The University of Akron Athletics

Zips add 11 on National Signing Day 2024
December 04 | Football
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron football program, under the leadership of third-year head coach Joe Moorhead, has unveiled a 11-member signing class for 2025.
Moorhead and his staff have assembled a talented 2025 early signing class comprised of one veteran transfer and 10 true freshmen.
TRANSFERS
Maasai King (6-3 | 300 | Junior | Offensive Lineman | Camden, N.J. | Camden Big Picture Learning Academy | Lackawanna College)
• In 2024, played in nine games for Lackawanna College
• In 2024, played in five games for Lackawanna College
HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES
Cibastian Broughton (5-11 | 175 | Quarterback | Orange Park, Fla. | Fleming Island High School)
• Consensus Three-Star recruit by 247Sports, On3, & ESPN, 29th Ranked Dual-Threat QB in the country by ESPN, 2nd Highest Ranked High School QB signed in Akron Football History by 247Sports
• 4 Year Varsity Starter at Fleming Island High School. Led team to State Playoffs Senior Year
• Senior Stats: Pass - 1,949yds, 21 TD / 2 INT, 65% Comp. | Rush - 943yds, 13 TD, 7.8 YPC, Career Stats: Pass - 6,394yds, 72 TD | Rush - 3,206yds, 32 TD | Total - 9,600yds, 104 TD
Jaiden Brown-Demery (6-2 | 310 | Defensive Lineman |Duquesne, Pa. | West Mifflin Area High School)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at West Mifflin Area High School
• Ranked as a Top 40 player in Pennsylvania and Top 150 player nationally in this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
Tairan Davis Jr. (5-10 | 185 | Safety | Youngstown, Ohio | Ursuline High School)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Ursuline High School
• Ranked as a Top 70 player in Ohio and Pennsylvania and Top 140 player nationally in this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
Jon Gould (6-5 | 270 | Offensive Lineman | Wichita, Kan. | Maize High School)
• Three-star recruit by Six Star Football at Maize High School
• Ranked No. 6 offensive lineman in Kansas and Top 35 player in Kansas
Gavin James (5-10 | 205 | Linebacker | Tallahassee, Fla. | Lincoln High School)
• Three-star recruit by On3 at Lincoln High School
• Recorded 90 tackles for 6.9 tackles per game, also registered 11 tackels for loss and four sacks
Vann Kavals (6-4 | 250 | Defensive Lineman | Bridgeville, Pa. | Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart
• Ranked as a Top 45 player in Pennsylvania and Top 250 nationally in the recruiting cycle by 247Sports.
Kenneth McManus IV (6-2 | 305 | Offensive Lineman | Washington, D.C. | St. John's College High School)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at St. John's College High School
• Ranked as a Top 10 offensive lineman in D.C. and Top 130 nationally in this recruiting cycle by 247Sports.
Devin Reeves (5-11 | 220 | Linebacker | Triangle, Va. | Hayfield High School)
• Three-star recruit by On3 at Hayfield High School
• Ranked as a Top 50 linebacker in Virginia by ESPN on On3 sports
Luke Sivon (6-0 | 195 | Wide receiver | Perry, Ohio | Perry High School
• 2023 State Champs 1st Team All Ohio WR, 1st Team All-District WR, Lake County Touchdown Club WR
2023: 46 Rec; 990 Rec yards; 21.5 YPC, 17 Total TDs, 5 INTs
Ty Watkins (6-3 | 230 | Defensive Lineman | Cincinnati, Ohio | Mt. Healthy High School)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Mt. Healthy High School
• Ranked as a Top 140 player in Ohio this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
Akron will kick off its 2025 campaign at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field against Wyoming on Thursday, August 28. The Zips 2025 schedule features six home games and six games on the road. Akron will battle Wyoming (Aug. 28), Duquesne (Sep. 20), Western Michigan, Kent State, Ohio and Ball State. The Zips will travel to play Nebraska (Sep. 6), UAB (Sept. 13), Central Michigan, Bowling Green, Buffalo and Miami. Note: All games subject to change and Mid-American Conference game dates will be announced in the future.
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.
Moorhead and his staff have assembled a talented 2025 early signing class comprised of one veteran transfer and 10 true freshmen.
