for the Zips under Moorhead. I’m calling for Akron to win 30-20.

2024 Rewind: Buffalo was somewhat of a surprise team in the MAC. Newly hired head coach Pete Lembo made few roster changes to the squad he inherited from Maurice Linguist and still managed to rack up a 9-4 record—mostly due to instilling discipline into a team that rarely turned the ball over on offense and consistently created takeaways on defense. Recruiting under Lembo: 2024: On3 - 9th 247 - 10th 2025: On3 - 6th 247 - 5th Bulls on Offense: Kansas State transfer Ta’Quan Roberson will replace CJ Ogbonna at quarterback. Statistically, Roberson’s 2023 season at UConn was a bit below what Ogbonna produced last year. Not much was expected from Ogbonna heading into 2024, so we’ll see if the Bulls’ staff can work their same magic with Roberson. Al-Jay Henderson is back after racking up 1,078 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2024. Buffalo has an embarrassment of riches at the position, with Lamar Sperling and Messiah Burch backing up Henderson. The Buffalo receiving corps should be more dynamic in 2025. Victor Snow returns after an all-conference campaign, and Nik McMillan—who was potentially in line for a breakout year—also comes back after a season-ending injury. To top it off, the Bulls added a former ZipsNation topic of discussion in reciever Jasaiah Gathings. Tight end will feature a few new faces, although the position typically isn’t utilized much in the passing game. Buffalo’s offensive line wasn’t elite by any stretch, but they did enough to allow the offense to operate effectively. Tyler Doty and Trevor Brock will resume their roles at guard, with Henry Tabansi back at one of the tackle spots. Long Island transfer Jake Timm is expected to take over at center, while career backup James Carrington is slated to claim the other tackle spot. Bulls on Defense: Buffalo returns two of their four starters along the defensive line in Cornell Evans and Second Team All-MAC edge Kobe Stewart. Backups Malin White and George Wolo will likely step into starting roles in 2025. The Bulls easily fielded the best linebacker trio in the MAC last season with Shaun Dolac, Red Murdock, and Dion Crawford. Dolac has moved on, but Murdock and Crawford return, giving Buffalo a pair of all-conference players at the position. The Bulls also added Harvard transfer Michell Gonser, who earned All-Ivy League honors in 2024. Three starters return to a secondary that was often overly aggressive and, quite simply, not very good at limiting yards. That said, they were opportunistic when it came to creating turnovers. The returners are cornerbacks Charles McCartherens and Marques Cooper, along with safety Solomon Brown. Backup SaVeon Brown will likely step in at nickel, with DII transfer Miles Greer expected to round out the group at safety. Jack Howes and Ethan Stumpf are expected to fill in at kicker and punter. Given the emphasis Lembo puts on special teams, it’s a safe bet the Bulls will be solid in that phase once again. Position Advantage: QB - Akron RB - Buffalo WR - Even TE - Akron OL - Buffalo DL - Buffalo LB - Buffalo DB - Even ST - Buffalo Way too Early Prediction: Pete Lembo got way more out of the 2024 offense than anyone expected. They weren’t elite talent-wise, but they rarely turned the ball over and were more disciplined than most of their opponents. The Bulls usually capitalized on their scoring opportunities as well. Despite being more talented on the offensive side of the ball in 2025, that doesn’t guarantee the same type of success—especially if the pendulum swings and turnovers start to become an issue. Defensively, the Bulls should be better, but losing someone like Shaun Dolac in the middle of the defense—who always seemed to be in the right place at the right time—isn’t always an easy replacement. If Buffalo can get similar production from their front seven and the secondary takes a step forward, we may be looking at one of the better defensive units in the conference. Last year, Moorhead admitted after the game that it took the staff until the third quarter to figure out the confusion Buffalo’s first-year defensive coordinator was causing the Zips’ offense. From there, the Akron offense got rolling, but it was too late—the defense already allowed a whopping 38 points. The chances of that happening again are unlikely, but this year’s game is being played in Buffalo, and the Bulls have more talent on this year’s team. I think Akron drops a fairly close one, 27-21.

