It’s been tough sledding for the Akron Zips under Joe Moorhead. They’ve won just two FBS games in two years, and things won’t get any easier in 2024. The Zips play three road games against Power Four competition, including a trip to Columbus to play Ohio State in the season opener.
Still, the Zips made some moves in the transfer portal to improve their roster. Here are Akron’s top 10 returning players in 2024.
Akron Zips Top Returning Players
10) Jake Newell, TE
Jake Newell isn’t a great run blocker, but he offers some upside as a pass catcher, and he hauled in 13 passes a year ago. Newell was originally a rotational player at tight end to begin the year but slowly took over as the main guy, playing 167 snaps over the final four games of the season, starting three.
9) Shammond Cooper, LB
The first of three linebackers on this list, Shammond Cooper finished seventh on the team with 44 tackles a year ago. He has more pass-rushing juice than either of the other two linebackers and finished the year with 11 hurries despite rushing the passer just 34 times.
Cooper will probably need to improve a bit in coverage, though he only gave up 10 catches a year ago.
8) Ben Finley, QB
Ben Finley hasn’t yet officially won the starting job, though it seems to be trending in that direction. The former California and NC State quarterback is at his third stop and probably fits better with the Zips than either of his previous schools.
More of a pocket passer, Finley is locked in a battle with Virginia Tech transfer and dual-threat Tahj Bullock.
7) Alex Adams, WR
Alex Adams was hurt for about half of the season last year but was the Zips’ most consistent receiver when healthy, even if his numbers weren’t as good as they were in 2022.
That year, Adams had 855 yards and nine touchdowns, so he has the capability to be a standout receiver. His production this year will probably depend heavily on his quarterback play.
6) Da’Quan Thomas, OT
A transfer from North Carolina Central, Da’Quan Thomas will likely be Akron’s most experienced starter on the offensive line. NC Central has been known for its strong offensive lines and has placed several FBS starters at the position.
Thomas will have a tall task as the leader of a very inexperienced offensive line, but he’s a strong pass blocker who gave up just three sacks last season.
5) Antavious Fish, LB
Antavious Fish is one of a trio of linebackers to return in 2024 for the Zips. He was an extremely consistent tackler last season, missing just six tackles in 100 opportunities. He was occasionally beaten in coverage, but that’s a part of his game he has room to improve.
4) Bennett Adler, EDGE
Bennett Adler is one of two excellent pass rushers on the edge for the Zips. He had 20 pressures in just 187 pass-rushing snaps in 2023.
Adler was more of a rotational defender at the beginning of the year but was entrenched as the starter by the halfway mark, racking up 13 of his pressures and all three of his sacks by that time.
3) Bryan McCoy, LB
The Zips return their best player at each level of the defense, and Bryan McCoy is that guy for a strong LB group. One of three linebackers on this list, McCoy was the Zips’ leading tackler last season, barely edging out Fish.
McCoy is a solid tackler and excelled against the run. He wasn’t bad against the pass either and will be a known presence in the middle of the defense.
2) CJ Nunnally IV, EDGE
CJ Nunnally IV had seven sacks last year for the Zips and stayed at Akron despite probably having some Power Four interest had he entered the transfer portal. He had 39 pressures over the course of last season and is pretty solid against the run as well.
Keeping Nunnally to lead the defensive front was a huge win for Moorhead and his staff.
1) Darrian Lewis, CB
Though the offense is a question mark, the Zips were able to retain their leader at each level of the defense. In the secondary, Darrian Lewis is that guy.
A strong cover corner, Lewis only allowed 21 catches last season and was a solid tackler as well. This season, he’ll look to improve his ball production. But since the defense looks on paper to be a pretty strong unit, he should have more opportunities to pick off some passes.
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