Position Preview (and updates) - Offensive Line

[catdaddyp]

The OL was better in 2023 compared to 2022, but still not where they needed to be. 2024 should be much improved.

(IOL)

Colin Lyons - [Redshirt Junior, Returning] - (5.2) 2 ⭐️ - Interior lineman who also played defensive end in high school. Lyons brings Center to Guard value and saw action in just 4 games in 2022 before an abrupt injury ended his season. Lyons was the backup Left Guard in 2023, before sliding over to backup Right Guard. He played in 10 games and started the last 4 games of the season at Right Guard. Lyons graded out well in pass protection. He started at LG in the 2024 Spring Game. - HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD

 

Laurance Seymore - [Redshirt Junior, New] - (5.9) 4 ⭐️ (HS) / (5.6) 3 ⭐️ (Portal) - Transfer from Miami (FL). Interior lineman that brings Center to Guard value, although he mostly played Right Guard for the Hurricanes. Seymore has great feet and is excellent at pulling. He has all the physical tools to become an All-Conference player and should be an immediate starter. Seymore was hurt for the 2024 Spring Game and did not play. - HS FILM *

 

Jerrod Burrell - [Junior, New] - (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (JUCO) - JUCO transfer. Burrell mostly played Right Tackle at JUCO. He has a big frame with nimble feet and brings guard to tackle value. Burrell plays through the whistle, which is always a good thing with offensive linemen.  He was the backup RG in the Spring Game. - JUCO FILM *

 

Alex Fox - [Redshirt Sophomore, New] - (5.2) 2 ⭐️ (JUCO) - JUCO transfer. Fox was a 1st Team JUCO All-American who brings positional flexibility. Fox is at his best when pulling as he has great feet and displays an explosive burst in short space. He also runs extremely well for a guy his size. Expect to see Fox compete for significant snaps at Center and Guard. Rivals missed the mark on his rating. Fox arrived after the spring. - JUCO FILM. *

 

Tyhler Williams - [Redshirt Sophomore, Returning] - (5.2) 2 ⭐️ - Williams was an underrated interior lineman coming out of high school that brings Center to Guard value. Williams is strong, agile, and runs well. He played in 1 game in 2022 and redshirted. Williams became the starting Center in 2023 and started all 12 games, but was inconsistent as a redshirt freshman. Pass blocking needs improvement, while run blocking was decent. Williams was the starting Center in the 2024 Spring Game. - HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD

 

Keylen Davis - [Redshirt Sophomore, Returning] - (5.5) 3 ⭐️ - Strong and agile interior lineman that brings Center to Guard value. Davis played in 1 game in 2022 before redshirting. He became the starting Right Guard in 2023 for 6 games and played through injuries the majority of the time. Similar to Tyhler Williams, Davis struggled in pass protection as a redshirt freshman and was better at run blocking. Davis started at RG in the 2024 Spring Game. - HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD

 

Delvin Morris - [Redshirt Freshman, Returning] - (5.3) 2 ⭐️ - Late addition to the 2023 class and brings guard to tackle value. Morris is out of Texas and has a high level of athleticism for someone his size. He is raw, but has plenty of potential. If Morris develops, he will be considered a steal in the 2023 class. Morris played in 1 game in 2023 at Left Tackle and redshirted. He was the backup Left Guard in the 2024 Spring Game - HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD

 

Roosevelt Mitchell - [Freshman, New] - (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Mitchell played on both sides of the ball in HS. He is somewhat raw and will need to reshape his body before contributing at a high level. That said, Mitchell runs and moves extremely well for someone his size. Expect Mitchell to redshirt his freshman year.

 

Frank McClelland - [Redshirt Freshman, Returning] - NR - Walk-on. HS FILM. *

 

Max Mobley - [Freshman, New] - NR - Walk-on. Mobley was the backup Center in the 2024 Spring Game. - HS FILM *

 

Nathan Covert [Freshman, New] - NR - Walk-on. HS FILM *

 

 

 

(OT)

Joshua Blanchard - [Redshirt Senior, Returning] - (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (HS) / (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (Portal) - Former Grad transfer from South Florida with potentially up to 2 years of eligibility left. Blanchard brings guard to tackle value. He has been hampered by injuries, which is a concern, but is a mauler when healthy. Blanchard started the first 4 games of 2023 at Left Tackle before succumbing to injury. He played a backup role in 2 games in the back half of the season, which means he participated in 6 total games. Blanchard was the highest graded run blocking lineman. Blanchard was the starting Right Tackle in the Spring Game. - HS FILM *

 

Da’Quan Thomas - [Redshirt Senior, New] - NR (HS) / (5.5) 3 ⭐️ (Portal) - Transfer from North Carolina Central where he spent most of his time at Right Tackle. Thomas brings guard to tackle value. He was voted 1st Team All-MEAC in 2023. Thomas will immediately push for a starting spot and will arrive after the spring.

