2026 Soccer Recruits

[72 Roo]

What we haven't announced will get Zip soccer fans very excited. 

[malonepioneer12]

I hope a good recruit or transfer. 

[TennZip]

https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/article/?categoryId=26&articleId=55463&articleTitle=standouts-from-ecnl-boys-south-carolina

 

Here are some of the standout performances from games watched by TDS.

 

 

Calan DeWalt, Ohio Premier 08/07 – An Akron(m) commit for 2026, De Walt imposed himself on the game against Chattanooga in a 2-2 draw. He broke lines with the ball and made a couple of crucial defensive interventions.

[TennZip]

With this post, I am relying on top drawer soccer(TDS) for their accuracy in reporting.

 

On December 17th, top drawer soccer updated their division 1 mens soccer transfer tracker.

 

At that point, TDS was showing 3 high quality players as transferring to Akron.

 

I did not post that update on December 17 as none of the 3 players had posted anything on instagram...showing an announcement that they will be transferring to Akron.

 

2 of the 3 players are now showing @zipsmsoccer on their instagram page.   As a result of 2 players changing their school in the bio, I will share the TDS transfer tracker(below) with zips fans.

 

Aiden Benitez was a freshman this fall at Butler.   Aiden Benitez is now showing @zipsmsoccer on his instagram page.   Benitez is a 5'8 160 pound forward.   In his freshman year, Benitez had 4 goals and 4 assists.   Benitez was selected 3rd team all Big East.   That is a very impressive honor as Akron's own outstanding forward (Remi Agunbiade)  was not selected to any of the 3 all Big East league teams.   Benitez was part of the Sporting KC academy as a teenager.   Aiden Benitez has also played on the El Salvador U20 national team.   At the end of the year, Top Drawer soccer selects a top 100 freshman list. TDS selected Aiden Benitez as the 26th best freshman in the country.

 

Nolan McGuire is the 2nd transfer now showing @zipsmsoccer in his bio.  McGuire has played 2 years as a defender for Depaul.  In his freshman year, McGuire played almost 1,200 minutes for DePaul.  In his sophomore year, Nolan McGuire started 13 of 17 games for Depaul and he saw 1,124 minutes of action.

 

The 3rd transfer that TDS is showing is Angel Lopez from Coastal Carolina.   Angel Lopez is a forward with very good size (6'3 185).   In his freshman year for the Chanticleers(fall 2025), Angel Lopez started 9 games.  Angel Lopez had 13 points as a result of 5 goals and 3 assists.   Angel Lopez was selected to the Sunbelt Conference all freshman team.  That is quite an honor as the Sunbelt is a very strong league (should have had 5 teams in NCAA field - W. Virginia, Marshall, Central Florida, Kentucky and number 34 RPI Georgia Southern.)  From what I can tell, Angel Lopez's instagram page does not yet show a zipsmsoccer connection.

 

Below the 3 transfers to Akron, you will see that Nathan Ferguson is transferring from Akron to Belmont.  Belmont has already confirmed that with an instagram announcement.     With only 4 players graduating, we know of 7 high school seniors that will probably join the zips in fall 2026 (all have made instagram or twitter announcements).  Top Drawer Soccer says that we will have 3 transfers joining the zips in January 2026.  with 10 known players coming in and only 5 leaving, I would anticipate that the zips will have some other players transferring to other schools.

 

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL in your comments about Nathan Ferguson and other possible transfers.  Nathan is a very nice young man and he gave his maximum effort during his time with the Zips.     I wish Nathan Ferguson much success at Belmont.    Nathan and other future transfers do not deserve any negative comments on this board as they make their best decision for their soccer careers.

 

From my very limited research, The zips are adding 3 young high quality transfers.   I choose to congratulate our coaching staff on successfully adding 3 solid young soccer players.   And I wish the best to any fall 2025 zips that will be joing another school in January 2026.

 

Welcome to Aiden, Nolan....and I sure hope that TDS is correct about Angel Lopez

 

https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/2026-mens-division-i-transfer-tracker_aid55358

 

 

https://www.instagram.com/_nolanmcguire/

 

https://www.instagram.com/benitezaiden/?hl=en

[Zips1991]

12 hours ago, TennZip said:

With this post, I am relying on top drawer soccer(TDS) for their accuracy in reporting.

 

On December 17th, top drawer soccer updated their division 1 mens soccer transfer tracker.

 

At that point, TDS was showing 3 high quality players as transferring to Akron.

 

I did not post that update on December 17 as none of the 3 players had posted anything on instagram...showing an announcement that they will be transferring to Akron.

 

2 of the 3 players are now showing @zipsmsoccer on their instagram page.   As a result of 2 players changing their school in the bio, I will share the TDS transfer tracker(below) with zips fans.

