2024 MAC Recruiting

Toledo commit Hyajah Miller posted that he is visiting Akron this weekend (as are some of his high school teammates) but has since deleted the tweet. Not sure what that was about. To my knowledge he does not currently hold an offer from us.

Blue & Gold · April 15, 2023

On 4/10/2023 at 9:42 PM, catdaddyp said:

Toledo and Miami have raced out front. I imagine we’ll get our first 2024 commitment soon.

My thinking: that's nice, but I'll take quality over quantity. Would you say that is on the mark, or would you say Miami & Toledo's early numbers are a harbinger of how the 2024 classes will ultimately shake out? (Really impossible to know for sure, I know... but just trying to make some interesting conversation.)

Blue & Gold · April 15, 2023

Miami signed Devin Bell. Idk if he has the athletic talent (I don't believe we offered Devin) to help us reach the top of the MAC mountain, but I've met Devin & he's the kind of person you want on your team and at your university. Polite, humble, smiling, well-spoken, mature. He's also a mountain of a young man. Built like an ox. I can only imagine what he's going to look like 3 years from now. 🤯

I'm still crossing my fingers for Hoban LB Rickey Williams. True stud.

Edited April 15, 2023 by Blue & Gold

catdaddyp · April 15, 2023

Just now, Blue & Gold said:

My thinking: that's nice, but I'll take quality over quantity. Would you say that is on the mark, or would you say Miami & Toledo's early numbers are a harbinger of how the 2024 classes will ultimately shake out? (Really impossible to know for sure, I know... but just trying to make some interesting conversation.)

Agreed. We should expect our HS recruiting class to always fall somewhere around 15 commitments. JUCOs are likely to be added when unexpected depth issues arise.

We’ve only offered 3 out of the 30 2024 MAC commitments. That’s not to say those players aren’t good enough to play here because many of them definitely are, but our staff knows what they want to add to this program and that may not always 100% align with what other MAC schools are looking for.

I think the early commitments have gotten great advice. Go ahead and commit to a school you’re comfortable with and can always entertain other offers. That would have been frowned upon a decade ago, but the game has changed. The transfer portal players take up about half the spots that were formerly used for HS prospects and it’s more important than it’s ever been for HS kids to assure themselves they have a spot. The upper echelon players have the luxury of waiting it out when probably about 80% do not.

Nearly every MAC school should have 4 to 5 2024 commitments by the end of May. We may not have landed any yet, but the time is coming. It usually goes in waves. Certainly nothing to worry about, but fun to track.

catdaddyp · April 16, 2023

On 4/14/2023 at 9:53 PM, catdaddyp said:

Toledo commit Hyajah Miller posted that he is visiting Akron this weekend (as are some of his high school teammates) but has since deleted the tweet. Not sure what that was about. To my knowledge he does not currently hold an offer from us.

Turns out Miller did visit and was offered

catdaddyp · April 24, 2023

‘And we’re on the board! Jason Hocker is former an edge player that has grown into a linebacker. Watch his HUDL film and you can see many of the same traits that McCoy and Griffin have.

Edited April 24, 2023 by catdaddyp

catdaddyp · May 5, 2023

Bump for update. It won’t stay this way, but Miami is now in the Top 25.

blueandgold · May 5, 2023

On 4/24/2023 at 8:28 AM, catdaddyp said:

‘And we’re on the board! Jason Hocker is former an edge player that has grown into a linebacker. Watch his HUDL film and you can see many of the same traits that McCoy and Griffin have.

Nice size already and still has a year of HS remaining, I can't wait to see him after a year in the Akron weight room. I really like how he has great instincts and a nose for the ball. He diagnoses plays well.

