The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Football Unveils Talented 16-Member Early 2023 Signing Class
December 21 | Football
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron football program, under the leadership of second-year head coach Joe Moorhead, has unveiled a 16-member signing class for 2023.
Moorhead and his staff have assembled a decorated and talented 2023 early-signing class. The 16-member group is one comprised of exciting mix of veteran players, as well as a group of 13 newcomers.
Akron will kick off its 2022 campaign traveling Philadelphia, Pa., to battle Temple on Sept. 2 before welcoming Morgan State to InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field for the Zips' home opener on Sept. 9.
The Akron schedule also includes non-conference road contests at Kentucky (Sept. 16) and Indiana (Sept. 23) before Akron opens Mid-American Conference play.
MAC Eastern Division rivals Buffalo, Kent State and Ohio as well as a cross-divisional foe will visit InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field this fall, while the Zips will travel to Bowling Green, Miami and a pair of MAC Western Division opponents. Dates for league games will be released at a later date.
Season tickets are available now by calling or texting the Akron ticket office at 888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Ticket office will be closed from Dec. 23 through Jan. 1 as the campus will be closed for the holiday break.
SCHOLARSHIP TRANSFERS
Terray Jones (6-1 | 290 | Defensive Lineman | Madison, Fla. | Madison County HS | Tennessee State)
• Appeared in 37 career games at Tennessee State registering 89 total tackles, including 44 solo stops and 45 assisted tackles, while tallying 8.5 sacks and 16 tackles for a loss
• Played in all 12 games this season en route to garnering 37 tackles (12 solo and 25 assisted), 6.5 tackles for a loss and 4.0 sacks
• Played in 10 games as a junior recording 28 stops, 20 solo, eight assists, 4.5 for loss and three sacks
• Posted a career-high 11 tackles in the season opener against Grambling State including 10 solo stops on Sept. 5, 2021
• Played in seven games in the spring 2021 campaign finishing with eight tackles, three solo, five assists, 1.0 for loss, .5 sacks, two quarterback hurries and one pass breakup
• Appeared in 10 games as a freshman, starting eight at defensive tackle finishing with 16 tackles, nine solo, 4.5 for loss, one sack, two quarterback hurries and forced a fumble
• Led Madison County High School to back-to-back 1A state championship titles compiling 155 tackles, 52 solos and 11 sacks over his final two seasons
• A three-star prospect by ESPN, ranked 63rd at defensive tackle
• Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports, ranked 88th at position
Lorenzo Lingard (6-0 | 210 | Running Back | Orange City, Fla. | University HS | Florida)
• Appeared in 32 games for Florida, registering 150 yards rushing on 26 carries
• Earned his bachelor's degree in education sciences from Florida in Fall 2022
• Has played in 10 games this season primarily on special teams, while rushing for 75 yards on 10 carries, including five carries for 45 yards and a touchdown vs. Eastern Washington (Oct. 2).
• Saw action all 13 games in 2021, appearing as a reserve running back in four games with 11 total carries for 43 yards and one reception for nine yards
• Played in nine games in 2020
• Saw action in two games at Miami in 2019 and was later redshirted.
• Played in six games as a true freshman at Miami in 2018 before suffering leg injury that derailed rookie season, rushing 17 times for 136 yards with two touchdowns and long rush of 64 yards
• Consensus five-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com
• Rated as No. 2 running back in the country by 247Sports.com
• Listed as 25th-best prospect in nation and sixth-best recruit in state of Florida by 247Sports.com
• Ranked as No. 4 running back, No. 18 recruit in Florida and the 60th overall prospect nationally by ESPN.com
• Rated second-best running back, fourth-best recruit in Florida and 13th recruit nationally by Rivals.com
• Selected to 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio
• Rushed for more than 2,500 career yards in high school, including gaining 1,701 yards on 207 carries and scored 26 touchdowns as senior en route to Gatorade Florida Player of the Year honors
Ahmad Rabah (6-5 | 215 | Defensive Lineman | Paterson, N.J. | Passaic County Technical Institute | American International College (Mass.))
