Football Inks 22 Recruits on National Letter Day

2001 University of Akron Football Recruiting Class

Brendon BANKS 6-0, 190, SS, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Woodland Hills)
James BATTLE 6-0, 225, LB, Cincinnati (Colerain)
Dorian BEARD 6-1, 250, DL, Verona, Pa. (Penn Hills)
Geoffrey BEAUCHESNE 6-5, 230, TE, Montreal, Quebec (Du Vieux)
Chase BLACKBURN 6-4, 215, DL, Marysville
Mark CONLEY 6-2, 285, DL, Lakewood
Diontre EARL 5-11, 230, LB, Toledo (Rogers)
Dion ELIE 6-2, 185, WR, Atlanta, Ga. Lithonia/Euclid, Ohio
Jamie GOODWIN 5-11, 160, WR, McKeesport, Pa.
Justin HEIN 6-7, 335, OL, Lakewood
Jeremy JACOBS 6-4, 245, OL, Uniontown (Green)
Charlton LEWIS 6-4, 250, DL, N. Braddock,Pa.(Woodland Hills)
Jason MONTGOMERY 6-1, 180, WR, Southfield, Mich. (Lathrup)
Montae MURPHY 5-10 173, DB, Rankin, Pa. (Woodland Hills)
Thomas PLUMMER 6-1, 215, RB, Etobicoke, Ontario (Henry Carr)
Jerell RINGER 5-11, 195, RB, Dayton (Meadowdale)
Brad SHELDON 6-2, 200, LB, Rochester, Mich. (U. of Detroit Jesuit)
Richard SPAULDING 6-3 210, SS, New Albany
Marcus SUBER 6-1, 185, SS, Sacramento City College
Vince VAUGHNS 6-2, 185, RB/FS, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Santa Fe)
Greg WILLIAMS 5-10, 185, SS, Canton (GlenOak)
Chris WOOTEN 6-0, 240, LB, Bedford

AKRON - A share of the 2000 Mid-American Conference East Division title and back-to-back winning seasons certainly made a positive impact on "National Letter Day" for the Akron Zip football program. UA coach Lee Owens today unveiled his seventh recruiting class and announced the signing of 22 student-athletes for the 2001 season.

Based on early commitments, the class ranked first in the Mid-American Conference, according to RIVALS.com.

Lee Owens

"We're thrilled with the quality of this class," declared the Zips' 44-year old leader. "I think the stability of our coaching staff really played an important part in our signing such a talented group."

The class represents the Zips' traditional recruiting areas, along with an international flavor as well. Tight end Geoffrey Beauchesne and running back Thomas Plummer are regarded as two of the Top 10 players in Canada. RIVALS.com projects Plummer as one of two "four-star" players to sign with a MAC university.

Owens and his coaching staff have maintained a consistent recruiting policy of pursuing Ohio high school talent first and foremost, and this year 10 signees hail from the Buckeye State (11 if you count Dion Elie, who is originally from Euclid). Zip coaches reached into practically every corner of the state and landed several marquee student-athletes, highlighted by four First-Team All-Ohio defensive players, including linebackers James Battle (Cincinnati Colerain) and Diontre Earl (Toledo Rogers).

The Zips also harvested two outstanding line prospects from Cuyahoga County's Lakewood HS: DT Mark Conley and OL Justin Hein.

Five Zip recruits call western Pennsylvania home and three signees are from the highly successful program at Woodland Hills HS where ex-Zip great Jason Taylor and current 1,000-yard rusher Brandon Payne played their prep football. Last fall, Woodland Hills finished 12-1 after reaching the WPIAL Quad-A championship game. Akron also connected again with Penn Hills HS and signed blue-chipper Dorian Beard. Standout Zip receiver Jake Schifino and former Zip Corey Christian are Penn Hills alumni.

Two recruits are from Michigan - WR Jason Montgomery and LB Brad Sheldon - with SS Marcus Suber (Sacramento (Calif.) City College being the only junior-college player in the class.

Nine recruits are projected as offensive players, 14 on the defensive side (RB/FS Vince Vaughns is double counted). In addition to Plummer and Vaughns, Jerell Ringer, out of Dayton Meadowdale, completes an excellent trio of backs. The class also includes six highly touted defensive backs, among them Stark County product Greg Williams (GlenOak). "We needed to replenish our ranks on the defensive side of the ball," said Owens. "We also were determined to maintain our squad's character and academic reputation. This class should uphold our high standards in both areas. "We also recruited young men who want to be at Akron and chose Akron over noteworthy schools," added Owens. "This group is committed to helping us reach the MAC championship game."

