(Photo Credit: Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB DJ Irons Jr., WR Alex Adams, WR Daniel George, DE Ryan Johnson, CB Tyson Durant, NB Darrian Lewis, BS KJ Martin,
Key Players Departing:
RB Cam Wiley, RB Clyde Price III, WR Shock Jacques-Louis, OG Max Banes, OG Ryan Beckman, OT Zavior Gray, OT Owen Murphy, DE Victor Jones, DE Zach Morton, DT Curtis Harper, LB Bubba Arslanian, LB Tim Terry Jr., CB Charles Amankwaa, FS Nate Thompson, PK Cory Smigel, PT Noah Gettman and PT Kyle Romenick.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: RB Lorenzo Lingard (Florida transfer), CB Joey Hunter (South Carolina transfer), QB Tahj Bullock (Virginia Tech transfer), DS David Jester (Homestead, Florida), ATH AD Norton (Dayton, Ohio), LB Kameron Cheatom (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), DS Darius Owens (Snellville, Georgia), DL Marcus Moore (Massillon, Ohio), LB Joshua Brown (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) and OT Jayvin James (Pompano Beach, Florida).
2022 Results:
G01 ST. FRANCIS (PA) W | OT 30-23
G02 @ #14 Michigan State L 0-52
G03 @ #15 Tennessee L 6-63
G04 @ Liberty L 12-21
G05 BOWLING GREEN L 28-31
G06 @ Ohio L 34-55
G07 CENTRAL MICHIGAN L 21-28
G08 @ Kent State L 27-33
G09 MIAMI, OH L 9-27
G10 EASTERN MICHIGAN L 28-34
G11 @ Northern Illinois W 44-12
G12 @ Buffalo L 22-23
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 2-10 (6th in MAC East)
Home: 1-4
Away: 1-6
Neutral 0-0
MAC: 1-7
Non-MAC: 1-3
Head Coach: Joe Moorhead
Akron: 2-10
Career: 54-37
Bowls: 0-2
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: DJ Irons Jr. (253-379, 2606 yards, 66.8%, 6.6 avg., 10 TD, 7 INT)
Rushing: Clyde Price III (99 car., 309 yards, 3.1 avg., 7 TD)
Receiving: Daniel George (67 rec., 793 yards, 11.8 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored: Alex Adams (9)
Sacks: Ryan Johnson (3)
Tackles: KJ Martin Jr. (53)
Interceptions: Tyson Durant (3)
Pass Deflections: Tyson Durant (6)
Tackles For Loss: KJ Martin Jr. (3)
Forced Fumbles: Andrew Behm (1)
Kick Returns: Bobby Golden (5 ret., 90 yards, 18.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Bobby Golden (13 ret., 93 yards, 7.3 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Noah Perez (6-9 fg/fga., 67%, 11-11xp/xpa., 29 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 0 DJ Irons Jr. (RS SR/TR)
RB: 27 Lorenzo Lingard (RS SR/TR)
WR: 3 Daniel George (RS SR/TR)
WR: 14 Jasaiah Gathings (RS SO)
WR: 7 Alex Adams (JR/TR)
TE: 5 TJ Banks (RS SR/TR)
LT: 00 Joshua Blanchard (RS SR/TR)
LG: 78 Brian Kilbane (RS SO/TR)
OC: 54 Tyhler Williams (RS FR)
RG: 76 Nate Williams (JR)
RT: 74 Ronan Chambers (JR)
KR: 4 Bobby Gordon (SO)
PK: 44 Noah Perez (SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 4 Ryan Johnson (SR/TR)
NT: 5 Lama Lavea (RS JR/TR)
DT: 8 Terray Jones (RS SR/TR)
DE: 00 Clarence Nunnally (JR/TR)
LB: 10 Antavious Fish (JR/TR)
LB: 40 Bryan McCoy (SO)
NB: 24 Darrian Lewis (RS SO)
CB: 29 Judson Tallandler (RS SR/TR)
CB: 6 Joey Hunter (RS JR/TR)
FS: 2 Corey Thomas Jr. (RS JR)
BS: 1 KJ Martin Jr. (SR/TR)
PR: 30 Bobby Golden (SO)
PT: 36 Dante Jackson (RS JR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense:
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/02 @ Temple Owls | Akron trails the series 7-15. The Zips lost (24-45) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
09/09 MORGAN STATE BEARS | Akron leads the series 3-0. The Zips won (41-7) the last meeting between teams in 2018.
09/16 @ Kentucky Wildcats | Akron lost (10-47) the only prior meeting between schools in 2010.
09/23 @ Indiana Hoosiers | Akron trails the series 0-3. The Zips lost (20-35) the last meeting between schools in 2010.
09/30 BUFFALO BILLS | The series is tied 11-11. The Zips are 2-7 since restarting the series in 2014 and their last series win (21-20) was in 2017.
10/07 NIU HUSKIES | Akron trails the series 6-11. The Zips are 1-3 since 2013 and their last series loss (66-49) was in 2019.
10/14 @ Central Michigan Chippewas | Akron trails the series 10-18-1. The Zips lost (21-28) last season’s meeting between schools and their last series win (17-10) dates back to 2018.
10/21 @ Bowling Green Falcons | Akron trails the series 10-19. The Zips are 3-7 since 2013 and their last series win (35-20) was in 2021.
11/01 KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES | Akron leads the series 35-28-2. The Zips are 5-5 since 2013 and their last series win (24-23 OT) was in 2018.
11/08 @ Miami (OH) RedHawks | Akron trails the series 9-22-1. The Zips are 4-6 since 2013 and their last series win (35-13) was in 2016.
11/14 @ Eastern Michigan Eagles | Akron leads the series 19-15. Last season’s 28-34 loss was the first meeting between schools since 2019.
11/24 OHIO BOBCATS | Akron trails the series 13-25-1. The Zips are 1-9 since 2013 and their last series win (37-34) was in 2017.
Predictions:
Home: 2-3
Away: 1-6
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 2-6
Non-MAC: 1-3
Overall: 3-9 (5th in MAC East)
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