• Appeared in 40 games for American International College recording 103 tackles, including 53 solo stops and 50 assisted tackles, while tallying 18.0 sacks and 22.5 tackles for a loss
• Played in nine games this season en route to tallying 40 tackles (21 solo and 19 assisted), nine sacks and 11 tackles for a loss
• Added 40 and 23 tackles, respectively, during the 2020 and 2021 campaigns
HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES
Kameron Cheatom (6-4 | 220 | Defensive Lineman | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Brashear HS)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Brashear High School
• Ranked as a Top-35 player in Pennsylvania this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
Conner Cravaack (6-5 | 220 | Tight End | Cincinnati, Ohio | Madeira HS)
• Helped lead Madeira High School to an 11-2 record in 2022
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Madeira High School
• Ranked as a Top-100 player in Ohio this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
Bruno Dall (6-8 | 230 | Defensive Lineman | Hamburg, Germany | St. Stanislaus (Miss.) HS)
• Helped lead St. Stanislaus High School to a 7-5 record in 2022
• Recorded 81 total tackles, including 38 solo stops and 5.0 sacks as a senior
Jayvin James (6-6 | 260 | Offensive Lineman | Pompano Beach, Fla. | Blanche Ely HS)
• Helped lead Blanche Ely High School to a 10-1 record in 2022
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Blanche Ely High School
Jean Louis III (5-9 | 180 | Wide Receiver | New York, N.Y. | Canarsie HS)
• Helped lead Canarsie High School to a 10-3 record as a senior
Jonas Mann (6-8 | 295 | Offensive Lineman | Pickerington, Ohio | Pickerington North HS)
• Helped guide Pickerington North High School to a 7-5 record in 2022
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Pickerington North High School
• Ranked as a Top-100 player in Ohio this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
Marcus Moore (6-3 | 310 | Defensive Lineman | Massillon, Ohio | Massillon Washington HS)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Massillon Washington High School
• Ranked as a Top-90 player in Ohio this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
• Recorded 21 tackles, including seven solo stops as a senior
• Owns 48 tackles, including 17 solo stops and 2.5 sacks over the past two campaigns
Adrian Norton (6-1 | 195 | Wide Receiver | Huber Heights, Ohio | Stebbins HS)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Stebbins High School
• Ranked as a Top-90 player in Ohio this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
• Registered 1,062 career yards as a prep standout en route to scoring 21 touchdowns, including 13 through the air
Darius Owens (6-0 | 175 | Safety | Snellville, Ga. | South Gwinnett HS)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at South Gwinnett High School
• Posted 56 total tackles as a senior, including 19 solo stops and 37 assisted tackles, while adding three tackles for a loss
Melvin Spriggs (6-3 | 215 | Linebacker | Baton Rouge, La. | St. Michael the Archangel (Va.) HS)
• A team captain at St. Michael the Archangel High School in Fredericksburg, Va.
• Ranked as a Top-50 player in Virginia this recruiting cycle by MaxPreps.
Zayden Laing-Taylor (6-0 | 185 | Cornerback | Miami, Fla. | Miami Central HS)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Miami Central High School
• Helped lead the Rockets to a 14-0 record as a senior
• Posted 18 tackles and one interception in 2022, as part of 39 career tackles, including 31 solo stops
Steele Wasel (6-4 | 210 | Quarterback | Chocktaw, Okla. | Chocktaw HS)
• Passed for 3,325 and 38 touchdowns as a senior at Chocktaw High School
• Led the Yellowjackets to an 11-2 record as a senior
Catrell White (5-10 | 170 | Cornerback | New York, N.Y. | Erasmus Hall HS)
• Helped lead Erasmus Hall High School to an 11-2 record in 2022
ABOUT ZIPS ATHLETICS
Founded in 1870, The University of Akron (UA) is one of Ohio's most influential public urban research universities, conducting high-quality research in focused areas of excellence, contributing to the vitality of the local economy, and providing a workforce highly trained in diverse disciplines. The University offers more than 200-degree programs, including unique, highly ranked associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral and law degrees — with accreditations by 35 professional agencies. UA is focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, investment in community and economic growth. Akron sponsors 17 NCAA Division I sports with more than 500 student-athletes. Learn more at gozips.com.
Moorhead and his staff have assembled a decorated and talented 2023 early-signing class. The 16-member group is one comprised of exciting mix of veteran players, as well as a group of 13 newcomers.
Akron will kick off its 2022 campaign traveling Philadelphia, Pa., to battle Temple on Sept. 2 before welcoming Morgan State to InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field for the Zips' home opener on Sept. 9.
The Akron schedule also includes non-conference road contests at Kentucky (Sept. 16) and Indiana (Sept. 23) before Akron opens Mid-American Conference play.
MAC Eastern Division rivals Buffalo, Kent State and Ohio as well as a cross-divisional foe will visit InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field this fall, while the Zips will travel to Bowling Green, Miami and a pair of MAC Western Division opponents. Dates for league games will be released at a later date.
