2017 Akron Football Season Summary

January 25 | Football

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2017 AKRON SEASON SUMMARY [in PDF]

Akron (7-7, 6-2 MAC)

SEASON SUMMARY
Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl
MAC Championship Participant
MAC EAST CHAMPIONS

2017 SEASON SUMMARY
Under the guidance of sixth-year head coach Terry Bowden, Akron finished the 2017 campaign at 7-7 overall and 6-2 in MAC play after a 50-3 loss to Florida Atlantic in the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl. UA returned 57 lettermen, including 15 starters. The Zips utilized a spread offense and a 4-3 defense.

After a season-record 14 games, senior RB Manny Morgan (Naples, Fla.) was the team's leading rusher with 434 yards and four touchdowns on 116 carries. Under center, redshirt freshman Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) was 70-of-140 for 989 yards and eight touchdowns. Redshirt senior WR Tra'Von Chapman (Cincinnati, Ohio) had the most receptions with 53 for 475 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) led the Zips with 141 tackles, 9.5 TFL, five sacks, five hurries, four break-ups, three interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Junior WR Kwadarrius Smith (Orlando, Fla.) was the Zips' scoring leader with seven touchdowns for 42 points.

In the final NCAA rankings, Akron was No. 7 in interceptions (19), No. 8 in defensive touchdowns (4), No. 19 in turnover margin (0.71), and No. 36 in red zone defense (0.800). Individually, junior DB Jordan George (Dayton, Ohio) was No. 11 in interceptions (5), while junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III was ranked No. 15 in total tackles (10.0). Junior WR Kwadarrius Smith was No. 9 in yards per reception (21.35).

2017 ALL-MAC HONORS
Four Akron football players earned Mid-American Conference honors for 2017 from the MAC football coaches. Earning first-team All-MAC recognition for the second consecutive year was junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III. Sophomore DB Alvin Davis, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) garnered second-team All-MAC honors. Redshirt senior WR Tra'Von Chapman and redshirt junior DE Jamal Davis II (Canton, Ohio) were third-team All-MAC honorees.

Phil Steele also recognized three Zips with All-MAC honors– Gilbert (first team), Jamal Davis (second team), and senior LS Michael Buddenberg (third team).

ACADEMIC ALL-MAC
Six Akron upperclassmen earned Academic All-MAC honors for achieving a 3.2+ GPA while playing in a majority of the games:

Akron Zip                  Yr.       Pos.    Major                               GPA       Hometown
Warren Ball               Sr.       RB      Sport Administration        3.556     Columbus, Ohio
Nathan Bischof         Jr.        LB       Sport Management         3.319     Akron, Ohio
Kyle Foster               Jr.        H/P     Sport Management          3.214     Parkersburg, W.Va.
John Lako                So.      LB       Business Management     3.438     Monroe, Mich.
Xavier Quigley         Sr.       OL       Sport Studies/Coaching    3.252     Ankeny, Iowa
Anthony Young       Sr.       WR     Intervention/Sp. Ed.          3.540     Medina, Ohio

BALL NAMED TO COSIDA All-DISTRICT ACADEMIC TEAM
Senior RB Warren Ball (Columbus, Ohio) was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District 5 football team. He earned a bachelor's degree in sports industry from Ohio State in spring 2016 before transferring to Akron. He is pursuing a master's degree in sport administration and sports a 3.56 grade-point average.

DECEMBER POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE
Prior to leaving for the bowl game, 14 Zips participated in graduation ceremonies. Earning their bachelor degrees were LS Michael Buddenberg (marketing), WR A.J. Coney (sport management), OL Lavonne Gauthney (sport management), PK Zach Gingerich (criminology/law enforcement), WR Kevin Gladney (sport management), LS Hayden Grover (public relations), S Zach Guiser (exercise science/pre-physical therapy), CB Mikee Hayes (organizational supervision), DE Michael Kish (exercise science), OL Cedric McCoy (criminal justice), RB Manny Morgan (organizational supervision), OL Xavier Quigley (sport studies/education), and WR Austin Wolf (marketing management). RB Warren Ball earned a master's degree in education/sport science.

