But their quarterbacks are average at best. Looking like they're going to go with Undercuffler, whose arm is sub-optimal. Biggest obstacle is the lack of a winning culture. Also pretty hard to excel when you're playing in front of scores, not thousands, of fans. There is zero engagement between Akron/area citizens and this football program.
Not sure what you mean about average at best QBs? Irons made an All-MAC team in 2022, despite missing 2 full games and substantial parts of others. I agree Undercuffler doesn’t have as big an arm as Irons, but I wouldn’t call it sub-optimal. Zips also just landed Tahj Bullock from Virginia Tech.
You’re right in that a winning culture is an issue, which reared its head in several winnable games last year. It will probably prevent Akron from winning a game or two they should win this year, but the losses will no longer be due to a talent deficiency (outside of Kentucky and Indiana).
I don’t want to flip this thread about Akron, but since it was brought up I thought I’d chime in as I’ve paid close attention to them since Joe Moorhead took over. They have depth and a good chunk of the roster is now made up of former P5 talent.
P5 talent that could flame out after the first half of season like Kent's did last year after almost taking down Georgia.
Is the assumption all P5 talent could flame out because Kent State did last season? Sorry, guess I’m not following what is being conveyed.
I see loading up on P5 players that moved down indiscrimantlely flaming out as the rule not the exception. It happened at other G5's last year and Charlotte is an example of that. Those players are moving down to the G5 for a reason that goes beyond playing time.
The way TA is doing it cherry picking from the portal a guy here or there to address a specific need rather than best available player is more effective over a longer time frame. Certain positions it becomes a depth chart issue and you are hoping to bolster the two deep.
The stats would disagree with a part of that statement. Or maybe we just have a different definition of what “flaming out” means. I will say some coaching staffs have done a better job than others wirh the portal. Going back a few posts, if we are going to compare Akron’s portal players, why don’t we compare them to Akron’s portal class last year instead of to Kent State? Then the trend becomes pretty evident. Rivals did not have a portal section for 2022, so I used ON3’s 2022 list. I imagine a few players are missing from the list, but it gives a broad enough view. Here is how every P5 MAC transfer faired:
Akron:
Nate Thompson - Started 11 games and played in 12. Athlon listed him as 4th team preseason All-MAC.
Daniel George - Started 12 games. Athlon listed him as 3rd team preseason All-MAC.
Anthony Whigan - Started 12 games. Voted 3rd team All-MAC
Caden Clark - DNP on offense.
Clyde Price - Started 5 games and played in all 12.
Curtis Harper - Started 12 games.
TJ Banks - Started 11 games and played in 12. Athlon listed him as 3rd team preseason All-MAC.
Alex Adams - Started 11 games. Voted 1st team All-MAC.
Shocky Jacques-Louis - Started 12 games. Voted 3rd team All-MAC
Kerry Martin - Started 9 games and played in 11.
Ball State:
Jaquan Amos - Started 12 games.
Kyle King - Started 2 games and played in 12.
Bowling Green:
Tunde Fatukasi - Started 4 games and played in 10.
CJ Lewis - Started 7 games and played in 12.
Buffalo:
James Ziglor - Did not play on defense.
Damian Jackson - Started 9 games and played in 13.
Solomon Brown - Started 1 game and played in 4.
Isaiah Wright - Started 13 games.
Ibrahim Kanye - Started 12 games.
Jalen Curry - Played in 8 games.
Justin Marshall - Started 13 games.
Caleb Offord - Started 9 games and played in 12. Athlon listed him as 4th team preseason All-MAC.
Elijah Blades - Started 3 games and played in 7.
Central Michigan:
Carlos Carriere - Started 11 games.
Eastern Michigan:
Carson Lee - Did not play on offense.
Isaac Smith - Did not play on offense.
Joe Sparacio - Started 12 games and played in 13. Athlon listed him as 3rd team preseason All-MAC.
Kent State:
DJ Miller - Started 12 games. Athlon listed him as 4th team preseason All-MAC.
Kevin Tothe - Played in 1 game.
Khali Saunders - Started 7 games and played in 10. Athlon listed him as 3rd team preseason All-MAC.
AJ Campbell - Played in 3 games on defense.
Lavonte Gator - Played in 3 games on defense.
Naijee Jones - Started 1 game and played in 4.
Nolan Rumler - Played in 4 games on offense.
Miami:
Matt Bjorson - Started 4 games and played in 9.
Brian Ugwu - Started 7 games and played in 13. Athlon listed him as 2nd team preseason All-MAC.
Jordan Brunson - Played in 2 games.
Michael Dowell - Started 12 games and played in 13. Athlon listed him as 3rd team preseason All-MAC.
Miles Marshall - Started 11 games and played in 13. Athlon listed him as 3rd team preseason All-MAC.
Ty Wise - Started 5 games and played in 7.
Corey Suttle - Started 4 games and played in 13.
Northern Illinois:
Izayah Green-May - Started 12 games.
Ohio:
Sam Wiglusz - Started 11 games and played in 14. Voted 1st team All-MAC.
Dontay Hunter - Played in 6 games in defense.
Toledo:
Dallas Gant - Started 14 games. Voted 1st team All-MAC.
Nick Turner - Started 1 game and played in 5 on defense.
Deshawn Holt - Started 1 game and played in 12.
Rourke Freeberg - Played in 6 games on defense.
Peny Boone - Played in 13 games.
Western Michigan:
Jehlani Galloway - Started 11 games and played in 12. Athlon listed him as 4th team preseason All-MAC.
Stone Hollenbach - Played in 1 game on offense.
Bryce Austin - Did not play and did not make it to the regular season.
Anthony Romphf - Played in 12 games in defense.
Last Edited: 5/31/2023 9:56:15 PM by CoachPMac