(Photo Credit: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Zach Gibson, RB Teon Dollard, OC Bryce Peterson, DE Ryan McClain, LB Bubba Arslanian, LB Brandon Bischof, LB Julian Richardson, CB Randy Cochran, CB A.J. Watts, FS Adetutu Daranijo, SS Corey Thomas, SS Jaylen Kelly-Powell, PK Cory Smigel, and PT Kyle Romenick.
Key Players Departing:
WR Nate Stewart, CB Jordyn Riley, DL Eric Bentley, DL Ja’Quize Cross, DL John Mitchell, and KR Jeremiah Knight.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: TE Nikolas Ognenovic (Kentucky transfer), RB Anthony Williams (Michigan State transfer), LB Jeslord Boateng (Michigan State transfer), WR Jasaiah Gathings (Statesville, North Carolina),QB D.J. Irons (FT. Dodge. Iowa), CB Rishad Hence (Detroit, Michigan), LB Rey’Noi Summersett (Huntersville, North Carolina), PK Logan Seibert (Belleville, Illinois), DE Bennett Adler (Cleveland, Ohio), and S Noel Roach (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).
2020 Results:
G01 WESTERN MICHIGAN L 13-58
G02 at Ohio L 10-24
G03 at Kent State L 35-69
G04 MIAMI, OH L 7-38
G05 BOWLING GREEN W 31-3
G06 at Buffalo L 7-56
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 1-5 (5th in MAC East)
Home: 1-2
Away: 0-3
Neutral 0-0
MAC: 1-5
Non-MAC: 0-0
Head Coach: Tom Arth
Akron: 1-17
Career: 50-38
Bowls: 0-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Zach Gibson (76-132, 784 yards, 57.6%, 5.9 avg., 4 TD, 5 INT)
Rushing: Teon Dollard (112 car., 666 yards, 5.9 avg., 6 TD)
Receiving: George Qualls (12 rec., 160 yards, 13.3 avg., 1 TD)
TD’s Scored: Teon Dollard (6)
Sacks: Bubba Arslanian/Julian Richardson (3)
Tackles: Bubba Arslanian (72)
Interceptions: A.J. Watts (2)
Pass Deflections: Jaylen Kelly-Powell/A.J. Watts (2)
Tackles For Loss: Bubba Arslanian (3.5)
Forced Fumbles: Bubba Arslanian/A.J. Woods (1)
Kick Returns: Jeremiah Knight (22 ret., 450 yards, 20.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Cory Smigel (4-6 fg/fga., 67%, 13-13 xp/xpa., 25 pts.)
Punting: Kyle Romenick (29 punts, 1168 yards, 40.3 avg., 10 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 1 Kato Nelson (RS SR)
RB: 7 Teon Dollard (JR/TR)
WR: 4 George Qualls (RS JR/TR)
WR: 88 Timothy Scippio (JR)
WR: 16 Tony Grimes (FR)
TE: 87 Brycen Yarmo (RS SO/TR)
LT: 77 Xavior Gray (RS FR)
LG: 66 Ryan Beckman (RS FR)
OC: 53 Bryce Petersen (SR/TR)
RG: 75 Jordan Daniels (RS FR)
RT: 73 Owen Murphy (RS FR)
KR: 3 Michael Mathison (SO)
PK: 12 Cory Smigel (RS SO/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 10 Quevan Lawson (RS FR)
NT: 00 Bryce Wilson (SO)
DE: 97 Janirr Wade (FR)
LB: 7 Julian Richardson (SO)
LB: 27 Bubba Arslanian (RS JR)
LB: 24 Brandon Bischof (RS JR)
LB: 5 Michael Scott (RS JR/TR)
CB: 13 Chu Ogbonna (RS JR/TR)
CB: 18 A.J. Watts (SO)
FS: 22 Adetutu Daranijo (SO)
SS: 8 Jaylen Kelly-Powell (GR/TR)
PR: 3 Michael Mathison (SO)
PT: 42 Kyle Romenick (RS FR)
Team Grades:
Offense:
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/04 at Auburn Tigers | First meeting between schools.
09/11 TEMPLE OWLS | Akron trails the series 7-14. The Zips lost (3-41) the last meeting between schools in 2011.
09/18 BRYANT BULLDOGS | First meeting between schools.
09/25 at Ohio State Buckeyes | Akron trails the series 1-7. The Zips lost (0-42) the last meeting between schools in 2011.
10/02 OHIO BOBCATS | Akron trails the series 13-23-1. The Zips are 1-9 since 2011, and their last series win (37-34) was in 2017.
10/09 at Bowling Green Falcons | Akron trails the series 9-18. The Zips are 2-7 since renewing the series in 2012, and their last series lost (6-35) was in 2019.
10/16 at Miami (OH) RedHawks | Akron trails the series 9-20-1. The Zips are 4-6 since 2011, and their last series win (35-13) was in 2016.
10/23 BUFFALO BULLS | Akron leads the series 11-9. The Zips are 2-6 since 2011, and their last series win (21-20) was in 2017.
11/02 BALL STATE CARDINALS | Akron leads the series 12-11-1. The Zips won (31-3) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
11/09 at Western Michigan Broncos | Akron trails the series 5-15. The Zips are 1-3 since 2011, and their last series win (14-13) was in 2017.
11/20 KENT STATE GOLDEN EAGLES | Akron leads the series 35-26-2. The Zips are 5-5 since 2011, and their last series win (24-23 OT) was in 2018.
11/27 at Toledo Rockets | Akron trails the series 9-12. The Zips lost (28-45) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
Predictions:
Home: 1-5
Away: 0-6
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 0-8
Non-MAC: 1-3
Overall: 1-11 (6th in MAC East)
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