“This is our best recruiting class to date,” declared the Zips’ 41-year-old field boss. “In our prior three classes we were building a foundation. With this class, we were able to more position specific.”
Seventeen of the 20 signees currently are seniors at their respective high schools. Three signees hail from California junior colleges: LB James Cochran (City College of San Francisco), LB Louis Mackey (Gavilan College), and DL Will Scott (Chabot College).
Owens and his coaching staff have maintained a consistent recruiting policy, with half of the class from Northeast Ohio, one quarter from western Pennsylvania and one quarter from the rest of Ohio, Michigan and out of state.
“Our pressing needs were at the defensive line and linebacker positions,” said Owens. “We believe we’ve recruited immediate impact players at defensive end, linebacker and fullback. Improving our team speed also was a priority, and we’ve attracted 10 players who are sub-4.6 in the 40, with the rest at 5.0 or better. Another area of concern was special teams. We’ve signed five kick and punt returners and seven TB-LB type players who can cover. We also were determined to maintain our squad’s character and academic reputation. This class should uphold our high standards in both areas. Last fall semester, our team GPA of 2.5 was the program’s highest in years.
“We also recruited young men who want to be at Akron and chose Akron over noteworthy schools,” added Owens. “This group is committed to making our program a contender in the MAC.”
Nine senior letter winners completed their eligibility last fall, with key losses being Jamie Reader and Chris Rooney at fullback, Nate Boyd at middle linebacker, and Corey Christian at defensive end. Akron begins its seventh season as a member of the Mid-American Conference this fall. UA opens its 1998 season hosting defending MAC champion Marshall on Sept. 5 in the 45th annual Acme-Zip Game.
“The coaching staff did a great job of getting our program involved with a high quality group of prospects. We’re anxious to have the guys on campus and to get the 1998 season started,” Owens concluded.
BIOS ON THE RECRUITS:
Aaron Buck was a two-year starter and Lakewood St. Edward’s “Most Valuable Linebacker” during the 1997 season. As a senior, he logged 103 tackles (44 solo), including six tackles for loss, scored one defensive touchdown and blocked a field goal. Buck is a solid “B” student and a member of the St. Edward Council on Human Relations. High school teammate of Cedric Golphin, who also signed with the Zips.
James Cochran has been a standout linebacker at City College of San Francisco. Cochran, who lists at 6-2, 210 pounds, was also recruited by Oregon State, Eastern Michigan and Northern Arizona. The City College Rams lost the Junior College National Championship game and finished 11-1.
Duran Cosey is a gifted athlete projected to play cornerback for the Zips. At 5-9, 170 pounds, Cosey gained first-team All-Central District notice and first-team All-Ohio Heartland Conference recognition as a tailback and defensive back. The Marion Harding star carried 159 times for 873 yards and seven TDs (5.5 yards per carry) and registered 51 tackles, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, four pass break-ups and four tackles for loss. He also was tabbed first-team All-Marion County and special mention All-Ohio Division I.
Nick Fortener earned first-team All-Western Ohio League and special mention All-Southwest District as a fullback at Kettering Fairmont High School. He rushed for 1,056 yards (6.9 per try) and 15 TDs and threw for 380 yards and three scores. Fortener also averaged 24.2 yards on 17 kickoff returns. He also returned an interception for a touchdown and threw for a school-record 246 yards against Centerville as a junior.
Ryan Gargasz was a second-team All-Pennsylvania defensive end and state shot put champion as a junior. Gargasz starred as a two-way tackle for Wilmington High School’s 13-1 squad. Tabbed Lawrence County Lineman of the Year, he lists at 6-6, 255 pounds and has been clocked at 4.9 in the 40. Gargasz played defensive end, tight end, tackle and guard for Hounds’ coach Terry Verrelli.
Cedric Golphin is a multi-talented athlete who played tailback and outside linebacker for the St. Edward Eagles. A two-year starter, Golphin was chosen all-district and All-Cuyahoga County by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He stepped in as the starting tailback for the final six games of the season and rushed for 472 yards and eight TDs on 87 carries. He also caught seven passes for 127 yards and one score and racked up 45 tackles (19 solo), five tackles for loss and one interception. St. Ed’s Iron Man Award winner, Golphin also is member of the school’s Council on Human Relations. High school teammate Aaron Buck also signed.
Michael Hannon is a prize defensive line recruit out of Detroit’s MacKenzie High School. At 6-3, 235 pounds, Hannon piled up 12 quarterback sacks from his defensive end post and caught 15 passes as a tight end. He also returned two fumbles for scores. A two-year captain, he was tabbed all-city his junior and senior seasons.
Josh Hill was a first-team Northeastern Ohio Inland district choice and All-Stark County performer at outside linebacker for Massillon Washington coach Jack Rose. Listed at 6-3, 210 pounds, Hill registered 70 tackles, including 26 quarterback pressures and 14 sacks as a senior. He has been nominated for the Ohio North/South All-Star Game and was a special mention All-Ohio Division I pick. High school teammates Chris Smith and Christian Morgan also signed.
Louis Mackey starred at linebacker for Gavilan College in Gilroy, Calif. He was sought after by Southwest Missouri State, James Madison and Portland State. Mackey is president of the Black Student Union at Gavilan.
Bobby Manuel was a two-way tackle at Sandusky High School and earned first-team All-Ohio Division I last fall. Projected as a defensive lineman with Zips, Manuel lists at 6-3, 275 pounds, also garnered top honors in the Northwest district and the Great Lakes League. High school teammate Orlando Williamson also signed today with Akron. WR Gregg Peugeot of Sandusky is a two-year letterman already with the Zips.
