Three Big Questions: Akron Zips
A look ahead at what what 2023 has in store for each FBS program, alphabetically
Yesterday, we started our journey across the FBS with the Air Force Academy. Today, we take a ride up to Akron, Ohio for some #MACtion with the Akron Zips, one of 2022’s worst teams.
Team Information
School: Akron Zips
Conference: Mid-American (East)
2022 Record: 2-10 (1-7)
Bowl: N/A
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Joe Moorhead, 2nd season
Offensive Coordinator: Billy Fessler, 2nd season
Defensive Coordinator: Tim Tibesar, 2nd Season
1. How does the team grow heading into Moorhead’s second season?
Let’s start our deep dive into one of the nation’s worst teams with this caveat: Joe Moorhead is a good football coach. He’s run Power Five Mississippi State, had massive success as an offensive coordinator at Oregon and Penn State. In 2022, he took the Akron job over reported interest from multiple Power Five schools and even one NFL team as an offensive coordinator. He’s one of the nation’s best playcallers, and Akron rewarded his 2-10 2022 season with an extension taking his contract through 2027. If that’s not a vote of confidence, I don’t know what is.
Let’s also consider that Akron returns 18(!) starters from a year ago. The first year with a new head coach, especially in a Group of Five school like Akron, is always tough to adjust to. Especially when Moorhead is trying to change the culture.
The Zips are getting back second-team All-MAC QB DJ Irons, first-team All-MAC WR Alex Adams, and team captain Bubba Arslanian. If those three can continue to grow in Moorhead’s scheme, and the rest of the team also becomes more comfortable, Akron could start their uphill climb in the MAC.
2. Can Lorenzo Lingard jumpstart a stagnant rush offense?
Last season, Moorhead and Irons focused on the pass. Heavily on the pass. They finished 18th in the nation and first in the MAC in passing yards. Conversely, they placed 126th in rushing. Balance wasn’t a strong suit for the Zips, and it showed. Even when opposing defenses dropped eight or nine defenders in coverage, Akron couldn’t run the rock.
Enter Lorenzo Lingard. The graduate transfer comes with heavy Power Five experience, spending two years each at Florida and Miami. He only has 26 career attempts, but have turned those into 150 yards and one touchdown. That’s good for an average of 5.8 yards per carry. Not too shabby.
While the body of work isn’t jumping off the page, it’s important to remember that Lingard was a highly-regarded prospect. 247 Sports had him as the 25th prospect in the nation in 2018 out of high school, and the second best running back in the class. ESPN agreed with 247’s five-star assessment, but he clocked in at 60th on their national lists.
If Lingard can show that potential, Akron’s running issues could be solved, at least for one season.
3. Can some freshmen help the Zips defense?
A year ago, the Akron defense was a disappointing one-man show. That one man? Middle linebacker Bubba Arslanian, who posted one of Akron’s best defensive seasons ever with 129 total tackles. Unfortunately for Arslanian, nobody else made many tackles.
Moorhead and his staff focused on the defensive side of the ball with last season’s recruiting class. While it isn’t highly regarded, they still brought in five three star defensive prospects. They also added athlete A.D. Norton from Stebbens High School in Dayton, Ohio, who has experience on both sides of the ball but projects as a solid wideout.
The Zips added players at all three levels last recruiting class. On the defensive line is Marcus Moore (Washington HS in Massillon, Ohio) with a 247 grade of 0.8170 and Bruno Dall (St. Stanislaus HS in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi) with a 0.8056 grade. Linebacker/edge rusher Kameron Cheatom (Brashear HS in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is the highest rated defensive prospect in the class with a 0.8217 grade. Finally, the secondary gets two safeties coming in with over 0.8000 grades in Darius Owens (South Gwinnett HS in Snellville, Georgia) and Zayden Liang-Taylor (Miami Central HS in Miami, Florida).
The Zips need some of these players to provide a boost to the defense. Defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar has experience building strong defensive units, and this recruiting class will be a huge part of whether or not he can repeat that feat at Akron.
What are the expectations for Akron in 2023?
The Zips can expect improvement, but not too much. They’re not striking for bowl eligibility this year, so fans will need to look for marginal improvements on the edges. Can the team narrow that massive discrepancy in scoring (21.8 points scored per game and 33.5 points allowed per game)? Can the team move to a more balanced offense that threatens opposing defense more? How does the youth on the roster continue to develop?