Akron Football Signs 21, Including 10 from state of Ohio
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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron football program signed 21 student-athletes to a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday, including 10 from the state of Ohio and six from Florida, first-year head coach Terry Bowden announced.
"I am very pleased with the recruiting class we've signed," Bowden said. "Having only been here at Akron as a staff for three weeks, I was concerned we wouldn't have the time to identify enough recruits to fill our class. However, due to the hard work of our entire staff, and the wonderful response we received from area high school coaches, we put together a better class than I could have ever expected."
The class includes four linebackers, four offensive linemen, four defensive ends, three running backs, two cornerbacks, one quarterback, one fullback, one wide receiver and one safety.
The Zips will hold their annual Spring Game on Saturday, April 21 at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field.
Akron's 2012 schedule features six home games at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field, including four against Mid-American Conference opponents Buffalo, Miami (Ohio), UMass and Northern Illinois as well as non-league contests versus UCF on Thursday, Aug. 30 and Morgan State on Saturday, Sept. 15. Dates for the MAC games will be announced by the first week of March and start times for all six contests are to be determined.
2012 Akron Football Signing Class and Mid-Year Transfers:
Christian Allen
Pos: FB/DL
Height: 6-2
Weight: 247
Hometown: Morgantown, W.Va.
High School: Morgantown HS
at Morgantown HS: Two-time all-state honoree … led Mohigans to a 10-3 record and advanced to the state semifinals as a senior … finished fourth in voting for the state's best defensive player … totaled 75 tackles, 12 sacks, four forced fumbles and one interception … also caught five touchdown passes and rushed for two out of the backfield … first-team All-OVAC selection.
Personal: Born March 10, 1994 ... parents are Denver and Kim Allen … brother, Jeff, played football at Coastal Carolina … also has a sister, Brittany.
Keionne Baines
Pos: LB
Height: 5-11
Weight: 220
Hometown: Seffner, Fla.
High School: Armwood HS
Joins high school teammate RB Wade Edwards in the Zips' 2012 recruiting class.
at Armwood HS: Program won the Class 6A state championship in 2011 … anchor of the Hawks' defense as middle linebacker as senior … led the team with 148 tackles to go along with four sacks, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery … also credited with defending six passes … transferred to Armwood for his senior year after attending East Bay HS. Coached by: Sean Callahan.
Personal: Born Jan. 11, 1994 … parents are Kenneth Baines and Alicia Nelson.
Curtis Black
Pos: OL
Height: 6-4
Weight: 330
Hometown: Kent, Ohio
High School: Theodore Roosevelt HS
at Theodore Roosevelt HS: Second-Team All-Portage Trail Conference selection and Honorable Mention Northeast Inland All-District Team choice as a senior, his only year competing on the gridiron … helped the team to a 10-2 overall record (7-0 in league play) and PTC metro championship and regional semifinal appearance in 2011. Coached by: John Nemec … three-year letterwinner on the basketball court … averaged 10 points and 11 rebounds as a junior when he earned Honorable Mention PTC recognition.
Personal: Born April 7, 1994 … parents are Cameron, Sr. and Casondra Black … has one older sibling, Cameron, who competes for the basketball team at Bowling Green … father played basketball collegiately at Cumberland College (Ky.).
Jatavis Brown
Pos: LB
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190
Hometown: Belle Glade, Fla.
High School: Glades Central HS
at Glades Central HS: All-Area Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … led Glades Central to an undefeated regular season, posting five shutouts … recorded 100 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Coached by: Roosevelt Blackmon.
Personal: Born Feb. 18, 1994.
Rodney Carroll
Pos: DT
Height: 6-6
Weight: 280
Hometown: Orange, Va.
High School/Last School: Orange County HS (Va.)/Hargrave Military Academy (Va.)
Enrolled at UA in January and will participate in spring practice ... teammate of DeAndre Scott at Hargrave Military Academy (Va.).
at Orange County HS: All-district selection … led the Hornets to a 7-4 record and state playoff berth as a senior … ran 4.9 in the 40-yard dash. Coached by: Troy Davis.
Personal: Born Oct. 30, 1992 … parents are Taurus and Felicia Carroll.