- Portal Offers: Campbell.

 

Eli Fields - [Senior, New] - (5.3) 2 ⭐️ (HS) / (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (Portal) - Transfer from Southern. Fields brings guard to tackle versatility as he mostly played LT and RG at Southern. Fields is a veteran with a massive frame and moves well. He should immediately push for playing time on the two deep. Fields was the backup Left Tackle in the Spring Game. - Southern FILM. *

- Portal Offers: UMASS, Ball State. *

 

Dayne Shor - [Redshirt Junior, New] - (5.6) 3 ⭐️ (HS) / (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (Portal) - Transfer from UCONN. Shor was an Alabama signee out of HS before transferring to UCONN. He was dominant at the HS level and has everything physically any team would want from an offensive lineman. That said, he has yet to be a productive player at the collegiate level. Shor has 3 years of eligibility remaining and did not play in the 2024 Spring Game.

 

Andrew “AJ” George - [Redshirt Sophomore, Returning] - NR (HS) / (5.4) 2 ⭐️ (Portal) - Transfer from Cincinnati where he was a walk-on. George has Guard to Tackle value along with size and reach. George did not see the field in 2023 and I did not notice him in the 2024 spring game. HUDL College Practice Film * Star Rating Take: TBD

Jayvin James - [Redshirt Freshman, Returning] - (5.3) 2 ⭐️ - James was an underrated offensive lineman coming out of HS that has excellent agility, solid frame, and long arms. He will be groomed as a Left tackle, yet could end up at either tackle spot. James saw limited action at Left Tackle in 2023, playing in 2 games and redshirted. James was the starting Left Tackle in the 2024 Spring Game. - HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD

 

Jonas Mann - [Redshirt Freshman, Returning] - (5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Mann was a long time Zips commitment who brings a huge frame to campus. He has Guard to Tackle value, but projects as a Right Tackle. Mann already has excellent size with long arms, solid feet, and will continue to reshape his body. It will take some time to adjust to the speed of college football, but Mann should become a contributor in a few short years. Mann did not see any action and redshirted in 2023. He was the backup Right Tackle in the 2024 Spring Game. - HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD

 

Nick Stopiak - [Redshirt Sophomore, Returning] - NR - Big offensive tackle that moves well. He played OT and NG in high school and dominated, although he didn’t seem to play against great competition. He reportedly had a number of Division II offers coming out of HS. Stopiak did not play in 2022 or 2023. Former walk-on. HS FILM * Star Rating Take: TBD

 

Jacob Kumfert [Redshirt Sophomore, New] - NR - Walk-on transfer from St. Francis. HS FILM *

 

Jeremiah Ndiaga [Freshman, New] - NR - Walk-on. HS FILM *

 

The OL was inconsistent last season due to injuries, quarterback play, lack of significant game experience at certain spots, and sometimes bewildering play-calling. Akron used the offseason to increase the overall athleticism and also bring in veteran players with proven success at various levels. A total of 8 new linemen have been added to the roster. There is no excuse for poor play from the OL this year as only one holdover remains from the previous regime. Depth and athleticism is the best it’s been since Moorhead’s arrival, although OL looked like it still needed much work during the spring game. That is not surprising as Akron’s defensive front should be one of the best in the MAC and it often takes the OL longer to gel. Since spring ended, two 1st Team All-American JUCOs and a 1st Team All-MEAC player have been added to the roster. The talent is in place to have a much improved OL.

 

 

 

Scholarship Players:

Keylen Davis

Tyhler Williams

Colin Lyons

Jayvin James

Jonas Mann

Delvin Morris

AJ George

Joshua Blanchard

Laurance Seymore

Roosevelt Mitchell

Dayne Shor

Jerrod Burrell

Alex Fox

Eli Fields

Da’Quan Thomas

Issiah Walker

 

Added:

Eli Fields (TP)

Laurance Seymore (TP)

Dayne Shor (TP)

Da’Quan Thomas (TP)

Issiah Walker (TP) - and removed

Jerrod Burrell (JUCO)

Alex Fox (JUCO)

Roosevelt Mitchell (HS)

 

Removed:

NR - Ben Frank - Graduation -  Star Rating Take: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ 

NR - Barry Duff - Walk-on.