Raymond “Junior” McCray follows his brothers, Andre and Tony, to The University of Akron. A fullback-defensive back for coach Claude Brown at Akron Buchtel High School, McCray was selected first-team Northeastern Ohio Inland district as a senior and twice named first-team all-area by the Akron Beacon Journal. He carried the ball 99 times for 926 yards and eight TDs and had two punt returns for touchdowns. McCray also logged four interceptions and nine tackles for loss (three sacks) and collected All-Ohio Division II special mention. At 5-6, 155 pounds, he has a 280-pound bench and a 4.58 clocking in the 40-yard dash. McCray is projected as a wide receiver, punt and kick returner for the Zips.
Christian Morgan was a first-team Northeastern Ohio Inland district and All-Ohio Division I special mention tailback for coach Jack Rose at Massillon Washington High School. Listed at 6-4, 220 pounds and clocked at 4.5 in the 40, Morgan rushed for more than 2,300 yards on 360 carries his junior and senior seasons. A nominee for the Ohio North/South All-Star Game and the Big 33 Game, he was actively recruited by Ohio State. High school teammates Josh Hill and Chris Smith also signed.
Brandon Payne hails from the same high school program which produced former Zips star Jason Taylor. A running back-defensive back, Payne was tabbed on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25. He carried the ball 182 times for 1,460 yards and 26 scores while competing in the WPIAL Quad North Conference. A team captain, Payne also averaged 39 yards per punt, returned kickoffs and saw action at strong safety and cornerback.
Vernon “Jake” Schifino is an outstanding two-way athlete who plans on playing football and basketball for the Zips. A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 pick, Schifino was a wide receiver/defensive back for Penn Hills High School, before being called upon to run the ball. He rushed for 970 yards rushing and eight touchdowns in seven games. Blessed with a 38-inch vertical jump, Schifino is averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds per game for the Penn Hills basketball team this winter.
Ryan Schulz, a standout two-way lineman for coach Jeff Durbin and the Lake Blue Streaks, earned Akron Beacon Journal first-team all-area. He also was picked on the first unit for the Federal League and Northeastern Ohio Inland district Division II. Schulz, who lists at 6-4, 230 pounds, helped lead Lake to the Division II OHSAA championship game. As a senior, he registered 51 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss, and gained special mention All-Ohio.
Will Scott was a stellar defensive lineman at Chabot College in Hayward, Calif. He also was recruited by Baylor, Iowa State, Pittsburgh and Rutgers and played in the Junior College All-American Bowl. Scott lists at 6-6, 265 pounds.
Chris Smith was a standout two-way lineman for coach Jack Rose at Massillon Washington High School. Projected as a defensive lineman for the Zips, Smith was a state powerlifting champion in 1996 and highly regarded for his combination of strength and agility. Just 17 years old, he missed four games last fall with a high ankle sprain. High school teammates Josh Hill and Christian Morgan also signed.
Ty Washington is an honorable mention all-state selection out of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in metropolitan Detroit. A running back, cornerback and kick returner, Washington is projected as a running back and return man for the Zips. He carried the ball 109 times for 780 yards and 13 TDs last fall and was named All-Catholic League East and on the Detroit Free Press Michigan Blue Chip Top 60 list.
Orlando Williamson is a tremendous all-around athlete, starring in three sports at Sandusky High School. The football team’s Most Improved Offensive Player, a three-year starter on the basketball team and a 6-5 high jumper, Williamson brings a 6-3, 175-pound frame and a world of potential to Akron. The lanky WR caught 28 passes last fall for 518 yards and three TDs. High school teammate Bobby Manuel also signed today with Akron. WR Gregg Peugeot of Sandusky is a two-year letterman already with the Zips.
Matt Zuercher was the Northeastern Ohio Inland district Defensive Player of the Year for Division V and a first-team All-Ohio selection last fall. A combination running back/linebacker, Zuercher rushed for 1,255 yards and 23 TDs on 171 carries (7.3 per carry) and collected 136 tackles, including eight tackles for loss, during the '97 season for coach Bill Seder at Waynedale High School. The Wayne County League MVP lists at 6-1, 215 pounds and accumulated career numbers of 2,630 rushing yards, 44 TDs, 559 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, nine fumble recoveries and three interceptions. A brilliant student, he is ranked third in his class of 112 and carries a 4.05 GPA.
1998 UNIVERSITY OF AKRON FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS
Aaron Buck LB 6-2 205 Cleveland (Lakewood St. Edward) James Cochran LB 6-2 210 San Francisco, Calif. (City College) Duran Cosey RB/DB 5-9 170 Marion (Harding) Nick Fortener FB/LB 6-2 215 Kettering (Fairmont) Ryan Gargasz DL 6-6 255 Volant, Pa. (Wilmington) Cedric Golphin FB/LB 6-1 200 Cleveland (Lakewood St. Edward) Michael Hannon DL/LB 6-3 235 Detroit, Mich. (MacKenzie) Josh Hill LB 6-3 210 Massillon (Washington) Louis Mackey LB 6-2 215 Richmond, Calif. (Gavilan J.C.) Bobby Manuel DL 6-3 275 Sandusky Raymond McCray WR/KR/PR 5-6 155 Akron (Buchtel) Christian Morgan RB 6-4 220 Massillon (Washington) Brandon Payne RB/DB 5-10 185 Rankin, Pa. (Woodland Hills) Jake Schifino WR/DB 6-2 180 Pittsburgh, Pa. (Penn Hills) Ryan Schulz DL 6-4 230 Uniontown (Lake) Will Scott DL 6-6 265 Hayward, Calif. (Chabot J.C.) Chris Smith DL 6-3 270 Massillon (Washington) Ty Washington RB/KR/PR 5-9 170 Southfield, Mich. (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s) Orlando Williamson WR 6-3 175 Sandusky Matt Zuercher FB/LB 6-1 215 Orrville (Waynedale)