catdaddyp

We all knew this one was coming. Good luck Bruno.

Feels that way. The difference, though, is there’s plenty of potential returning, albeit with limited production at some positions. The roster JoeMo took over was badly depleted in both talent and depth across a number of positions. On top of that, a good handful of the returning players who had upside never developed and left after JoeMo’s first year. On the bright side, other teams across the MAC are losing starters and all-conference players as well, which could lead to 2026 being wide open again.

Yet another one developed by Coach JRod who had few to no offers coming out of high school, now heading out the door to get paid. What really stings about losing Morris is his ability to adequately play anywhere on the OL when needed.

My guess is they feel there will be a solid enough base to make them competitive in 2026 with the retention of their 13–15 “quality” players, plus a decent recruiting class. I’d think this past year was more of a learn-on-the-job experience for their HC, where he found out football at the G5 level is a bit more difficult than at FCS. I don’t know if UMass has the right guy for the job or not, but I’d love to see Akron find a way to retain most of our best players.

Bump for updates and a few notes. - EMU signed the largest class in the first signing period, with many of the signees being freshmen. - Toledo has lost nearly half their freshmen signees due to the coaching change. I don’t think that matters much anymore with the portal having become the more relevant recruiting source, but I thought it was worth mentioning anyway. - Supposedly, UMASS has used their NIL funds towards retention of 15 players, and 13 of them have indicated they will stay at UMASS. - I’ll continue to update this thread as I see more activity.

Laventure to the portal.

https://x.com/chrisbeballin35/status/1998507887379828965?s=46&t=i28PJ0RreaRA57i6LfDzUA First portal commit. OT from Emory & Henry.

Hoped this wouldn’t happen, but figured it would. That does it for the entire 2022 class that ended up producing seven all-conference players.

That’s my guess. I assumed Perrymond took Cobbald’s place and we’ll probably find a two young DLs in the portal for Collins and Smith-Ray.

If it makes anyone feel better, three of Kent’s five all-conference selections have already announced they’re heading to the portal.

I agree. Gant and Laventure should have been first team. It looks like the first team DL is actually four defensive ends and no tackles. I’m also surprised DeWalt didn’t get a mention. Had we won more games, he probably would have. Though six selections is about right for a five win team. Glad to see K.Davis make it.

I like the 7 we signed too. With the way the roster is currently constructed, bringing in a bunch of freshmen probably doesn’t help us much. Although we may still add a few more, as I’m pretty sure this window stays open through Friday. What really surprises me is how many MAC teams are still taking 20+ freshmen. EMU signed 30-plus players today, and I think most - if not all - of them are freshmen.

Smith-Ray decommited.

I’d love to see him back, but I doubt it happens. Another JUCO stop probably means grades are still an issue.

100%. Im still waiting on the day ESPN reports on the declining graduation rate from all the transferring and acts like no one saw this coming.

Summers to the portal. That’s what I meant about not knowing who has eligibility anymore with all the rule changes.

