2011 offers

[ZachTheZip]

Clayton Moore Article. Some good quotes in there. Moore definitely has a shot at getting the starting job and turning things around for us.

[Blue & Gold]

[Edit: in response to the verbal by Justin March]

Great news! Thanks, Zach.

The picture Rivals has of March says a lot. Though a bit undersized, he sure looks like a LB! I would NOT want to run into him in a dark alley!

[Dr Z]

The picture Rivals has of Justin March says a lot.

I agree, reminds me of a James Harrison photo.

2009 Video takes a LONG time to load?

[72 Roo]

[Edit: in response to the verbal by Justin March]

Great news! Thanks, Zach.

The picture Rivals has of March says a lot. Though a bit undersized, he sure looks like a LB! I would NOT want to run into him in a dark alley!

Everyone looks good coming out of high school where small LB's can excel. Put a 6"0" 207 lb LB in a full season of D1 football and you will see why size is needed. Good luck to this recruit, but don't kid yourself. In the MAC size is needed at LB. We don't seem to be getting it with many of our recruits. We will pay down the line when 230 lb running backs hit us up for 5+ yds/carry.

[KentZip]

[Edit: in response to the verbal by Justin March]

Great news! Thanks, Zach.

The picture Rivals has of March says a lot. Though a bit undersized, he sure looks like a LB! I would NOT want to run into him in a dark alley!

Everyone looks good coming out of high school where small LB's can excel. Put a 6"0" 207 lb LB in a full season of D1 football and you will see why size is needed. Good luck to this recruit, but don't kid yourself. In the MAC size is needed at LB. We don't seem to be getting it with many of our recruits. We will pay down the line when 230 lb running backs hit us up for 5+ yds/carry.

I agree with everything you say but it seems to me I read that he was being targeted as a safety for the Zips. Makes a whole lot more sense and goes along with what you say about weight.

[ZachTheZip]

[Edit: in response to the verbal by Justin March]

Great news! Thanks, Zach.

The picture Rivals has of March says a lot. Though a bit undersized, he sure looks like a LB! I would NOT want to run into him in a dark alley!

Everyone looks good coming out of high school where small LB's can excel. Put a 6"0" 207 lb LB in a full season of D1 football and you will see why size is needed. Good luck to this recruit, but don't kid yourself. In the MAC size is needed at LB. We don't seem to be getting it with many of our recruits. We will pay down the line when 230 lb running backs hit us up for 5+ yds/carry.

I agree with everything you say but it seems to me I read that he was being targeted as a safety for the Zips. Makes a whole lot more sense and goes along with what you say about weight.

In the article I posted:

"And March’s size, 6-foot and 207 pounds, compares favorably with all six on the two-deep depth chart.

“Size is that important to them,’’ March said. “They want guys that can play football and they have seen me play against bigger guys and be able hold my own.

“I also know that I’m going to get bigger and stronger when I start concentrating on football.’’"

[johnnyzip84]

In the article I posted:

"And March’s size, 6-foot and 207 pounds, compares favorably with all six on the two-deep depth chart.

“Size is that important to them,’’ March said. “They want guys that can play football and they have seen me play against bigger guys and be able hold my own.

“I also know that I’m going to get bigger and stronger when I start concentrating on football.’’"

I'm thinking he meant to say "size ISN'T that important to them"? This would make more sense in the context of the discussion.

In terms of his playing LB, it all depends on whether March can put on a good 30-35 LB by the time he's a senior without losing any speed. We don't know how extensive his strength training has been in the past. Maybe he has some upside in this area?

Mike Thomas (listed at 5'11", but probably closer to 5'9") was a pretty decent LB here, but his stature probably limited his ability to play at a higher weight (listed at 220 LB last year). Hopefully, March is a legit 6' (not that this is particularly tall for a LB).

[ZachTheZip]

Our returning LBs average 6' 1" and 212 lbs. None of them weigh more than 230 and they are all between 6-0 and 6-3.

March is very slightly below average, but he hasn't been in the strength program here yet and he's probably not done growing. I think after he gets one year in our strength program he could be on the upper end of where our current LBs are in terms of size. If he puts on the 30-35 lbs you want, he'll easily be the heaviest LB on the roster.

[Zipmeister]

LB Justin March commits to Akron!

Given 3 stars by Rivals.

Finally, we have a cornerback with decent size.

[eguins]

ScoutingOhio says that Kicker Anthony "A.J." Fox has verballed to Akron!

If he kicks FG's here, I would hope some student would have a big sign with a hole in it that said "Foxhole."

He could stand on the rise between the posts when kicking at that end.