Nineteen senior letter winners completed their eligibility last fall, with key losses being defensive back Dwight Smith, free safety Rich Reliford, quarterback Butchie Washington and wide receiver Lavel Bailey. Akron begins its 10th season as a member of the Mid-American Conference this fall and opens its 2001 season Sept. 8 at Ohio State. "The coaching staff did a great job of getting our program involved with such a high quality group of prospects. We're anxious to have the guys on campus and to get the 2001 season started," Owens concluded.

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Recruit BIOS

Brendon BANKS, 6-0, 190, SS, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Woodland Hills)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 ... Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 ... Pennsylvania Football News second-team All-State defensive back ... Quad A East honorable mention all-conference ... running back, defensive back, punt and kick returner ... 65 carries, 314 yards, five scores ... also lettered in basketball and baseball.

James BATTLE, 6-0, 225, LB, Cincinnati (Colerain)
First-team All-Ohio Division I as a senior ... SW Ohio district Defensive Player of the Year ... Cincinnati Enquirer and Cincinnati Post Player of the Year ... two-time All-GMC ... Colerain advanced to the state semifinal, lost to Upper Arlington, 10-7 (16 tackles in that game) ... 122 total tackles, five sacks, four fumbles caused, two INTs ... invited to North-South game.

Dorian BEARD, 6-1, 250, DL, Verona, Pa. (Penn Hills)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 ... co-captain, 16 sacks as a senior ... all-conference junior and senior seasons ... three-year starter for coach Neil Gordon ... played fullback in short yardage situations ... same high school as Zip wide receiver Jake Schifino ... recruited by at least one Big East and one ACC school.

Geoffrey BEAUCHESNE, 6-5, 230, TE, Montreal, Quebec (Du Vieux)
Nominated for Collegiate AAA All-Star Team ... rated top tight end at Michigan's 2000 camp ... one of Canada's Top 10 recruits ... RIVALS.com two-star recruit.

Chase BLACKBURN, 6-4, 215, DL, Marysville
Ohio co-Division II Defensive Player of the Year (along with Buchtel's Charlton Keith) ... two-time Central District Defensive Player of the Year ... a combined total of 320 tackles his junior and senior seasons ... took two INTs back for scores ... Big 33 selection ... three-year starter and senior captain for coach Rich Weiskircher ... John H. McConnell Scholarship Award from Columbus Chapter of National Football Foundation ... National Honor Society ... 3.9 student ... recruited by at least one Big Ten school.

Mark CONLEY, 6-2, 285, DL, Lakewood
Second-team All-Ohio Division I (defensive lineman) ... RIVALS.com two-star recruit ... two-time all-conference ... tight end, defensive tackle for coach Kevin Fell ... registered 21 quarterback sacks over his junior and senior seasons ... three-year varsity letterman ... pursued by several MAC schools.

Diontre EARL, 5-11, 230, LB, Toledo (Rogers)
Two-time first-team All-Ohio Division II linebacker ... twice selected Northwest Ohio Defensive Player of the Year ... 2000 City League Player of the Year ... two-time Toledo Blade All-Metro ... 2000 Blade Player of the Year ... 265 tackles over his junior and senior seasons, including 40 for loss ... three INTs as a senior ... actively recruited by several MAC schools ... selected to play in the North-South all-star game.

Dion ELIE, 6-2, 185, WR, Atlanta, Ga. Lithonia/Euclid, Ohio
Originally from Euclid ... DeKalb Touchdown Club first-team all-county ... Atlanta Journal-Constitution second-team all-county ... as a senior, 28 receptions for 588 yards (20.9 per catch) and six scores ... also lettered in track and baseball ... recruited by at least one ACC school.

Jamie GOODWIN, 5-11, 160, WR, McKeesport, Pa.
Big-play receiver and kick returner ... considered a "burner" ... All-WPIAL in both football and track ... junior and senior seasons: averaged 20.6 yards per reception, 35.1 yards per kick return (four touchdowns), 11.2 yards per punt return ... third in the WPIAL 100-meter dash and fourth in the state in the 200.

Justin HEIN, 6-7, 335, OL, Lakewood
First-team All-Northeast Lakes District Division I (offensive lineman) ... special mention All-Ohio ... earned three letters for coach Kevin Fell at Lakewood ... two-time all-league performer ... all-area by the Sun Newspapers ... pursued by MAC schools and at least one Big East university.