I’ll do my best to keep up with all the conference movement. That said, I’m not going to be linking any names to specific sites since I’ll be pulling information from On3, 247, and whatever pops up on my social media feed. AKRON HS Signees: (7) QB - Semaj Beals WR - Jaborree Riggins OL - Lorvens Barthelemy OL - Elzea Rollins LB - Daunte Curtis CB - Savion Lewis CB - Henry Perrymond JUCO Signees: (1) OL - Jon Stephens Portal Verbals: (1) OL - Christian Young - Emory & Henry (DII) Portal Departures: (14) WR - Israel Polk (2nd Team All-MAC) DE - Bruno Dall (3rd Team All-MAC) DT - Julien Laventure (2nd Team All-MAC) TE - Max Whisner OL - Maasai King OL - Delvin Morris DE - Kam Cheatom DT - Kiawan Murphy DT - Nehemiah Musika DT - Eddie Vega LB - Melvin Spriggs LB - Gage Summers CB - Elijah Reed K - Owen Wiley BALL STATE HS Signees: (15) QB - Mason Atkins RB - Char’rese Breveard WR - Mark Hanniford TE - Zach Becker OL - Nolan Cicero OL - Evan Downer OL - Zion Haney OL - Brady Weber DE - CJ Sanchez DT - Joshua Coleman DT - Dominic Infelise LB - Gannon Knowles DB - Zylon Hill DB - Stone Perkins DB - Gavin Yates-Lyons JUCO Signees: Portal Verbals: Portal Departures: (9) QB - Walter Taylor RB - Qua Ashley WR - Eric Weatherly TE - Kam Anthony DT - Darin Conley LB - Sam Feeney LB - Caden Johnson DB - Jahmad Harmon DB - Ashton Whitner BOWLING GREEN HS Signees: (19) QB - Jarin Mock RB - Tristin Blackmon WR - Cade Brooks WR - Pauly Sadler WR - Joseph Saffold TE - Derron Gray TE - Maddox Hunstad TE - Trent Taylor OL - Maddux Murphy OL - Pete Pendergest DE - Bryce Brewster DE - Samuel Dossous DE - Elijah Durham-Smith DT - Kore Thomas LB - Caden Carter LB - Kingston Seals DB - Cedarius Christian DB - Julian Holt DB - Chris Newell JUCO Signees: Portal Verbals: Portal Departures: (23) OT - Nate Pabst (2nd Team All-MAC) LB - Gideon Lampron (1st Team All-MAC) K - Jackson Kleather (2nd Team All-MAC) RB - Chris Edmonds RB - Chris McMillian WR - RJ Garcia WR - Caleb Goodloe WR - DeShaun Lanier WR - Allen Middleton TE - Blane Cleaver TE - Jacob Harris DE - Collins Acheampong DE - David Afogho DE - Bam Booker DT - Malik Moses DT - Ashton Yeager LB - Justin Eklund LB - Caden Marshall LB - TJ Nelson DB - Jay’Quan Bostic DB - Hayes Doggan DB - Gavin Harris DB - Tyrone Steed BUFFALO HS Signees: (20) QB - Qur’an McNeill RB - Chase Enlow WR - Aaron Clark TE - TJ Sabatucci OL - Marco Cate OL - Cam Davis OL - Mike Whalen DE - Aiden Anderson DE - Malachi Ervin DE - Preston Lunsford DT - Will Reed DT - Royce Rogers LB - Jack Garbolino LB - Matthew Heininger LB - Na’Rod Jarvis LB - Anwar Witherspoon CB - Jamarcus Jones S - Dylan Cleary S - Bryce Williams LS - Tim Schwerha JUCO Signees: Portal Verbals: Portal Departures: (6) WR - Nik McMillan (1st Team All-MAC) WR - Victor Snow (1st Team All-MAC) DE - Demetrius Ballard DE - Shamar Riser-Pressley DB - Marquis Cooper DB - Ronell Davis CENTRAL MICHIGAN HS Signees: (24) RB - Trav Moore WR - Da’Shon Febres WR - Avin Robinson WR - Geno Seets TE - Lucas Hoffmeyer TE - Zack Wagner OL - Wyatt Graffin OL - Landon Harper OL - Isaac Hutchinson OL - Charlie Mandabach OL - Jack Nolan OL - Jacob Timmer DE - Matthew Plumb DE - Matt Sexton DE - Collin Stare DE - Evan