Zips Add 26 Players to Spring Roster

February 05 | Football

2026 Spring Roster

AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron football program has added 26 players to the spring roster as part of the second National Signing Day, head coach Joe Morehead announced Thursday, February 5.

Morehead and his staff previously signed a seven-member class in December 2025, which was comprised of one veteran transfer and six true freshmen. Four of those players have joined the Zips for spring football in 2026.

The second National Signing Day class includes two true freshmen and 24 transfers.

Has played at North Texas, Miami, Albany and Old Dominion.
Led the FCS in passing yards in 2023 and set the Albany single-season passing yards record. All-CAA Second Team Offense. Walter Payton Award Finalist. Stats Perform FCS All-America Third Team. FCS Football Central Third Team All-American. Phil Steele All-CAA Second Team.
2022 Jerry Rice Award Runner-up. CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year. All-CAA Third Team. ECAC Division I FCS Rookie of the Year. HERO Sports Freshman All-American. Phil Steele/Draft Scout 2022 Freshman All-American Second Team Offense.

Recently played at Michigan State from 2024-25.
Ranked one of the best High School tight ends in the country by ESPN.com (No. 48), 247Sports (No. 51) and On3 (No. 87).
Named the 2022 Peninsula Athletic League Receiver of the Year.

Played at Old Dominion, West Virginia State and Concord.
Recorded 29 tackles, one tackle for loss and five pass breakups at West Virginia State.
Started 10 games and recorded 15 tackles at Concord.

Recently played at Missouri.
Appeared in eight games, recorded three tackles and recovered one fumble.
Listed as the No. 96 and No. 118 cornerback nationally according to 247Sports.com and ESPN.com, respectively, out of high school.

Played at Florida International and Dodge City.
Appeared in nine games at FIU. Recorded 19 total tackles, seven solo & 12 assisted. Recorded 2.5 TFL for four yards. Recorded one sack for one yard.
Rang up a team-best 75 tackles, including 30 solo stops in his sophomore season at Dodge City. Recorded one sack and 3.5 TFL. Forced a fumble and recovered another. Recorded two interceptions and a pair of pass breakups.

Recently played at Miami (OH). Redshirted in 2025
Earned all-state as a senior in high school after recording 60 tackles and two interceptions.
Ran track, competing in the 4x100 and 4x400.

Recently played at Saint Francis (PA).
Redshirted in 2025

Played at Southern Miss, Troy and Tyler JC
Appeared in six games at Southern Miss in 2025.
Helped lead Flour Bluff to a regional title and an 11-3 record as a senior in high school. Also played basketball in high school

Recently played at West Virginia
Received the 2024 Groza Award, signifying the top specialist in the Ohio Valley out of high school
2024 AAAA First-Team All-State as a punter and defender on the soccer team.

Recently played at West Virginia.
Played cornerback and receiver in high school. As a senior, he had 16 touchdowns and finished with 1,478 all-purpose yards. Defensively, he had 37 tackles, two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, three pass breakups and did not allow a passing touchdown.
Rated a four-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports, On3 and a three-star by Rivals. ESPN ranked him as the No. 9 player in Ohio and No. 26 cornerback nationally.

Recently played at Clark Atlanta.
Appeared in 31 games. Recorded 118 total tackles, 58 solo & 60 assisted. Recorded 15 TFL for 61 yards. Recorded 5.5 sacks for 31 yards.

Played for Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Eastern University (Pa.) and Southern Connecticut State.
Appeared in 12 games at UAPB. Recorded 38 total tackles, 23 solo & 15 assisted. Recorded 4.5 TFL for 19 yards. Forced one fumble.
Earned Honorable Mention for defensive line at Eastern University. Recorded 42 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, two pass deflections, one fumble recovery, one quarterback hurry, and one blocked kick in his sophomore season.

Recently played at UNC Charlotte.
Appeared in 26 games. Made 19 receptions. Recorded 213 yards.
Rated a three-star prospect out of Trinity Christian by ON3, 24Sports, and Rivals. Totaled 119 receptions for 1,854 yards and 25 TDs in his career. Reached the FHSAA State Semifinals as a senior with 46 receptions for 640 yards and 12 TDs.

Recently played at Holy Cross.
Appeared in 22 games. Recorded 37 total tackles, 27 solo and 10 assisted. recorded seven pass breakups.

Played at South Dakota and Merrimack College.
Appeared in 13 games at South Dakota.
Played in 10 games at Merrimack College.

Elijah Alexander
TE | Oakland, Calif. | Laney College | 6'4'' | 235

Recently played at Laney College.
Appeared in eight games. Made a team-high 33 receptions. Averaged 4.1 receptions per game. Recorded 391 yards. Averaged 48.9 yards per game and 11.8 yards per catch. Caught four touchdowns.

Recently played at Missouri Southeastern State.
Appeared in 20 games on the offensive line. Started nine games in 2025.

Has played at West Texas A&M and Central Missouri.
Appeared in 12 games in 2025 for West Texas. Recorded three tackles.
Helped Central Missouri to a victory in the Heritage Bowl in 2024.

Recently played at Bethune-Cookman.
Played in 11 games on the offensive line.

Recently played at Southwestern CC.
Played in 20 games over two seasons. Recorded 111 total tackles. Had 7.5 TFL for 15 yards.

Recently played at Tyler JC.
Appeared in 11 games. recorded 53 receptions for 638 yards. averaged 12 yards per catch, 58 yards per game. Caught five touchdowns
Had 111 rushing yards on 16 attempts. Recorded one touchdown on the ground. Averaged 6.9 yards per rush.

Has played for Old Dominion and Iowa Western.
Appeared in five games at Old Dominion in 2025.
Led all Division I junior college wide receivers with 888 yards receiving and finished third with 54 receptions and fifth in touchdown receptions with nine in 2024.

Recently played at Hutchinson CC. Made the NJCAA National Championship in 2025.
Held offers from Colorado State and San Diego State coming out of high school.

Recently played at the College of San Mateo.
Played in 23 games over two seasons. Recorded 48 tackles. Had 12 TFL for 33 yards. Recorded three sacks for 17 yards. Forced three fumbles.

Played at Pasadena City College and the City College of San Francisco.
Played in 20 games at Pasadena City College. Recorded 63 tackles, 41 solo & 22 assisted. Recorded eight TFL for 26 yards. Recorded 3.5 sacks for 14 yards.

Rod Smith Jr.
DB | Sandy Creek HS | Tyrone , Ga | 5'10'' | 175

Recorded 146 total tackles, 75 solo & 71 assisted. Averaged 4.9 tackles per game. Recorded 8.5 TF. Had two interceptions. Recovered two fumbles in his career at Sandy Creek.

Akron will kick off its 2026 campaign at Allegacy Stadium against Wake Forest in early September. The Zips 2026 schedule features six home games and six games on the road. Akron will battle Robert Morris (Sept. 12) and UNLV (Sept. 26) at home before Mid-American Conference play begins. Note: All games subject to change and Mid-American Conference game dates will be announced in the future.

Season ticket are available now on gozips.com, 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.