Michael Casimos
Pos: OL
Height: 6-4
Weight: 280
Hometown: Upper Saddle River, N.J.
High School: Don Bosco Prep
at Don Bosco Prep: First-Team All-New Jersey, First-Team All-North Jersey and first-team all-county as a senior … first-team all-division and first-team all-suburban as a junior … program posted an undefeated record all four seasons, including an 11-0 conference, state and national championship finish in 2011, and 12-0 mark and conference, state and national title campaign in 2009. Coached by: Greg Toal.
Personal: Born Feb. 8, 1994 … parents are Chris and Carol Casimos … father played football at Fordham and signed as a free agent with the New York Giants (offensive guard) … plays the saxophone.
Benny Cunningham
Pos: S
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180
Hometown: Medina, Ohio
High School: Medina Senior HS
at Medina Senior HS: Recorded 83 tackles, six pass breakups and an interception as a junior … was an all-conference and all-county performer … ran 4.5 in the 40-yard dash. Coached by: Ray Hradek.
Personal: Born June 17, 1993 … son of Bill and Barbara Cunningham … has three older siblings, Nathan, Seth and Briana.
Imani Davis
Pos: CB
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
High School: Belen Jesuit Prep
at Belen Jesuit Prep: Three-year starter … all-county first team honoree as a senior … helped Belen Jesuit to a 10-3 record and a berth to the Florida 6A state playoffs … invited to the Nike South Florida all-star game … two-way player. Coached by: Richard Stuart.
Personal: Born June 21, 1994.
Wade Edwards
Pos: RB
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
Hometown: Seffner, Fla.
High School: Armwood HS
Joins high school teammate LB Keionne Baines in the Zips' 2012 recruiting class.
at Armwood HS: Program won the Class 6A state championship in 2011 … scored the winning touchdown in the team's victory over Bartram Trail HS in the state semifinals … all-conference first team choice as a senior … finished his senior season with 98 carries for 726 yards and 12 touchdowns … also made 24 receptions for 463 yards and another six TDs in 2011 … closed out his prep career with 121 carries for 973 yards and 17 touchdowns, and 35 receptions for 678 yards and 10 TDs. Coached by: Sean Callahan.
Personal: Born March 1, 1994 … parents are Wade and Matlea Edwards … father also played running back at Armwood HS.
Dylan Evans
Pos: LB
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190
Hometown: Nazareth, Pa.
High School: Pen Argyl Area HS
at Pen Argyl Area HS: Played both running back and defensive back … first-team all-league selection on offense and defense, and also received all-area recognition as a senior when the squad went 13-1 and claimed a Colonial League and District XI title … Associated Press first-team all-state choice as well in 2011 … during his senior season, rushed for 2,064 yards and 29 touchdowns on 785 carries, caught one touchdown pass, and returned one interception for another score … those 31 TDs set the school's single-season record as did the rushing yardage … established the program's career interceptions record, with 18 … finished his scholastic career with 4,399 rushing yards on 785 carries … scored 79 career TDs … scored a touchdown in a Colonial League record 30-consecutive games … made 209 career tackles. Coached by: Paul Reduzzi … also competed in baseball (center fielder) and wrestling for the Green Knights … first-team all-state pick on the diamond.
Personal: Born Feb. 24, 1994 … parents are Darrin and Jeanmarie Evans … has one younger sister, Dana.
Steve Franco
Pos: QB
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185
Hometown: Tyrone, Pa.
High School: Tyrone Senior HS
at Tyrone Senior HS: Associated Press Class AA Player of the Year as a senior ... compiled a 26-3 record as a starter in his last two seasons … led Golden Eagles (9-1) to a district championship and the state finals as a senior … threw for more than 2,600 yards and 30 touchdowns with a 57-percent pass completion percentage … also rushed for 10 TDs … recorded more than 4,500 yards and 49 touchdowns for his career. Coached by: John Franco, his father, who was the Associated Press Class AA Coach of the Year in 2011.
Personal: Born Nov. 16, 1993 ... parents are John and Sue Franco … was coached by his father in high school … brother, Johnny, is a strong safety and team captain at Indiana University (Pa.).