2024 Rewind: Ball State parted ways with Mike Neu before the season officially wrapped, ending his ninth year at the helm with a 3-9 record. In his place, former Butler head coach Mike Uremovich takes over and is tasked with breathing new life into a program that’s been stuck in neutral. Recruiting under Uremovich: 2025: On3 - 9th in MAC 247 - 10th in MAC Cardinals on Offense: After what felt like years of the Ball State fanbase clamoring to see more of Kiael Kelly, they'll finally get their wish. Uremovich favors mobile quarterbacks and isn’t shy about dialing up designed runs for them. Kelly may not be among the MAC’s most accurate passers, but there’s no denying his ability to make things happen with his legs. Kennesaw State transfer Qua Ashley has already proven himself as an all-conference kick returner and now gets the chance to carve out a role as an every-down back. If Ashley can’t lock down the job, redshirt sophomore TJ Horton is the likely next man up. The offense will look entirely different from last year’s version that leaned heavily on tight end Tanner Koziol in the passing game. That might not be a bad thing, considering Ball State returns very little proven production at receiver or tight end. Bucknell transfer Eric Weatherly is one to keep an eye on as a potential breakout candidate. The offensive line is a concern with just one starter returning in offensive tackle Chris Hood. Butler transfer Adam Dolan is expected to start on the opposite side. If fully healthy, Tristan Cook should slot in somewhere, but he missed all of 2024 with a medical redshirt. Beyond those three, it’s anyone’s guess who rounds out the rest of the depth chart. Cardinals on Defense: Somewhat similar to the Zips, Ball State will be rolling out an almost entirely new defensive line loaded with five transfer players. Bryant transfer Nathan Voorhis should lock down one end spot, while returning starter Drew Hughes reprises his role in the interior. From there, the Cardinals will mix and match to find their best combinations across the remaining spots. Ball State lost its top tacklers, but do return linebacker Joey Stemler who collected 56 total tackles last season. Backup Jack Beebe will have the first crack at claiming a starting spot. The secondary returns just one starter in Willizhaun Yates. Four transfers are expected to step into starting roles—Old Dominion’s Ashton Whitner, Bucknell’s Roman Pearson, Coastal Carolina’s Deondre Shepherd, and Western Michigan’s Michael Gravely. Carson Holmer and Cole Stumbaugh are expected to take over kicking and punting duties, respectively. Position Advantage: QB - Akron RB - Akron WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Even DL - Even LB - Ball State DB - Akron ST - Even Way too Early Prediction: Like I mentioned in the last preview, Akron has had a tough time containing mobile quarterbacks. That said, Kiael Kelly isn’t quite in the same category as some of the other dual-threat guys we’ve faced—like Dequan Finn or Parker Navarro. He also won’t have the same kind of supporting cast those two had the last time we saw them. With so many question marks across the board on offense, it’s hard to imagine Uremovich’s scheme will be firing on all cylinders in year one. Ball State will also be rolling out a ton of new faces on defense, and there’s a chance we see a new scheme on that side of the ball as well. Depth could be a real concern in 2025, especially as the season wears on. Despite this game being on the road at Ball State, it feels like one Akron should win. Moorhead has now had four recruiting cycles to elevate the talent level in Akron, and this should be the best offense we’ve seen under his watch—with the most overall talent across multiple positions. Against a rebuilding program in year one, the Zips ought to have the upper hand. I think Akron takes care of business and walks away with another conference win, 27–17.

2024 Rewind: Miami started slow, dropping their first three games—all against Power Four opponents. From there, the RedHawks found their rhythm, ripping off eight wins with the only blemish coming against Toledo. They were overwhelmed in the MAC Championship Game but responded with a dominant bowl win over Colorado State, finishing the season at 9-5. Chuck Martin enters his 12th season guiding the RedHawks and is now widely considered one of the top coaches in the MAC. Recruiting under Martin: *IN MAC* 2014: On3 - 6th 247 - 12th 2015: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st 2016: On3 - 2nd 247 - 3rd 2017: On3 - 4th 247 - 6th 2018: On3 - 12th 247 - 11th 2019: On3 - 2nd 247 - 2nd 2020: On3 - 5th 247 - 5th 2021: On3 - 7th 247 - 3rd 2022: On3 - 2nd 247 - 1st 2023: On3 - 9th 247 - 7th 2024: On3 - 3rd 247 - 3rd 2025: On3 - 4th 247 - 3rd RedHawks on Offense: Miami faced the challenge of replacing First Team All-MAC quarterback Brett Gabbert this offseason. They may have done more than just fill the void, potentially upgrading the position with 2023 MAC Player of the Year DeQuan Finn. Keyon Mozee, who rushed for over 1,000 yards last season, has moved on. Virginia Tech transfer Jordan Brunson is expected to split snaps with Kenny Tracy, who missed all of 2024 due to injury. The RedHawks went portal crazy at receiver this offseason, with nearly all of their 2024 production now gone. Notre Dame transfer Deion Colzie, Florida State transfer Darion Williamson, and Washington transfer Keith Reynolds are among the names expected to push for starting reps. At tight end, Iowa transfer Grant Leeper appears to have the inside track. Miami finds itself in an unusual spot heading into 2025 without a single returning starter along the offensive line. Stanford transfer Austin Uke is expected to slot in on the interior, while former backup Greg Smith should take over one of the guard spots. Beyond that, the RedHawks will be relying on a heavy dose of youth and inexperience to step up. RedHawks on Defense: Miami seems to field a stout, physical defense every year regardless of who’s wearing the jersey. They’ll need to do it again in 2025, as the entire starting defensive line from last season is gone. The RedHawks do return a pair of key contributors in Nasir Washington and Adam Trick, both of whom saw significant action and will look to step into full-time starting roles. All-MAC linebackers Matt Salopek and Ty Wise have moved on, leaving behind a production void. Part-time starters Corban Hondru and Oscar McWood are back to provide some stability at a position with question marks. Three starters are back in the secondary, including safeties Silas Walters and Eli Blakely, along with cornerback Luke Evans. Blakely earned Third Team All-MAC honors last season. Versatile part-time starter Mychal Yharbrough also returns and can line up just about anywhere in the defensive backfield. Dom Dzioban returns for his senior season and is in line to handle either the kicking or punting duties, depending on how the competition plays out. Position Advantage: QB - Miami RB - Even WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Even DL - Miami LB - Miami DB - Miami ST - Miami Way too Early Prediction: Miami could stumble out of the gate with so many new faces on offense. That said, this is the perfect year to have DeQuan Finn under center. He’s a true difference maker—capable of turning nothing into something—and his playmaking ability will likely make this offensive line look better than it really is. On defense, there’s enough depth for the RedHawks to remain solid. They may not be elite by G5 standards, but the unit should be good enough to keep them in just about every MAC matchup. If there was ever a year to get Miami, this is it. But we’ve consistently struggled against mobile quarterbacks, and if Finn is healthy and running the show, that’s a tough matchup for the Zips. I think this one turns into a low-scoring grind, with Miami escaping 16-14.

