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Per the info release by the university, he did not start playing football until his junior year.

I hope both Irons and Jankowski will be here for spring ball. Jankowski should be without a doubt, if not already enrolled. I don’t see any benefit for Irons playing JUCO in the spring. He’d be better served getting in our system ASAP.

https://gozips.com/news/2020/12/16/akron-football-unveils-talented-17-member-2021-signing-class.aspx We just may have a chance to get up to the vaunted 85 scholarship limit this year. Currently at 79 with the potential to add 8 more if (based on signings thus far) if a few more transfer which is likely to happen. Keep in mind I have no clue how the opt out/ineligible players count towards any of this, but I'd fill those 6 spots, in no order, with: 1) Transfer TE since we unexpectedly lost Wolfley. Brank/Yarmo played and didn't stick out as being a liability, but I'm in favor of experienced competition there. 2) Transfer DL - need to upgrade somewhere there if we can. 3) Transfer CB - Need an immediate contributor that can push/beat our current starters. 4) Freshman CB - only signed one, not much depth there IMO. I see Roach and Lewis playing S. 5) RB - need a freshman RB every year. 6) Transfer OL - our current unit may end up being very good in a few years, but I think we need some depth that can step in immediately and/or challenge for a starting spot. Relying on a bunch of freshman is risky. 7-8 if available, i'd say should be used to replace whoever leaves. Can be true fresh or transfer depending on need. I would really like to upgrade the ILB spot next to Bubba. Unsure if injuries/COVID made that area look worse than it was this year or what. Also right now we have 39 freshman or redshirt freshman on the roster, with it being quite likely that number will increase.Zips Football Scholarship Chart.xlsx

Welcome Mike Wynn!

I bet Hawkins will be a walk on. His tweet was carefully worded. I don't see where he was highly rated, nor where he had an offer from anyone else. Reese didn't seem to do much at all this year. Agree to disagree on him. He's one of the commits i'm least excited about.

S.L. McCall is someone who can come in and compete immediately on the DL. One of the levels getting immediate help. Now lets get a LB and DB transfer as well. I may be missing some, but Bauer, Morgan, Burney, and Mumpfield stick out to me as people who haven't sent in LOI yet. I would be disappointed if Mumpfield didn't sign. I also wonder if they want to use one of the two scholly's allocated to Bauer/Morgan for a transfer instead. Get as many early enrollees in hear as you can to hit the weight room and playbook and increase their chances of contributing next season.

50 of their 68 points have come in the paint. I'm sure we've been out rebounded by a large margin as well. Freeman might be a feel good story, but he isn't the answer this year and needs to put on 20 lbs of muscle to be any sort of force in the paint. We need Currie or Aziz to be able to contribute meaningful minutes this season to spell Reece and his inevitable foul trouble he'll run into.

We look like straight doo doo. Partial credit to St Bonaventure of course at they are A10 contenders, but we better make some improvements or we're going to lose to Kent.

Got a lot of complaints about the first half. All of which can be fixed as the season plays out, but maybe not today. If we can hit some shots in the second half, we have a chance. Law of averages, right?

Issues getting to United State from COVID I believe. He may have just gotten here a few days ago, if thats even happened yet. Groce mentioned it in one of his videos.

Trimble really playing some minus minutes.

Reece looking gassed already.

I am most definitely working hard and not watching this game.?

I’m surprised he hasn’t committed anywhere yet

One senior contributor in the portal. Best of luck to Nate. Always came across as a class act.

My understanding is schools are allowed to add the new scholarships they otherwise would have. So a program like us can add 25 easy because we would be under the limit considering where we are and what seniors would be leaving in a normal year. A program like Ohio may have been at 85 but only had 14 scholarship seniors, so they would have 14 to sign. Nobody knows how it will work after next year (will the total scholarship # increase, will schools have x number of years to get back down to 85, or something else).

For whatever reason, I though McKeesport was a pretty respectable program in the WPIAL. They beat state champ powerhouse West Jefferson this season. May be wrong though.

Williams is Andre Williams. Was our leading WR in 2018. Left the team last year, apparently came back, then was ineligible due to grades this year. Other walk-ons I am referring to are Ryan Beckman and Charles Amankwaa. No record of them receiving scholarship, though they may be on their way to receiving one. In addition to them I've seen others sprinkled in on special teams. Donatelli, Durant, Burton, and Howze were players I noticed this year there that come to mind right away. I imagine i'm missing some.

Most who follow close were realistically hoping for 1 win this season, and thankfully we got that. Realistic goal for next season will be 4-5 wins and winning seasons the majority of the time thereafter if this is going to be deemed a success. We have games vs Auburn and OSU, so will need to win approximately 50% of games outside of that. Luckily, we also have a FCS opponent for the first time in Arth's tenure. I feel good about Bryant and BG. Hopefully we draw NIU and/or EMU in the west. Will need to upset somebody somewhere as well. Temple has dropped off big and their long-time starting QB is transferring out. The good news is this year didn't count against eligibility for any players. It also didn't count against the eligibility of other teams, but I think we have a leg up in this regard being that we were very young, were able to get all 6 games in, and won't have to worry about players foregoing eligibility to go to the NFL, unlike other teams (Jaret Patterson, Dustin Crum, etc). I count 9 scholarship seniors on the roster, 5 of which contributed on offense or defense regularly. Some will undoubtedly move on, but the fact is we don't have much to lose as long as we can limit attrition from freshman-juniors. In all likelihood, we'll end up with something like +20-25 scholarship players next year than we had this year. 25 signing class + potential of some of Hooks/Sampson/Williams/Uran/Corne being back (it has been mentioned some opted out of season and others were ineligible) - seniors moving on - transfers. Huge for potentially adding not only depth, but talent that can play now. Regarding depth - too many walk-ons getting time in all 3 phases this year. A walk-on CB started the last couple games, we started a walk-on on the OL the whole season, and played the majority of the game with 2 walk-ons at WR yesterday. Not a slight to anyone (and some may be deserving of scholarships), but walk-ons just do not get this time at other programs. We should not have to rely on them that much, though I understand why it happened this year. Regarding immediate help - need to bring in immediate competition on all 3 levels of D. I'd also bring in a OL with at least a few years of experience. Of course, I'm definitely for more competition at QB and I think there will be plenty of that for next season. Hopefully someone will rise to at least an average MAC QB. I'm all for giving time as long as I can see a vision and progress is being made. I understand what the staff is trying to do and there was progress, albeit minimal this season. Keep it going. Early signing day starts Wednesday. Go Zips!

Sounds like it will be a good test heading into conference play. No tickets available for this game I take it? Wondered if there was any chance with it being a neutral site game.

Didn’t see you last week @zipsoutsider

I don't like coach doing this. He's clearly trying to get players experience. Is the experience worth the embarrassment?

Not good tackling today in open field.

I was thinking about this earlier...silver lining.