Edited May 5, 2023 by blueandgold

MangoZip · May 5, 2023

Couple things…amazing that Miami has that many commits this early in the recruiting cycle. Doesn’t necessarily mean that it will still be the top class in the MAC but they are off and running. Second thing - is Rivals ever going to update the Akron logo?? Wtf…it’s been a year now

Edited May 5, 2023 by MangoZip

catdaddyp · May 5, 2023

3 minutes ago, MangoZip said:

Couple things…amazing that Miami has that many commits this early in the recruiting cycle. Doesn’t necessarily mean that it will still be the top class in the MAC but they are off and running. Service thing - is Rivals ever going to update the Akron logo?? Wtf…it’s been a year now

You’re 100% correct in regards to recruiting. Miami has landed some high quality players, but it doesn’t guarantee anything. In today’s world portal recruiting is just as important (both in retention and additions) as HS recruiting and there is a long way to go.

I can’t say when Rivals will update anything. They are still working to update a system that’s been around since the early 2000s. I’ve pushed for a MAC conference site to report on all conference happenings, as well as create individual team recruiting links (similar to 247), but I haven’t gotten much feedback on either of those.

catdaddyp · July 28, 2023

Bump for updates. Still a number of players that need ratings. Keep in mind that if all of Akron’s classes consist of 60-70% from the portal, the likely hood of being ranked #1 or #2 (when it comes to HS/JUCO recruiting) is slim. We just won’t have the numbers to push up the total points. That being said, if Rivals ever finishes the ratings for our late JUCO commitments in the 2023 class, there is a good chance that class would be #3 in the MAC.

Edited July 28, 2023 by catdaddyp

catdaddyp · November 28, 2023

Bump for updates.

catdaddyp · November 29, 2023

Kent has caught up with us in portal entries with 8. I’m guessing Kent and NIU will have the highest in the MAC this year. NIU has a high number of HS commitments, which makes me think their staff is expecting a number of departures.

catdaddyp · December 5, 2023

Bump for updates. Still need to go through and update the ratings, but Rivals seems to be more on top of that this year.

catdaddyp · December 6, 2023

Ryan Johnson to Southern Miss. He’s originally from Mississippi.

Edited December 6, 2023 by catdaddyp

catdaddyp · December 17, 2023

Bump for updates. I will update the recruiting standings as the dust settles. As of now our MAC rankings are:

HS/JUCO class #10

Portal Class #1

Comprehensive #4

LoyalZIP · January 10

QB Cole Snyder from Buffalo to EMU

LZIp · January 10

You are a machine @catdaddyp!

catdaddyp · January 10

8 hours ago, LZIp said:

You are a machine @catdaddyp!

Thanks! Glad to do it.

catdaddyp · February 12

Bump for update. For the most part PWOs are not on this list. There are a handful of players on the departures list that may have earned scholarships by the time they left. There are so few in that scenario that I’m not going to reach out and ask. All signings should be scholarship players. I’m also still waiting on some type of confirmation on the verbal commitments.

As of now, we are tied for 3rd place in Rivals Comprehensive Rankings. We finished tied for 1st last year. In my opinion, bare minimum expectations should be a bowl game in 2024.

catdaddyp · February 25

Time to rank the top 5 HS/JUCO prospects at each position. Will also add transfers this year. Still too early to tell on many of the 2023 recruits, but a handful did have the opportunity to play significantly this past year. The late JUCO signees (like CJ Nunnally) I missed because they signed after spring ball. I’m sure a few will fall into that category again.

HS/JUCO QBs

1) CENTRAL MICHIGAN - Jayden Glasser HUDL FILM

2) TOLEDO - Kalieb Osborne HUDL FILM

3) MIAMI - Thomas Gotkowski HUDL FILM

4) EASTERN MICHIGAN - Jace Stuckey HUDL FILM

5) AKRON - Brayden Roggow HUDL FILM

TRANSER PORTAL QBs

1) AKRON - Ben Finley

2) CENTRAL MICHIGAN - Joe Labas

3) EASTERN MICHIGAN - Drew Viotto

4) NORTHERN ILLINOIS - Jalen Macon

5) KENT STATE - JD Sherrod

Finley is the only transfer QB to have multiple spurts of legitimate success at the FBS level. Others on the list may have more physical ability or higher upside over the next few years, but they have little FBS production.

