Akron Opens 2019 Season at Illinois

Saturday, August 31

Urbana-Champaign, IL |Memorial Stadium

Noon ET (11 AM CT)

University of Akron

Illinois

August 26 | Football

Pregame Coverage:
Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
Arth's Weekly Press Conference Video
MAC Weekly Media Teleconference Audio
MAC Weekly Release

Gameday Coverage:
Buy Tickets
Listen to Free Audio Stream (TuneIn.com)
Follow Free Live Statistics
Big Ten Network Stream - BTN2GO

Illinois' Clear Bag Policy

2019 SEASON OPENER

AKRON [0-0] at ILLINOIS [0-0]
Saturday, August 31
Memorial Stadium [60,670] | Urbana-Champaign, IL
Noon ET | 11 AM CT | Big Ten Network

THIS WEEK
The Tom Arth Era begins this week as Akron opens the 2019 football season at Illinois on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 11 a.m CT (Noon ET) at Memorial Stadium.

The Big Ten Network will televise the contest with Lisa Byington (play-by-play) and J. Leman (analyst) calling the game.
The Zips' radio broadcast will air on the Akron Sports Network [SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship), 1420 WHK in Cleveland, 1440 WHKZ in Warren/Youngstown] with Steve French calling the action, David Skoczen providing analysis, and Joe Dunn with sideline report. The pregame show starts one hour prior to kickoff. A free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.

Under the guidance of first-year head coach Tom Arth, Akron returns 57 letterwinners, including 10 starters, to its pro style offense and multiple defensive schemes.

Akron returns redshirt senior RB Deltron Sands (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) who rushed for 128 yards on 39 carries in 2018. Under center, redshirt junior Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) went 178-of-342 for 2,329 yards and 15 touchdowns last fall. Junior WR Andre Williams (Orlando, Fla.) was the top receiver with 649 yards and six touchdowns on 46 receptions. Defensively, senior LB John Lako (Monroe, Mich.) was the top Zip with 126 tackles, 10.0 TFL, three break-ups, a fumble recovery, and a hurry.

The Fighting Illini, under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Lovie Smith, return 46 letterwinners, including 18 starters, to their multiple offensive and 4-3 defensive schemes.

Illinois returns senior RB Reggie Corbin, the 2018 team leader, who rusher for 1,085 yards and nine touchdowns on 128 carries. The Fighting Illini will be breaking in a new quarterback as graduate transfer Brandon Peters is expected to get the starting nod. In two seasons under center at Michigan, Peters went 58-of-110 for 680 yards and four touchdowns. At wide receiver, junior Ricky Smalling led the 2018 squad with 406 yards and five touchdowns on 33 receptions. Defensively, junior LB Jake Hansen is the top returning defender after finishing with 95 tackles, including 8.5 TFL, last fall.

AKRON-ILLINOIS CONNECTIONS
Akron has two players from the state of Illinois on its roster– redshirt senior QB Robbie Kelley [Springfield, Ill. | Rochester HS] and sophomore DL John Mitchell [Crete-Monee, Ill. | Crete-Monee HS].

Illinois has just one player from the state of Ohio– junior RB Ra'Von Bonner [Cincinnati, Ohio | Sycamore HS].

UA senior DB Alvin Davis, Jr., freshman DB Adetutu Daranijo, junior S Zaire Jacobs, and redshirt senior RB Deltron Sands and Illinois' junior PK James McCourt and junior RB Mike Epstein were teammates at Fort Lauderdale's St. Thomas Aquinas HS.

Redshirt senior DE Josh Ward (Delray Beach, Fla.) and senior WR Trenard Davis (Boynton Beach, Fla.) were teammates at American Heritage HS.

Redshirt freshman LB Zach DiLauro's (Akron, Ohio) cousin Christian DiLauro, named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2014, was a four-year starter at offensive tackle for Illinois.

AKRON-ILLINOIS: THE SERIES
Saturday's game is just the second meeting between Akron and Illinois in series history which began in 1996. The Fighting Illini hold a 1-0 record over the Zips.

In the teams' first meeting on Sept. 21, 1996, Akron faced its first Big Ten opponent since moving up to Football Subdivision (FBS) play (since 1987). The difference in the ballgame was Illini back Robert Holcombe, who rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns.

After a scoreless first quarter, Illini QB Scott Weaver completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jason Dulick. The Zips tied the game at 7-7 at half, after a 33-yard punt return by Matt Thiry and an eight-play, 47-yard drive capped by DE Jason Taylor's one-yard touchdown catch, the only touchdown of his collegiate career. The future Hall of Famer lined up as a TE on the goal line for the UA's only score. Akron LB Nate Boyd racked up 15 tackles, and S Andre McCray forced two fumbles to lead the defensive effort. Sophomore P Mike Hayes averaged 44.0 yards on eight kicks.