Roster has been updated. A few notes: freshman Brown-Demery is listed as a DL instead of an OL—we’ll see if that sticks over the coming years. Also, defensive backs Proby and Greenwood are no longer listed on the roster. Greenwood played significant snaps for us last year and I thought he was in line to start at nickel this coming season.

I believe they are walk-ons.

2024 Rewind: Jim McElwain retired after leading the Chips to a 4-8 record at the conclusion of his sixth season in Mt. Pleasant. It was a year full of injuries and frustration for CMU. Matt Drinkall, the former Army offensive line coach, has been tasked with turning the ship around in Mt. Pleasant. He inherits a program that’s lost some of its edge in recent years. Recruiting under Drinkall: 2025: On3 - 11th in MAC 247 - 9th in MAC Chips on Offense: CMU will look different offensively, and it’s likely some of the starters will routinely change as Drinkall works to find the right fits for his new scheme. Joe Labas is expected to start again, though he didn’t show much in limited spring game action. Labas threw for 1,114 yards with 7 touchdowns and 7 interceptions on 59% passing last season before going down with an injury. Behind him is Jayden Glasser, who I thought was the best prep quarterback prospect in the MAC from the 2024 class. Running back is up for grabs, as CMU returns very little production at the position. Defensive back turned running back Nahree Biggins will compete with Tulane transfer Trey Cornist for early snaps as the staff looks to sort out the backfield. Wide receiver is wide open as well, with no returning player logging more than 25 receiving yards a year ago. That said, Langston Lewis and Tommy McIntosh look like the most likely starters heading into the season. Decorian Temple will reprise his role at tight end, though he’s rarely been involved in the passing game to this point. The Chips return just one full-time starter and another part-time starter up front—which might not be the worst thing for a unit Drinkall will demand more from. CMU’s offensive line graded out in the bottom tier of the MAC last season, per PFF, and will need to take a big step forward for the offense to find any kind of rhythm. Chips on Defense: It remains to be seen what scheme Drinkall ultimately decides to go with, but CMU does return both starting ends from last year’s three-man base front in Michael Heldman and Kade Kostus. The duo combined for 52 total tackles and 5.5 sacks and should provide some stability up front. Nose tackle is a different story—options there are limited to players who saw fewer than 70 snaps or none at all at the G5 level. Linebacker will be a strength of the defense, led by All-MAC Second Team selection Jordan Kwiatkowski. He’s the clear anchor of the group and will likely be joined by former backups Dakota Cochran and Fernando Sanchez, who now step into larger roles. The secondary returns plenty of production, including both starting safeties in Caleb Spann and Elijah Rikkard. Starting cornerback Jaion Jackson is also back, giving the unit a solid foundation. Backups Aakeem Snell and Brenden Deasfernandes figure to round out the starting group, at least early on. The Chips will role out new specialists in kicker Cade Graham and left footed punter Declan Duley. Position Advantage: Outside of offensive line, Akron should hold a clear advantage across the board on offense. Defense is a different story—CMU holds the edge on that side of the ball, particularly in the front seven. QB - Akron RB - Akron WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Even DL - CMU LB - CMU DB - CMU ST - Even Way too Early Prediction: CMU reminds me of the Buffalo situation last year—except the Chips have less overall talent. For CMU to win games, they’ll need to lean heavily on the run game, limit turnovers, and squeeze every bit of production they can out of this roster. Defensively, there’s reason for optimism. With a good chunk of production returning, CMU has a shot to be solid on that side of the ball. If the defense can keep games within reach, the Chips should at least be able to stay competitive in the MAC. The last time CMU visited Akron, the Zips were marching for a game‑winning drive when the quarterback and running back botched the mesh point—each thinking the other had the ball. A CMU lineman scooped it up and lumbered 60 plus yards to the end zone, untouched, with no Zip in position to catch him. That won’t be the case this season. Akron should be able to exploit a coach in his first year of MAC play still finding his footing and a CMU roster that doesn’t boast overwhelming talent in 2025. Most media are higher on CMU than I am this season. I’m calling a Zips win, 21-17.