2023 QBs and how they fared:

1) AKRON - Steele Wasel = N/A Redshirted

2) CENTRAL MICHIGAN - Tyler Jefferson = N/A Redshirted

3) OHIO - Jacob Winters HUDL FILM = N/A Redshirted

4) EASTERN MICHIGAN - Ike Udengwu (JUCO) = Passing - 13 of 31, 100 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs.

5) TOLEDO - RJ Johnson HUDL FILM = N/A Redshirted

Who I may have missed on:

BALL STATE - Kaden Semonza = Passing - 50 of 82, 480 yards, 3 TDs, 5 INTs. Redshirted.

Edited February 25 by catdaddyp

catdaddyp · March 2

Here’s how I view the 2024 RBs:

HS/JUCO RBs

1) BOWLING GREEN - Nakai Amachree HUDL FILM

2) AKRON - Sean Patrick HUDL FILM

3) MIAMI - D’Shawntae Jones HUDL FILM

4) MIAMI - Tito Glass HUDL FILM

5) EASTERN MICHIGAN - JT Bronaugh HUDL FILM

TRANSFER RBs

1) MIAMI - Dylan Downing

2) OHIO - Anthony Tyus

3) AKRON - Jordon Simmons

4) EASTERN MICHIGAN - Delbert Mimms

5) AKRON - Marquese Williams

2023 RBs and how they fared:

1) EASTERN MICHIGAN - Deion Brown = N/A Redshirted.

2) OHIO - Rickey Hunt = 23 Attempts, 134 Yards, 4 TDs. Redshirted (majority of stats amassed in bowl game) Redshirted.

3) BUFFALO - Jamari Ford = N/A No longer on team.

4) BUFFALO - Lamar Sperling = 4 Attempts, 17 Yards. Redshirted.

5) WESTERN MICHIGAN - Tre Hartwell = N/A Redshirted.

Notable Post Spring Additions:

BUFFALO - Jacques Barksdale (JUCO)= 52 Attempts, 248 Yards, 2 TDs.

Edited March 2 by catdaddyp

catdaddyp · March 3

There is a wealth of talent at WR in the 2024 class. I am certain some deserving players are being left off.

Of note about Lang and Bostic, they are both raw coming out of high school and I believe they are better fits at defensive back. That being said, I cannot ignore their athletic ability and upside.

HS/JUCO WRs:

1) TOLEDO - Zy’Marion Lang HUDL FILM

2) TOLEDO - Tashi Braceful HUDL FILM

3) TOLEDO - Jay’Quan Bostic HUDL FILM

4) AKRON - Kyan Mason HUDL FILM

5) BOWLING GREEN - Caleb Goodloe HUDL FILM

Transfer WRs:

1) EASTERN MICHIGAN - Porter Rooks

2) BOWLING GREEN - Malcolm Johnson

3) OHIO - Coleman Owen

4) NORTHERN ILLINOIS - Andrew McElroy

4) BOWLING GREEN - RJ Garcia

2023 WRs and how they fared:

1) OHIO - Chase Hendricks = 11 Receptions, 108 Yards.

2) EASTERN MICHIGAN - Joe Walker = 3 Receptions, 22 Yards. Redshirted.

3) BUFFALO - Jevell Ferguson = N/A Went JUCO.

4) AKRON - Paul Davis = N/A Redshirted.

5) WESTERN MICHIGAN - Logan Lester = N/A Redshirted.

Who I may have missed on:

AKRON - Adrian Norton = 9 Receptions, 71 Yards.

I thought Norton was underrated coming out of high school. I also wasn’t sure how quickly he would develop as a collegiate wide receiver after spending his senior year at QB. After watching him this past season, there’s a legitimate chance he turns out to be the best of the bunch.

Edited March 3 by catdaddyp

2024 MAC Recruiting

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