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Athlon Sports
Akron Football: 2024 Zips Season Preview and Prediction
By Athlon Sports,
6 hours ago
Akron won two games a year ago and lost three others in overtime, but the arrow isn’t necessarily pointing up in coach Joe Moorhead’s third season. Akron is 7-47 the last five seasons, and the non-conference slate offers up three Power 4 opponents in Ohio State, Rutgers and South Carolina. The win total may not climb past two this season unless the quarterback play and offensive line exceed expectations.
The quarterback competition will continue into the fall between Cal transfer Ben Finley and Tahj Bullock, who was the Zips’ QB2 last season. Finley won the starting job out of camp last year for the Golden Bears but ended up starting only three games and seeing action in three others. The pocket passer completed 57 percent of his passes and had three touchdowns and four interceptions. Bullock is more mobile, having 66 passing attempts and 62 rushing attempts in 10 games last season for Akron.
The running game, which was 131st in the nation last season, will be led by running backs Charles Kellom and Jordon Simmons. Kellom saw very limited action last season at Akron, while Simmons arrives from Michigan State after four years, having been used sparingly in the backfield in the last two. The offensive line struggled last season, and questions remain, though three of the five projected starters saw action last year.
The top three pass-catchers are gone from last season. Alex Adams is a player to watch on the outside. Former Arizona State transfer Jake Newell (16 catches last season) will start at tight end.
Akron ranked No. 32 in yards allowed last season nationally but No. 81 in points allowed, thanks in part to a minus-9 turnover margin. The Zips should be fairly stout again and will hope that the scoring defense falls in line with the strength of the unit.
Three starters are back on the defensive line, led by All-MAC first-team defensive end CJ Nunnally IV. Nunnally had a team-best seven sacks. Linebackers Antavious Fish, Bryan McCoy and Shammond Cooper form a dependable three-man rotation for the two linebacker spots.
In the secondary, three key contributors return, led by corner Devonte Golden-Nelson. He tied for the team lead with two picks. Nickel Darrian Lewis was third on the team in tackles.
Dante Jackson returns at punter after averaging only 37.5 yards per kick, but 30 of his 65 punts were fair catches, and he had three kicks over 50 yards. Placekicking was an issue for Akron last year, with Jackson, Noah Perez and Owen Wiley sharing the duties and going a combined 9-for-16 with just one make beyond 40 yards. Wide receiver Bobby Golden will be set to return punts and kickoffs.
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