2024 Rewind: Toledo was a bit of an enigma in 2024. The Rockets arguably had the most talent of any team in the MAC and a favorable schedule that could have positioned them for a College Football Playoff push. Instead, they stumbled to a 8-5 finish with puzzling losses to WKU, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Ohio, and Akron. They did manage to finish on a high note with a wild six-overtime bowl win over a depleted Pittsburgh squad. Jason Candle returns for his 10th season and remains one of the most respected coaches in the MAC. Toledo continues to sit near the top of the conference when it comes to institutional support and resources dedicated to football. Recruiting under Candle: *IN MAC* 2016: On3 - 3rd 247 - 2nd 2017: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st 2018: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st 2019: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st 2020: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st 2021: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st 2022: On3 - 6th 247 - 6th 2023: On3 - 5th 247 - 5th 2024: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st 2025: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st Rockets on Offense: Tucker Gleason is expected to be the starter again after putting up 2,793 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions while completing 60.5% of his passes last season. While those numbers are solid, Gleason's inconsistency at times was a source of frustration for the fanbase—and, as is often the case, there was a vocal segment calling for backup John Alan Richter to get more reps. Richter may be the more polished passer, but Gleason brings added mobility to the position, which gives the offense a different dimension. Running back play wasn’t up to par in 2024, due in large part to injuries and the departure of Peny Boone via the transfer portal. Unlike in 2023—when the Rockets could wear teams down with a bruising ground game led by Boone and the dual-threat ability of DeQuan Finn—Toledo lacked that same punch last fall. To address the issue, the Rockets dipped into the portal and added Kentucky transfer Chip Trayanum and NC A&T transfer Kenji Christian. Both backs bring more explosiveness than what was mostly available a year ago and should help reestablish a more dynamic rushing attack. All-MAC First Team selection Jerjuan Newton is off to the NFL, and while his production will be missed, the Rockets appear to have enough firepower to fill the void collectively. Junior Vandeross, another All-MAC First Teamer, returns as the go-to option, and Toledo added a proven playmaker in NIU transfer Trayvon Rudolph. The receiving corps also gets a boost at tight end with the addition of Jacob Peterson, who posted nearly 500 receiving yards at Holy Cross last season. An offensive line that was strong in pass protection, but often struggled to open holes in the run game returns three of its starters. Pittsburgh transfer Terence Moore is expected to step in at one of the vacant interior OL spots, while part-time starter Stephen Gales will look to lock down a starting role at tackle. Rockets on Defense: The defensive line lost all four starters, leaving the door wide open for new faces to step in and claim significant snaps. On the interior, there’s a bit more stability with the return of Martex Poynter and Essam Carter—two backups from last season who saw meaningful action and combined for 46 total tackles and 4.5 sacks. On the edges, former backup Malachi Davis is expected to take on a larger role, while UMASS transfer Louce Julian should slot in opposite him as a projected starter. Linebacker took a major hit, with the Rockets losing almost all of their production from last season. Backups Damon Ollison and Chris D’Appolonia are expected to step into starting roles after combining for just 20 total tackles in 2024. There’s plenty of potential - and uncertainty - at the position, and how quickly they adjust to increased responsibilities could go a long way in determining the defense’s overall effectiveness. Toledo’s secondary went from elite in 2023 to very good in 2024 after losing some standout defensive backs and their secondary coach, who left for Illinois. Even so, the Rockets still have plenty of talent on the backend and should be strong again this season with almost all of their starters returning. When it comes to recruiting defensive backs, Toledo has been second to none in the MAC, and that pipeline continues to pay dividends. Zips fans are familiar with returning kicker Dylan Cunanan, who was excellent during much of the season. Starting punter Emilio Duran is also back, giving Toledo stability in the kicking game heading into 2025. Position Advantage: Both quarterbacks are pre-season All-MAC selections. Neither team has many running backs that have proven much at the G5 level and linebacker is still to be determined. Akron holds the advantage at tight end, whereas Toledo holds position advantages every where else. QB - Even RB - Even WR - Toledo TE - Akron OL - Toledo DL - Toledo LB - Even DB - Toledo ST - Toledo Way too Early Prediction: Toledo’s ground game ought to be much improved, and if that proves true, the Rockets will look a lot more like the 2023 squad than the inconsistent version we saw in 2024. Defensively, Toledo lost plenty of production and key contributors, but there’s still enough talent on the roster to remain one of the better units in the MAC. There’s always a vocal group of Toledo fans who view every loss as the Rockets simply underperforming—rarely giving much credit to the opponent. In the case of last year’s Akron/Toledo matchup, that group would mostly be right. Akron played well enough to win, but absolutely needed some help from Toledo to pull it out. It’ll be tough for Akron to catch the Rockets off guard again, especially with the game coming earlier in the season, at Toledo, and last year’s result still lingering. I say Rockets get their revenge, 31-17.