(5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - Ronan Chambers - TP = Auburn -  Star Rating Take: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ 

(5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - Nate Williams - TP = San Diego State -  Star Rating Take: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ 

(5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - Tony Georges - TP = Kent State -  Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ 

(5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - Brian Kilbane - TP = UMASS -  Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ 

(5.4) 2 ⭐️ (TP) - Alex Robarge - TP = Southern Illinois -  Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ 

NR - Keon Kindred - TP -  Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ 

NR - Issiah Walker - TP = West Florida (DII)  Star Rating Take: N/A

 

 

Removed Before 2023 Season:

(5.2) 2 ⭐️ - Jordan Daniels - TP = UNC Charlotte - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ 

(5.8) 4 ⭐️ - Anthony Whigan - Grad. - Star Rating Take: (5.5) 3 ⭐️ 

(5.2) 2 ⭐️ - Xavior Gray - TP = Liberty - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ 

(5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Owen Murphy - TP = East Carolina - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ 

(5.2) 2 ⭐️ - Caleb Herring = TP? - Star Rating Take: (5.2) 2 ⭐️ 

NR - Ryan Beckman - TP = East Carolina - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ 

NR - Max Banes - TP = Houston - Star Rating Take: (5.3) 2 ⭐️ 

(5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Ka’Marii Landers = JUCO -  Star Rating Take: (5.4) 2 ⭐️ 

(5.4) 2 ⭐️ - Jourden Hale-Frater = JUCO -  Star Rating Take: (5.2) 2 ⭐️ 

 

Before 2022 season:

NR - Canaan Sheets - Walk-on

NR - Stefan Monahan - Walk-on

Edited November 1 by catdaddyp

[Zippyroo]

14 minutes ago, catdaddyp said:

The position battles along the offensive line will be interesting to watch throughout the year. There are some players with experience who will no longer be the most talented at their position when the 2022 recruits arrive. It’ll be a juggling act by the new offensive line coach to find the best combination, as Coach Moorhead’s system is most efficient with lineman that run well and possess a high level of agility.

 

Ryan Beckman - Wide bodied interior lineman. He doesn’t have ideal height or length, but is strong and aggressive. Brings center to guard value.

 

Ronan Chambers - True offensive tackle that exhibits good feet and the ability to pull. He has ideal height and should continue to develop and see playing time. Chambers will be an asset with his pulling ability in coach Moorhead’s offense.

 

Jordan Daniels - Big offensive tackle that can get to the second level when needed. Possesses long arms and a frame to add more mass.

 

Tony Georges - Wide bodied interior lineman that is strong and has some agility. He doesn’t have ideal height, but he brings center to guard value.

 

Xavior Gray - Massive offensive tackle. He has size and length that can’t be taught. Displays strength and the capability to get to the second level. Gray has excellent balance, but the ability to pull is not a strength of his.

 

Caleb Herring - Big offensive tackle. He has decent strength and quick enough feet, but his balance isn’t as good as it should be. Herring tends to stumble and struggle with change of direction and resetting.

 

Brian Kilbane - Former transfer from Bowling Green that is strong, agile, and aggressive. He has the ability to get to the second level and pull. Kilbane plays with a nasty streak and he may push for starting time by the end of the season. He has the skill and size to play anywhere on the OL. 

 

Colin Lyons - Interior lineman who plays violently. He fires out of his stance quickly and looks to demolish anyone in front of him. Lyons also played defensive end in high school, demonstrating power and agility. He can get to the second level and pull. Lyons brings center to guard value and may push for startingNot  minutes by the end of the year.

 

Owen Murphy - Big offensive tackle that has good feet and long arms. He has the ability to pull and get to the second level. Murphy needs to get stronger and work on technique, but the talent is there to be a solid offensive tackle.

 

Alex Robarge - Wide bodied offensive lineman that brings guard to tackle value. He displays the ability to get to the second level, but his pulling capacity is questionable as he’s a labored runner.

 

Canaan Sheets - Wide bodied interior offensive lineman that brings center to guard value. Better in pass pro than run blocking. Could provide depth. 

 

Nate Williams - Big offensive lineman that brings guard to tackle value. He has long arms and exhibits some agility as he also played defensive tackle in high school. Williams displays the ability to get to the second level and has enough foot speed and balance to be an effective puller.

 

Max Banes - Transfer from Houston where he was a part-time starter. Banes brings Guard to Tackle value to Akron. He has excellent size, demonstrates great feet, and runs extremely well for an offensive lineman. He should be a starter from day one.

