2017 recruiting

[ZachTheZip]

https://mobile.twitter.com/MBeavenABJ/status/690293945339887616

[ZachTheZip]

News article.

Wasn't there just a discussion on here about getting local recruits?

[zipsoutsider]

News article.

Wasn't there just a discussion on here about getting local recruits?

"...They saw what the school is doing and they both said they want to make sure they can help put their own city on the map..."

These are the types of kids you want to get.

[Jrship35]

Hear Hear !!!! ...... Get em graduated and enrolled next January !!! Lol

Edited January 22, 2016 by Dr Z

[Blue & Gold]

https://twitter.com/D_Brim2/status/690352788178636803/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

[Jrship35]

IF........ Only if Coach Funk could pull this off !! Local kid here in Ga ... Remember the name !

http://www.gwinnettprepsports.com/schools/mountain_view/towering-jonathan-stewart-a-nice-surprise-for-mountain-view-football/article_6da11a11-fbde-5eca-b4af-a5dfd52f62a6.html

[LoyalZIP]

 

http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/tayvon-bowers/IeMYvSRNEeS00gAmVebEWg/gendersport/football-stats.htm

 

[ZachTheZip]

http://www.scout.com/college/football/recruiting/story/1650039-jemarulin-suggs-finds-dream-school-in-akron

[UAZippers]

6 minutes ago, ZachTheZip said:

http://www.scout.com/college/football/recruiting/story/1650039-jemarulin-suggs-finds-dream-school-in-akron

It is fantastic to hear a player call Akron his dream school. That is the first step to building a strong program long term. Lets hope that he keeps this view as he continues to be pursued. Michigan is hard to turn down if they end up offering.

[K92]

8 minutes ago, ZachTheZip said:

http://www.scout.com/college/football/recruiting/story/1650039-jemarulin-suggs-finds-dream-school-in-akron

He sure looks bigger than 180# in his video.  I hope he's the real deal.

[Blue & Gold]

1 hour ago, UAZippers said:

It is fantastic to hear a player call Akron his dream school. That is the first step to building a strong program long term. 

 

That's what KD's been able to do with the basketball program.  The b-ball Zips are all proud to be Zips & love being on the team.

[ZachTheZip]

 

 

Edited April 2, 2016 by ZachTheZip

[LZIp]

5 hours ago, ZachTheZip said:

 

 

Do you have a name for either of them? Also, "J" may want to change his twitter bio...

[ZachTheZip]

I think this is one of them: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4645005/kennedy-pickens

 

The other, I don't know.

Edited April 3, 2016 by ZachTheZip

[blueandgold]

Considering that it looks like both are from Oregon, I'm thinking our Potato Bowl win in neighboring Idaho may have played a part in their interest.

[ZippyRulz]

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3178818/highlights/308654480

 

https://twitter.com/Kihto_

 

Kameron Duncan, Ocala-FL

 

 

Edited May 22, 2016 by ZippyRulz

[Captain Kangaroo]

Here's a JUCO LB that didn't select the Zips.

 

Normally I wouldn't post anything on non-Zips, but I thought it was funny that he's posing with his new North Texas Coach while he's wearing a Tennessee shirt.

[Dr Z]

21 hours ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

I thought it was funny that he's posing with his new North Texas Coach while he's wearing a Tennessee shirt.

When you see NFL players doing it....

[blueandgold]

On 5/22/2016 at 9:09 PM, ZippyRulz said:

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3178818/highlights/308654480

 

https://twitter.com/Kihto_

 

Kameron Duncan, Ocala-FL

 

 

He's good at finding the creases and running hard through them and he doesn't seem to go down easily. I like what I see.

Edited May 24, 2016 by blueandgold

[Blue & Gold]

Just saw it posted on twitter than 6'6", 285 lb. Garfield OT/DT Marcus Kidd gave us a verbal today.

 

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/5575764/marcus-kidd

[Blue & Gold]

So, to keep a running record of our 2017 verbal commits...

 

Kobie Booker, DL, Barberton

Jemarulin Suggs, RB, East

Deandre Brimage, DL, East

Dusty Burkhart, WR, Coventry

Marcus Kidd, OL, Garfield

Will Barto, OLB, Briarcrest Christian, TN

 

We've also received two verbals from players in Oregon, right?

[ZachTheZip]

20 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

So, to keep a running record of our 2017 verbal commits...

 

Kobie Booker, DL, Barberton

Jemarulin Suggs, RB, East

Deandre Brimage, DL, East

Dusty Burkhart, WR, Coventry

Marcus Kidd, OL, Garfield

Will Barto, OLB, Briarcrest Christian, TN

 

We've also received two verbals from players in Oregon, right?

 

Correct. I think I'll make a post with a running list, so we can keep track. I do like each commitment getting a discussion thread to themselves, though.

Edited June 11, 2016 by ZachTheZip

[wadszip]

Is it just me, or is Terry Bowden beginning to take a page out of the Howard Schnellenberger (Miami) book?

 

Looks like TB is recruiting "The state of Akron". While Akron is not South Florida, by any means, you can make an argument that Summit County football is No. 3 in Ohio behind Cuyahoga and Hamilton (though Franklin and Montgomery are also very good). Regardless, it's an area you can build a program by keeping kids home. 

 

Plus, Schnellenberger's "State of Miami" was the three county SE Florida area (Dade, Broward, Palm Beach). A "State of Akron," of Summit, Cuyahoga and Stark is a top 10 (maybe top 5 region in the US for HS football).

 

After locking up home talent, Schnellenberger focused on the rest of Florida. Bowden can do the same in Ohio and (nearby) WPa. Plus, Bowden will continue to get Florida kids with his ties to that state.

 

The one area Bowden can't be like Schnellenberger is, after locking down the home front, trying to pluck some elite national recruits out of HS. But by using transfers, Bowden can (as we've seen) get kids who started off as national level recruits. ... Whether they are from NE Ohio or OOS.

 

It may still take 2-3 more winning seasons to make Akron the MAC school of choice for kids in Cuyahoga and Stark. But the tide is turning in Summit. If he can continue the momentum, don't see any reason the Zips won't be in the mix for nearly any kid from the "State of Akron," and at least beating out fellow MAC schools and even the lower P5 schools for local recruits.

 

While Schnellenberger's "State of Miami" approach turned Miami into a national power, a "State of Akron" (unless the Zips ever start beating out OSU, Michigan and ND for kids) won't have the same type of effect. But still should turn the Zips into a top 40 or so program, with top 25 aspirations on "up" years.

 

I guess closer to home, we saw Mark Dantonio/Brian Kelly/Butch Jones do something similar at Cincinnati. Not only do I think something similar is fully attainable here, but think Akron has an even higher upside in 2016 than UC had in 2003 (when Dantonio took over).

 

Overall, really love where this program is heading. If the athletic department stays the course (and can find ways to eat some short term losses financially), I definitely see a long-term payoff.

 

Consistently winning with a bunch of hometown talent will draw bigger crowds. Winning and bigger crowds probably still never means P5 status, but with the huge TV market UA sits in the middle of, would ensure that Akron, worst case, is in the next tier (and I believe within the next 10 years there will be a P4 and a G1). Since there is a college football market outside of the P4, you better at least get in that next group, which will consist of teams that have winning traditions or are located in big markets. Continue to win and Akron can check of "yes" on both criteria.

 

Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but I like the direction this ship is going (along with pretty much every other men's program on campus). ... 2014 and 2016 Reese Cup winner (best men's AD in the MAC) and Akron will lead the MAC in the Director's Cup standings for at least the third (maybe fourth) year in a row. ... Really in Director's Cup, only two programs in the MAC over the last 10 years have consistently sniffed the top 100 ... Akron and, unfortunately, Kent. But that shows the upside the NEO market has if one of the schools can get out of the other's shadow. And sorry Kent, Akron is light years ahead in future potential.

 

 

Edited June 15, 2016 by wadszip

[kreed5120]

 

40 minutes ago, wadszip said:

Is it just me, or is Terry Bowden beginning to take a page out of the Howard Schnellenberger (Miami) book?

 

Looks like TB is recruiting "The state of Akron". While Akron is not South Florida, by any means, you can make an argument that Summit County football is No. 3 in Ohio behind Cuyahoga and Hamilton (though Franklin and Montgomery are also very good). Regardless, it's an area you can build a program by keeping kids home. 

 

Plus, Schnellenberger's "State of Miami" was the three county SE Florida area (Dade, Broward, Palm Beach). A "State of Akron," of Summit, Cuyahoga and Stark is a top 10 (maybe top 5 region in the US for HS football).