2024 Rewind: Duquesne went 8-3 last season, co-winning the NEC (FCS) championship. Their only losses came against Toledo, Boston College, and their season finale to Central Connecticut State. They’re led by Jerry Schmitt, who’s been at the helm since 2005. Recruiting under Schmitt: N/A for FCS schools. Dukes on Offense: The Dukes will break in a new quarterback following the graduation of Darius Perrantes, with several different players currently in the mix for the starting job. In the backfield, Taj Butts and Shawn Solomon are expected to split carries after the spring departure of All-NEC running back JaMario Clements to Wake Forest. The duo combined for 531 yards and two touchdowns last season. Joey Isabella returns as the clear top target in the passing game after an All-NEC campaign that saw him haul in 41 receptions for 741 yards and 11 scores. Beyond Isabella, though, there’s not much proven production at wide receiver. Tight end Daniel Tarabrella is penciled in as the starter, but he’s primarily used as an extra blocker. Up front, the offensive line should be a strength. All five starters are back, including All-NEC selections Brian Beidatsch, Michael Fallah, and Cameron McLaurin. Dukes on Defense: Almost all of Duquesne’s defensive line production returns, highlighted by All-NEC performers A.J. Ackerman at defensive tackle and Jack Dunkley at defensive end. The pair combined for 45 total tackles and 10 sacks in 2024 and should anchor a strong front. Linebacker is where the biggest changes come. Former Kent State transfer Luke Miller saw part-time action last season and is expected to step into a full-time role. The other spot is still up for grabs between Murray State transfer Tyson Meiguez and Maine transfer Jabari Odoemenem. The secondary should again be a strength. All-NEC defensive backs Antonio Epps and DJ Cerisier return, with Epps holding down one safety spot and Cerisier locking up one of the corners. TJ Jones is back at the other safety spot, while part-time starter Jaelen Carson is expected to fill in at the corner opposite Cerisier. 2024 backup Malachi Lowery should slide into the nickel role. The Dukes will roll out a new starting kicker and punter this season. Position Advantage: Akron holds a talent and experience advantage across the board—except at the lines of scrimmage, defensive back, and special teams. That said, by the time Week 4 rolls around, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Zips prove to be better in all of those areas as well. QB - Akron RB - Akron WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Duquesne DL - Duquesne LB - Akron DB - Even ST - Even Way too Early Prediction: It’ll be a nice reprieve to see a matchup against an FCS school at this point in the season instead of a power conference opponent. That said, Duquesne has consistently won games at the FCS level and could present more of a challenge than expected. Offensively, the Dukes likely won’t be as potent as they were in 2024. Replacing a highly productive starting quarterback, an All-NEC running back, and multiple receivers is no small task. The silver lining for them is the return of their entire offensive line—arguably one of the better units in the FCS—which should provide some stability while the skill positions get sorted out. Defensively, while Duquesne may not match Akron's overall talent level, they bring back a ton of experience. That continuity makes them a tougher out than most expect from an FCS squad. Going through Duquesne’s roster was actually refreshing—a reminder that not every program has been gutted by the portal. They’ve stuck with a more traditional model, building through prep prospects and only sprinkling in a few transfers. Still, I don’t think the Dukes have enough in the tank to knock off Akron unless the Zips completely lay an egg. I expect a competitive first half before Akron’s depth and talent start to take over. Give me the Zips, 31–20.

2024 Rewind: The Blazers took a step back in Trent Dilfer’s second season. After winning four games in year one, UAB only managed three wins in year two. Those three wins came convincingly over Alcorn State, Tulsa, and Rice—two of which have new head coaches in 2025. All of UAB’s losses came in convincing fashion, with the exception of a two-point loss to Charlotte. Coincidentally, Charlotte also has a new head coach this season. Recruiting under Dilfer: 2023: On3 - 9th in AAC 247 - 10th in AAC 2024: On3 - 11th in AAC 247 - 9th in AAC 2025: On3 - 13th in AAC 247 - 11th in AAC Blazers on Offense: Former Florida quarterback Jalen Kitna is back for his second season in Dilfer’s offense. The redshirt senior threw for 2,209 yards, 17 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and completed 62% of his passes in 2024. Kitna is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the AAC, with most publications including him in their preseason All-AAC selections. UTEP transfer Jevon Jackson is expected to start at running back. Jackson was an FCS All-American before transferring to UTEP, where he rushed for 754 yards and 4 touchdowns. He’ll split snaps with returning senior Isaiah Jacobs. Redshirt sophomore Corri Milliner is UAB’s most productive returning receiver. Milliner posted 24 receptions for 416 yards and 3 touchdowns last season. Former consensus 4-star Kaleb Brown transferred in from Iowa (originally committed to Ohio State) and will attempt to live up to his potential, while the tight end position will be littered with new faces and minimal experience. Quarterback Jalen Kitna will be playing behind a less experienced offensive line that gave up 33 sacks last season. However, two of the returning starters are dependable—center Brady Wilson and former South Carolina tackle JonDarius Morgan. New starting guards Calib Perez and Barry Walker combined to play just 86 snaps as backups. Former Wagner offensive tackle Brandon Sneh is expected to start after spending the spring at Kansas State before transferring a second time to UAB. Blazers on Defense: The Blazers’ pass rush in 2024 was on par with Akron’s, to give a general idea of their effectiveness. UAB’s run defense was horrendous, and they struggled to stop most teams from scoring. Supposedly, the bulk of their NIL funds went toward upgrading the defensive line, and they’ve added five transfers. Three of the four projected starters will be newcomers—Old Dominion transfer Amorie Morrison, Boston College transfer Nigel Tate, and Sam Houston transfer Denver Warren (who originally committed to Bowling Green out of high school). A returner that is expected to start is former backup James Smyre, who collected 9 total tackles and 2 sacks last season. UAB lost nearly all of its production at linebacker and have turned to the portal for replacements. Eli Ennis will be one starter and he was an FCS All-American at Nicholls. The other starting linebacker will be Idaho State transfer Calvin Pitcher. The Blazers’ secondary didn’t allow many yards per game, but that was partially because most opponents were able to run the ball at will. Regardless, UAB brought in five portal defensive backs this cycle and returns just one starter—safety Sirad Bryant. Bryant collected 59 total tackles and one interception. Not overly impressive numbers, but PFF graded him well in pass coverage. Backup safety AJ Brown will move into a starting role, and backup cornerback Donald Lee will also step into a starting spot. Pittsburgh transfer Tamarion Crumpley is expected to start opposite Lee, while Maryland transfer Perry Fisher is slated to start at the “star” position. Kicker Jonah DeLange and punter Patrick Foley are back. The duo had a strong year and so did the rest of UAB’s special teams. They should be solid again. Position Advantage: The positions turned out to be closer than I expected upon a deeper dive. I think Akron holds a distinct advantage at wide receiver and tight end, and a small advantage at defensive back. The rest of the rosters are either up for debate or have so many question marks at this point that it’s hard to call. QB - Even RB - Even WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Even DL - Even LB - Even DB - Akron ST - UAB Way too Early Prediction: There’s a strong possibility this will be Dilfer’s last season at UAB. It’s hard to fathom this Blazers squad pulling out more than 3–4 wins again. Akron should be able to move the ball fairly proficiently against an almost completely rebuilt UAB defense. This would be a good time for Moorhead to become stubborn and run the football. We usually don’t run enough—to my liking at least—until later in the season. I don’t expect the UAB offensive line to be any better than it was last year. If we can’t get a decent amount of pressure on the quarterback in this game, I’ll be worried about what the rest of the season has in store. Kitna is going to get his stats no matter what, but we can’t make it easy on him. I imagine both fanbases have this one circled on their calendars as wins. This is a game we absolutely must win to show progress going into year four of this regime. I think the Zips get it done 24-21, and we finally get an out-of-conference road win in the Moorhead era.