Walker LB - Drew Esper LB -Leon Howard LB - Elijah Reynolds DB - Colton Benaitis DB - Laaren Cornwall DB - Kameran Hayward DB - Jajuan Jones DB - David Williams JUCO Signees: (7) RB - John Stowers TE - Myles Peters OL - John Williams DE - Jaxon Cherry LB - Donovan Brown LB - Antonio Cherry DB - Coen Ali Portal Verbals: Portal Departures: (1) DE - Kade Kostus EASTERN MICHIGAN HS Signees: (28) QB - Nick Kinsey RB - Decorie Johnson RB - Nazier Jones-Davis WR - Shawn Fishwick WR - Carl Jean-Bart WR - CJ Miller WR - Bacori Minner TE - Nathan Piggott TE - Armaad Sharp TE - Brady Shelton OL - Samuel Adjin OL - Carter Miculka OL - Nily Taylor OL - Andrew Trahin DE - RJ Alphonse DT - Elijah Berman DT - Jahbarri Frost DT - CJ McCoy DT - Brandon Simmons LB - Kijon Braxton LB - Zach Brown LB - Aaron Kearse DB - Fa’Rel Carter DB - Marty Collins DB - Horace Glenn DB - Jabari Monds DB - Davontey Oliver DB - Antonio Solares-Vitti K - Van Krisiloff JUCO Signees: (9) WR - JT Beasley WR - Cayden Burger TE - Adon Turner DE - Colby Archie DE - Mark Debiak DE - Alijah Lacey LB - Jonah Flowers LB - Elgin McDuffie DB - Rayquan Adkins Portal Verbals: Portal Departures: (15) RB - JT Bronaugh RB - Jayvin Norman TE - Braden Laux TE - Caden Vanderbush OL - Mack Indestad OL - Terrance Saunders OL - Owen Snively OL - Andrew Steger DE - Messiah Blair DE - Duke Clayton DE - Christian Kiptoo DE - Sterling Miles DT - Alijah Alexander LB - Andrew Marshall DB - Zavian Dilworth KENT STATE HS Signees: (18) RB - Jackson Farley RB - Brandon White WR - Zymir Reed WR - Brendyn Smith OL - Liam Dalton OL - Will Johnson OL - Gavin Kanar OL - Colin Prichard DL - Eckley Bridges DL - Jacob Broach DL - Carlos Shird DL - Daiveon Taylor DL - Kale Webb LB - Kendall McNutt DB - TeJuan Barbour DB - Lennox Lemon ATH - Gavin Peeps LS - Chase Mantooth JUCO Signees: Portal Verbals: Portal Departures: (15) WR - Cade Wolford (3rd Team All-MAC) DE - Jamond Mathis (2nd Team All-MAC) LB - CJ Young (2nd Team All-MAC) QB - Devin Kargman QB - CJ Montes QB - JD Sherrod RB - Gavin Garcia RB - TaRyan Martin OL - Junior Diallo OL - Jamarcus Hill OL - Garrett Masterson DT - Thomas Aden LB - Canaan Williams CB - Joel Boamah CB - Jaire Rawlison MIAMI HS Signees: (18) QB - Andrew Bellisari RB - Chancellor Sparks RB - Ike Steward WR - Justen Hodge WR - William Pressley WR - Tristan Reed WR - Scoop Smith OL - Zach Holtgren OL - Dominik Kosznicki DL - Mohamed Bangoura DL - Isaiah Harris DL - London Shackleford-Vickroy LB - Brody Sink LB - Ryan Stolarski DB - Easton Jointer DB - Amir Morelan DB - Tommy Theis K - Brady Stidham JUCO Signees: Portal Verbals: Portal Departures: (6) WR - Kam Perry (1st Team All-MAC) OL - Drew Terrill (2nd Team All-MAC) DE - Adam Trick (1st Team All-MAC) DE - Jayden Fuller DB - Luke Evans DB - Mychal Yharbrough OHIO HS Signees: (17) RB - James Kelly WR - Zach Hackleman WR - Marcus Hughbanks WR - Kaden Page OL - Colton Crosley OL - Danny Fortson OL - Mike Montgomery OL - Job Maverick OL - Drayden Pavey DE - Troy Stiggers DT - Austin Adkins DT - Nate Hunt-Heller CB - James Brewer CB - Kindall Brown S - Brandon Jenkins S - Ryan Miller S - Malachi Taylor JUCO Signees: Portal Verbals: Portal Departures: (1) OL - Ibrahim Kebe TOLEDO HS Signees: (13) WR - Seth Elchert OL - Preston Dazey OL - Jake Palucki OL - Vincenzo Pizzo DE - Mateo Kipke LB - Jah’keevi Garnett LB - Nathan Gersh LB - Brian Stovall LB - Sharard Vaughn CB - Shmar Akande CB - Martece Smith S - Ziiyahn Blair P - Hunter Probst JUCO Signees: Portal Verbals: Portal Departures: (4) DE - Malachi Davis (3rd Team All-Conference) LB - Chris D’Appolonia (3rd Team All-Conference) OL - Stephen Gales CB - Andrew Wilson-Lamp WESTERN MICHIGAN HS Signees: (16) QB - Jaxson Dosh RB - Donovan Triplett WR - Angelo Chapman WR - Harper Hughes WR - Elijah Lucas TE - Ryan Rocheleau OL - Ezra Newman-Nwodika OL - Ryan Westrich DE - Max Baker DE - Chris Stewart DT - Angelo Pugliano LB - Breck Mallory CB - Philip Johnson S - Trevon Collard S - Camari Patterson K - Zak Zeman JUCO Signees: (6) WR - Kordell Gouldsby TE - Enese Tonga OL - Gavin Beachner LB - Justyce Betts LB - Teegan Haines LB - Jermar McCarter Portal Verbals: Portal Departures: (2) WR - Don-Ray Hall DE - Popeye Williams UMASS HS Signees: (21) QB - Aedan McCarthy RB - TK Davis RB - Justin Lewis WR - Drew Alsup WR - Tavian Dashiell WR - David Moore WR - Kai Owens TE - Matthew Tybor OL - Will McNamara OL - Ben Noome DE - CJ Amobi DE - Donovan Murphy DL - Robert Ekins DL - Samuel Mulbah LB - Moritz Strempel DB - David Chiavegato DB - Terron Johnson DB - Ted Mondesir DB - Kareem Pruitt DB - Corey Warner K - Seamus McIntyre JUCO Signees: Portal Verbals: Portal Departures: (14) WR - Jacquon Gibson (3rd Team All-MAC) QB - AJ Hairston QB - Grant Jordan WR - Tyree Kelly DL - Erik Hehl DL - Malachi Madison DL - David Onuoha DL - Jermaine Wiggins LB - Donovan Dyson LB - Nick Hawthorne LB - Rashad Henry DB - Brennen Bailey DB - Kendall Bournes DB - Jeremiah McGill

@MangoZip hit on some of the possible reasons. I’m no longer involved in the recruiting scene, but if I had to guess, it’s probably either grades or that most of those offers aren’t actually on the table anymore. He also may have had someone in his ear telling him to go somewhere he can play early and be developed. Honestly, that’s some of the best advice a high school recruit can get in today’s setup if they aren’t already in line to receive a decent NIL package. Regardless, he looks like a playmaker and could see the field with some refinement. I also suspect he’s not really 185 lbs.

Played left tackle at JUCO, but he’ll likely slide inside for us.

I believe we’re recruiting him as a DB.

Spriggs to the portal. Not a surprise, just tough for us, because he’s yet another guy this staff developed when nobody else really came calling out of high school. Someone out there will pay him, no doubt.

Hammock did it to himself. On3 and 247 disagreed with me, but I thought he cobbled together multiple recruiting classes that sat at or near the bottom of the MAC — outside of the offensive linemen, running backs, and a few other select individuals — and that lack of recruiting, especially at quarterback, has finally come home to roost. The funny thing is he spent the entire offseason bragging about how easy recruiting had become while he was scooping up a slew of DII and FCS guys. Can’t win without the horses to run the race.