2022 Record: 2-10 (1-7 MAC)
2023 Mac Head Coaches Poll: 5th MAC East
Last year's 2-10 (1-7 MAC) Akron record belies some of the progress that was made under first-year head coach Joe Moorhead. Five of UA's seven conference losses were one-score decisions. Only Ohio and Miami (18 points each) posted multiple score MAC wins over UA.
Nonetheless, there certainly remains work to be done. The Zips ranked 10th among MAC teams in scoring (21.8 ppg) and were 12th/last in scoring defense (35.3), albeit blowout losses to No. 14 Michigan State and No. 15 Tennessee contributed to the latter.
"I think we went from non-conpetitive to learning how to compete," Moorhead said. "The entire focus of the off-season has been our ability to finish games."
The Zips have some playmakers on both sides of the ball, but they need depth and they need to stay healthy.
>> Senior quarterback D.J. Irons (6-4, 215) is a critical piece of the offense, so keeping him healthy is a huge concern. He played in six games last year and missed spring practice due to injury. However, he was a dual threat while on the field in 2022. As a passer, he completed 66.8 percent of his passes, good for a total of 2,605 yards with 10 TDs and seven interceptions. The Third Team All-MAC standout also led UA in rushes (133), picking up 314 yards with four touchdowns.
"D.J. has a ton of physical skills," Moorhead said. He "did a nice job throwing (and) did a nice job running the ball. We want to continue to see strides in his understanding of the offense and his ability to execute."
Senior Jeff Underfuffler Jr. is also a part of what Moorhead feels is a talented quarterback room. He appeared in five games, completing 70-of-120 passes (58.3%), good for 791 yards with five scores and five interceptions.
>> With Akron finishing last in rushing (89.6 ypg) last year, Moorhead and the staff are looking for improvement despite the loss of leading rusher Cam Wiley, who averaged 4.6 ypc and tallied five TDs. Former Miami Hurricane and Florida Gator transfer Lorenzo Lingard Jr. (6-0, 205, Sr.) is one of the replacement options.
>> Juniors Alex Robarge, Tony Georges and Nate Williams are returning starters along the O-line. "If you can't win up front, it's going to be a long day, and I think we've made some strides there," Moorhead said.
>> Despite the departure of Shocky Jacques-Louis, who led the Zips in catches and receiving yards, Akron receiver stock for 2023 has potential. Former LSU wideout Alex Adams returns after earning First Team All-MAC honors in 2022. He caught 63 passes totaling 855 yards with nine TDs last year. Redshirt freshman Myles Walker is back but has seen very limited action.
DEFENSE:
>> Akron ranked ninth in total defense (406.2 ypg). The Zips were ninth against the run (162.4 ypg) and eighth defending the pass (243.8 ypg).
>> Akron took a huge hit in June when Bubba Arslanian announced that he was leaving the program despite being granted a seventh year by the NCAA. He recorded 132 tackles (60 solo) last year and was considered a coach on the field. Antavious Fish is one of the possibilities at linebacker.
>> There could be a lot of new faces along the defensive front, as well. Fall camp will help sort things out with some transfers entering the picture. In any case, depth could be an issue even if they figure out the starters.
>> The picture is somewhat brighter in the secondary where, albeit young in spots, four starters return. Senior Nate Thompson's 72 tackles (37 solo) were second most on the team. Terray Jones (Tennessee State) could be another promising addition, joining sophomores DeMarco Johnson and cornerback Darrian Lewis in the secondary mix.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
>> Noah Perez saw action last year, converting all 11 PATs and hitting six of nine field goals with a long of 42. Owen Wiley is also in on the competition. Punting duties could fall to freshman Joseph Castle
FINAL THOUGHTS:
While Moorhead is a very respected coach, raising the Zips to contender status it a tall task. Even as he tries to infuse the program with talent, depth is suspect. Losing Arslanian was a significant hit.
Akron has brought in a slew of new talent, including transfer and juco players, in an effort to "improve speed and athleticism and football skills." There has been particular emphasis on improving the run game. "Everywhere I've been, offensively we've run the ball very well. That has been our calling card," Moorhead said.
With so many new players on the roster, the coaching staff has a slew of moving parts. They hope to sort much of it out through fall camp and non-conference play.
Morgan State is the only non-conference home tilt, while UA travels to Temple, Kentucky and Indiana. Akron opens MAC play with home games against Buffalo and Northern Illinois. The tougher part of MAC play would seem to be down the stretch as UA finishes with road games against Miami and Eastern Michigan before a home finale against defending East champ Ohio.