2024 Rewind: Nebraska finished 7–6 after starting the season 5–1. Their wins came against UTEP, Colorado, Northern Iowa, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin, and Boston College in the bowl game. Four of Nebraska’s losses came by seven points or less. Matt Rhule is now in his third season guiding the Huskers, and at his previous stops—Temple and Baylor—year three was when his teams made the leap into the upper tier of their respective conferences. The same could easily be true this season, as Nebraska appears to have a manageable schedule. Recruiting under Rhule: 2023: On3 - 5th in Big Ten 247 - 5th in Big Ten 2024: On3 - 7th in Big Ten 247 - 6th in Big Ten 2025: On3 - 6th in Big Ten 247 - 6th in Big Ten Huskers on Offense: Dylan Raiola is a name known across the college football landscape thanks to last year’s NIL hoopla. The true sophomore completed 67% of his passes for 2,819 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 2024. He’s the undisputed starter for Nebraska. Emmett Johnson returns at running back after racking up 607 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground. He also added value in the passing game with 39 receptions for 289 yards and 2 touchdowns. Despite losing two starting wide receivers and an NFL-drafted tight end, Nebraska should be substantially improved in the passing game with the additions of Kentucky’s Dane Key and Cal’s Nyziah Hunter. Those two bring the kind of playmaking ability the Cornhusker offense lacked last year. Nebraska should be improved along the offensive line with the additions of Notre Dame transfer Rocco Spindler and Alabama transfer Elijah Pritchett. Mainstays Justin Evans, Henry Lutovsky, and Gunnar Gottula also return, giving the Cornhuskers plenty of experience up front. Huskers on Defense: Nebraska lost their defensive coordinator and most of their production along the defensive line. Matt Rhule has said he’d like to keep the 3-3-5 in place, so it remains to be seen what the Cornhuskers ultimately settle on. Sophomore Vincent Shavers and senior Javin Wright step into starting roles at linebacker after the duo combined for 59 total tackles as backups in 2024. In the secondary, Malcolm Hartzog returns at nickel after collecting 45 total tackles and 4 interceptions. Ceyair Wright is back at one cornerback spot after recording 39 total tackles and 2 interceptions, while Idaho transfer Andrew Marshall is expected to fill the opposite corner. DeShon Singleton reprises his role at one safety following up a solid season that included 71 total tackles. The other safety spot will be filled by former backup Marques Buford. Nebraska struggled on special teams last year. Sophomore John Hohl is back at kicker after connecting on 67% of his field goal attempts, and freshman Archie Wilson will likely handle punting duties. Position Advantage: Nebraska holds the edge in almost every category. The Zips’ proven production at tight end gives Akron the advantage there, and with Nebraska being one of the poorest performing special teams units in 2024, I’m giving Akron the edge in that phase as well. QB - Nebraska RB - Nebraska WR - Nebraska TE - Akron OL - Nebraska DL - Nebraska LB - Nebraska DB - Nebraska ST - Akron Way too Early Prediction: Even though I expect Nebraska’s defense to be a bit worse than it was last year, they’re still going to be a formidable opponent for us. I also expect the Cornhusker offense to be substantially better than it was in 2024. I don’t have much to say about this game—it’s the one payday on our schedule. Once again, we’re catching a Power Five opponent on its way up. My best hope is we get out injury free and hang close for a while. Final score prediction: 42–10 Cornhuskers.

