In the portal

[Zip_ME87]

Maximus Barboto is in the portal. 🥲

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJIFEhAThL_/?igsh=aTFpNGk1MTQ1dDJ1

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJM8o8oS-KT/?igsh=Z2I0ZjlrZnJhNGJ2

Edited May 3 by Zip_ME87

[TennZip]

Kamden Held, who was on the zips fall and spring roster......has transferred to Wisconsin Green Bay

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ48YGbTrPG/?hl=en

[NYC ZIP]

William Arnesen who spent the spring with the Zips after transferring from Old Dominion, has transferred to Ohio State. 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DKkKo_0Mjby/?igsh=MTVjOTZ5cG05MXp4cA==

Edited June 6 by NYC ZIP

[72 Roo]

I can't help but think there may be some NIL money in play here. Does anyone know the behind the scenes story?

 

[NYC ZIP]

Not necessarily NIL, but scholarship money available. All schools are now allowed, but not required, to have all men’s players on the roster receive full scholarships up to 28. Prior to this change, mens soccer teams were limited to the equivalent of 9.5 to divide across the players. I’m sure the Zips gained very little, if any $$ to allocate to men’s soccer. On the other hand, I’m confident schools like OSU did and can leverage a “full ride” deal for transfer players from schools that aren’t opted in. Even an increase to 15 scholarships could be a massive difference to the construction of a roster.

[fknbuflobo]

On 6/7/2025 at 8:45 AM, NYC ZIP said:

Not necessarily NIL, but scholarship money available. All schools are now allowed, but not required, to have all men’s players on the roster receive full scholarships up to 28. Prior to this change, mens soccer teams were limited to the equivalent of 9.5 to divide across the players. I’m sure the Zips gained very little, if any $$ to allocate to men’s soccer. On the other hand, I’m confident schools like OSU did and can leverage a “full ride” deal for transfer players from schools that aren’t opted in. Even an increase to 15 scholarships could be a massive difference to the construction of a roster.

I think your scenario is accurate.  And if it is, Zips simply cannot afford competing at the elite level.  Not at the moment anyway.  

 

28 scholarships versus 9.5 scholarships is not fair competition.

How many scholarships on Zips’ MSOC 2025, I wonder.

Any school not maximizing their number of scholarships is not seriously competing.

[TennZip]

This is an absolutely gigantic loss for Zips men's soccer.

 

Josh Hardin was so good for the zips in fall 2024.  Pitt Panthers have added a very good player.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMIYZkJsJ8h/

[WeRise225]

1 hour ago, TennZip said:

This is an absolutely gigantic loss for Zips men's soccer.

 

Josh Hardin was so good for the zips in fall 2024.  Pitt Panthers have added a very good player.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMIYZkJsJ8h/

What happened? Isn't the portal closed? 

[TennZip]

All of us fans knew that the Zips graduated 7 starters from last year's team.

With Josh Hardin transferring, the zips will now have 8 new starters. (Mitch Budler, Ashton Kamdem and Matt Dreas are the 3 returning starters)

 

Like all fans, I anxiously await the zips news release that will tell us about incoming fall 2025 transfers and about any new international freshmen joining the program.

[Zips1991]

It's becoming harder to not believe that Akron's days as a soccer powerhouse are limited, given the increasing importance of money in college athletic success and Akron's obvious lack of resources.

Edited 19 hours ago by Zips1991