TRANSFERS
Maasai King (6-3 | 300 | Junior | Offensive Lineman | Camden, N.J. | Camden Big Picture Learning Academy | Lackawanna College)
• In 2024, played in nine games for Lackawanna College
• In 2024, played in five games for Lackawanna College
HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES
Cibastian Broughton (5-11 | 175 | Quarterback | Orange Park, Fla. | Fleming Island High School)
• Consensus Three-Star recruit by 247Sports, On3, & ESPN, 29th Ranked Dual-Threat QB in the country by ESPN, 2nd Highest Ranked High School QB signed in Akron Football History by 247Sports
• 4 Year Varsity Starter at Fleming Island High School. Led team to State Playoffs Senior Year
• Senior Stats: Pass - 1,949yds, 21 TD / 2 INT, 65% Comp. | Rush - 943yds, 13 TD, 7.8 YPC, Career Stats: Pass - 6,394yds, 72 TD | Rush - 3,206yds, 32 TD | Total - 9,600yds, 104 TD
Jaiden Brown-Demery (6-2 | 310 | Defensive Lineman |Duquesne, Pa. | West Mifflin Area High School)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at West Mifflin Area High School
• Ranked as a Top 40 player in Pennsylvania and Top 150 player nationally in this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
Tairan Davis Jr. (5-10 | 185 | Safety | Youngstown, Ohio | Ursuline High School)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Ursuline High School
• Ranked as a Top 70 player in Ohio and Pennsylvania and Top 140 player nationally in this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
Jon Gould (6-5 | 270 | Offensive Lineman | Wichita, Kan. | Maize High School)
• Three-star recruit by Six Star Football at Maize High School
• Ranked No. 6 offensive lineman in Kansas and Top 35 player in Kansas
Gavin James (5-10 | 205 | Linebacker | Tallahassee, Fla. | Lincoln High School)
• Three-star recruit by On3 at Lincoln High School
• Recorded 90 tackles for 6.9 tackles per game, also registered 11 tackels for loss and four sacks
Vann Kavals (6-4 | 250 | Defensive Lineman | Bridgeville, Pa. | Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart
• Ranked as a Top 45 player in Pennsylvania and Top 250 nationally in the recruiting cycle by 247Sports.
Kenneth McManus IV (6-2 | 305 | Offensive Lineman | Washington, D.C. | St. John's College High School)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at St. John's College High School
• Ranked as a Top 10 offensive lineman in D.C. and Top 130 nationally in this recruiting cycle by 247Sports.
Devin Reeves (5-11 | 220 | Linebacker | Triangle, Va. | Hayfield High School)
• Three-star recruit by On3 at Hayfield High School
• Ranked as a Top 50 linebacker in Virginia by ESPN on On3 sports
Luke Sivon (6-0 | 195 | Wide receiver | Perry, Ohio | Perry High School
• 2023 State Champs 1st Team All Ohio WR, 1st Team All-District WR, Lake County Touchdown Club WR
2023: 46 Rec; 990 Rec yards; 21.5 YPC, 17 Total TDs, 5 INTs
Ty Watkins (6-3 | 230 | Defensive Lineman | Cincinnati, Ohio | Mt. Healthy High School)
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports at Mt. Healthy High School
• Ranked as a Top 140 player in Ohio this recruiting cycle by 247Sports
Akron will kick off its 2025 campaign at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field against Wyoming on Thursday, August 28. The Zips 2025 schedule features six home games and six games on the road. Akron will battle Wyoming (Aug. 28), Duquesne (Sep. 20), Western Michigan, Kent State, Ohio and Ball State. The Zips will travel to play Nebraska (Sep. 6), UAB (Sept. 13), Central Michigan, Bowling Green, Buffalo and Miami. Note: All games subject to change and Mid-American Conference game dates will be announced in the future.
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.
2025 Akron Zips Football - Weekly Press Conference w/Joe Moorhead Week #6 (C. Michigan) - 9/29/25
Monday, September 29
2025 Zips Weekly with Joe Moorhead - Episode #5 - Duquesne Recap - 09.23.25
Monday, September 22
2025 Akron Zips Football - Weekly Press Conference with Joe Moorhead Week #5 (Toledo) - 9/22/25
Monday, September 22
2025 Akron Zips Football Post-Game Press Conference vs. Duquesne - Student-Athletes - 9/20/25
Sunday, September 21