We’re approximately 8 weeks away from kick-off. I’ll do as many of these as I can, but keep in mind injuries—and yet another round of the portal—could change some of this information before the season starts. 2024 Rewind: Wyoming finished 3-9 overall in Jay Sawvel’s first year as head coach. Their wins came against Air Force, New Mexico, and Washington State. The Cowboys dropped four games by four points or less, so the season could’ve looked a lot different if a few more of those close ones had broken their way. Recruiting under Sawvel: 2024: On3 - 6th in MWC 247 - 6th in MWC 2025: On3 - 4th in MWC 247 - 5th in MWC Cowboys on Offense: Wyoming utilized two quarterbacks last season and neither was particularly stellar. The Cowboys often had to rely on their run game, but would prefer to have a more productive aerial attack to complement it. Sophomore Kaden Anderson returns and will start after throwing for 955 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions while completing 58% of his passes in 2024. Anderson took over for Quinn Ewers at Texas high school powerhouse Southlake Carroll and was also recruited by Bowling Green. Leading rusher Sam Scott is back after collecting 435 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2024, but he’s not expected to start. North Texas grad transfer Damashja Harris is in line to take over. Harris has excellent size and speed at 6’4”, 224 pounds, but hasn’t produced at a high level as a running back just yet. He’s mostly made his name as a kick returner. If the Cowboys can unlock Harris’ potential in the backfield, they could be dangerous on the ground. Despite not being overly impressive through the air, Wyoming returns most of its production at wide receiver and tight end. Receivers Jaylen Sargent and Chris Durr, along with tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, combined for 84 receptions, 1,253 yards, and 6 touchdowns in 2024. Offensive line is where the Cowboys should be able to hang their hat in 2025. Caden Barnett and Jake Walsh are as good as almost any linemen in the MWC. Rex Johnsen and Wes King are two more returning starters. Sophomore Nathan Geiger is the only new face and will be expected to fill in at tackle after seeing action on offense in just one game last season. Cowboys on Defense and Special Teams: The defensive line went into 2024 with high expectations and didn’t come close to meeting them—whether it was stopping the run or getting after the quarterback. Defensive end Tyce Westland is the team’s best returning pass rusher after tallying 3 sacks and 41 total tackles last season. On the interior, Jayden Williams was a backup and will now slide into a starting role after posting 28 total tackles in 2024. Wyoming finds itself in a similar position to Akron, relying heavily on players with little to no experience at the G5 level. Wyoming is known for having strong linebacker play in the MWC. However, this season will feature a redshirt freshman and two former lower level players manning the middle of the defense. Redshirt freshman Gary Rutherford had offers from Indiana and Washington State coming out of high school before settling on Wyoming. Brayden Johnson and Ethan Stuhlsatz transferred in from Oklahoma Baptist and Lindenwood, respectively. The Cowboys will roll out almost an entirely new secondary in 2025. Illinois State transfer Desman Hearns is expected to take over at nickelback, while the cornerback group will be about as green as it gets. Redshirt freshmen Markie Grant and Tyrese Boss are competing with true freshman Tyson Deen for the starting spots. Part-time starter Andrew Johnson will step into a full-time role at one of the safety positions. His running mate is expected to be sophomore Jones Thomas, who saw action in just one game on defense last year. Wyoming will feature new specialists with redshirt sophomore Erik Sandvik handling placekicking and JUCO Bart Edmiston taking over at punter. Position Advantage: When looking at who has the advantage at the individual positions, this game is about as even as it gets. On offense, Akron should have the better quarterback and skill players, while Wyoming holds a clear edge along the offensive line. Defensively, Wyoming actually returns some production—albeit limited—on the defensive line, whereas Akron has next to none. The two teams have similar linebacker play styles, and Wyoming’s almost complete lack of experience in the secondary gives Akron the advantage at defensive back. Special teams feature all new starters for both squads. QB = Akron RB = Even WR = Akron TE = Even OL = Wyoming DL = Wyoming LB = Even DB = Akron ST = Even Way too early Prediction: While Wyoming is thankfully not Ohio State or any other power conference team, this matchup could still be viewed as a lose/lose scenario for the Zips. Win the game and college football nation yawns and acts like it’s no big deal beating a previously 3-9 MWC squad. Lose the game and the tiresome rhetoric about “same ole Akron” comes right back into play. Regardless, this is a winnable game—and one that Akron could desperately use as a confidence builder. Probably the best MAC comparison to Wyoming from our 2024 schedule would be Western Michigan. As Zips fans may remember, that was a game we had in the bag and managed to completely blunder away. Even though the first game of the season can get sloppy, I expect the Zips offense to be able to move the ball effectively against a fairly inexperienced Wyoming defense. Of course, moving the ball has rarely been an issue under Moorhead—it’s been finishing drives and scoring points where the problems have occurred. Akron’s defense will need to find a way to put pressure on Wyoming’s sophomore quarterback and limit the Cowboy offense from hitting on big plays, which a few of their guys definitely have the ability to create. If Wyoming gets ahead and is allowed to lean on their run game, it could be a long day for the Zips’ new-look defense. I could easily see this game going in either direction, and despite both teams having several rebuilt positions, I’m sticking with the home team and saying 24-21 Zips.