Season tickets are available now by calling or texting the Akron ticket office at 888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Ticket office will be closed from Dec. 23 through Jan. 1 as the campus will be closed for the holiday break.
| SCHOLARSHIP TRANSFERS | HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES | HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES |
| Terray Jones 6-1 | 290 | Defensive Lineman Madison, Fla. Madison County HS Tennessee State |
Kameron Cheatom 6-4 | 220 | Defensive Lineman Pittsburgh, Pa. Brashear HS |
Adrian Norton 6-1 | 195 | Wide Receiver Huber Heights, Ohio Stebbins HS |
| Lorenzo Lingard 6-0 | 210 | Running Back Orange City, Fla. University HS Florida |
Conner Cravaack 6-5 | 220 | Tight End Cincinnati, Ohio Madeira HS |
Darius Owens 6-0 | 175 | Safety Snellville, Ga. South Gwinnett HS |
| Ahmad Rabah 6-5 | 215 | Defensive Lineman Paterson, N.J. Passaic County Technical Institute American International College (Mass.)) |
Bruno Dall 6-8 | 230 | Defensive Lineman Hamburg, Germany St. Stanislaus (Miss.) HS |
Melvin Spriggs 6-3 | 215 | Linebacker Baton Rouge, La. St. Michael the Archangel (Va.) HS |
| Jayvin James 6-6 | 260 | Offensive Lineman Pompano Beach, Fla. Blanche Ely HS |
Zayden Laing-Taylor 6-0 | 185 | Cornerback Miami, Fla. Miami Central HS |
|
| Jean Louis III 5-9 | 180 | Wide Receiver | New York, N.Y. | Canarsie HS |
Steele Wasel 6-4 | 210 | Quarterback Chocktaw, Okla. Chocktaw HS |
|
| Jonas Mann 6-8 | 295 | Offensive Lineman Pickerington, Ohio Pickerington North HS |
Catrell White 5-10 | 170 | Cornerback New York, N.Y. Erasmus Hall HS |
|
| Marcus Moore 6-3 | 310 | Defensive Lineman Massillon, Ohio Massillon Washington HS |
SCHOLARSHIP TRANSFERS
Terray Jones (6-1 | 290 | Defensive Lineman | Madison, Fla. | Madison County HS | Tennessee State)
• Appeared in 37 career games at Tennessee State registering 89 total tackles, including 44 solo stops and 45 assisted tackles, while tallying 8.5 sacks and 16 tackles for a loss
• Played in all 12 games this season en route to garnering 37 tackles (12 solo and 25 assisted), 6.5 tackles for a loss and 4.0 sacks
• Played in 10 games as a junior recording 28 stops, 20 solo, eight assists, 4.5 for loss and three sacks
• Posted a career-high 11 tackles in the season opener against Grambling State including 10 solo stops on Sept. 5, 2021
• Played in seven games in the spring 2021 campaign finishing with eight tackles, three solo, five assists, 1.0 for loss, .5 sacks, two quarterback hurries and one pass breakup
• Appeared in 10 games as a freshman, starting eight at defensive tackle finishing with 16 tackles, nine solo, 4.5 for loss, one sack, two quarterback hurries and forced a fumble
• Led Madison County High School to back-to-back 1A state championship titles compiling 155 tackles, 52 solos and 11 sacks over his final two seasons
• A three-star prospect by ESPN, ranked 63rd at defensive tackle
• Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports, ranked 88th at position
Lorenzo Lingard (6-0 | 210 | Running Back | Orange City, Fla. | University HS | Florida)
• Appeared in 32 games for Florida, registering 150 yards rushing on 26 carries
• Earned his bachelor's degree in education sciences from Florida in Fall 2022
• Has played in 10 games this season primarily on special teams, while rushing for 75 yards on 10 carries, including five carries for 45 yards and a touchdown vs. Eastern Washington (Oct. 2).
• Saw action all 13 games in 2021, appearing as a reserve running back in four games with 11 total carries for 43 yards and one reception for nine yards
• Played in nine games in 2020
• Saw action in two games at Miami in 2019 and was later redshirted.
• Played in six games as a true freshman at Miami in 2018 before suffering leg injury that derailed rookie season, rushing 17 times for 136 yards with two touchdowns and long rush of 64 yards
• Consensus five-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com
• Rated as No. 2 running back in the country by 247Sports.com
• Listed as 25th-best prospect in nation and sixth-best recruit in state of Florida by 247Sports.com
• Ranked as No. 4 running back, No. 18 recruit in Florida and the 60th overall prospect nationally by ESPN.com
• Rated second-best running back, fourth-best recruit in Florida and 13th recruit nationally by Rivals.com
• Selected to 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio
• Rushed for more than 2,500 career yards in high school, including gaining 1,701 yards on 207 carries and scored 26 touchdowns as senior en route to Gatorade Florida Player of the Year honors
Ahmad Rabah (6-5 | 215 | Defensive Lineman | Paterson, N.J. | Passaic County Technical Institute | American International College (Mass.))