 

Tyhler Williams - Underrated interior lineman that brings Center to Guard value. Williams has been well coached at the high school level and should be ready to contribute as a freshman. He’s very agile, strong, and uses leverage well. 

 

Keylen Davis - Wide bodied interior lineman that is strong and agile. Davis brings an aggressive mindset and is looking to pancake defenders at every opportunity. He brings Center to Guard value and is the one of most physically ready OL to compete for minutes in the prep class.

 

Ka’Marri Landers - Big bodied lineman that is unusually mobile for a player his size. He’s an extremely underrated offensive lineman that brings guard to tackle value. Landing a player out of high school with Landers talent and ability is huge. Once he adjusts to the speed of D1 football, he’ll become a stalwart on the offensive line and has the potential to develop into an all MAC player.

 

Jourden Hale - Massive offensive tackle that overpowered defensive linemen at the high school level. Hale exhibits excellent size, balance, and aggressiveness. He’ll need to work on his technique, and tune up his body, before he starts contributing on a consistent basis.

 

 

This group will probably struggle against Michigan State and Tennessee, but should be able to hold their own against the rest of the schedule. Having a mobile quarterback, a scheme that is designed to get the ball out quickly, and (hopefully) a strong running back corp, should assist the offensive line and help them look like a solid group.

 

One thing is for sure, the caliber of offensive lineman the new staff is recruiting is a step above - as a whole - what the former staff targeted.

 

Best guess as to who is on scholarship:

Hale

Landers

Davis

T. Williams

Banes

Lyons

Chambers

N. Williams

Georges

Murphy

Daniels

Herring 

Gray

Beckman

Kilbane

 

 

Let me know what I may have missed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hmmm.  We will see.  I feel you have underestimated several players and overestimated a couple as well.   For instance, I would bet all of the incoming freshman will be redshirted and will be minimal impact players this year and maybe even next year.  I also think Beckman or Georges are very serviceable players at center with good intelligence for the game.  The other player I think you missed on is Robarge.   Did you see the picture of that dude recently?  He is a beast and probably the strongest guy on the team.  He also started from game 4 last year, played the entire year in a club because of some injury and did pretty darn well.  It is not easy to play OL without being able to grab with both hands. I have to think he is on scholarship and is a lead contender to start at guard.  

[Zipmeister]

2 hours ago, catdaddyp said:

The position battles along the offensive line will be interesting to watch throughout the year. There are some players with experience who will no longer be the most talented at their position when the 2022 recruits arrive. It’ll be a juggling act by the new offensive line coach to find the best combination, as Coach Moorhead’s system is most efficient with lineman that run well and possess a high level of agility.

 

Ryan Beckman - Wide bodied interior lineman. He doesn’t have ideal height or length, but is strong and aggressive. Brings center to guard value.

 

Ronan Chambers - True offensive tackle that exhibits good feet and the ability to pull. He has ideal height and should continue to develop and see playing time. Chambers will be an asset with his pulling ability in coach Moorhead’s offense.

 

Jordan Daniels - Big offensive tackle that can get to the second level when needed. Possesses long arms and a frame to add more mass.

 

Tony Georges - Wide bodied interior lineman that is strong and has some agility. He doesn’t have ideal height, but he brings center to guard value.

 

Xavior Gray - Massive offensive tackle. He has size and length that can’t be taught. Displays strength and the capability to get to the second level. Gray has excellent balance, but the ability to pull is not a strength of his.

 

Caleb Herring - Big offensive tackle. He has decent strength and quick enough feet, but his balance isn’t as good as it should be. Herring tends to stumble and struggle with change of direction and resetting.

 

Brian Kilbane - Former transfer from Bowling Green that is strong, agile, and aggressive. He has the ability to get to the second level and pull. Kilbane plays with a nasty streak and he may push for starting time by the end of the season. He has the skill and size to play anywhere on the OL. 

 

Colin Lyons - Interior lineman who plays violently. He fires out of his stance quickly and looks to demolish anyone in front of him. Lyons also played defensive end in high school, demonstrating power and agility. He can get to the second level and pull. Lyons brings center to guard value and may push for starting minutes by the end of the year.

 

Owen Murphy - Big offensive tackle that has good feet and long arms. He has the ability to pull and get to the second level. Murphy needs to get stronger and work on technique, but the talent is there to be a solid offensive tackle.

 

Alex Robarge - Wide bodied offensive lineman that brings guard to tackle value. He displays the ability to get to the second level, but his pulling capacity is questionable as he’s a labored runner.