QB: Finley Johnson (TP) - Finley is the starter barring injury. He hit his stride over the final four games of the season, throwing for 1,027 yards, 8 touchdowns, and just 1 interception during that stretch. If he can pick up where he left off, he’ll be All-MAC in 2025. Bullock left via the portal, with Syracuse transfer Michael Johnson stepping in as his replacement. True freshman Cibastian Broughton is dynamic and should find his way onto the field somewhere during his first year. RB: Gant (TP) Patrick - Tennessee State transfer Jordan Gant will split reps with redshirt freshman Sean Patrick. Both backs showed flashes in their limited spring game action. Colgate transfer Chris Gee and ULM transfer Taven Curry are built similarly—bigger backs by our standards—who can also catch the ball out of the backfield. They’re solid change-of-pace options. I think this year’s group has four guys who can legitimately contribute. WR: Mason Walker Adams Hills (TP) Polk Davis - I’m already a Kyan Mason fan and think he’s in line for a huge season. The redshirt freshman was explosive during the spring game and easily looked like our best receiver. It’ll be good to see Adams back on the field, even if he’s not quite the all-conference player he was a few seasons ago. Polk should build on the development we saw late last year. We might’ve lost our biggest playmaker in Norton, but I actually think this year’s group has more quality depth. TE: Newell Cravaack - I strongly believe we’ll have the best tight end duo in the MAC this year. Since they’ll be splitting snaps much of the time, it’s possible neither gets all-conference recognition, but both have the ability to produce at a high level. Redshirt freshman Khalil Witherspoon is one to watch in the coming seasons. He still needs to add some mass to be more effective as an in-line blocker, but he has all kinds of length and could develop into a weapon in the passing game. LT: D. Johnson (TP) Shor LG: K. Davis Archer (TP) C Morris Fox RG: A. Jones (TP) Lyons RT: J. Moore (TP) Motley-Simmons (TP) - The OL will play a major role in determining how potent this year’s offense is. We’ve got plenty of size, length, and athleticism up front—probably the most we’ve had as a unit during Moorhead’s tenure. That’s the good news. The bad news is we’re seriously lacking guys with experience at the G5 level. It might take some time to find the right combination before this group really clicks. This isn’t one of those positions you want to enter a season still figuring out. The talent is there—but how long will it take to gel? DE: Durham (TP) Cheatom DT: Hull Laventure (JUCO) DT: Murphy Madden DE: Dall J. Frazier - From what I saw in the spring game, only Durham, Hull, and Dall look like they have spots locked down. Every other position on the depth chart feels wide open. With a new position coach and so many players moving on, this was the group I had the most concern about during the offseason. I like the film on some of the incoming transfers and JUCOs, but we won’t really know what we have until the season kicks off. Will we luck out and find another Nunnally-type on the DL, or will they end up more like the rest of our JUCO DL signees under Moorhead—rotational guys and backups? Our pass rush was anemic at times in 2024, and I’m not yet convinced it’ll be drastically better in 2025. I’d love to be proven wrong. LB: Summers Benenge LB: Cooper Spriggs - The linebacking corps should be solid in 2025, even with the losses of McCoy and Fish. When given the opportunity, Summers showed he’s a tackling machine—just like he was in JUCO—and Cooper returns from injury. We definitely missed Cooper last year; he brings a pass-rushing element the other LBs don’t. Spriggs and Benenge should be ready for bigger roles after seeing snaps in 2024. Redshirt freshman Jason Hocker and true freshman Markus Boswell both passed the eye test in the spring game, despite not being allowed to tackle anyone. CB: Reed DeWalt CB: Jarmon Kamara (TP) - From a length and athleticism standpoint, this should be the best cornerback group we’ve had. Reed started the WMU game and never gave the job back. DeWalt is an athletic specimen but needs to find more consistency. Jarmon and Kamara both looked good in the spring game, and redshirt sophomore Catrell White should be ready to contribute as well. If the front seven can generate a decent pass rush, this unit will produce in 2025. NB: Greenwood A. Branch (TP) S: David Flowers (TP) S: Anderson Hunter - I’m including nickelback with safety since there’s plenty of crossover in Tibesar’s scheme. The Lewis’ have moved on, leaving a production void in the secondary. Greenwood was a backup and will likely grab a starting spot. I expect Kent State transfer Alex Branch to push for playing time in the backfield as well. If David is healthy, he’ll probably reclaim a starting safety spot—he was lost for the season during the Rutgers game in 2024 and missed the 2025 spring game. Anderson held down the other safety spot and did a solid job. Penn State transfer Mahki Flowers, a former 4-star, could make some noise too. On paper, we seem to have enough depth this year, and with a new safeties coach in the mix, we’ll see how this group comes together. K: Wiley Samaha (TP) P: Castle B. Johnson (TP) LS: Dennis (TP) Miner (TP) - We lost all of our starting specialists after the season ended. That said, if the spring game is any indication, Wiley and Castle look ready to take over placekicking and punting duties, respectively. Michigan transfer Adam Samaha and NAIA transfer Brayden Johnson will be in the mix too.

I don’t think it affects us much—we usually carry around 100 guys on the roster anyway. I think we were under 110 this past season. But for schools running 125+, it’ll have an impact. They’ll eventually need to trim things down to 105, though it sounds like “grandfathering” will let them stick with higher numbers for a few more years.

Another transfer window coming. And this whole “grandfathering” thing sounds like a mess with loop holes.

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2025/07/01/akron-zips-opt-in-house-vs-ncaa-settlement-pay-athletes-nil/84424328007/ Zips opt in. Huge news! Although I have no idea where the money will be coming from.