The football season is almost here, and in the upcoming weeks, I’m going to do my best to pass the time for the folks at The BBC by previewing the opponents of the Buckeyes this season. There is no better way to pass the time then by analyzing and breaking down what is in store on the road to success in 2011.
At the beginning of the journey are the Akron Zips, a team hoping to rebound after a 1-11 showing in the first season of the Rob Ianello regime. Despite the struggles last season, there are high hopes for the Zips in 2011. Some believe that with one of the top recruiters in the nation at the helm, it is only a matter of time before the Zips become a contender year in and year out in the MAC Conference.
”He did a nice job at safety, but we really think he will do a better job closer to the ball,” Ianello said. ”He is a really good athlete, he runs well, he is tough and he is physical.
”ShelDon has had some big hits this spring. He is explosive and he can really strike you.”
Clayton Moore, QB – Though he has worked with the second team throughout camp and in spring camp, Moore is a former blue-chip recruit who committed to Ole Miss but didn’t see playing time or even a scholarship after being dismissed from his high school team his senior year. The JUCO transfer will battle with returning starter Patrick Nicely throughout fall camp, and could be the next quarterback to have some success in his final two season. Moore led Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to a state championship last season by throwing for 2,395 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Positions Battles:
Running Back – Broderick Alexander is the only returner with experience at the college level, and despite missing most of 2010, he goes into the season as the front runner at tailback. Jawon Chisholm carried the ball 14 times to the tune of 124 yards in the spring game and was a solid player in high school averaging above 8 yards a carry for Harrisburg High School in Harrisburg Pennsylvania. Incoming freshman Marvin Staten has been highly regarded out of New York City after moving from the slot to tailback after an injury to the starting running back on his high school squad. He could see some carries as well early in the season. Without a doubt there are a lot of opportunities for every back on the roster to get a chance.
Wide Receiver – Anytime you take your top three producers out of the equation at any position, you are in for a lot of fun. Akron continues to look for the diamond in the rough this fall at the receiver position and some names have emerged. Keith Sconiers saw some time last year as a freshman, he will battle with sophomore Antione Russell, who missed the final three games of the season. Both will see a bunch of time as deep threats and experienced targets. One player the coaching staff has been really high on since spring is junior Anthony Meriweather. He goes into camp as a starter, because of his ability to do the little things. Incoming junior college transfer Marquelo Suel is also a candidate for playing time. The 6’3″ junior originally committed to Indiana.
Quarterback – It will be interesting to see if Paul Nicely can hold onto the job after a mediocre season full-time in 2011. Nicely has started 17 games in his first two seasons and has truly yet to blossom. In 12 games last season, Nicely throw for 200 plus yards just once. Meanwhile Clayton Moore was named a Junior College top 25 prospect, and has shown improvements since walking on at Ole Miss.
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The road is rather long for the Akron Zips to get back to respectability, but I think the gravel gets laid down this year as more talent finds it’s way to the program. A lot of new faces will grace the field in the upcoming season, and this team is very young. Hopefully for all fans of Ohio football, this year could be the springboard to a decent run in the upcoming years.
The Hallucination – If everything were to fall into place, without injury and some standout play all around, the Zips could be pushing bowl eligibility with a .500 record. With close games last season with Western Michigan, Ball State and Miami, it is possible that this team could be a decent football team in 2011.
The Horror Story – If Akron starts off 0-4 with losses to Ohio State, Temple, Cincinnati and VMI, then Zips fans better start praying to the football gods that their team somehow picks up a win down the stretch. VMI is a must win game in order for this team to move forward in 2011 after a tough loss to Gardner-Webb in overtime last year.
Reality – This team has enough talent to more than double their win total from last season. Looking ahead at 4-8 doesn’t seem impossible or an over achievement. It won’t be pretty offensively, but it’s safe to say the only way to look is up for Akron fans across the country.
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