Recruiting targets and commitments for class of 2010

Football

List of verbal commitments…

Mike Bizzarro, offensive tackle, Erie, Pa.
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-2
Weight: 175
Speed: 4.5
Notes: Bizzarro had a "ridiculous performance" at Akron's camp. Shortly thereafter, Brookhart offered him a scholarship, and Bizzarro accepted. Bob Lichtenfels of Scout.com says Bizzarro is a sleeper, hidden in a run-oriented offense at McDowell High School.

Nico Caponi, inside linebacker, Sandusky COMMITTED TO AKRON
Offers: Akron, Columbia and Harvard
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 227
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Caponi's profile on Rivals.com looks more like a valedictorian's CV than a brutish linebacker's page. He carries a 3.87 GPA and had Ivy League scholarship offers. Nothing against my alma mater, but I would not have turned down Harvard for Akron.

Seth Cunningham, defensive back, Lakewood, Ohio COMMITTED TO AKRON
Offers: Akron and Cincinnati
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180
Speed: 4.35
Notes: Cunningham said he was surprised to get the offer from Akron. It just came in the mail one day. He will attend camps at BCS schools this summer, hoping to increase his offer list. He said his visit to Akron blew him away — particularly the hug from J.D. Brookhart.

Zach D'Orazio, quarterback, Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio COMMITTED TO AKRON
Offers: Akron and Air Force
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Speed: 4.52
Notes: Walt Harris liked what he saw in D'Orazio when he offered the small-school product a scholarship, according to Rivals.com. D'Orazio's athleticism makes him a candidate to play another position if quarterback does not work out. Bowling Green, Toledo and Kent State are also showing interest.

Chase Hoobler, inside linebacker, Orrville, Ohio
Offers: Akron, Indiana and Louisville
Height: 6-3
Weight: 225
Speed: 4.7
Notes: He made 129 tackles as a junior. Akron has pursued Hoobler since the end of his sophomore year. Before committing, he told Rivals.com that he wanted to go somewhere he could play at a school that competes at the top of its conference. Hoobler will be one of the premier players in the 2010 class.

Dylan Potts, dual-threat quarterback, Hannibal, Ohio COMMITTED TO AKRON
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190
Speed: 4.6
Notes: As a junior, Potts passed for 13 touchdowns and ran for 13. Akron was his only offer, but he also had interest in Toledo and Kent State.

Anthony Ritossa, tight end, Kirtland, Ohio COMMITTED TO AKRON
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-5
Weight: 220
Speed: 4.9
Notes: The product of the Division V Kirtland High School, Ritossa has shown a great amount of skill as a pass catcher, a scout for Rivals.com reports. Ritossa runs the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds. As a junior, he caught 23 passes for 491 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Anthony Schrock, receiver, Wadsworth H.S. COMMITTED TO AKRON
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-3
Weight: 185
Speed: 4.6
Notes: The local product battled a knee injury last season. He has visited Ohio State. Other schools of interest include Notre Dame, Pitt and Michigan State. Rivals.com says Schrock's stock is rising.

Lawrence Smith, wide receiver/safety, Painesville, Ohio
Offers: Akron and Ohio
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 190
Speed: 4.45
Notes: ScoutingOhio.com ranks Smith as the No. 141 prospect in Ohio. Rivals.com calls Smith an impressive athlete.

Akron has offered scholarships to the following players.

Jonathan Aiken, wide receiver, Ellsworth C.C. (Iowa)
Offers: Akron and Wyoming
Height: 6-4
Weight: 205
Speed: 4.4
Notes: In his freshman year, Aiken caught 43 passes for 763 yards and four touchdowns. He probably would have caught more passes if he wasn't playing against another future Division I player (see below).

Joshua Alaeze, inside linebacker, Parkville, Md.
Offers: Akron, New Mexico and Rhode Island
Height: 6-1
Weight: 229
Speed: 4.88
Notes: This three-star prospect won MVP at the Under Armour combine in the spring. He made 89 tackles and six sacks as a junior. Alaeze hopes to get some offers from bigger schools, such as Pitt.

Latwan Anderson, receiver, Cleveland (Glenville H.S.)
Offers: Akron, Cincinnat, Michigan State, Iowa, West Virginia, Duke, Michigan, Indiana, Boston College, Maryland, Pitt, Illinois, Kent State, Bowling Green, Kansas, Vanderbilt, California, North Carolina, Tulane, UCLA, Miami (Fla.) and Eastern Michigan
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
Speed: 4.4
Notes: Rivals.com gives Anderson four stars and calls him the nation's No. 6 safety. He made 50 tackles and five interceptions as a junior.