Fox is an excellent punter. He has a rocket leg and can kick the field goals, but I am not quite sure he is a Division 1 college football kicker. When it comes to punting, Rivals said he was the best in the state. He was probably Mooney's best player this past season which is saying something. Another Mooney punter plays in the MAC, John Penza up at Toledo.

Fox: Great punting recruit, OK kicking recruit.

And please know I say OK because I saw him attempt a 48 yard field goal at YSU vs. Boardman and it was just horrible. Went way left and hit midway in the back of the endzone.

[ZachTheZip]

Having just an "OK" kicker would be a huuuuge upgrade over what we had last year.

[72 Roo]

LB Justin March commits to Akron!

Given 3 stars by Rivals.

Finally, we have a cornerback with decent size.

Yes he has good size for a CB. That should make us all happy if he has the speed. But if he truly was recruited at LB I have serious misgivings. I don't care if he has been in a weight program or not. At the desparate stage we find our team in now we need someone who can give us productive playing time after one year in our program. He may be too small for that at LB. Putting him in the average size of our current LB's means nothing because they are almost all undersized and under-performing. If we are to build the program we all want, our recruits will have to be better than what we have rather than equal to our average size.

[footballdad]

Having just an "OK" kicker would be a huuuuge upgrade over what we had last year.

Seriously, we have the top soccer program in the Nation and we have to go sign a PK, Could we not get a kicker from some of the B squad??

[Zipgrad01]

LB Justin March commits to Akron!

Given 3 stars by Rivals.

Finally, we have a cornerback with decent size.

Yes he has good size for a CB. That should make us all happy if he has the speed. But if he truly was recruited at LB I have serious misgivings. I don't care if he has been in a weight program or not. At the desparate stage we find our team in now we need someone who can give us productive playing time after one year in our program. He may be too small for that at LB. Putting him in the average size of our current LB's means nothing because they are almost all undersized and under-performing. If we are to build the program we all want, our recruits will have to be better than what we have rather than equal to our average size.

Now we are turning our noses at 3 star players because they don't fit "your" mold of what we should be recruiting. My god the negativity about everything Ianello does is getting annoying. Be thankful we got a 3 star "athlete". Let the coaching staff determine where he should play once he gets here.

[72 Roo]

LB Justin March commits to Akron!

Given 3 stars by Rivals.

Finally, we have a cornerback with decent size.

Yes he has good size for a CB. That should make us all happy if he has the speed. But if he truly was recruited at LB I have serious misgivings. I don't care if he has been in a weight program or not. At the desparate stage we find our team in now we need someone who can give us productive playing time after one year in our program. He may be too small for that at LB. Putting him in the average size of our current LB's means nothing because they are almost all undersized and under-performing. If we are to build the program we all want, our recruits will have to be better than what we have rather than equal to our average size.

Now we are turning our noses at 3 star players because they don't fit "your" mold of what we should be recruiting. My god the negativity about everything Ianello does is getting annoying. Be thankful we got a 3 star "athlete". Let the coaching staff determine where he should play once he gets here.

I've seen lots of three stars come to Akron who can't play in the MAC. The negativism comes from being 1-11 and having a coaching staff that did not make the team any better from the beginning of the season to the end, like Miami did last year when they went 1-11. This is not being negative, it's being realistic in the assessment of the program. We can't get better until we objectively assess what we have and then go get what we need. We need size and athleticism at LB.

[MDZip]

LB Justin March commits to Akron!

Given 3 stars by Rivals.

Finally, we have a cornerback with decent size.

Yes he has good size for a CB. That should make us all happy if he has the speed. But if he truly was recruited at LB I have serious misgivings. I don't care if he has been in a weight program or not. At the desparate stage we find our team in now we need someone who can give us productive playing time after one year in our program. He may be too small for that at LB. Putting him in the average size of our current LB's means nothing because they are almost all undersized and under-performing. If we are to build the program we all want, our recruits will have to be better than what we have rather than equal to our average size.

Now we are turning our noses at 3 star players because they don't fit "your" mold of what we should be recruiting. My god the negativity about everything Ianello does is getting annoying. Be thankful we got a 3 star "athlete". Let the coaching staff determine where he should play once he gets here.

I've seen lots of three stars come to Akron who can't play in the MAC. The negativism comes from being 1-11 and having a coaching staff that did not make the team any better from the beginning of the season to the end, like Miami did last year when they went 1-11. This is not being negative, it's being realistic in the assessment of the program. We can't get better until we objectively assess what we have and then go get what we need. We need size and athleticism at LB.

Not that I'm hanging up any banners over last year, but did you really feel that the team made no improvement from the beginning of the year? A loss to GW and a bunch of thrashings to being competetive the last three games and almost beating the MAC Champ? I saw a lot of negatives this year but not seeing some improvement over the course of the year was not one of them. And Zipmeister, I'm sorry people don't understand you.

[johnnyzip84]

Not that I'm hanging up any banners over last year, but did you really feel that the team made no improvement from the beginning of the year? A loss to GW and a bunch of thrashings to being competetive the last three games and almost beating the MAC Champ? I saw a lot of negatives this year but not seeing some improvement over the course of the year was not one of them. And Zipmeister, I'm sorry people don't understand you.

+1

Updated Rivals Rankings now have ATH Tyler Williams as a 3 star. They also reflect the AJ Fox verbal.

[Zipgrad01]

LB Justin March commits to Akron!

Given 3 stars by Rivals.

Finally, we have a cornerback with decent size.

Yes he has good size for a CB. That should make us all happy if he has the speed. But if he truly was recruited at LB I have serious misgivings. I don't care if he has been in a weight program or not. At the desparate stage we find our team in now we need someone who can give us productive playing time after one year in our program. He may be too small for that at LB. Putting him in the average size of our current LB's means nothing because they are almost all undersized and under-performing. If we are to build the program we all want, our recruits will have to be better than what we have rather than equal to our average size.

Now we are turning our noses at 3 star players because they don't fit "your" mold of what we should be recruiting. My god the negativity about everything Ianello does is getting annoying. Be thankful we got a 3 star "athlete". Let the coaching staff determine where he should play once he gets here.

I've seen lots of three stars come to Akron who can't play in the MAC. The negativism comes from being 1-11 and having a coaching staff that did not make the team any better from the beginning of the season to the end, like Miami did last year when they went 1-11. This is not being negative, it's being realistic in the assessment of the program. We can't get better until we objectively assess what we have and then go get what we need. We need size and athleticism at LB.

I also remember JD coming in and winning the MAC title his first year and everyone thought we we on our way to greatness only to see things get progressively worse. I am willing to let Ianello build the team how he wants to. Granted, I wont be willing to give him 6 or 7 years to do it. I just want to see improvement year after year. I am not going to hold 1 bad year of house cleaning and concept changes against him. I will start questioning things if I don't start seeing improvement by late next year and into his 3rd season. This program was in bad, bad shape, so it isnt an over night process.

[g-mann17]

I also remember JD coming in and winning the MAC title his first year and everyone thought we we on our way to greatness only to see things get progressively worse. I am willing to let Ianello build the team how he wants to. Granted, I wont be willing to give him 6 or 7 years to do it. I just want to see improvement year after year. I am not going to hold 1 bad year of house cleaning and concept changes against him. I will start questioning things if I don't start seeing improvement by late next year and into his 3rd season. This program was in bad, bad shape, so it isnt an over night process.

Don't remember that all.

I remember winning the MAC the second year, with Luke Getsy at quarterback. I remember what should have been back to back bowl seasons, and I remember people still being negative about the team.

Ianello took an abysmal team and did what he could with it. At least 50% of the people on the field against GW were not on the field when we played Miami and Buffalo.

BTW. Many of the best LB's are 6'2 and under, the kid needs some weight (as do most of our LB's) but other than that he would be a perfect Middle because the QB would lose sight of him.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I remain aghast that we have no WR's committed.

Usually JUCO guys sign late...I really hope he is working the Cal JUCO circuit hard right now.

[ZachTheZip]

I remain aghast that we have no WR's committed.

Usually JUCO guys sign late...I really hope he is working the Cal JUCO circuit hard right now.

Scout has three of our verbals as WRs, but the other recruiting services have them at other positions. Scout has been less than reliable as of late when compared to Rivals and ESPN.

Scout lists Johnny Robinson (DB), Tyler Williams (QB), and Jabari Thomas (CB) as moving to WR. Frankly, I would rather have a recruit who has actually played the position so they don't need as much coaching in the beginning, which frees up the staff to work on our other myriad problems.

[ZachTheZip]

NJ Receiver chooses Old Dominion over the Zips and a bunch of FCS offers. Maybe the reason we're converting players to WR is because the coaches can't get a high school receiver to choose us over Old-freaking-Dominion.

[Dr Z]

I would rather have a recruit who has actually played the position so they don't need as much coaching in the beginning, which frees up the staff to work on our other myriad problems.

I know a Mac receiver that is an NFL rookie that is going to the Super Bowl that never played receiver in high school.

[Buckzip]

I would rather have a recruit who has actually played the position so they don't need as much coaching in the beginning, which frees up the staff to work on our other myriad problems.

I know a Mac receiver that is an NFL rookie that is going to the Super Bowl that never played receiver in high school.

There is also a MAC QB playing in the superbowl that was a WR until his senior year in High school

[Dr Z]

I will always remember JD saying that the best athletes in high school play QB and RB, it's are job to find their true position in Div I football.