SERIES INFORMATION
Akron all-time vs. Illinois: 0-1
Akron in games at Akron: 0-0
Akron in games at Illinois: 0-1
Akron in games at a neutral site: 0-0
First meeting in series: 1996, at Memorial Stadium, L, 7-38
Last meeting in series: 1996, at Memorial Stadium, L, 7-38

SERIES HIGHS
Akron Zips
Rushing: Greg Lomax, 6-33 (1996)
Passing: Mike Junko, 10-25-2-107, 1 TD (1996)
Receiving: Chris Rooney, 4-32 (1996)

Illinois Fighting Illini
Rushing: Robert Holcombe, 28-151, 3 TDs (1996)
Passing: Scott Weaver, 17-28-0-194, 1 TD (1996)
Receiving: Jason Dulick, 6-77, 1 TD (1996)

SEASON OPENERS
In six seasons as a head coach, Tom Arth has guided his teams to a 4-2 record on opening day [3-1 at John Carroll University and 1-1 at UT Chattanooga]. In the last six years, Akron was 3-3 in the first game of the season.

BIG CROWDS ON THE ROAD
Akron has faced its Top 10 biggest crowds on the road. At Michigan in 2013, an all-time high 107,120 fans attended the game at Michigan Stadium.

Last fall, Akron faced Iowa State on Sept. 22 before 54,028 fans.

PRESEASON HONORS
Six Zips were named to Athlon Sports' 2019 preseason All-Mid-American Conference teams. Earning preseason first-team All-MAC were seniors DB Alvin Davis, Jr., and LB John Lako. Sophomore punt returner Jeremiah Knight was a second-team honoree. Named to the preseason third-team was junior WR Andre Williams. Seniors OL Brandon Council and DL Josh Ward were fourth-team honorees.

Phil Steele recognized seven University of Akron football players on his 2019 preseason All-Mid-American Conference teams. Earning preseason first-team All-MAC were Davis, Lako, and Knight. Williams was a second-team honoree. Named to the preseason fourth-team were senior OL Trevor Brown, junior WR Jonah Morris, and Ward.

Redshirt junior QB Kato Nelson was honored by the Touchdown Club of Columbus during the 64th awards dinner as a Player to Watch in 2019.

2019 WATCH LISTS
Senior DB Alvin Davis, Jr. was named to the 2019 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, while senior LB John Lako is a nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE
Five Zips competing this fall already have their bachelor's degrees: TE Brandon Junk (sports management), QB Robbie Kelley (business management), LB John Lako (human resources management), LB DeMarcus Lloyd (organizational supervision), and TE Darryl Long (sport management). Kansas State and SMU lead the nation with 21 graduates each.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Several Zips frequently use their nicknames versus their formal, given names– LB Bubba (Alan) Arslanian, WR Dustin "Dusty" Burkhart, QB (Tyler) T.J. DeShields, WR Jeremiah "Boogie" Knight, DL Tank (Jordan) McClendon, WR (Lumuria) M.J. McGriff, QB (Kalyn) Kato Nelson, and DB (Anthony) A.J. Watts. Freshman LB Tiger Burkes' given first name is actually Tiger.

FOUR ZIPS RECEIVE SIXTH YEAR OF ELIGIBILITY
Seniors DB Shawn Featherstone (Pittsburgh, Pa.), QB Robbie Kelley (Springfield, Ill.), and LB DeMarcus Lloyd (Vienna, Ga.), and TE Darryl Long (Columbus, Ohio) were each granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA following season-ending injuries. The four Zips tie with four from South Carolina as the most sixth-year players in the nation.

CFB150: COLLEGE FOOTBALL CELEBRATES 150 YEARS IN 2019
A year-long celebration began in January 2019 as college football celebrates 150 years and the anniversary of the first college football game [between Princeton and Rutgers on Nov. 6, 1869]. Programs around the country, including Akron, are sharing their histories and stories through the CFB150 pillars of education, leadership, and community. Follow Akron's celebration on social media. #CFB150

ZIPS QUICK HITS

Seven of Akron's 2019 opponents were bowl eligible last fall: UAB (Boca Raton), Troy (Dollar General), Buffalo (Dollar General), Northern Illinois (Boca Raton), Miami (not selected), Eastern Michigan (Camillia), and Ohio (Frisco).
Akron has 52 student-athletes on its roster from the state of Ohio; 44 of those live within a 30-mile radius to campus.

MAC PREDICTIONS
Akron was selected to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference East Division this fall by the media. Akron earned 54 points. Ohio was picked first, followed by Miami, Buffalo, Kent State, and Akron. Bowling Green rounded out the picks.

In the West Division, Toledo was selected first, followed by Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, and Eastern Michigan. Ball State and Central Michigan rounded out the predictions.

The Ohio Bobcats were also predicted to win the 2019 MAC Championship Game which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Noon at Ford Field in Detroit.

HOMECOMING & FAMILY WEEKEND SET FOR OCT. 11-13
Homecoming and Family Weekend at the University of Akron have been set for Oct. 11-13, 2019. In the annual Homecoming football game, the Zips will host rival Kent State on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 3:30 p.m. The 2019 Hall of Fame Class will be introduced during the game.

UP NEXT
Akron returns to InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field for its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 7, with UAB for the Hometown Heroes game. Kickoff is set for Noon on the CBS Sports Network.