Jeremiah Attaochu, outside linebacker, Washington, D.C.
Offers: Akron, Illinois, Kansas State, Louisville, Maryland, Virginia, East Carolina, Kent State and Ohio
Height: 6-3
Weight: 223
Speed: 4.61
Notes: Attaochu might play defensive end in a 4-3 alignment. His preference is Boston College, but the Eagles have not offered a scholarship. Gesundheit!

Darryl Baldwin, defensive end, Solon
Offers: Akron, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio State and West Virginia
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 240
Speed: 4.7
Notes: Scout.com gives Baldwin four stars. Rivals.com says he's one of Ohio's most recruited players. Baldwin is excited about getting interest from southern schools like LSU, but Ohio State was the first to offer. It sounds like he's heading for the Buckeyes.

Mickey Baucus, offensive tackle, Mundelein, Ill. COMMITTED TO ARIZONA
Offers: Akron, Buffalo and Miami
Height: 6-8
Weight: 255
Speed: Not listed
Notes: J.D. Brookhart loves his tall, lean offensive tackles. Baucus has made unofficial visits at several larger schools.

Michael Bennett, receiver, Alpharetta, Ga. COMMITTED TO GEORGIA
Offers: Akron, Air Force, Alabama-Birmingham, Indiana. Southern Miss, Central Michigan, East Carolina, Ohio and Troy
Height: 6-3
Weight: 186
Speed: 4.55
Notes: Rivals.com calls Bennett the nation's No. 68 receiver and gives him three stars. As a junior, he caught 22 passes for 533 yards and five touchdowns.

Jibreel Black, defensive end, Cincinnati
Offers: Akron, Indiana, Ohio, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Michigan State, Ball State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maryland, N.C. State, Miami (Ohio), Illinois, South Carolina, Purdue, South Florida, Kansas and Wake Forest
Height: 6-2
Weight: 260
Speed: 4.8
Notes: Rivals.com gives Black three stars. Black has narrowed his list to six, and Akron didn't make the cut.

Giorgio Bowers, running back, Rich Central, Ill.
Offers: Akron, Bowling Green and Northern Illinois
Height: 5-9
Weight: 192
Speed: 4.59
Notes: Rivals.com gives Bowers three stars. He plans to visit Akron sometime this summer. Bowers' highlight video shows a determined runner who does not go down on first contact.

Charles Brown, athlete, Washington, D.C.
Offers: Akron and Kansas State
Height: 5-10
Weight: 198
Speed: 4.56
Notes: Brown calls himself a team leader. He wants a school with good academics where he can study math. Brown played all running back, defense and special teams as a junior. With his height and speed, he looks like a cornerback in college.

Quenton Brown, defensive end, Tucker, Ga.
Offers: Akron, Alabama-Birmingham, Miami, Toledo, Central Florida, West Virginia and Western Kentucky
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Brown's mother told him to choose his school based on 1) where he can stay out of trouble and 2) the quality of education. As far as I know, the Zips and Hurricanes have not seriously competed for a recruit, so this might be interesting.

Taylor Calero, defensive end, Beverly Hills, Mich. COMMITTED TO MICHIGAN STATE
Offers: Akron, Indiana and Bowling Green
Height: 6-3
Weight: 230
Speed: 4.66
Notes: Calero wants to attend a school where he feels comfortable. Schools like his speed, which helped him make 90 tackles as a junior.

Nathan Carpenter, safety, Lancaster, Ohio
Offers: Akron, Kent State, Toledo and Ohio
Height: 5-10
Weight: 198
Speed: 4.46
Notes: ScoutingOhio.com has a highlight video for Carpenter, who also returns kicks and plays running back in high school.

Kain Colter, athlete, Englewood, Colo. COMMITTED TO STANFORD
Offers: Akron, Stanford, Arizona State, Colorado State, Northwestern Air Force and Colorado
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Speed: 4.6
Notes: You might be wondering why Akron is recruiting a Colorado kid. Well, Colter's high school coach is Mike Brookhart, brother of the Zips' coach. He plays quarterback and cornerback in high school. Colter prides himself on being coachable and having a good arm and quick feet.

Maurice Davenport, linebacker/defensive end, Southfield, Mich.
Offers: Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Illinois and Wisconsin
Height: 6-2
Weight: 235
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Davenport missed the first four games of last season with a shoulder injury. He still logged 62 tackles. He seems like a humble kid, who was honored to get any scholarship offers at all. Davenport says he likes all of the schools that have offered.

Michael Dennis, offensive tackle, Carey, Ohio
Offers: Akron, Iowa State, Maryland, Ball State, Bowling Green, Miami, Ohio and Toledo
Height: 6-7
Weight: 260
Speed: 4.9
Notes: Dennis comes from a small school in northwest Ohio. He likes the idea of playing in the Big 12. Here is a highlight video.