Six Zips started the season with their bachelor's degrees in hand already: RB Warren Ball (sports industry), WR Tra'Von Chapman (sport management), OL Nick Fazio (mechanical engineering), LB Andrew Hauser (sport management), QB Robbie Kelley (business management), and TE Mykel Traylor-Bennett (organizational supervision). The seven Zips ranked 10th nationally with players with degrees. Northwestern leads the country with 18 graduated players on its roster.

BANQUET HONORS
At the team's annual Awards Banquet on Dec. 10, senior WR A.J. Coney was named the outstanding offensive performer, while junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III was named the outstanding defensive performer for the second consecutive season. Junior P Nick Gasser (Liberty Township, Ohio) was selected as the special teams player of the year. Seniors Coney, RB Warren Ball, and S Zach Guiser (Fayette City, Pa.), who were selected as team captains for the 2017 season by their teammates, earned the coaches' captain's award.

SENIOR STATUS
Prior to the home finale with Kent State, Akron honored the 25 members of its Senior Class– RB Warren Ball, WR Fransohn Bickley, LS Michael Buddenberg, DL Ibrahima Camara, WR Tra'Von Chapman, DL Darius Copeland, WR A.J. Coney, OL Stephen Ericksen, OL Lavonne Gauthney, P/K Zach Gingerich, WR Kevin Gladney, LS Hayden Grover, S Zach Guiser, LB Andrew Hauser, CB Mikee Hayes, LB Tony Jones, DE Michael Kish, OL Jovann Letuli, OL Cedric McCoy, DE Deon'Tae Moore, RB Manny Morgan, OL Xavier Quigley, WR Austin Wolf, QB Thomas Woodson, and WR Anthony Young.

This was the second five-year graduating class to play under head coach Terry Bowden at Akron. During their collegiate careers, they were a part of the re-building process, helping the Zips to at least five wins each of the last four seasons. Four of the seniors had already earned their undergraduate degrees and were pursuing master's degrees.

The Zips became bowl eligible for the second time in three seasons, a program first. With the win over Kent State, the Zips claimed their third MAC East title and their first since 2005, as well a third consecutive Wagon Wheel victory.

Individually, the Zips re-wrote the record books and climbed the career charts while racking up weekly honors. Off the field, they represented UA in the community with several activities, including game week visits to Akron Children's Hospital. Congratulations, Seniors!

AKRON'S BOWL HISTORY
Since jumping to Division I-A (FBS) in 1987, the Zips have made just three bowl appearances. The 2005 squad, under head coach J.D Brookhart, won the 2005 Mid-American Conference championship (with a 31-30 victory over Northern Illinois) and advanced to the Motor City Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit. The Zips, who finished the season at 7-6 overall (5-3 MAC, East Division champions), fell to Memphis 38-31 on Dec. 26, 2005.

In 2015, under head coach Terry Bowden, Akron made its second bowl appearance and captured its first FBS bowl victory with a 23-21 win over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

In 2017 under Bowden, the Zips made their second bowl appearance in a three-year span, the first in program history, with an appearance in the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl against Florida Atlantic.

Prior to 1987, the Zips played Division I-AA (from 1980 to 1986) and Division II (from 1974 to 1979) football. Additional postseason play included the 1968 Grantland Rice Bowl [Louisiana Tech 33, Akron
13], the 1976 Division II Playoffs [Akron 27, UNLV 6], Knute Rockne Bowl [Akron 29, Northern Michigan
26 (ot)], Pioneer Bowl [Montana State 24, Akron 13]; and the 1985 Division I-AA Playoffs [Rhode Island
35, Akron 27].

AKRON STAFF IS BOWL EXPERIENCED
Strolling the Akron sidelines this fall was a very experienced coaching staff. Led by sixth-year head coach Terry Bowden, the Zips' coaching staff boasted 143 combined bowl appearances, including 34 bowl appearances by defensive coordinator Chuck Amato alone. All of the Zips' coaches were former college football players.

