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2007 MAC Football Recruiting - Akron Zips

Overview
The Zips signed 24 players from ten states but they had a heavy emphasis on Pennsylvania players with seven players coming from the Keystone state. Other areas where players were signed are Akron’s home state of Ohio, New Jersey, California, South Carolina, New York, Maryland, North Carolina, Illinois and Texas. This is a very balanced class with twelve players initially listed as either offense or defense with a special focus on linemen and linebackers. Almost every recruiting service listed Akron in their top three MAC class ranking this year.

Below is a list of Akron football recruits with their listed position, height, weight, hometown and high school.

Jake Anderson OL 6-4 280 Erie, Pa. / McDowell HS

Brian Brikowski LB 6-4 215 Freehold Township, N.J. / Freehold Township HS

Jalil Carter DB 6-1 175 Toledo, Ohio / St. John’s Jesuit HS

Marquinn Davis DL 6-6 265 Youngstown, Ohio / Youngstown Rayen HS

Casey Estrada* (Jr.) OL 6-5 285 Folsom, Calif. / Sacramento City College / Folsom HS

Sean Fobbs LB 6-1 205 Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg HS

Miguel Graham* (So.) DB 5-9 160 Rock Hill, S.C. / Coffeyville ( Kan.) CC / Rock Hill HS

Vincent Hill WR 5-11 175 Fort Washington, Md. / Friendly HS

Zac Kasparek OL 6-6 300 New Brighton, Pa. / New Brighton HS

Matt Little LB 6-2 200 Durham, N.C. / C. E. Jordan HS

Dan Marcoux DL 6-3 260 Ramsey, N.J. / Don Bosco Prep HS

Da-Von Moore Ath. 5-11 210 Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brentwood HS

Deni Odofin DL 6-4 230 Endicott, N.Y. / Valley Forge ( Pa.) Military Acad. / Union-Endicott HS

Gary Pride Ath. 5-9 180 Cincinnati, Ohio / Colerain HS

Joe Rash DL 6-2 260 Pittsburgh, Pa. / Penn Hills HS

Matt Rodgers QB 6-2 195 Pittsburgh, Pa. / Seton LaSalle HS

Dan Ronsman OL 6-3 280 Antioch, Ill. / Lakes Community HS

Jerome Royal WR 6-2 180 Cleveland Heights, Ohio / Cleveland Heights HS

Almondo Sewell LB 6-2 235 Trenton, N.J. / Hargrave ( Va.) Military Academy / Trenton Central HS

Shane Shead DL 6-5 225 Plano, Texas / Hargrave ( Va.) Military Academy / West HS

Paul Simkovich OL 6-4 300 Latrobe, Pa. / Greater Latrobe HS

Ryan Simpson DL 6-2 270 Xenia, Ohio / Xenia HS

Aaron Williams LB/RB 6-0 205 Pittsburgh, Pa. / Penn Hill HS

Bryan Williams (Jr.) RB 6-0 195 Akron, Ohio / Valley Forge ( Pa.) Military Acad. / John R. Buchtel HS

Quarterbacks
Akron signed one of the top QB prospects in the league this year in Matt Rodgers. Rodgers was rated a top-50 player in Pennsylvania and 29th rated dual-threat QB according to one recruiting source. He had several mid-level DI-A offers.

Receivers
Vincent Hill earned All-American prep honors from one recruiting service. A star player from Maryland, Hill has 4.4/40 speed and averaged 20-yards per catch and scored 22 TDs as a senior. Hill was the #11 rated prospect in his state and kept his commitment to Akron after a late offer from Virginia. Jerome Royal is another speedster from the Cleveland area who had several MAC offers. Royal may end up as a CB. There is no player currently listed as a TE within this class.

Offensive Line
The Zips signed by far the finest collection of OL prospects in the MAC this year. Paul Simkovich earned all state honors and is another greater Pittsburgh area recruit for JD Brookhart. Simkovich is the #36 rated prospect in PA and received accolades from several recruiting sources. Casey Estrada is a California JUCO was a top-100 player coming out of the national junior college rankings and has junior eligibility. Jake Anderson, Zac Kasparek and Dan Ronsman each bring size and athleticism to this position. The five players listed average 6-4, 285 per man.

Defensive Line
Akron brought in six players listed as defensive linemen. Defensive tackle prospects are Marquinn Davis, Dan Maroux, Joe Rash and Ryan Simpson. Rash is from Pittsburgh Penn Hills and is highly rated. Defensive end prospects are New York native Deni Odofin who played at Valley Forge Military Prep last year, and Texas native Shane Snead who played at Hargrave (VA) Military Academy last year. Odofin was an all-state player two years ago and originally signed with Hofstra out of high school.

Linebackers
Almondo Sewell headlines four players who are tabbed as LBs in this class. Sewell played at Hargrave (VA) Military Academy last year and is originally from Trenton (NJ). Two years ago he signed with Virginia out of high school. One publication lists him as a top-10 player nationally coming from the prep schools. Sean Fobbs is considered a top-75 player in Ohio and played safety in high school – he will likely be moved to OLB or a "monster" back. Brian Britkowski and Matt Little round out this position.

Defensive Backs
Miguel Graham is a South Carolina native who played at Coffeyville (KS) CC last year; he has sophomore standing. Jalil Carter is from Toledo (OH) St. Johns High and earned all-city honors as a CB and WR.

Specialists
No player is listed as a ‘specialist’ in this class.

Final Analysis
JD Brookhart continues to mine western Pennsylvania for talent and for the third year in a row he signed another stellar class. Seven players are from the Pittsburgh area and Akron signed the best collection of offensive linemen and prep school players in the MAC this year. There was a heavy emphasis on both lines and several speedy player makers where added as well. There is an abundance of 'running-back/athlete' prospects. Overall this class rates as OUTSTANDING compared to other conference teams.

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