Steele Divitto, outside linebacker, Ramsey, N.J. COMMITTED TO BOSTON COLLEGE
Offers: Akron, Boston College and East Carolina
Height: 6-2
Weight: 207
Speed: 4.83
Notes: Steele's stock rose earlier this year at the U.S. Army All-American Combine in San Antonio, where he earned all-combine honors. He also has strong interest in Boston College and Rutgers.

Aaron Donald, defensive tackle, Pittsburgh COMMITTED TO PITT
Offers: Akron, Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Toledo
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 257
Speed: 5.16
Notes: Scout.com ranks Donald as the No. 182 player in the nation and the No. 16 defensive tackle. The site's scouts say Donald is explosive off the line. Akron extended its offer through the mail without really ever talking to the defensive lineman from Pittsburgh. Considering the lukewarm pursuit by Akron and Rutgers, Pitt leads the chase. Toledo also has offered a scholarship.

Mike Dorsey, safety, Warren Harding H.S. COMMITTED TO WEST VIRGINIA
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-2
Weight: 195
Speed: 4.5
Notes: Dorsey also has interest in Ohio State, Michigan State and Cincinnati. He has played quarterback, running back and safety.

Kurtis Drummond, safety/receiver, Hubbard, Ohio
Offers: Akron, Indiana, Michigan State and Toledo
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Speed: 4.6
Notes: He played cornerback his junior year and logged 49 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions. He will play safety as a senior. His receiver stats have been so-so (16 receptions, four touchdowns).

Phil Dudley, running back, Indianapolis COMMITTED TO BALL STATE
Offers: Akron and Ball State
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
Speed: 4.53
Notes: Dudley also can play the slot receiver position. Scout.com believes more offers are on the way. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry as a junior.

Corby Eason, cornerback, Erie C.C. (N.Y.) COMMITTED TO BYU
Offers: Akron, Memphis, Bowling Green and BYU
Height: 5-10
Weight: 180
Speed: 4.29
Notes: Eason committed shortly after BYU also locked up Jake Heaps, Scout.com's No. 1 quarterback in the nation. Eason liked the community when he visited BYU.

Teven Eatmon, tight end, Bucyrus, Ohio
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-7
Weight: 280
Speed: 5.0
Notes: Rivals.com does not have a profile for Eatmon, who was honorable mention all-conference as a junior. I wonder if his offer still stands after the Zips locked up one tight end for 2010, Anthony Ritossa.

Jayrone Elliott, outside linebacker, Cleveland (Glenville H.S.)
Offers: Akron, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan State, South Carolina, West Virginia and Miami (Ohio)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 207
Speed: 4.94
Notes: Coming into the offseason, Elliott had no offers. Teams are starting to see his potential as a pass rusher.

Justin Favors, tight end, Trotwood, Ohio
Offers: Akron, Cincinnati, Colorado, Syracuse, Ball State, Bowling Green, Kent State and Toledo
Height: 6-4
Weight: 232
Speed: 4.87
Notes: Akron is also pursuing Favors' teammate, defensive end Anthony Gibson. Rivals says Favors possesses tremendous hands.

Brandon Felder, running back, Monroeville, Pa.
Offers: Akron, Boston College, Connecticut, Pitt, Buffalo and Toledo
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 163
Speed: 4.5
Notes: Some teams see Felder as a cornerback instead. Felder does not have any favorites yet, but he is looking for a place where he can play early in his career. Rivals.com gives Felder three stars.

Johnathan Feliciano, offensive tackle, Davie, Fla. COMMITTED TO MIAMI (Fla.)
Offers: Akron, Miami and Indiana
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 283
Speed: 5.31
Notes: Scout.com praised Feliciano as the best lineman at a recent Miami combine. I assume an Akron coach attended that combine, because the Zips have all but abandoned their southern Florida recruiting. Feliciano also has interest in Florida Atlantic, Florida State and Missouri.

Dan Foose, offensive tackle, Paramus, N.J.
Offers: Akron, Boston College, Louisville, Minnesota, Rutgers, South Florida and Stanford
Height: 6-6
Weight: 310
Speed: Not listed
Notes: In mid-April, Foose said his top two were Rutgers and Boston College, but said he is open to others. Rivals.com gives Foose three stars.

Nores Fradi, outside linebacker, Dearborn, Mich.
Offers: Akron, Central Michigan and Ohio
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 205
Speed: Not listed
Notes: In late March, Fradi told Scout.com that he would soon commit to Central Michigan, which was his only offer at the time. A month later, he has not committed. Perhaps he is pondering his newest offers from the Zips and Bobcats. Fradi's high school coach calls him a high-motor player.

Eric Franklin, offensive tackle, Youngstown (Cardinal Mooney H.S.)
Offers: Akron and Toledo
Height: 6-5
Weight: 299
Speed: 5.69
Notes: It's hard to be too slow for the offensive line, but Franklin is pushing it. He also has interest in Pitt.

