Akron Ellet 2024 high school football schedule, preview

ELLET ORANGEMEN

• HEAD COACH: John Daraio , second season, 3-8
• LAST YEAR: 3-8 overall, 3-2 City Series
• POSTSEASON: Division III, Region 9 (Division II, Region 5 last season)

Ellet football's returning lettermen (15)

• Lucas Adkins, OL/DL, 5-8, 265, Jr.
• Brandon Armstrong, RB/DB, 5-8, 155, Sr.
• Jayden Cooper, LB/DB, 5-11, 165, So.
• Cordell Downing, DB, 6-0, 145, Jr.
• Justin Dove, OL/LB, 6-1, 215, Sr.
• Corey Fickert, K/P, 5-10, 160, Sr.
• Elijah Griffin, DB, 5-8, 160, Jr.
• Brandon Guest, LB, 5-8, 165, So.
• Terrell Karim, TE/LB, 6-3, 185, So.
• Brandon Knowles , RB/WR/LB, 6-2, 215, Jr.
• Brayden Lakins, OL/DL, 5-9, 250, Sr.
• Isaac McCoy, QB/WR, 6-0, 160, Sr.
• Ethan Slusser, OL/DL, 5-11, 185, Sr.
• James Williams, DL, 6-2, 185, Sr.
• Shanvoy Wilson , DB, 6-2, 165, Jr.

Ellet football’s impact players

"Our top dog is [junior] Brandon Knowles," Daraio said. "He is going to be a third-year starter. He is starting to get some love from Division I colleges. We went out to Pitt for a tournament, and they were talking to him. Miami of Ohio came up to look at him. He is definitely our big dog right now. Terrell Karim, we call him "Diesel," is another one. He is going to be a sophomore. He is a big target for us at tight end. Defensively, we talk a lot about our secondary being extremely talented. We have [junior] Shanvoy Wilson, [sophomore] Sean Thompson, [junior] Cordell Downing, [junior] Elijah Griffin and [junior] Jaloni Austin. Those five make up our secondary and every single one of them is either a sophomore or a junior. ... They are impressive." ... Corey Fickert is a returning starter at kicker and punter. ... "Offensively, Lucas Adkins, Terrell Karim, Brandon Knowles, Brayden Lakins, Isaac McCoy and Ethan Slusser all started at least two-plus games for us by the end of last year," Daraio said. "Defensively, Lucas Adkins, Cordell Downing, Elijah Griffin, Terrell Karim, Brandon Knowles, James Williams and Shanvoy Wilson all started at least two-plus games for us by the end of last year. Most of those guys on defense started at least five games."

What's new with Ellet football in 2024

"The senior class last year, was essentially our entire offensive scheme weapon-wise, quarterback-wise, running back-wise, offensive line-wise, but I think it kind of gets offset by being in Year 2 and our program finally having the same coaching staff for two years in a row," Daraio said. "I'd like to think that we can offset a little bit of that loss of production with the fact that there is some continuity and numbers are way up." ... Ellet added two transfers in junior quarterback Braxton Dente (6-0, 175) and senior running back-linebacker Syncere Hill (5-9, 180). ... "We have a three-way battle going at quarterback — Isaac McCoy, who is a senior, Braxton Dente transferred in from Barberton and is a really talented kid and we have Jeff Lutz, who was our JV starting quarterback last year and he is now going to be a junior," Daraio said. "... Isaac McCoy and Jeff Lutz bring a little bit to the table at receiver as well. They are both tremendous athletes that will probably find their place on the field regardless of who wins the quarterback battle." ... Dente was a backup QB at Barberton. ... Hill previously played at Archbishop Hoban. ... "He is going to be a player for us," Daraio said of Hill. ... Daraio said four freshmen could make an impact on the varsity team: defensive lineman Jordan Robinson (6-0, 215), linebacker Raionne Griggs (6-1, 185), two-way lineman Brayden Smith (6-1, 230) and two-way lineman Jayden Smith (6-1, 230). ... Daraio said Ellet's coaching staff includes new faces in Mike Winland as offensive line coach and Avery Eursher as the defensive coordinator. Winland was previously the head coach at Conotton Valley and Crestline. "Our offensive coordinator [Caleb Wohlwend] coached with Mike Winland at Field back in the day," Daraio said.

Ellet football’s outlook

Ellet defeated North, Garfield and East last season to make the playoffs, where it lost to Hoban . ... Daraio said Ellet has 68 football players between grades 9 through 12. ... "I got hired last February," Daraio said. "It has been a year and a half going into season two. In that time, we have gone from eight or nine updated helmets to we have 60 updated helmets, we have got brand new home and away uniforms, we went from a full rack weight room to we have 10 racks in there now with new flooring and new lighting. I can't say enough about the support that we have gotten. We continue to make sure that this program is treated as it should be. I came from coaching a lot of Suburban League football. From the moment I got hired, I said I want to treat Ellet like we are a Suburban League team. I think the APS schools as a whole are doing a good job of that. ... We are teams that can compete with any team in the Northeast Ohio area."

Ellet football schedule for 2024

• Aug. 23 at Indian Valley
• Aug. 30 at Tallmadge
• Sept. 6 BUCKEYE
• Sept. 13 vs. Alliance at Mount Union
• Sept. 20 MOGADORE
• Sept. 28 EAST, noon
• Oct. 5 at Buchtel, noon
• Oct. 11 NORTH
• Oct. 18 GARFIELD
• Oct. 26 FIRESTONE, noon

Home games in all CAPS. All games at 7 p.m., unless noted .

Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ .

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Ellet 2024 high school football schedule, preview