Malachi Freeman
Pos: CB
Height: 5-9
Weight: 175
Hometown: Garden City, N.Y.
High School/Last School: Newark, Del./Nassau Community College (N.Y.)
Enrolled at UA in January and will participate in spring practice.
at Nassau Community College: Recorded 32 tackles, six for a loss, and two sacks as a sophomore … also credited with five interceptions over two seasons … scored touchdowns three different ways during his time at Nassau, including punt return, kickoff return and interception return. Coached by: Jermaine Miles.
Personal: Born Jan. 10, 1991.
Bryan Green
Pos: RB
Height: 5-10
Weight: 195
Hometown: Farmington, Mich.
High School: Farmington HS
at Farmington HS: Two-time All-OAA selection … Oakland County All-North First-Team choice … team MVP as a senior … carried the ball 140 times for 1,147 yards and 13 TDs … 13 catches for 130 yards and two TDs … set a school record with a 98-yard kickoff return. Coached by: John Bechtel … also competed in track and basketball.
Personal: Born May 17, 1994 … son of Nina Clark.
Alfonso Horner
Pos: DE
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
High School: Belen Jesuit Prep
at Belen Jesuit Prep: Helped lead Belen Jesuit Prep to a 10-3 record and a state playoff appearance … clocked a time of 10.7 seconds in the 100-meter dash. Coached by: Richard Stuart.
Personal: Born Nov. 4, 1993.
Conor Hundley
Pos: RB
Height: 5-11
at St. Xavier HS: Three-time First-Team Greater Catholic League choice … first-team all-state selection as a junior and senior … rushed 227 times for 1,136 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior … finished his high school career with 3,693 yards (697 carries) on the ground and 42 TDs.
Coached by: Steve Specht … also competed on the baseball team and was a First-Team GCL pick as sophomore and junior.
Personal: Born July 15, 1993 … parents are Mike and Sharon Hundley … has three siblings, Steeler, Amelia and Tucker.
Daryan Martin
at Princeton HS: Three-time All-Greater Miami Conference Academic Team honoree … responsible for 55 tackles, six for a loss, and two sacks as a senior … made 50 tackles, had four sacks and three TFLs as a junior. Coached by: Gary Croley … attended Roger Bacon HS as a freshman … played AAU basketball for the All-Ohio Purple, which won the 2009 national championship.
Personal: Born Jan. 28, 1994 … parents are Eric and Adrienne Martin … has two siblings, Darious and Demari … father played football at Wilmington College (Ohio).
Arlington McClinton
Pos: DE
Height: 6-6
Weight: 230
Hometown: Grafton, Ohio
High School: Midview HS
at Midview HS: Two-time all-conference and all-county selection … 2011 Lombardi winner as the top defensive lineman in Lorain County … led the Middies to an 8-2 record and a 5-1 mark in the West Shore Football League as a senior … recorded 53 tackles and 11.5 sacks as a senior ... had 21.5 sacks in last two seasons. Coached by: Bill Albright ...also played basketball and hockey ... was honored as the hoops team's most valuable player as a senior.
Personal: Born Jan. 6, 1994 ... parents are Arlington and Terri McClinton ... speaks French.
Kevin Mills
Pos: OL
Height: 6-5
Weight: 275
Hometown: Canton, Ohio
High School: Canton McKinley HS
at Canton McKinley HS: Two-year starter … helped the Bulldogs to a 9-3 record, a Federal League Championship and the second round of the Division I state playoffs as a senior … compiled 81 knockdowns and 24 pins during his career … four-year Academic All-Ohio honoree. Coached by: Ron Johnson.
Personal: Born Jan., 25, 1994 … mother is Jacquiline Grafton … has two siblings, Michael Mills and Lilly Grafton … plays the guitar.
Quaison Osborne
Pos: OL
Height: 6-4
Weight: 300
Hometown: Hudson, Ohio
High School: Hudson HS
at Hudson HS: Led Explorers to a 10-2 record and the second round of the Division I state playoffs in 2011 … three-year letterwinner … All-Ohio Third Team honoree as a senior … set a school record with 63 pancake blocks in a season. Coached by: Ron Wright ... also lettered in track as sophomore.