Manessah Garner, linebacker, Pittsburgh
Offers: Akron, Maryland, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Toledo
Height: 6-2
Weight: 201
Speed: 4.5
Notes: Scout.com gives Garner three stars and calls him the No. 19 outside linebacker in the nation. After performing at the Scout.com combine in Baltimore, Garner contacted Scout's Bob Lichtenfels and told him Toledo and Akron were his newest offers. Lichtelfels says Garner might have more upside than any player from Pittsburgh. Some schools also like him as a receiver.

Jeffery Garrett, cornerback, Indianapolis, Ind. COMMITTED TO NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Offers: Akron and Northern Illinois
Height: 5-9.5
Weight: 166
Speed: 4.47
Notes: Garrett visited campus in mid-April. He said he is very high on Akron but plans to visit Bowling Green. Central Michigan, Indiana, Purdue, Louisville and Toledo are also candidates.

Jerry Gates, cornerback, Middletown, Ohio
Offers: Akron
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 180
Speed: 4.5
Notes: Rivals.com says Gates intercepted three passes and scored five touchdowns on returns as a junior. He also has interest in Cincinnati, Indiana and Tennessee.

Shane Gensiak, pro-style quarterback, Archibald, Pa.
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 215
Speed: 4.85
Notes: Gensiak also has an offer from St. Francis (Pa.). As a junior, he completed 86 of 167 pass attempts for 1,008 yards and 14 touchdowns. Gensiak also has interest in Kent State, Toledo and some Big East teams. Akron has continued to pursue quarterbacks, despite having Dylan Potts locked up. I wonder if the coaches see the athletic Potts playing a different position.

Anthony Gibson, defensive end, Trotwood, Ohio
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-0.5
Weight: 189
Speed: 4.5
Notes: Scout.com believes that more offers are on the way for Gibson, who has great athleticism and size.

Darius Gilbert, defensive end, Hamilton, Ohio
Offers: Akron, Ohio and Toledo
Height: 6-2
Weight: 250
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Gilbert tallied nine sacks as a junior. He also has interest in Illinois.

Andre Givens, running back, Hubbard, Ohio
Offers: Akron, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Bowling Green, Toledo, Buffalo, Wisconsin, Pitt, Louisville, Maryland and Michigan State
Height: 5-10
Weight: 180
Speed: 4.46
Notes: Givens, a three-star prospect, is a teammate of another Akron target, safety Kurtis Drummond. Givens rushed for 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior.

Leo Gordon, all-purpose back, Oxon Hill, Md.
Offers: Akron
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 166
Speed: 4.45
Notes: Gordon scored 24 touchdowns as a junior. He has a Division I-AA offer from Old Dominion and interest in many BCS schools.

Shawn Green, defensive tackle, Loganville, Ga.
Offers: Akron, Brigham Young, Duke, Florida State, South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Southern Miss, Tulane, Wisconsin, East Carolina and Toledo
Height: 6-2
Weight: 275
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Green is looking for a nice campus and playing time early in his career. He will decide on a school sometime during his senior season.

Malcolm Griggs, safety, Piscataway, N.J.
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-2
Weight: 183
Speed: 4.58
Notes: Griggs is saying Pitt and Ohio State are in his top two. In a related story, Harvard and Yale were my top two. Joking aside, Griggs had good numbers as a quarterback, throwing 19 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

Prince-Tyson Gulley, running back, Akron (Garfield H.S.)
Offers: Akron, Kansas, Ball State, Toledo and Ohio
Height: 5-9
Weight: 175
Speed: 4.5
Notes: Gulley posted the best numbers of anyone at a recent underclassman combine in Cleveland, according to Rivals.com. He has great hands, too. But the sites can't seem to agree the hyphenation of his name.

Chad Hagan, safety, Canonsburg, Pa.
Offers: Akron, Ohio State, Syracuse, Wisconsin, Buffalo, Toledo, Illinois, Michigan and N.C. State
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
Speed: 4.4
Notes: Ohio State is the "clear-cut favorite." Wisconsin and Michigan are a distant second and third. You might be wondering, Why does Akron pursue this type of athlete? The answer is DeVoe Torrence and Dennis Kennedy. You never know when something can go wrong in Columbus, or before the player arrives on campus.

Jimmy Hall, wide receiver, Sylvania, Ohio
Offers: Akron, Kansas, Maryland, Bowling Green and Toledo
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Speed: Not listed
Notes: As a junior, he led his team to the Division II state title with 963 receiving yards on 47 receptions.

Tyler Hamilton, athlete, Newton, Pa.
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190
Speed: 4.55
Notes: As a junior, Hamilton rushed for 502 yards, passed for 1,725 and made 81 tackles. ACC and Big Ten schools are also interested.

