bigjim

I really want to agree with you, but it usually takes some time for freshmen OL to develop and mature and be ready to play FBS football. That is why I have said in past posts that I would like to see one more OL transfer (in addition to a seasoned QB) to team with Banes and the current R-Fr and Fr (now Sophomores in 22) offensive line. Add in these highly rated commits, and the OL should be solid for years. In Joe We Trust!!!

I have been saying the same for weeks, let's get another OL transfer to compliment Banes. We do have some good young offensive lineman that have some experience. If we add the freshman listed here and add another transfer, we will be in good shape on the OL in 22 and going forward. Now, we need a transfer QB. I do not believe Irons is the man. Then, a couple of frosh LB's and two additional frosh DL men and give them a year to get acclimated to FBS, and we will be in good shape going forward. Looking forward to rebuttals. In Joe We Trust!!!

Is there a name to this potential 4 star prospect?

If it makes sense to B&G, can you add a list of the PWO's to the bottom of the page 1 summary of commitments that is so good to review? My guess is that this coaching staff will get more PWO's between now and the late signing day. I think this addition was included in years past, but I could be wrong. If you do not think that it makes sense, then ignore my request. Thanks for all you do. In Joe We Trust!!!

Congrats to the coaching staff.

Look at my prior posts and review of Akron's opponents regarding stars. The team with the most stars of the recruits typically win the game. Who has more stars in the recruits, OSU, Auburn, etc. They win because of more talent. Then, we will have CK give 5 examples over a 15 year period where stars do not matter. Stars are not 100% accurate, but the trend is there. As I stated in the past, if you cannot play above TBAll level, you do not understand that talent matters in sports. I am out on this post so say whatever you want.

Are we returning to the Bowden and Arth eras of recruiting players with Zero stars and zero other offers? We just went through an impressive stretch of competing with other programs for players, and now it seems to have stopped.

Looks like the recruitment focus has shifted from transfers from the TP to high school recruits. I still think we need at least one more Offensive Lineman transfer and an experienced QB for 1 year. i have read that 90% of the good high school players sign in the early period. If this is true, I am not sure how many good high school recruits are left. There are some HS players who were left at the altar that are looking for a scholarship, but they are limited. However, as always, In Joe We Trust!!!

My post was 1 minute late. I was hitting send as this came through. Hopefully, it is the first of many commits in the next couple of days. 'Go Zips!

This posting had me all excited on Saturday. Now, I have the following questions. 1. can you share the names of the commits that are already enrolled? I would like to know the sure recruits. 2. I did not see any new commits on Sunday. Did I miss them? Now it is Monday mid-day, and no news has been reported. Is there an issue as stated above? In Joe We Trust!!!

If they want to be successful, they and others will listen to me 😄🙂. Yes, people need to listen to EFH. When he talks, people listen. Now, let's get that 2nd offensive lineman and QB transfer and we will be set for a successful 2022. Additional recruits will make Akron successful pas 22. In Joe We Trust!!!

4.49 forty time, so he has some quickness. I am guessing that he was recruited as a WR and not DB, but I could be completely wrong. If so, that will start filling the future pipeline. As I state with all of these recruits: In Joe We Trust!!!!

Great!! Got that second WR to replace the losses of our transfers. Now, we need to get 1-2 highly rated freshman wide receivers to keep the pipeline going. Adams graduated in 2020. With the Covid season or a redshirt, he should still have 3 seasons left. Very highly rated out of high school, with many P5 offers. https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/season/2021/player/alex-adams/ Very little success at LSU in 2 years. However, we welcome him to the corner of Union and Exchange and hope for great successes. In Joe We Trust!!!

After so many great acquisitions via transfer portal and high school recruiting, we have gone like 3 days with no activity. I continue to be eagerly awaiting more additions to the team. Let's go coaches, close more deals. In Joe We Trust!!!

Good guesses, but no. No more comments on this subject to protect the innocent. Go Zips!!!

I stand by my statement. Call me on it in September if I am wrong. The issue is that we do not know for sure who is on scholarship and who is not. There is only speculation and I know that the scholarship chart is close, but it is not 100% accurate. 1. Regarding of timing of shedding non D1 players, I should have stated between now and the start of next season. The purge has already started with a couple of players leaving. Many more will leave on their own and others will be assisted out the door. I am not talking about Gibson and others moving up in the world. We may not meet the 85 scholarship limit as a result, but it is better to have good players rather than players on scholarship who are not FBS talent. 2. I do not know what JoeMo will do. But I do know that classy programs assist players to a different team or a lower level of playing, DII, DIII, FCS, etc. Will my alma mater show class? I hope so. 3. Over the last several seasons, I got to know a lot of players' parents during the tail gate parties. I have heard many unrealistic stories about how good their son's were and how bad they were, after several cervesas. I will relay two of the stories. a. One player was on his 6th season with a red shirt year and a hardship year. His dad stated how his family is using the University of Akron to get his second Masters, and he will never see the field. He was quite arrogant that he could not afford his son's education. b. Another player who's uncle was a big time Big10 player would joke that his nephew's only offer was from Akron. He said he was thankful, but was unsure if he deserved it. Oh, how beers bring out the truth. I have other examples, but I will stay with these two. Both players are not on the current roster. In Joe We Trust!!!!