Personal: Born Oct. 15, 1993 … parents are Wayne and Marqueta Osborne … has two siblings, Wayne and Briana … fluent in American Sign Language.
Andrew Pratt
Pos: WR
Height: 6-5
Weight: 205
Hometown: North Canton, Ohio
High School: Green HS
at Green HS: Recorded 39 catches for 732 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior … also returned a punt for a touchdown … all-district second-team honoree and two-time all-league selection. Coached by: Ed Cybek ... was a three-year starter on the basketball team, averaging 13.0 points and 9.0 rebounds as an all-league selection his junior season … also ran track and was a district champion in the 400-meters, finishing 12th at the state meet … is the school record holder in the 400m … also a member of the 4x200 relay team that set a school record.
Personal: Born Sept. 30, 1993 … parents are David and Pamela Pratt … father played Division II basketball at Virginia State … has two sisters, Samantha and Sara … Sara played Division II basketball at Clarion (Pa.).
Albert Presley
Pos: DE
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220
Hometown: Marietta, Ga.
High School/Last School: Wheeler HS/Dean College
Enrolled at UA in January and will participate in spring practice.
at Dean College: Named team's most improved and was an all-conference honoree in two seasons … helped Dean College to a top-10 finish in the national junior college rankings.
at Wheeler HS: Recorded 145 tackles in two seasons … three-time all-county selection and team's defensive player of the year as a senior … ran a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash. Coached by: Bill Albright.
Personal: Born July 2, 1992 … mother is Sabrena Presley … has five siblings.
John Rachal
Pos: LB
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
High School: Dillard HS
at Dillard HS: All-county second team selection … team MVP. Coached by: Manny Martin.
Personal: Born Feb. 11, 1994 … parents are Raymond Rachal and Yvette Hay-Rachal … has two siblings, Ramond Rachal Jr. (21) and Miles Weatherspoon (10) … active in theater in high school.
DeAndre Scott
Pos: CB
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
Hometown: Frederick, Md.
High School/Last School: Thomas Johnson HS/Hargrave Military Academy
Enrolled at UA in January and will participate in spring practice ... teammate of Rodney Carroll at Hargrave Military Academy (Va.).
at Thomas Johnson HS: Was a two-way player, excelling at DB … recorded four interceptions in a single postseason game in 2010. Coached by: Ben Wright.
Personal: Born March, 11, 1993.
Josh Smith
Pos: CB
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
High School: Western Hills University HS
at Western Hills University HS: Two-time all-conference performer … two-way player who received the team's best receiver award the last two seasons … led his team to a conference championship as a senior … caught 66 passes for 1,030 yards and 14 touchdowns the last two years … set a school receiving record with nine touchdowns in a single game in 2010 … also registered 68 tackles and four interceptions the last two seasons. Coached by: Paul Jeene.
Personal: Born Jan. 17, 1994 … parents are Nicolas and Bernice Gaiter … has two siblings, Josalynn and Jonah.
Jason Stargel
Pos: DE
Height: 6-4
Weight: 225
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
High School: Walnut Hills HS
at Walnut Hills HS: Three-time all-conference selection, earning all-district honors as a senior … conference co-defensive player of the year, finishing with 102 tackles, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception … totaled 254 tackles for his career … went to Fairfield High School his freshman year. Coached by: George Kontsis.
Personal: Born July 14, 1994 … parents are Greg Jones and Melissa Stargel … has one brother, Perry Stargel … grandfather Willard Stargel played football at the University of Cincinnati where he is in the school's Hall of Fame … speaks Spanish.
James Turner
Pos: S
Height: 5-11
Weight: 200
Hometown: Fairfield, Ohio
High School: Fairfield HS
at Fairfield HS: Three-year starter and two-time all-conference selection … all-league first team and all-state third team honoree as a senior … finished career with 210 tackles, three forced fumbles and two interceptions … recorded 109 tackles, including eight for a loss, and two forced fumbles … also returned a kick off for a touchdown as a sophomore. Coached by: Ron Johnson.
Personal: Born March 16, 1994 … parents are the late Russell Turner and Tina Turner … has a brother, Russell, Jr., who plays football at Mount St. Joseph College.