Brad Harrah, tight end, Marion, Ohio COMMITTED TO CINCINNATI
Offers: Akron, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Indiana, Toledo and Ball State
Height: 6-7
Weight: 240
Speed: 4.7
Notes: Harrah is a member of National Honor Society and carries a 4.0 GPA. His stock has risen as his highlight videos began to circulate.

Braylon Heard, running back, Youngstown (Cardinal Mooney H.S.)
Offers: Akron, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, N.C. State, Penn State, Vanderbilt and West Virginia
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 180
Speed: 4.4
Notes: A month ago, Penn State was Heard's only offer, but a lot more schools have recently caught on. Heard's top two are Penn State and USC. The only problem with the Nittany Lions is that Heard has not heard from assistant coach Jay Paterno in a while.

Kamal Hogan, running back, Montvale, N.J.
Offers: Akron, Louisville and Syracuse
Height: 5-10
Weight: 200
Speed: Not listed
Notes: As a junior, he split carries with a back who signed with Pitt. He still earned all-conference honors with 711 yards and eight touchdowns. Rivals.com gives Hogan three stars. Hogan does not consider Akron to be in his top five choices. No word on whether he drops the "Big Leg" on opponents.

Erick Howard, running back, North Canton (Hoover HS)
Offers: Akron, Cincinnati, Colorado and Kent State
Height: 5-10
Weight: 210
Speed: 4.5
Notes: Howard won Ohio's Mr. Football award as a junior, rushing for 2,387 yards and 31 touchdowns. He is hoping for an offer from Ohio State. Jim Tressel said the offer will come if Howard improves his grades.

Mike Huf, linebacker, Springfield, Pa.
Offers: Akron and Syracuse
Height: 6-2
Weight: 230
Speed: 4.7
Notes: If Huf can improve on his forty-yard dash time, bigger schools might offer, according to Scout.com. He has interest in several Big East schools. Huf plans to visit Akron this summer.

Brandon Ifill, wide receiver, Pittsburgh
Offers: Akron, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Rutgers and West Virginia
Height: 6-0
Weight: 174
Speed: 4.38
Notes: Scout.com lists Ifill as a safety — the 17th best in the nation — and gives him four stars. Pitt and Maryland are pursuing Ifill the hardest, Rivals.com reports.

Christian Insley, linebacker, Gastonia, N.C.
Offers: Akron and Buffalo
Height: 6-1
Weight: 220
Speed: 4.7
Notes: It appears Insley would prefer to stay in North Carolina. His other schools of interest include Duke, North Carolina, N.C. State, Wake Forest and South Carolina.

Kevin Johnson, cornerback, Clarksville, Md.
Offers: Akron, Minnesota, Syracuse, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Height: 6-1
Weight: 160
Speed: 4.49
Notes: Johnson is looking for a school where he feels comfortable. He is sporting a maniacal smile in the Rivals.com picture (click the above link).

Shane Johnson, offensive guard, Hyattsville, Md.
Offers: Akron, Boston College, Duke, Maryland, New Mexico, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, Stanford, Syracuse, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest
Height: 6-5
Weight: 301
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Johnson is looking for a school with high graduation rates and good chemistry. Rivals.com gives him three stars.

Brian Jones, safety, Chicago
Offers: Akron, Ball State, Buffalo, Miami (Ohio), Toledo and Wyoming
Height: 5-11
Weight: 180
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Teams also see Jones as a cornerback. He also has interest in Illinois.

Paul Jones, quarterback, Mc Kees Rocks, Pa. COMMITTED TO PENN STATE
Offers: Akron, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Height: 6-3
Weight: 223
Speed: 4.88
Notes: Scout.com ranks Jones as the No. 3 quarterback in the nation. The site praises his size and arm strength.

Martez Kelly, receiver, Warren, Mich.
Offers: Akron and Eastern Michigan
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 175
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Kelly caught 45 passes his junior season. He also earned all-region status as a safety. Kelly believes Central Michigan will offer him soon. Toledo is another interested party.

Jeff Knox, Jr., athlete, Hyattsville, Md. COMMITTED TO PITT
Offers: Akron, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Penn State, Pitt and Miami (Ohio)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190
Speed: 4.55
Notes: Rivals.com gives Knox three stars. His top four schools are Penn State, Michigan, Pitt and Maryland. Akron is also pursuing Knox's high school teammate, Shane Johnson.

Darnell Laws, running back, Richland, N.J.
Offers: Akron
Height: 5-11
Weight: 202
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Laws would like to commit before his senior season begins. The bruising running back visited Syracuse in March. He also plays linebacker.

Mark Lenkiewicz, offensive tackle, Tinley Park, Ill. COMMITTED TO MINNESOTA
Offers: Akron, Colorado State, Ball State, Eastern Michigan and Illinois State
Height: 6-5
Weight: 250
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Zips assistant coach Brian Callahan recently visited Lenkiewicz and told him about the investments Akron is making into its football program. Lenkiewicz plans to visit a couple Big Ten camps before making his decision.