I agree. I looked at the roster and it has changed considerably in the last week or two. Not too long ago, Gibson was on the roster, even after he committed to GT. Also, there are no Redshirt Freshman listed on the current roster. This will change since many of the athletes played less than 4 games. Scholarships are year to year, not 4 year deals. This is a fact that most fans do not know. Existing coaches typically do not pull scholarships since it will hurt their image and relationships, but new coaches who do not have any relationships with the players do so all of the time. Once spring ball is complete, I expect major changes to happen to the roster. It would not surprise me to see 20 scholarship players dropped, because they are not D1 players. They may have the option to stay as walk-ons, or they may be assisted to transfer to a DII or DIII school. I have had several discussions with players' parents who all comment that there are so many scholarship players who do not deserve to be on the team, or that they had only one offer, from Akron. I also heard that some of the parents questioned that their son got a D1 scholarship, but they were thankful. So, I would not put much trust and faith into the roster until the players are enrolled in the fall and the season begins. In Joe We Trust!!!

6'1" 330 lb Offensive Lineman. Graduated HS in 2019, Redshirted as a freshman in 19, played mostly on special teams the last 2 years, with the Covid year, he still should have 3 more seasons. Have to trust the coaches that he is an upgrade. In Joe We Trust!!!!

LZlp, I have never knowingly met you, but at this time, I am so upset at you (in a good way). You just posted the note that I was working on and getting details. I cannot believe you beat me to the punch! 😀 Here are my brief thoughts. I will provide much more detail in the future after late signing day. My thoughts on needs for the remainder of the recruiting season are as follows: QB - 1 upperclassmen is needed as a transfer with the loss of Gibson, 1 recruit in Jennings, my guy is still Jankowski. I am not sold on Irons. RB - Norrills, Williams, both Freshman last year, I thought both backs showed promise and Norrills had some great moments this past season. Wiley adds some depth, and we get a first team D1 running back in Kellom. Watch his tape, he is fantastic OL- I agree, let's get one more transfer and 2 freshmen recruits. The young line this year of all freshmen was not good, but there is a lot of talent. One more transfer in addition to Banes gives depth, competition, and more time for the youngsters to develop. TE - with Brank and Ognenovic, we were good. Adding Banks allows Akron to run 12 or 13 packages with good talent. The coaches need to figure out how to utilize this talent. WR - I think we need one more transfer and 2 freshmen. I think the M's are gone, but I would like to get Qualls back with the listed newbies. DL - The biggest weakness of the team in 2021 and over the last few years has been the Defensive Line. Adding Robinson, Harper, and Jones should be fantastic. Rotate them with Fann, Hawkins, Proffitt, Sy, Wade, and Wilson, and we have depth and talent. Please get 2 freshmen for future growth. LB - If Bubba returns, we should be very good with him, Boateng, Behr, and Bischoff. Add in Terry, and 2022 should be fine. Need 2 freshman recruits DB - This position has been a weakness, but we have been playing youth. Add Threatt and Martin, and Akron should be competitive. Add 2 freshman. Punter - Slike, Kicker - Smigel Akron is close to being competitive in the MAC. I will be happy when we are competitive and winning in the MAC and can compete and win against P5 schools. Go Zips! LZlp - Love your posts and dedication. We need to meet in Lot 9 this year during the season. I throw great tail gate parties. In Joe We Trust!!!

Comes with a little baggage. If he stays clean, looks like a fantastic pickup. https://www.trentonian.com/2021/06/02/university-of-wyoming-defensive-end-victor-jones-is-reinstated-to-team-2/

I thank you guys for your posts regarding the importance of recruiting Stars. I have been beaten up on Zips Nation for years for saying that Stars matter. There will be a post showing 5 players over a 15 year period in which Stars do not correlate to success. Stars are not 100% perfect, but the teams with the most Star players typically win. It is mostly about talent. When talent is close to equal, then coaching matters. I went back and did a quick comparison (not 100% accurate) of the last 5 years of recruits of all of the teams that the Zips played this year. The Zips had fewer Stars of most of the teams, except Bryant, and BGSU was close. Who did we beat? The bottom line is that talent (Stars) wins. It looks like JoeMo is going after talent. That pursuit will quickly result in Wins. In Joe We Trust!!!

B&G, FYI for page 1. In the transfer portal, it says Devon Robinson is eligible immediately, not having to sit a year. I apologize if I am wrong. Thanks again for all of the great updates! In Joe We Trust!

I Did not think TE was a position of need, but am always willing to add depth and possibly upgrade. TJ did not have a stellar season last year based on stats, but he was the backup TE. But, I do not know how much the tight end was utilized at WVU. Maybe JoeMo will run more of the 12 or 13 personnel package and utilize more tight ends, since I think we have a good one in Brank. In Joe We Trust!!!

This gives Akron its 10th assistant, so I now believe we have a full staff. Can still hire Quality Control, Grad Assistants, and Weight coaches, but it looks like the staff is full. Glad to have a 4th defensive assistant coach. https://eiupanthers.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/neal-renna/926

I could find little information on him. Nothing in 247, and a little in MaxPreps. Looks like a 6'3" 330 lb DT/G graduating high school in 2022. If I am wrong, I would appreciate any corrections to my data or any additional information on his successes on why he would get an offer and visit from Akron. Go Zips!!