Stop-gapping is the name of the game for the Zips in 2024, as they look to steady several positions on offense after an exodus of talents.
The Akron Zips live and die by their offensive success under head coach Joe Moorhead, which makes the personnel on this side of the ball of particular interest.
At their best in 2022 and 2023, the Zips were a big-play unit which took advantage of the dynamism of DJ Irons and their various skill players to create downfield mismatches on the cuff. This was most evident during their game against Indiana early in 2023, taking the Hoosiers to four overtimes before falling in what was essentially a two-point conversion derby.
Unfortunately, the Zips have almost never at full strength since Moorhead’s arrival, sporting a combined record of 4-20 due in part to injuries at their most important positions. last season saw Akron chew through three quarterbacks,running three very different offenses as a result. Consistency will be key for this group if they hope to progress in 2024.
Given the amount of changes on the roster, consistency could be hard to find— on paper. Let’s take a look at what Akron has to offer in 2024 on the offensive side of the ball:
Quarterbacks
Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Departures:
- DJ Irons (graduation)
- Jeff Undercuffler Jr. (graduation)
- Ryan Jankowski (unlisted)
Arrivals:
- Brayden Roggow (incoming HS recruit)
- Ben Finley (transfer from NC State via Cal)
Returnees:
- Johnny Brookhart
- Tahj Bullock
Only one returner of note is back in Akron’s quarterback room, with last year’s third-stringer Tahj Bullock, a former Virginia Tech Hokie, set to fight for the starting role. Bullock picked up two starts in 2023, with three appearances at season’s end in a special package, finishing the season 32-of-66 for 271 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions through the air, with 165 yards and four rushing touchdowns on 62 carries.
He’ll have competition via the transfer portal in Ben Finley. The brother of former NC State QB Ryan, Ben arrives in Akron via Cal after spending last season with the Golden Bears. Between Cal and NC State, the younger Finley completed 157 percent of his passes for 1,484 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions over 14 appearances.
Finley has clearly been brought in as a veteran presence with starting experience, in the way Jeff Undercuffler Jr. was for DJ Irons in previous years, while the staff hopes Bullock’s athleticism allows him to be a dual-threat to open up the offense.
Both quarterbacks will battle it out for the starting job, with the winner likely influencing how Akron will play offense. That’s one benefit from Akron’s current structure; with the amount of turnover, the roster could be made malleable enough to fit whoever is calling the signals.
Running backs
Departures:
- Drake Anderson (graduation)
- Lorenzo Lingard (signed as undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars)
- Blake Hester (unlisted)
- Clyde Price III (transfer to FCS Jackson State)
Arrivals:
- Jordan Simmons (transfer from Michigan State)
- Marquese Williams (transfer to Minnesota)
- Sean Patrick (incoming HS recruit)
- Luke Reed (incoming HS recruit)
Returnees:
- Charles Kellom
The running back room was fully transformed over the offseason, with four of the five backs currently listed as of publication not being part of the Akron effort in 2023. The one who does return, Charles Kellom, likely won’t figure into the starting running back battle after spending 2023 primarily on special teams.
The names to watch here will be a pair of Big Ten transfer players with multiple years remaining in Jordan Simmons and Marquese Williams.
Simmons, who stands at five-foot-11, 195 lbs., comes to Akron from Michigan State after a four-year career in East Lansing. The former three-star prospect from Georgia was Sparty’s leading rusher in the 2020 COVID season as a true freshman, with 219 yards on 56 carries in five games. He’d go on to collect 520 yards on 137 carries over 34 appearances, and was also a contributor on special teams.
Williams took a redshirt at Minnesota before transferring to Akron in the offseason, The five-foot-nine, 181 lb. back was a dynamic receiving back in high school, finishing with 71 rushing touchdowns and 10 receiving touchdowns in his time at Bishop McDevitt in Pennsylvania.
Both these backs look to carry the burden in the wake of three former fellow Power program transfers departing the program in the last offseason.
Given the turnover, it’s very hard to project how they’ll look, but surpassing last year’s numbers should be the minimum goal. The Zips finished 12th in the MAC with 972 total rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging an abysmal 2.8 yards per carry.
Passcatchers (tight ends and receivers)
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Departures:
- WR Daniel George (graduation)
- WR Jasiah Gathings (transfer to UConn)
- TE TJ Banks (graduation)
- TE Nik Ognenovic (transfer portal)
Arrivals:
- WR Jarvis Rush (JUCO recruit from Holmes CC)
- WR Justin Campbell (JUCO recruit from Jones College)
- WR Kyan Mason (incoming HS recruit)
- WR Dominic Monz (incoming HS recruit)
- WR Israel Polk (transfer from Pittsburgh)
- WR Ahmarian Granger (transfer from Old Dominion)
- TE Max Whisner (transfer from Missouri)
- TE Khalil Witherspoon (incoming HS recruit)
Returnees:
- WR Bobby Golden
- WR Alex Adams
- WR Phazion Wilson
- WR Jean Louis III
- WR Myles Walker
- WR Caleb Anderson
- WR Adrian Norton
- WR Paul Davis
- TE Grant Gainer
- TE Aiden Diaz
- TE Jake Newell
- TE Conner Cravaack
Akron’s offensive struggles were very evident with the injury to DJ Irons, but a miserable rushing attack also put a lot of pressure on the passcatchers to perform. They did all they could reasonably do considering the circumstances, finishing fourth in the league in passing offense, with an average of 197.6 yards per game through the air.