• Appeared in 40 games for American International College recording 103 tackles, including 53 solo stops and 50 assisted tackles, while tallying 18.0 sacks and 22.5 tackles for a loss
• Played in nine games this season en route to tallying 40 tackles (21 solo and 19 assisted), nine sacks and 11 tackles for a loss
• Added 40 and 23 tackles, respectively, during the 2020 and 2021 campaigns
HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES
Kameron Cheatom (6-4 | 220 | Defensive Lineman | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Brashear HS)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Brashear High School
• Ranked as a Top-35 player in Pennsylvania this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
Conner Cravaack (6-5 | 220 | Tight End | Cincinnati, Ohio | Madeira HS)
• Helped lead Madeira High School to an 11-2 record in 2022
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Madeira High School
• Ranked as a Top-100 player in Ohio this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
Bruno Dall (6-8 | 230 | Defensive Lineman | Hamburg, Germany | St. Stanislaus (Miss.) HS)
• Helped lead St. Stanislaus High School to a 7-5 record in 2022
• Recorded 81 total tackles, including 38 solo stops and 5.0 sacks as a senior
Jayvin James (6-6 | 260 | Offensive Lineman | Pompano Beach, Fla. | Blanche Ely HS)
• Helped lead Blanche Ely High School to a 10-1 record in 2022
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Blanche Ely High School
Jean Louis III (5-9 | 180 | Wide Receiver | New York, N.Y. | Canarsie HS)
• Helped lead Canarsie High School to a 10-3 record as a senior
Jonas Mann (6-8 | 295 | Offensive Lineman | Pickerington, Ohio | Pickerington North HS)
• Helped guide Pickerington North High School to a 7-5 record in 2022
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Pickerington North High School
• Ranked as a Top-100 player in Ohio this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
Marcus Moore (6-3 | 310 | Defensive Lineman | Massillon, Ohio | Massillon Washington HS)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Massillon Washington High School
• Ranked as a Top-90 player in Ohio this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
• Recorded 21 tackles, including seven solo stops as a senior
• Owns 48 tackles, including 17 solo stops and 2.5 sacks over the past two campaigns
Adrian Norton (6-1 | 195 | Wide Receiver | Huber Heights, Ohio | Stebbins HS)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Stebbins High School
• Ranked as a Top-90 player in Ohio this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
• Registered 1,062 career yards as a prep standout en route to scoring 21 touchdowns, including 13 through the air
Darius Owens (6-0 | 175 | Safety | Snellville, Ga. | South Gwinnett HS)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at South Gwinnett High School
• Posted 56 total tackles as a senior, including 19 solo stops and 37 assisted tackles, while adding three tackles for a loss
Melvin Spriggs (6-3 | 215 | Linebacker | Baton Rouge, La. | St. Michael the Archangel (Va.) HS)
• A team captain at St. Michael the Archangel High School in Fredericksburg, Va.
• Ranked as a Top-50 player in Virginia this recruiting cycle by MaxPreps.
Zayden Laing-Taylor (6-0 | 185 | Cornerback | Miami, Fla. | Miami Central HS)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Miami Central High School
• Helped lead the Rockets to a 14-0 record as a senior
• Posted 18 tackles and one interception in 2022, as part of 39 career tackles, including 31 solo stops
Steele Wasel (6-4 | 210 | Quarterback | Chocktaw, Okla. | Chocktaw HS)
• Passed for 3,325 and 38 touchdowns as a senior at Chocktaw High School
• Led the Yellowjackets to an 11-2 record as a senior
Catrell White (5-10 | 170 | Cornerback | New York, N.Y. | Erasmus Hall HS)
• Helped lead Erasmus Hall High School to an 11-2 record in 2022
ABOUT ZIPS ATHLETICS
Founded in 1870, The University of Akron (UA) is one of Ohio's most influential public urban research universities, conducting high-quality research in focused areas of excellence, contributing to the vitality of the local economy, and providing a workforce highly trained in diverse disciplines. The University offers more than 200-degree programs, including unique, highly ranked associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral and law degrees — with accreditations by 35 professional agencies. UA is focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, investment in community and economic growth. Akron sponsors 17 NCAA Division I sports with more than 500 student-athletes. Learn more at gozips.com.
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