Jerry Lovelocke, quarterback, Baltimore
Offers: Akron, Temple, Central Michigan and Kent State
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 200
Speed: Not listed
Notes: The pro-style passer says his top two are Kent State and Temple because they have communications schools and because they have "great teams." Lovelocke also has interest in ACC and Big East teams.

Taylor Mack, cornerback, Atlanta
Offers: Akron and Connecticut
Height: 5-9
Weight: 160
Speed: 4.59
Notes: Rivals.com gives Mack three stars. The site was impressed with Mack's coverage skills at a camp last week.

Gabe Martin, linebacker, Grand Blanc, Mich.
Offers: Akron, Bowling Green and Ohio
Height: 6-3
Weight: 210
Speed: Not listed.
Notes: Rivals.com says Martin carries a 3.95 GPA. As a junior, he made 47 tackles.

Taylor Miller, offensive guard, Trenton, Ohio COMMITTED TO TOLEDO
Offers: Akron, Toledo, Ohio and Western Michigan
Height: 6-5
Weight: 295
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Miller is hoping for an Ohio State scholarship, too. Scout.com believes he is one of Ohio's top linemen. He is big, strong and can move his feet.

Scott Miller, wide receiver, Egg Harbor Township
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
Speed: 4.76
Notes: By his size and speed, Miller does not look like a Division I receiver to me. He also has interest from Nebraska, Rutgers and Ivy League schools.

Andre Monroe, defensive tackle, Washington, D.C.
Offers: Akron, Maryland and New Mexico
Height: 6-0
Weight: 287
Speed: 4.85
Notes: As a junior, he logged 67 tackles, 22 for a loss and seven sacks. Monroe is a huge specimen, but he prides himself on deceptive quickness.

Bryan Murphy, defensive end, Ramsey, N.J.
Offers: Akron, Louisville, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Central Florida and East Carolina
Height: 6-2
Weight: 213
Speed: 4.61
Notes: Murphy carries a 3.6 GPA. He recently visited Central Florida and came away impressed. Last season, Murphy made 75 tackles and 12 sacks.

Brandon Neal, cornerback, West Chester, Ohio
Offers: Akron, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Kent State, Ohio and Toledo
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 175
Speed: 4.41
Notes: Neal is deciding between Kent State and Ohio, according to OhioVarsity.com. The Cincinnati-area prospect has plans, however, to visit other camps where he might accumulate some tempting non-MAC offers.

Miles Osei, dual-threat quarterback, Mt. Prospect, Ill.
Offers: Akron and Northern Illinois
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Speed: Not listed
Notes: As a junior, Osei passed for 2,200 yards, rushed for 1,200 yards and scored total 40 touchdowns. Assistant coach Brian Callahan is recruiting Osei, who said he needs more information about the program and would like to visit during the spring.

Marcus Penn, athlete, Columbus
Offers: Akron, Bowling Green and Toledo
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
Speed: 4.5
Notes: OhioVarsity.com calls Penn one of Central Ohio's best-kept secrets. Penn says his strength is at safety, where he tallied 98 tackles and three interceptions in his junior year. ScoutingOhio.com ranks Penn as the No. 74 prospect in Ohio.

Grant Pleasant, defensive end, Dublin, Ohio
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-2
Weight: 214
Speed: 4.78
Notes: Pleasant also has interest in Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin. His highlight video shows a relentless tackler with good closing speed.

Micah Robinson, defensive end, Cleveland (John Adams H.S.)
Offers: Akron, Pitt, Louisville and Kansas
Height: 6-4
Weight: 240
Speed: 4.8
Notes: Robinson made 19 sacks as a junior. ScoutingOhio.com calls him the No. 86 recruit in the state.

Quintin Robinson
Offers: Akron and Wyoming
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Robinson had interest in Akron when he was coming out of high school in 2008. It appears Robinson chose junior college in order to improve his grades. As a teammate of Aiken at Ellsworth C.C., Robinson caught 97 passes for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Clay Rolf, offensive tackle, Pemberville, Ohio
Offers: Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Ohio and Toledo
Height: 6-6.5
Weight: 250
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Cincinnati is at the top of Rolf's list, but he will attend camps at Ohio State and Michigan in the next few weeks to add to his list.

Zac Rosenbauer, linebacker, Lima
Offers: Akron and Bowling Green
Height: 6-2
Weight: 236
Speed: 4.59
Notes: Several schools from the MAC, Big Ten and Big East are watching Rosenbauer. Akron has the early advantage by being the first school to offer. Size, speed and intelligence are his best attributes. He plans to pick a school late next summer.