 

Canaan Sheets - Wide bodied interior offensive lineman that brings center to guard value. Better in pass pro than run blocking. Could provide depth. 

 

Nate Williams - Big offensive lineman that brings guard to tackle value. He has long arms and exhibits some agility as he also played defensive tackle in high school. Williams displays the ability to get to the second level and has enough foot speed and balance to be an effective puller.

 

Max Banes - Transfer from Houston where he was a part-time starter. Banes brings Guard to Tackle value to Akron. He has excellent size, demonstrates great feet, and runs extremely well for an offensive lineman. He should be a starter from day one.

 

Tyhler Williams - Underrated interior lineman that brings Center to Guard value. Williams has been well coached at the high school level and should be ready to contribute as a freshman. He’s very agile, strong, and uses leverage well. 

 

Keylen Davis - Wide bodied interior lineman that is strong and agile. Davis brings an aggressive mindset and is looking to pancake defenders at every opportunity. He brings Center to Guard value and is the one of most physically ready OL to compete for minutes in the prep class.

 

Ka’Marri Landers - Big bodied lineman that is unusually mobile for a player his size. He’s an extremely underrated offensive lineman that brings guard to tackle value. Landing a player out of high school with Landers talent and ability is huge. Once he adjusts to the speed of D1 football, he’ll become a stalwart on the offensive line and has the potential to develop into an all MAC player.

 

Jourden Hale - Massive offensive tackle that overpowered defensive linemen at the high school level. Hale exhibits excellent size, balance, and aggressiveness. He’ll need to work on his technique, and tune up his body, before he starts contributing on a consistent basis.

 

 

This group will probably struggle against Michigan State and Tennessee, but should be able to hold their own against the rest of the schedule. Having a mobile quarterback, a scheme that is designed to get the ball out quickly, and (hopefully) a strong running back corp, should assist the offensive line and help them look like a solid group.

 

One thing is for sure, the caliber of offensive lineman the new staff is recruiting is a step above - as a whole - what the former staff targeted.

 

Best guess as to who is on scholarship:

Hale

Landers

Davis

T. Williams

Banes

Lyons

Chambers

N. Williams

Georges

Murphy

Daniels

Herring 

Gray

Beckman

Kilbane

 

 

Let me know what I may have missed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I notice that you believe some of these guys are not at the ideal height for their position.

What is the ideal height for each position on the offensive line?

[catdaddyp]

3 hours ago, Zippyroo said:

Hmmm.  We will see.  I feel you have underestimated several players and overestimated a couple as well.   For instance, I would bet all of the incoming freshman will be redshirted and will be minimal impact players this year and maybe even next year.  I also think Beckman or Georges are very serviceable players at center with good intelligence for the game.  The other player I think you missed on is Robarge.   Did you see the picture of that dude recently?  He is a beast and probably the strongest guy on the team.  He also started from game 4 last year, played the entire year in a club because of some injury and did pretty darn well.  It is not easy to play OL without being able to grab with both hands. I have to think he is on scholarship and is a lead contender to start at guard.  

Appreciate the feedback. You may be right. Time will tell. A new staff usually leans towards the players they recruited themselves. However, they aren’t going to play anyone who can’t get the job done. 
 

Experience, strength, and knowledge are very important. I made a focus on pulling/running ability as Moorhead’s offense does a lot of it. Some of the players struggle in that aspect, which may give the newcomers an opportunity. Many offensive linemen are redshirted their first year as you mentioned, but this is a team that won 2 games and although the OL performed well in some areas, it was by no means a top tier MAC offensive line. 
 

I wasn’t implying the returnees can’t get the job done, but for this program to get to the next level more talent is needed across the board. I think defense is where we’re hurting the most and I’ll dive into that this coming week.

Edited April 4, 2022 by catdaddyp

[catdaddyp]

1 hour ago, Zipmeister said:

 

I notice that you believe some of these guys are not at the ideal height for their position.

What is the ideal height for each position on the offensive line?

FBS coaches are usually looking for players 6-4 and up. Reasoning behind that is due to arm length and body type. It’s not an absolute, but there is a correlation between height and arm length. Arm length plays into striking and the ability to reach the defender. A taller frame allows more mass to be added without prohibiting movement. Center and guard don’t require as much arm length as tackle, but it’s still important.

 

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. Some players have arm length that is well beyond relation to their height. Also, just because a player may be 6-2, 6-3, doesn’t mean they can’t be successful. In this case, the previous staff clearly thought the current OL had what it took to be successful at this level. 