Jeremy JACOBS, 6-4, 245, OL, Uniontown (Green)
Second-team All-Ohio Division II defensive lineman ... first-team NE Ohio Inland District ... Cleveland Plain Dealer first-team All-Summit/Medina/Portage ... first-team Suburban League ... North-South selection ... Green won the Suburban title and advanced to the second round of the OHSAA playoffs ... 4.0 student at GHS.

Charlton LEWIS, 6-4, 250, DL, North Braddock, Pa. (Woodland Hills)
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 ... Pittsburgh Post-Gazette East first-team all-conference ... Quad A East first-team all-conference ... 13 tackles for loss, including five quarterback sacks ... three tipped passes ... 73 total tackles ... also lettered in basketball and baseball.

Jason MONTGOMERY, 6-1, 180, WR, Southfield, Mich. (Lathrup)
22 receptions for more than 700 yards and six TDs as senior ... all-conference selection for coach Stephon Thompson ... six varsity letters, led conference in steals in basketball ... recruited by several MAC schools.

Montae MURPHY, 5-10, 173, DB, Rankin, Pa. (Woodland Hills)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 ... Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 ... AP Big School second-team All-State defensive back ... Pennsylvania Football News third-team All-State defensive back ... Quad A East first-team all-conference ... senior season: eight interceptions, 58 carries (496 yards, seven TDs) ...punt and kick returner ... also lettered in basketball and baseball.

Thomas PLUMMER, 6-1, 215, RB, Etobicoke, Ontario (Father Henry Carr)
#1 ranked Canadian prospect ... selected to Team Canada ... rated among top 30 running back recruits in college football, according to rivals.com ... All-Pro Camp MVP two years ... two-time high school captain and team MVP ... rushed for 737 yards and nine scores in just four games as a senior (ankle sprain) ... actively recruited by several major I-A programs.

Jerell RINGER, 5-11, 195, RB, Dayton (Meadowdale)
Second-team All-Southwest Ohio ... all-city running back for coach Bosie Miliner ... rushed for 1,193 yards and scored 12 touchdowns ... Penn Station Athlete of the Month ... nine varsity letters, three each in basketball and track as well ... recruited by several Division I-A schools.

Brad SHELDON, 6-2, 200, LB, Rochester, Mich. (Univ. of Detroit Jesuit)
First-team All-Detroit, All-Catholic ... captain and team defensive MVP ... blockbuster junior and senior seasons for coach Scott Merchant ... more than 120 tackles each year, a combined total of eight tackles for loss, four sacks, three fumbles caused ... recruited by MAC schools and an Ivy League school ... lettered two years in basketball.

Richard SPAULDING, 6-3, 210, SS, New Albany
Mid-State League Player of the Year as a senior ... New Albany MVP ... quarterback/defensive back who did it all for coach Jamie Masi ... threw for 773 yards and 14 scores ... carried 58 times for 650 yards and eight touchdowns ... also returned punts and kicks, two TD returns ... reminds Zip coaches of Jonathan Eaton ... recruited by several MAC schools.

Marcus SUBER, 6-1, 185, SS, Sacramento City College (Monterey, Calif.)
First-team Northern Cal all-conference ... 50 unassisted tackles, 20 pass break-ups and one INT ... two-year letter winner for Sacramento City College ... recruited by several other I-A programs.

Vince VAUGHNS, 6-2, 185, RB/FS, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Santa Fe)
Originally from Detroit, Mich. ... first-team All-Edmond Area running back, first-team All-Metro Conference defensive back ... first-team 6A all-district ... carried 158 times for 1,227 yards and eight scores as a senior ... 32 receptions for 287 yards ... team's fourth-leading tackler ... three forced fumbles ... ran one INT back 79 yards for a score ... team captain ... born in Detroit. Mich.

Greg WILLIAMS, 5-10, 185, SS, Canton (GlenOak)
First-team All-Ohio Division I defensive back along with teammate Dustin Fox ... Prep Star All-America Team ... three INTs, two forced fumbles ... carried the ball 44 times for 357 yards (8.1 per carry) and two scores ... recruited by at least two Big Ten schools and several MAC members ... also lettered in track ... played for coach Jack Rose.

Chris WOOTEN, 6-0, 240, LB, Bedford
Three-time All-Lake Erie League-Erie Division ... as a senior compiled 106 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one INT for coach Jim Hodakievic.

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