by Akron Zips
Coach: Joe Moorhead, 3rd year
Last year’s record: 2-10
The Overcast
Since Akron’s MAC Championship appearance in 2017 it hasn’t been smooth sailing for this football program. Akron was only able to muster two wins for the second year in a row. Going into the season there was never a doubt who the QB would be, this year is a different story for Akron. Tahj Bullock got the most starts after Irons went down for the year but failed to produce and was benched on a handful of occasions. Transfer QB Ben Finley will compete for the starting spot. Whoever the QB is they will have Michigan State transfer RB Jordon Simmons and top receiver options in Alex Adams. The offense only returns two starters, the biggest news are the six returners on defense. CJ Nunnally IV is the biggest returner on the line as he will be backed by a young secondary.
Dom’s Outlook
Akron is a year behind in progress and no one is more aware of that fact than head coach Joe Moorhead. Last year showed promise as they were one of the best first half teams in the MAC with Irons in at QB, with Irons now gone it’s hard to imagine what the QB situation. Early projections show that the Cal transfer Ben Finley as the favorite for the job while Bullock seems to be promoted frequently in photos and was a starter a year ago. The offensive line isn’t the most experienced but could be improved from the last two seasons as they have given up more sacks than any other line. I believe Akron will be improved with the RPO offense Moorhead has worked to achieve in Akron. The defense should be strong and even better with most of the returners a year older and a year better.
Prediction
Last season I was wrong when I gave Akron five wins with a chance to go to a bowl game. If you look at how many first half leads and overtime games from last season they would have been to a bowl game. This year I only see five possible wins for the Zips and two wins being the worst result possible. They will fall between those win totals with four wins, enough to give Moorhead another year with Akron.