Matthew Rotheram, offensive tackle, North Olmstead
Offers: Akron, LSU, Ball State, Toledo, Ohio, Kent State, Michigan State, Vanderbilt, Illinois, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Boston College, Indiana, Pitt, Wisconsin, Miami (Ohio), Colorado State, Kansas, Texas-El Paso, South Carolina, Arizona, Marshall, Syracuse and Purdue
Height: 6-6
Weight: 290
Speed: 5.8
Notes: Rivals.com gives Rotheram four stars and calls him the No. 9 offensive guard in the nation. Rotheram listed himself on ScoutingOhio.com as a tackle, but there can't be a single tackle in Division I who is that slow. He told Rivals.com that the offer from LSU surprised him.

Dakota Royer, defensive end, Manheim, Pa.
Offers: Akron, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Rutgers, Stanford, Syracuse, Temple, UCLA, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Height: 6-3
Weight: 222
Speed: 4.66
Notes: Royer is a four-star prospect, according to Rivals.com. He is making campus visits to Notre Dame, Michigan State and Illinois in the coming week. Normally, I would say that Akron does not have a chance. And it's probably true here, too. I am wondering, however, why Akron showed up on Royer's list of offers so late in the process.

Jacob Ruby, offensive tackle, Fork Union Military Acad. (Va.)
Offers: Akron and Toledo
Height: 6-8
Weight: 267
Speed: 5.03
Notes: Ruby is the prototype of a Brookhart lineman. He is tall and athletic. Ruby worked hard to drop his 40 times from 5.4 to 5.03. Connecticut, Virginia and Virginia Tech also are talking to him.

Brandon Sacco, offensive line, Ramsey, N.J.
Offers: Akron, Miami (Ohio), Rutgers and Virginia
Height: 6-3.5
Weight: 255
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Some schools want Sacco to play defensive end. Sacco says he's looking for a school with good team chemistry. He is the third player from Ramsey whom Akron has targeted.

Dan Schneider, tight end, Avon Lake
Offers: Akron, Florida State, Colorado, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Indiana, Pitt, Louisville, Marshall, Ball State, Air Force, Miami (Ohio), Bowling Green, Toledo, Kent State, Buffalo and Ohio
Height: 6-5
Weight: 240
Speed: 4.68
Notes: Schneider carries a 4.48 GPA, and he wants to attend a school with good academics. According to Rivals.com, Florida State wants to use him in a similar manner to how the Dallas Cowboys use Jason Witten.

Skyler Schofner, offensive tackle, Johnstown, Ohio
Offers: Akron, Kentucky, Maryland, Toledo, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Vanderbilt, N.C. State, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Michigan State, Boston College, Cincinnati, South Florida, Kansas, North Carolina and Purdue
Height: 6-7
Weight: 285
Speed: 5.0
Notes: Rivals.com gives Schofner three stars and calls him the No. 32 tackle in the nation. He earned second-team all-state honors last season.

Keith Sconiers, wide receiver, Oak Lawn, Ill.
Offers: Akron, Arizona, Indiana, Louisville, Minnesota, Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan
Height: 6-3
Weight: 175
Speed: 4.5
Notes: As a junior, Sconiers racked up 656 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. One of his coaches e-mailed me to let me know Sconiers has sincere interest in Akron and plans to visit campus. Sconiers attends the same high school as Dwyane Wade.

E.J. Scott, athlete, Olney, Md. COMMITTED TO VIRGINIA
Offers: Akron, Iowa, Louisville, Maryland, Pitt, Rutgers, Virginia, Wake Forest, Wisconsin and East Carolina
Height: 5-11
Weight: 172
Speed: 4.41
Notes: Teams consider Scott to be a defensive back or receiver. Last season, he caught 18 passes for 475 yards and seven touchdowns. Rivals.com gives Scott three stars.

Harrison Scott, defensive end, New Albany, Ohio COMMITTED TO INDIANA
Offers: Akron, Air Force, Indiana, Kent State and Miami (Ohio)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 248
Speed: 4.8
Notes: Scott believes he can play inside or outside. He logged 99 tackles as a junior. He will look for a school with good academics, competition, coaches and campus atmosphere.

Trey Sims, safety, Suwanee, Ga.
Offers: Akron, Louisiana-Monroe and Middle Tennessee State
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 205
Speed: 4.39
Notes: Sims is familiar with the 3-3-5 defense, and Louisiana-Monroe wants to use him as a safety-linebacker hybrid in its new 3-3-5 defense. (If I was a ULM fan, I would be circulating petitions to stop this travesty.) As a junior, Sims made 64 tackles and seven sacks. He forced four fumbles.