Edited April 4, 2022 by catdaddyp

[bigjim]

6 hours ago, catdaddyp said:

The position battles along the offensive line will be interesting to watch throughout the year. There are some players with experience who will no longer be the most talented at their position when the 2022 recruits arrive. It’ll be a juggling act by the new offensive line coach to find the best combination, as Coach Moorhead’s system is most efficient with lineman that run well and possess a high level of agility.

 

Ryan Beckman - Wide bodied interior lineman. He doesn’t have ideal height or length, but is strong and aggressive. Brings center to guard value.

 

Ronan Chambers - True offensive tackle that exhibits good feet and the ability to pull. He has ideal height and should continue to develop and see playing time. Chambers will be an asset with his pulling ability in coach Moorhead’s offense.

 

Jordan Daniels - Big offensive tackle that can get to the second level when needed. Possesses long arms and a frame to add more mass.

 

Tony Georges - Wide bodied interior lineman that is strong and has some agility. He doesn’t have ideal height, but he brings center to guard value.

 

Xavior Gray - Massive offensive tackle. He has size and length that can’t be taught. Displays strength and the capability to get to the second level. Gray has excellent balance, but the ability to pull is not a strength of his.

 

Caleb Herring - Big offensive tackle. He has decent strength and quick enough feet, but his balance isn’t as good as it should be. Herring tends to stumble and struggle with change of direction and resetting.

 

Brian Kilbane - Former transfer from Bowling Green that is strong, agile, and aggressive. He has the ability to get to the second level and pull. Kilbane plays with a nasty streak and he may push for starting time by the end of the season. He has the skill and size to play anywhere on the OL. 

 

Colin Lyons - Interior lineman who plays violently. He fires out of his stance quickly and looks to demolish anyone in front of him. Lyons also played defensive end in high school, demonstrating power and agility. He can get to the second level and pull. Lyons brings center to guard value and may push for starting minutes by the end of the year.

 

Owen Murphy - Big offensive tackle that has good feet and long arms. He has the ability to pull and get to the second level. Murphy needs to get stronger and work on technique, but the talent is there to be a solid offensive tackle.

 

Alex Robarge - Wide bodied offensive lineman that brings guard to tackle value. He displays the ability to get to the second level, but his pulling capacity is questionable as he’s a labored runner.

 

Canaan Sheets - Wide bodied interior offensive lineman that brings center to guard value. Better in pass pro than run blocking. Could provide depth. 

 

Nate Williams - Big offensive lineman that brings guard to tackle value. He has long arms and exhibits some agility as he also played defensive tackle in high school. Williams displays the ability to get to the second level and has enough foot speed and balance to be an effective puller.

 

Max Banes - Transfer from Houston where he was a part-time starter. Banes brings Guard to Tackle value to Akron. He has excellent size, demonstrates great feet, and runs extremely well for an offensive lineman. He should be a starter from day one.

 

Tyhler Williams - Underrated interior lineman that brings Center to Guard value. Williams has been well coached at the high school level and should be ready to contribute as a freshman. He’s very agile, strong, and uses leverage well. 

 

Keylen Davis - Wide bodied interior lineman that is strong and agile. Davis brings an aggressive mindset and is looking to pancake defenders at every opportunity. He brings Center to Guard value and is the one of most physically ready OL to compete for minutes in the prep class.

 

Ka’Marri Landers - Big bodied lineman that is unusually mobile for a player his size. He’s an extremely underrated offensive lineman that brings guard to tackle value. Landing a player out of high school with Landers talent and ability is huge. Once he adjusts to the speed of D1 football, he’ll become a stalwart on the offensive line and has the potential to develop into an all MAC player.

 

Jourden Hale - Massive offensive tackle that overpowered defensive linemen at the high school level. Hale exhibits excellent size, balance, and aggressiveness. He’ll need to work on his technique, and tune up his body, before he starts contributing on a consistent basis.

 

 

This group will probably struggle against Michigan State and Tennessee, but should be able to hold their own against the rest of the schedule. Having a mobile quarterback, a scheme that is designed to get the ball out quickly, and (hopefully) a strong running back corp, should assist the offensive line and help them look like a solid group.

 

One thing is for sure, the caliber of offensive lineman the new staff is recruiting is a step above - as a whole - what the former staff targeted.

 

Best guess as to who is on scholarship:

Hale

Landers

Davis

T. Williams

Banes

Lyons

Chambers

N. Williams

Georges

Murphy

Daniels

Herring 

Gray

Beckman

Kilbane

 

 

Let me know what I may have missed!

 

Prior to this recruiting cycle, all offensive linemen on the Gozips roster were listed as a So or R-So.  So, with the covid year, this means that this year would be their 3rd or 4th season as a college football player.  So, we cannot use youth as an excuse any more.  Also, signing Banes should be a huge improvement in the line as he will be a plug in starter.  As I stated other times, we need one more experienced lineman from the transfer portal for 22.  This would solidify the line for this year and allow the youth to continue to develop.  It looks like we signed several top notch OL as freshmen, but they would probably need to redshirt a year.  This group should start to become a position of strength, especially with one more transfer.  The one guy that I do not like is Gray.  Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane.  I cannot wait until we have the best OL in the MAC for year after year.

In Joe We Trust!!!!!

[Zipmeister]

10 hours ago, catdaddyp said:

FBS coaches are usually looking for players 6-4 and up. Reasoning behind that is due to arm length and body type. It’s not an absolute, but there is a correlation between height and arm length. Arm length plays into striking and the ability to reach the defender. A taller frame allows more mass to be added without prohibiting movement. Center and guard don’t require as much arm length as tackle, but it’s still important.

 

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. Some players have arm length that is well beyond relation to their height. Also, just because a player may be 6-2, 6-3, doesn’t mean they can’t be successful. In this case, the previous staff clearly thought the current OL had what it took to be successful at this level. 

 

So what's more important; height or arm length?

[catdaddyp]

39 minutes ago, Zipmeister said:

 

So what's more important; height or arm length?

I’m not sure I would say one is more important than the other as they tend to go hand in hand. I could go more in-depth on all the linemen, but I’m not interested in doing so as I’m trying to cover every player on the team.

[AkronAlumnus]

Starting V (prediction)? 

[catdaddyp]

30 minutes ago, AkronAlumnus said:

Starting V (prediction)? 

That’s a tough one. I think we’ll see a different starting 5 by the end of the season than the 5 we see at the beginning.

 

To start the season, Im guessing we see something like this:

LT - Chambers

LG - Beckman

C - Georges

RG - Banes

RT - Murphy

 

The line (I think) I’d like to see by end of season:

LT - Chambers

LG - Kilbane

C - Lyons

RG - Banes

RT - Landers 

 

It’s too bad we don’t have access to any spring film. We’d have a better idea of where things stood and there are certainly a number of different combinations that could be made. I suspect one or two of last years main contributors may find themselves on the outside looking in by the time 2022 concludes.

[Zipmeister]

12 hours ago, catdaddyp said:

FBS coaches are usually looking for players 6-4 and up. Reasoning behind that is due to arm length and body type. It’s not an absolute, but there is a correlation between height and arm length. Arm length plays into striking and the ability to reach the defender. A taller frame allows more mass to be added without prohibiting movement. Center and guard don’t require as much arm length as tackle, but it’s still important.

 

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. Some players have arm length that is well beyond relation to their height. Also, just because a player may be 6-2, 6-3, doesn’t mean they can’t be successful. In this case, the previous staff clearly thought the current OL had what it took to be successful at this level. 

 

For what its worth, I have a great example of an exception to the rule. You may have heard of Dave Rimington. He was a pretty good center back in the 80s. He was listed at 6'3" while a Cornhusker and as a Bengal. I'm 6'1" and had occasion to stand next to Dave on numerous occasions. He was at least twice as wide as me, but an inch shorter. Maybe in cleats and helmet he was 6'3", but when the Bengals broke their huddle and the offensive linemen trotted up to the line of scrimmage together, he looked like a midget.  

[94zipgrad]

1 minute ago, Zipmeister said:

 

For what its worth, I have a great example of an exception to the rule. You may have heard of Dave Rimington. He was a pretty good center back in the 80s. He was listed at 6'3" while a Cornhusker and as a Bengal. I'm 6'1" and had occasion to stand next to Dave on numerous occasions. He was at least twice as wide as me, but an inch shorter. Maybe in cleats and helmet he was 6'3", but when the Bengals broke their huddle and the offensive linemen trotted up to the line of scrimmage together, he looked like a midget.  

The center spot is the one spot they will give up the height & length for a good bull like football player that can hold his ground.  The further out the more important the arm length becomes to push the guy who is just faster around the edge

[Captain Kangaroo]

Where is @Football grandma to chime in on the OL?