LAST GAME
Making its second bowl appearance in three seasons, the Akron football team could not overcome four second-half touchdowns as Florida Atlantic posted a 50-3 victory over the Zips in the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 19.

The Owls out-gained Akron in the second half, 332-24, to deny the Zips their second bowl triumph.

On the evening, Florida Atlantic out-paced Akron in total yards, 582-146, including a rushing for 312 yards. The Zips finished the contest without committing a turnover.

Playing in their school-record 14th game of the season, redshirt freshman quarterback Kato Nelson led Akron offensively going 9-of-15 for 80 yards, while rushing for 21 yards. Senior RB Manny Morgan was the Zips' leading rusher with 41 yards on 17 carries, while senior wide receiver A.J. Coney pulled in two catches for a team-best 28 yards receiving. Senior wide receivers Austin Wolf (Lebanon, Ohio) and Tra'Von Chapman each made three receptions for 26 and 19 yards, respectively.

POSTGAME NOTES

The Zips participated in their second bowl game in three seasons, a program first.
The 14 games played were the most in a season in school history.
In the first quarter, sophomore DB Denzel Butler (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) had a sack for a loss of three yards, the first in his collegiate career.
After missing a 38-yrd field goal attempt in the first quarter, junior PK Nick Gasser (Liberty Township, Ohio) put Akron on the scoreboard in the second quarter with a 19-yard field goal.
Junior Jamal Davis had a career-high 10 tackles.

THE ZIPS ARE UNDEFEATED
This season, Akron had an undefeated record in games when leading at the half (7-0), when scoring 30+ points (4-0), in games decided by 3 points of less (2-0), when holding the opponent to nine points or less (2-0). The Zips were also undefeated when wearing gold helmets (2-0). Conversely, Akron did not win a game when trailing at the half (0-7).

BANQUET HONORS
Prior to departing for the 2017 Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl, the University of Akron football program celebrated the 2017 season with its annual awards banquet on Dec. 10 at Quaker Station in downtown Akron.

Senior WR A.J. Coney was named the outstanding offensive performer and special teams player of the year, while junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III was named the outstanding defensive performer for the second consecutive season.

Junior P Nick Gasser was selected as the special teams player of the year.

Seniors Coney, RB Warren Ball, and S Zach Guiser, who were selected as team captains for the 2017 season by their teammates, earned the coaches' captain's award.

SEASON-ENDING INJURIES
While the Zips were relatively healthy throughout the 2017 season (compared to 2016), Akron lost five players to season-ending injuries: senior RB Warren Ball (broken leg), redshirt freshman LB DeMarkus Glover (shoulder), senior S Zach Guiser (concussion), sophomore RB Deltron Sands (broken leg), and senior WR Anthony Young (shoulder). Senior TE/WR Mykel Traylor-Bennett suffered a knee injury in the spring game and missed action this fall. He plans to return next season.

ZIPS QUICK HITS

The players elected seniors RB Warren Ball, WR A.J. Coney, and S Zach Guiser as team captains for the 2017 season.
Six of Akron's 2017 opponents— Penn State (Rose), Troy (Dollar General), Western Michigan (Cotton), Toledo (Camelia), Miami (St. Petersburg), and Ohio (Dollar General)— participated in bowls in 2016.
Seven of Akron's 2017 opponents— Penn State (Fiesta), Iowa State (Liberty), Troy (New Orleans), Western Michigan, Toledo (Dollar General), Ohio (Bahamas), and Buffalo— were bowl eligible this fall.
Since 1979, Akron has faced 29 nationally ranked teams, going 1-28. The Zips' sole victory was a 34-20 win over No. 25 Marshall at the Rubber Bowl on Nov. 2, 2002.
Akron has 46 student-athletes on its roster from the state of Ohio; 33 of those live within a 30-mile radius to campus.