 

After locking up home talent, Schnellenberger focused on the rest of Florida. Bowden can do the same in Ohio and WPa. Plus, Bowden will continue to get Florida kids with his ties to that state.

 

The one area Bowden can't be like Schnellenberger is, after locking down the home front, trying to pluck some elite national recruits out of HS. But by using transfers, Bowden can (as we've seen) get kids who started off as national level recruits. ... Whether they are from NE Ohio or OOS.

 

It may still take 2-3 more winning seasons to make Akron the MAC school of choice for kids in Cuyahoga and Stark. But the tide is turning in Summit. If he can continue the momentum, don't see any reason the Zips won't be in the mix for nearly any kid from the "State of Akron," and at least beating out fellow MAC schools and even the lower P5 schools for local recruits.

 

While Schnellenberger's "State of Miami" approach turned Miami into a national power, a "State of Akron" (unless the Zips ever start beating out OSU, Michigan and ND for kids) won't have the same type of effect. But still should turn the Zips into a top 40 or so program, with top 25 aspirations on "up" years.

 

I guess closer to home, we saw Mark Dantonio/Brian Kelly/Butch Jones do something similar at Cincinnati. Not only do I think something similar is fully attainable here, but think Akron has an even higher upside in 2016 than UC had in 2003 (when Dantonio took over).

 

Overall, really love where this program is heading. If the athletic department stays the course (and can find ways to eat some short term losses financially), I definitely see a long-term payoff.

 

Consistently winning with a bunch of hometown talent will draw bigger crowds. Winning and bigger crowds probably still never means P5 status, but with the huge TV market UA sits in the middle of, would ensure that Akron, worst case, is in the next tier (and I believe within the next 10 years there will be a P4 and a G1). Since there is a college football market outside of the P4, you better at least get in that next group, which will consist of teams that have winning traditions or are located in big markets. Continue to win and Akron can check of "yes" on both criteria.

 

Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but I like the direction this ship is going (along with pretty much every other men's program on campus).

 

 

 

The entire B1G comes into NEO to raid talent mostly leaving MAC teams to sort through the scraps to find the diamonds in the rough. What I feel is key if Akron ever hopes to get to the level that you are proposing is that we need to convince 18 year old kids that Akron provides them a better opportunity than a 2nd or 3rd tier B1G school (Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, etc.)

 

I know many on here don't like OSU, but I feel that is a relationship that we should keep strong. Frankly whoever is the 2nd or 3rd string player at OSU, they are most likely better than anyone Akron has starting at said position. Whenever Urban Meyer comes a crossed a player that is frustrated that he can't break thru to being an every down player and wants to transfer, it is best he refers them to Akron.

[wadszip]

19 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

 

The entire B1G comes into NEO to raid talent mostly leaving MAC teams to sort through the scraps to find the diamonds in the rough. What I feel is key if Akron ever hopes to get to the level that you are proposing is that we need to convince 18 year old kids that Akron provides them a better opportunity than a 2nd or 3rd tier B1G school (Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, etc.)

 

I know many on here don't like OSU, but I feel that is a relationship that we should keep strong. Frankly whoever is the 2nd or 3rd string player at OSU, they are most likely better than anyone Akron has starting at said position. Whenever Urban Meyer comes a crossed a player that is frustrated that he can't break thru to being an every down player and wants to transfer, it is best he refers them to Akron.

Yeah, that's what I was getting at. It's going to be near impossible to get a kid away from Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame or any of the blue bloods. But there is enough talent in this area where you can still build a strong program even without landing the best of the best if you can clean up on 8-10 on that second tier.

 

Which leads me to ... I absolutely agree with your take on OSU, especially since you look at since Meyer took over, the Cleveland-Akron-Canton area has been by far the area instate that he has recruited the hardest. I'd be willing to guess that more than 50 percent of the instate recruits OSU has landed under him have been from the Cleveland-Akron-Canton area. Just look at their roster right now and there could be 10 kids from this area starting for them this year (including four from Summit County), with another 6-7 local kids in the two deep. Eventually, some of these kids are going to be passed up or decide to leave for whatever reason. It wouldn't hurt to have that "hometown" connection with Meyer. Obviously, guys like Jamal Marcus (who isn't local) would be welcomed, too.

Edited June 16, 2016 by wadszip