[zzx]

 

Akron should recruit Jaylan Jeffers OL from Oregon that recently entered the portal

 

He might be familiar with Coach Moorehead's offense

Edited April 9, 2022 by zzx

[Zipmeister]

On 4/5/2022 at 9:27 AM, Captain Kangaroo said:

Where is @Football grandma to chime in on the OL?

She may have pulled a UAkronkid and come back as catdaddyp.

[catdaddyp]

21 minutes ago, Zipmeister said:

She may have pulled a UAkronkid and come back as catdaddyp.

I’m not really sure why you felt the need to take a football discussion in a different direction, but to each their own.

[Blue & Gold]

@catdaddyp, any ideas as to why our 3 stud HS OL we signed this year were still on the table during the late signing period?  I figured they'd be hot commodities who would have most likely been signed in the early period.

[catdaddyp]

2 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

@catdaddyp, any ideas as to why our 3 stud HS OL we signed this year were still on the table during the late signing period?  I figured they'd be hot commodities who would have most likely been signed in the early period.

Could be a number of different reasons. Teams usually slot the number of players they are going to take at any given position going into the next year. It’s possible other teams filled up their slots early. There could have been some concern about qualifying. Maybe there was a position coach change and the new position coach had different prospects in mind - for example Eric Wolford, who offered a few of our OL while at Kentucky, left Kentucky and went to Alabama. 
 

Teams also may have offered and then chose not to push for the prospect after seeing him live or in camp. A good example of that is a few years ago when South Carolina was recruiting our freshly committed safety Nate Thompson, coming out of high school. South Carolina had 5 DBs slotted for that class and ended up pushing for Jaycee Horn (drafted), Israel Mukuamu (drafted), RJ Roderick (starter), Darius Rush (starter), Jonathan Gipson (bust), after getting Thompson in camp. 
 

Or it could have simply come down to the recruit feeling at home and promised an opportunity at early playing time.

 

I am wondering what the status of Keylen Davis is. He’s not currently listed on the roster. I hope all that means is he didn’t enroll early and will be arriving in the summer or fall.

Edited April 9, 2022 by catdaddyp

[Zipmeister]

On 4/9/2022 at 1:55 AM, catdaddyp said:

I’m not really sure why you felt the need to take a football discussion in a different direction, but to each their own.

 

I don't think the Captains question about Football grandma really took the discussion in a different direction. And regarding my response to his question; just saying you never see Clark Kent and Superman together. Continuing the football discussion, I wonder why Clark Kent never played football. I think he would have been really good.

[72 Roo]

He did play and did quite well until he came up against the famous kryptonite defense of coach Lex Luther. It was ugly. A little known fact is that on Luther's staff was a young rookie assistant called Satan. After learning all he could from Luther Satan changed his name to Sabin and the rest is history. 

 

If you want facts you will find them here at ZNO. 

[Zipmeister]

5 hours ago, 72 Roo said:

He did play and did quite well until he came up against the famous kryptonite defense of coach Lex Luther. It was ugly. A little known fact is that on Luther's staff was a young rookie assistant called Satan. After learning all he could from Luther Satan changed his name to Sabin and the rest is history. 

 

If you want facts you will find them here at ZNO. 

 

I seriously did not know Clark played high school ball, but the internet is loaded with video.

I was right; he was good. Wonder why he didn't go on to play in college.

 

[BigZipsfan123]

For everyone wondering. Made it out to a spring ball practice. Looks like currently the starters on the Oline are the following: 

LT: Jordan Daniels

LG: Max Banes

C:Tony Georges 

RG: Alex Robarge

RT: Nate Williams 

This probably is not set in stone but this is what it looks like at the moment. 

[LZIp]

28 minutes ago, BigZipsfan123 said:

For everyone wondering. Made it out to a spring ball practice. Looks like currently the starters on the Oline are the following: 

LT: Jordan Daniels

LG: Max Banes

C:Tony Georges 

RG: Alex Robarge

RT: Nate Williams 

This probably is not set in stone but this is what it looks like at the moment. 

Interesting as I believe both Williams and Daniels were guards last year. Thanks for sharing.

[Blue & Gold]

17 minutes ago, LZIp said:

Interesting as I believe both Williams and Daniels were guards last year. Thanks for sharing.

Word on the street is that Murphy had surgery this offseason, so isn't participating in Spring Ball.  He should be a T when he gets back, moving either Williams or Daniels back to G.

[94zipgrad]

Murphy & Chambers ended up being the tackles last year, I think Chambers is back at RT & Murphy hasn’t returned yet from off season surgery.