The University of Akron Athletics
2019 Akron Football Roster
Ward, Josh

Jersey Number 8
Josh Ward
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 225
- Class:
- Redshirt Senior
- Hometown:
- Delray Beach, Fla.
- High School:
- American Heritage HS
Bio
As a Redshirt Senior (2019): Selected to participate in the SPIRAL Tropical Bowl ... started all 12 games at outside linebacker ... finished career tied with teammate John Lako at No. 2 all-time in most games played (50) ... had 48 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks, two hurries, a break-up, and a blocked kick ... against Ohio, had seven tackles and assisted on a sack ... at Miami, had two solo tackles and a hurry ... against Eastern Michigan, had four tackles ... at Northern Illinois, had five tackles and a seven-yard sack, the fourth sack of his career and his second of the season ... against Buffalo, had three tackles and blocked a field goal ... against Kent State, had four tackles and a sack for a loss of two yards ... at UMass, had five tackles ... against Troy, had three tackles, including a TFL ... at Central Michigan, had four tackles and a break-up ... against UAB, had six tackles ... at Illinois, had four tackles ... 2019 preseason fourth-team All-MAC by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
As a Redshirt Junior (2018): Played in all 12 games with 11 starts at defensive end … had 33 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks, and two forced fumbles on the season ... in the win over Morgan State, had two solo tackles and a sack for a loss of five yards ... in the stunning win at Northwestern, had three tackles, an eight-yard sack, and a forced fumble which was recovered by Ulysees Gilbert for a touchdown ... against Miami, had three tackles, a TFL, and a forced fumble ... in the win over Central Michigan, had two tackles and a hurry ... against Northern Illinois, had six tackles and assisted on a sack for a loss of four yards ... at Eastern Michigan, had three tackles ... had five tackles at Ohio ... at South Carolina, had three tackles, assisting Jamal Davis on a 10-yard sack ... lettered … wore jersey #8 this fall after wearing #52 for two seasons.
As a Redshirt Sophomore (2017): Played in all 14 games with one start at defensive end … finished with 25 tackles, three hurries, and a break-up … in the Boca Raton Bowl, had three tackles … had four tackles at Toledo … in the win at Western Michigan, had two tackles … in the MAC win at Bowling Green, had three tackles, a break-up, and a hurry … four tackles against Iowa State … had two solo stops at No. 6 Penn State … lettered.
As a Redshirt Freshman (2016): Played in all 12 games … also saw action on the punt and kickoff return units … on the season, had six tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble … at Ohio, had his first career sack in the second quarter for a loss of six yards … also forced a fumble … had two tackles in the win at Marshall … lettered.
As a Freshman (2015): Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year … redshirted.
High School: Four-year letterwinner at linebacker and defensive end for coach Stacey Sizemore at American Heritage HS … Max Preps All-American … All-County selection … Defensive Player of the Year … helped team to the 2011 state championship … as a senior, had 81 tackles and 24 sacks.
Personal: Born December 29, 1996 … parents are Brad and Janet Ward … has two sisters– Patricia and Melissa … would like to go to law school … sales management major.
As a Redshirt Junior (2018): Played in all 12 games with 11 starts at defensive end … had 33 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks, and two forced fumbles on the season ... in the win over Morgan State, had two solo tackles and a sack for a loss of five yards ... in the stunning win at Northwestern, had three tackles, an eight-yard sack, and a forced fumble which was recovered by Ulysees Gilbert for a touchdown ... against Miami, had three tackles, a TFL, and a forced fumble ... in the win over Central Michigan, had two tackles and a hurry ... against Northern Illinois, had six tackles and assisted on a sack for a loss of four yards ... at Eastern Michigan, had three tackles ... had five tackles at Ohio ... at South Carolina, had three tackles, assisting Jamal Davis on a 10-yard sack ... lettered … wore jersey #8 this fall after wearing #52 for two seasons.
As a Redshirt Sophomore (2017): Played in all 14 games with one start at defensive end … finished with 25 tackles, three hurries, and a break-up … in the Boca Raton Bowl, had three tackles … had four tackles at Toledo … in the win at Western Michigan, had two tackles … in the MAC win at Bowling Green, had three tackles, a break-up, and a hurry … four tackles against Iowa State … had two solo stops at No. 6 Penn State … lettered.
As a Redshirt Freshman (2016): Played in all 12 games … also saw action on the punt and kickoff return units … on the season, had six tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble … at Ohio, had his first career sack in the second quarter for a loss of six yards … also forced a fumble … had two tackles in the win at Marshall … lettered.
As a Freshman (2015): Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year … redshirted.
High School: Four-year letterwinner at linebacker and defensive end for coach Stacey Sizemore at American Heritage HS … Max Preps All-American … All-County selection … Defensive Player of the Year … helped team to the 2011 state championship … as a senior, had 81 tackles and 24 sacks.
Personal: Born December 29, 1996 … parents are Brad and Janet Ward … has two sisters– Patricia and Melissa … would like to go to law school … sales management major.
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