The offseason saw both Daniel George and Jasiah Gathings depart the program, stripping away two of the leading receivers for the team heading into 2024. Alex Adams, who had some uncharacteristic struggles in 2023 coming off an all-MAC selection in 2022, hopes to reclaim his spot as top receiver after catching just 22 passes for 188 yards last year. Joining him in experienced returnees will be Bobby Golden, who had 18 catches for 143 yards.
The Zips have had success in the transfer portal for receivers under Moorhead, and 2024 proves they’re willing to try the same route again, bringing in a pair of six-foot-one receivers in Israel Polk and Ahmarian Granger to create competition.
Granger started five games for the Monarchs in 2023, with 15 catches for 213 yards and a touchdown, totalling 30 receptions over two full seasons, while Polk (younger brother of former NFL’er Makai) transfers in from Pitt after taking a redshirt season. He was a Top 100 prospect in the state of California by multiple scouting agencies, including 247Sports and ESPN.
A pair of former JUCO starters in Jarvis Rush and Justin Campbell and former three-star prospect Phazion Wilson (who transferred in from Grambling State last season) could also mix it up during camps.
Both starting tight ends departed the program this offseason, leaving a lot of inexperience at the position.
Redshirt sophomore Jake Newell is the likely favorite to start of the returnees, with 16 receptions for 133 yards in 2023. Max Whisner, a former three-star prospect, transfers in from Missouri after two career appearances for the Tigers could also key into the position battle.
Offensive line
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Departures:
- Ben Frank (graduation)
- Tony Georges (transfer to Kent State)
- Alex Robarge (transfer to FCS Southern Illinois)
- Nate Williams (transfer to San Diego State)
- Brian Kilbane (unlisted)
- Keon Kindred (unlisted)
- Brian Underwood (unlisted)
Arrivals:
- Laurence Seymour (transfer from Miami [FL])
- Da’Quan Thomas (transfer from FCS NC Central)
- Alex Fox (JUCO recruit from Lackawanna CC)
- Dayne Shor (transfer from UConn)
- Jacob Kumfert (transfer from FCS St. Francis [PA])
- Jerrod Burrell (JUCO recruit from Monroe College)
- Eli Fields (transfer from FCS Southern)
- Roosevelt Mitchell (incoming HS recruit)
- Nathan Covert (incoming HS recruit)
- Jeremiah Ndaiga (incoming HS recruit)
- Max Mobley (incoming HS recruit)
Returnees:
- Josh Blanchard
- Thyler Williams
- Keylen Davis
- AJ George
- Delvin Morris
- Colin Lyons
- Jonas Mann
- Nick Stopiak
- Jayvin James
Offensive line will be an absolute mystery heading into 2024. Three expected contributors left via transfer portal and an additional expected starter is no longer on the roster, which puts the starting rotation in flux.
(Though, it should also be said that the Akron OL was the worst in the MAC per PFF in 2023, so maybe it’s an opportunity for a fresh start.)
Going off pedigree, there are two players who immediately jump to to the forefront in terms of potential starters: Laurence Seymour and Da’Quan Thomas.
Seymour is a former four-star prospect from the Miami high school football scene, initially joining the hometown Miami [FL] Hurricanes, where he played in 12 games in three seasons (starting twice.) At six-foot-one, 330 lbs., he projects as an interior offensive lineman (likely at center.)
Thomas, who stands at six-foot-two, 300 lbs., took an alternate route, opting out of the 2020 COVID season in Florida and transferring to NC Central as a freshman in 2021. Thomas, who was a walk-on at Florida in 2019, won a starting spot immediately at NC Central and would suit up for 33 contests as as starter for the Eagles. He slots in to be a potential two-year contributor at the right guard spot.
Eli Fields, formerly of FAU and FCS Southern, could be in play for a tackle spot at six-foot-five, 330 lbs., bringing with him 20 games of starting experience with the Jaguars over the last two seasons.
We’ll have more clarity on the OL situation once the team takes the field, but for now, the biggest takeaway is that they really like a certain sort of build; 12 of their linemen weigh over 300 lbs., including true freshman recruit Roosevelt Mitchell, who stands at an incredible six-foot-three, 355 lbs., while only four of their 17-deep roster stand above six-foot-four.