Kyle Smith, quarterback, Lancaster, Pa.
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-3
Weight: 183
Speed: Not listed
Notes: As a junior, Smith threw 42 touchdowns and five interceptions, completing 65 percent of his passes. Smith is another academic whiz, with his 4.5 GPA. He wants to be an engineer, which will give Akron an edge over many schools. Other than Akron, Central Michigan, Connecticut, Rutgers and Northwestern have contacted Smith the most.

Tyler Smith, quarterback, Easton, Pa. COMMITTED TO MARYLAND
Offers: Akron, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Syracuse
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 195
Speed: 4.75
Notes: Other teams of interest include Florida State, Penn State, Virginia and Illinois. Former Akron assistant coach Jim Pry is talking to Smith for Illinois, but the Illini have not made an offer. In an interview with Scout.com, Smith talked about being impressed by a few of the schools that have offered him scholarships. He did not mention Akron. Scout also calls Smith the No. 2 quarterback prospect in Pennsylvania.

Michael Strauss, quarterback, Miami, Fla. COMMITTED TO TULANE
Offers: Akron and Tulane
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Strauss wants to go to a school where he will comfortable and have a chance to make an impact. He grew up watching the Miami Hurricanes, and also has interest in other ACC and SEC schools.

Bobby Swigert, wide receiver, Louisville, Ohio
Offers: Akron, Cincinnati, Indiana, Pittsburgh, Ball State, Bowling Green, Miami and Kent State
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175
Speed: 4.47
Notes: He caught 58 passes for 732 yards and six touchdowns as a junior.

Devonta Tabannah, cornerback, Oxon Hill, Md.
Offers: Akron
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
Speed: 4.41
Notes: Tabannah logged impressive stats as a running back, receiver, punt returner and cornerback. He earned the defensive back MVP award at the Virginia Nike Camp.

Jeff Tanner, offensive guard, Cincinnati
Offers: Akron, Kent State and Ohio
Height: 6-4
Weight: 270
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Ohio was the first to offer a scholarship. Other schools of interest include Cincinnati, Virginia, Northwestern and Vanderbilt.

Jamaal Tarrent, defensive end, Toledo
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-3
Weight: 258
Speed: 5.37
Notes: With that 40-yard dash time, I hope J.D. Brookhart has designs to use Tarrent as a tackle or guard, not an end.

Soloman Tentman, inside linebacker, Cincinnati
Offers: Akron, Cincinnati, Purdue and Minnesota COMMITTED TO CINCINNATI
Height: 6-2
Weight: 224
Speed: 4.6
Notes: Tentman is Rivals.com's No. 14 inside linebacker in the nation.

Dustin Thomas, dual-threat quarterback, Richland, N.J.
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 190
Speed: 4.5
Notes: Thomas has heard from a lot of teams, but he is impressed that Akron is the first team to offer. Syracuse is looking at him as a receiver, but Thomas says he prefers quarterback. That's where the Zips are recruiting him. Thomas will visit Akron in late July. Rutgers, Cincinnati and Purdue are also in the mix. Rivals.com gives him three stars.

Edward Thomas, quarterback, Detroit
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-1
Weight: 188
Speed: 4.6
Notes: Scout calls him a strong-armed playmaker. Last season, he threw for 2,828 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also ran for 389 yards and three touchdowns. His high school coach said it looking like Thomas will attend either Akron, Toledo, Bowling Green or Purdue.

Ishmael Thomas, outside linebacker, Detroit
Offers: Akron, Colorado, Iowa, Ball State, Buffalo and Central Michigan COMMITTED TO INDIANA
Height: 6-4
Weight: 200
Speed: 4.62
Notes: Thomas, a three-star player, recorded 74 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and two interceptions as a junior. He plans to decide after his senior season.

Jamel Turner, outside linebacker, Youngstown COMMITTED TO OHIO STATE
Offers: Akron, Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, Stanford, Wisconsin and Notre Dame
Height: 6-3
Weight: 220
Speed: 4.6
Notes: Rivals.com calls Turner the No. 2 weakside defensive end in the nation. ScoutingOhio.com ranks him as Ohio's No. 4 prospect.

Eric Williams, wide receiver, Fairless Hills, Penn.
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 198
Speed: 4.55
Notes: Rivals.com sees Williams as a player with high upside. He didn't start playing football until his freshman year. He didn't play varsity until his junior year. Williams wants to attend a school with a high graduation rate. He also has interest in Temple, Syracuse and Oregon State.

Max Williams, wide receiver, Marietta, Ga.
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180
Speed: 4.45
Notes: Williams' highlight video shows a good route runner whose concentration allows him to catch well in traffic. He has interest in schools from the ACC, SEC and Division I-AA.

Joe Wirth, defensive end, Utica, Mich. COMMITTED TO CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Offers: Akron
Height: 6-5
Weight: 235
Speed: Not listed
Notes: Wirth's profile is somewhat bare. He also has interest in Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan.