Blue & Gold

I've also noticed 6'2", 223 lb. R-Fr LB Josh Ward getting quite a bit of playing time the last couple games. He's been lining up at DE. He looks pretty good and certainly passes the eyeball test. http://www.gozips.com/sports/fball/2016-17/bios/ward_josh_z833

I remember going to the Byron Leftwich Marshall Top 25 game at the RubberBowl... Idk, who knows how many years ago now. I was expecting the Zips to get run, just like I'm feeling for this WMU game. But the Zips won in a sincerely classic college football game. So you never know. Our D has to come to play on Saturday.

^^ I'm already pumped for November 22nd

I don't think anyone posted this. It's the Miami Pre-Game Hype Video. IMHO better than the last few. Maybe I just feel that way b/c it features highlights from the K.e.nt game. Lol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1aKQ5mmWig

Crazy! When's the last time a Zips team only had one penalty the entire game?! When Heisman was coach?

Lol. Yeah, The Suburbanite covers some of the south-side suburbs.

You're probably right. He definitely doesn't stick out in the crowd. Often when you attend HS football games, if there's a future D-1 player on the field they stick out like sore thumbs. You can't tell who Marquise is till they line up on offense.

I just noticed we don't have a thread specifically for Jemarulin Suggs! This guy is one of the premier RB's in northeast Ohio. I've seen him play twice this year - against Springfield and Ellet. Though I'd say he's not great at any one thing, he does everything well. He's got good-not-great speed at 4.5 40. Definitely fast enough. But he may not break any 80-yarders at the next level. He's got good-not-great size @ 5'11" 185. In college he'll likely redshirt and come in at 5'11" - 6'0" 205-210. This is my hope, because a Jemarulin Suggs at 6'0" 210 would be a monster because his greatest asset, IMHO, is his toughness. He's a workhorse back who can carry the rock 30 times a game and be as strong in the 4th Q as he was in the 1st. He's got a mean streak and doesn't shy away from contact. No, he enjoys it and generally initiates the contact. When I see him play it's usually he who is hitting the LB's & not the other way around. I think he'll get up to at least 205 because right now, he's still a little slight in the upper body, but has powerful, RB legs. His legs are thick. Over the next year his upper body is going to catch up w/ his legs & he's going to be a muscular beast. Very happy we got a RB like Suggs who's been a tear @ RB in the city since his sophomore year.

It might be that simple. I said he is 5'10" because that's how I've seen him listed. But he's probably more like 5'8". He and Jemarulin Suggs are friends & would sometimes talk to each other after plays, and Jemarulin looks a good 2 inches taller than Marquise. Jemarlulin's listed at 5'11".

Good question, LZip. The only thing I can think of is that he was academically ineligible as a sophomore & missed his sophomore year. He had a really good junior year, and is having a fantastic senior year. Maybe academic issues scared some schools off? Maybe he really hit the radar late due to not playing as a soph? But lots of sophomores don't see the field regardless of whether they're academically eligible or not and by the time they're seniors all the college coaches know about them. Maybe Marquise didn't attend any summer camps? Physically speaking he doesn't stick out - he's only 5'10", 180. But he's not small either. I really have no idea, but watching him play you can instantly tell he's on another level from high school kids.

Great list, Wadzip! I was privileged enough to see all those RBs play. Beanie Wells was an absolute freak and a once-in-a-lifetime physical specimen who had the most upside. However, due to playing on some relatively weak Garfield teams his stats weren't anything that'd blow you away, so he was never in any serious contention for Ohio Mr. Football awards, even though he was arguably the best player in the entire country. Lol. But, on my list, he wouldn't be the best high school RB from that list. For me, it was Tyrell Sutton. I loved watching Tyrell run the ball. He was smooth as silk and just glided when he ran down the field. I'm excited about Marquise. It remains to be seen what he'll do at the next level, but he's quicker and faster than any RB I've ever seen.

Watching Marquise Bridges hit a seem gives me the same, slightly awestruck feeling I used to get watching Jimmal Ball dunk. He's that kind of athlete.

Another note: TC5 & Jerome Lane don't have much chemistry.

He's from Bradenton and was the RB for Manatee HS when they won the mythical high school "national championship" a few years ago. He had a knee injury, so it's great to see him in there now. We might need him even more if JoJo's badly injured

That's funny - the all-blue w/ blue helmet is my favorite. Lol

As Balzy noted, announced attendance was 11,094. We should double that for Homecoming on a beautiful fall afternoon. Maybe one day.

Wrong thread, Balzy.

Amazing job, Dr. Z! Thank you!!!

I've been watching him since the VMI game - he wasn't even listed on the roster! He's a baller for sure! Lol. I was still surprised to see him in the starting lineup over either Featherstone (who's also a good one!) or George (who didn't play, if I'm correct?). He played well!

TC5's QB rating for the game was 136.26. But, as someone mentioned above (statistics, statistics), against a better defense there would have been a pick or two. We need Tommy back if we hope to try and make it competitive w/ WMU.

This was our 6th consecutive MAC win; first time in program history. http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/university-of-akron-football-backup-quarterback-tra-von-chapman-leads-zips-to-35-13-win-over-miami-redhawks-1.717864

I told my friend yesterday, and I'll be brave enough to post it here, I'm expecting to get blown out.

Zips Wary of Winless RedHawks http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/university-of-akron-football-zips-wary-of-winless-redhawks-1.717672

Btw, what's in the water in Akron? We always crank out some of the best RB's the state has to offer. How many Mr. Football RB's has the Akron area produced? This year alone we have four elite, D-1 level RB's: Marquise Bridges (Ellet) Todd Sibley (Hoban) Jemarulin Suggs (East) Weston Bridges (Copley) And I'm going to add one more. King Sanders (Woodridge) There can't be any other metro area in the country w/ that many D-1-caliber RB's. It's insane, really.

Saw Callaway for the 2nd time last night. I'll say he passes the eyeball test. Legit 6-1 w/ long arms. He doesn't pile up many statistics though because he doesn't play WR (East doesn't really throw the ball, anyway) and he plays corner. If he played S he'd probably be in on more of the game. But, to his credit, he simply covers whoever is out wide & sticks with them like glue. He does all that he's asked to do at a high level. I saw he did blow one coverage last night that went for a TD. There was some sort of miscommunication between he and the S. But that was a mental error; not like being physically overmatched. Idk. He's a good looking athlete (built like current Zip Kyron Brown) who does his (somewhat easy job) at cornerback. That's about all I can say about Callaway. We'll see how it translates to the next level against better WR's & QB's who can really throw the ball.