 

Aiden Benitez was a freshman this fall at Butler.   Aiden Benitez is now showing @zipsmsoccer on his instagram page.   Benitez is a 5'8 160 pound forward.   In his freshman year, Benitez had 4 goals and 4 assists.   Benitez was selected 3rd team all Big East.   That is a very impressive honor as Akron's own outstanding forward (Remi Agunbiade)  was not selected to any of the 3 all Big East league teams.   Benitez was part of the Sporting KC academy as a teenager.   Aiden Benitez has also played on the El Salvador U20 national team.   At the end of the year, Top Drawer soccer selects a top 100 freshman list. TDS selected Aiden Benitez as the 26th best freshman in the country.

 

Nolan McGuire is the 2nd transfer now showing @zipsmsoccer in his bio.  McGuire has played 2 years as a defender for Depaul.  In his freshman year, McGuire played almost 1,200 minutes for DePaul.  In his sophomore year, Nolan McGuire started 13 of 17 games for Depaul and he saw 1,124 minutes of action.

 

The 3rd transfer that TDS is showing is Angel Lopez from Coastal Carolina.   Angel Lopez is a forward with very good size (6'3 185).   In his freshman year for the Chanticleers(fall 2025), Angel Lopez started 9 games.  Angel Lopez had 13 points as a result of 5 goals and 3 assists.   Angel Lopez was selected to the Sunbelt Conference all freshman team.  That is quite an honor as the Sunbelt is a very strong league (should have had 5 teams in NCAA field - W. Virginia, Marshall, Central Florida, Kentucky and number 34 RPI Georgia Southern.)  From what I can tell, Angel Lopez's instagram page does not yet show a zipsmsoccer connection.

 

Below the 3 transfers to Akron, you will see that Nathan Ferguson is transferring from Akron to Belmont.  Belmont has already confirmed that with an instagram announcement.     With only 4 players graduating, we know of 7 high school seniors that will probably join the zips in fall 2026 (all have made instagram or twitter announcements).  Top Drawer Soccer says that we will have 3 transfers joining the zips in January 2026.  with 10 known players coming in and only 5 leaving, I would anticipate that the zips will have some other players transferring to other schools.

 

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL in your comments about Nathan Ferguson and other possible transfers.  Nathan is a very nice young man and he gave his maximum effort during his time with the Zips.     I wish Nathan Ferguson much success at Belmont.    Nathan and other future transfers do not deserve any negative comments on this board as they make their best decision for their soccer careers.

 

From my very limited research, The zips are adding 3 young high quality transfers.   I choose to congratulate our coaching staff on successfully adding 3 solid young soccer players.   And I wish the best to any fall 2025 zips that will be joing another school in January 2026.

 

Welcome to Aiden, Nolan....and I sure hope that TDS is correct about Angel Lopez

 

https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/2026-mens-division-i-transfer-tracker_aid55358

 

 

https://www.instagram.com/_nolanmcguire/

 

https://www.instagram.com/benitezaiden/?hl=en

I like the idea of adding players from in-conference as they have experience against the same opponents we'll be playing. Plus, in theory, it weakens your competition which is a nice bonus.

 

Both sound like good additions but especially Benitez.

Edited Sunday at 06:44 PM by Zips1991

[MDZip]

8 hours ago, Zips1991 said:

I like the idea of adding players from in-conference as they have experience against the same opponents we'll be playing. Plus, in theory, it weakens your competition which is a nice bonus.

 

Both sound like good additions but especially Benitez.

I also like the in-conference aspect. It means they've been able to see your program up close and like what they see. 

[TennZip]

Zips soccer fans, please start your research 

 

zips are adding 3 international players for 2026

 

https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/2026-mens-division-i-international-signees_aid55377

[TennZip]

It appears that the zips ......have also added another domestic recruit

 

Idahir Deanda  - Midfielder......

 

his instagram profile is private....but he does show @zipsmsoccer

 

https://www.instagram.com/idahir.deanda/

 

 

top drawer soccer shows that he is from Ohio...but has played for Indy Eleven academy

 

https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-soccer-details/men/akron/clgid-438/tab-commitments#sectionblock

 

start your research, zips fans.....sounds like a great recruiting class

 

 

[Zips1991]

1 hour ago, TennZip said:

Zips soccer fans, please start your research 

 

zips are adding 3 international players for 2026

 

https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/2026-mens-division-i-international-signees_aid55377

I did some quick googling of each player, mainly looking at their Transfer Market pages to get a sense of the competition levels they were playing at.

Giannis Gazis: https://www.transfermarkt.us/giannis-gazis/profil/spieler/1226505

 

• Most recently played for Panathinaikos U-19s, appearing in 4 matches.
• His page also notes that he played for Greece U-17s

Noa Testa: https://www.transfermarkt.com/noa-testa/profil/spieler/937514

 

• Most recently played for the 2nd team at FC Lausanne-Sport. Their 2nd team is in the 3rd tier of Swiss soccer.
• Played in 6 matches and recorded an assist.

Johan N’Ganzadi: https://www.transfermarkt.us/johan-nganzadi/profil/spieler/743397

 

• He is already listed as an Akron player on his profile.
• Most recently played for a 5th tier team in Belgium.
• Played for several youth teams of larger clubs including Genk (2018-2020) and Standard de Liège.
• His page notes that he played for Belgium U-17s.

Edited 49 minutes ago by Zips1991