Meet the Zips: Akron football roster and its depth chart
According to renowned sports statistician Jeff Sagarin, there are 167 teams in college football better than the Akron Zips this season.
That's no surprise given that Akron has won two games since 2019.
Still, Akron has some notable players on its roster.
Arguably Akron's best player is senior linebacker Bubba Arslanian. He is tied for 30th in solo tackles per game in the Football Bowl Subdivision. On the season he leads Akron with 37 total tackles. Michigan State transfer Jeslord Boateng is second with 21.
On offense, quarterback DJ Irons made his first college start against Bryant last week. In the game, Irons was dynamic. He completed 19 of 23 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns and ran the ball 15 times for 136 yards and another score.
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On the season, the 6-foot-6 Irons has completed 75.9 percent of his passes for 534 yards, five touchdowns and an interception. He also leads the Zips in rushing with 165 yards. And yet, there is some uncertainty about Irons starting against Ohio State. Akron’s leading receiver is Michael Mathison, who has 18 receptions for 230 yards and a touchdown this season.
What could the starting lineup look like against the Buckeyes?
Here’s a quick look at the Akron roster depth chart vs. Ohio State
Coach: Tom Arth
Third season: 2-19
Career: 51-40
Projected depth chart
Offense
Coordinator: Bryan Gasser
POS;NO.;PLAYER;HT;WT;YR
LT;77;Xavior Gray;6-9;315;Fr.
;76;Nate Williams;6-6;305;Fr.
LG;76;Nate Williams;6-6;305;Fr.
;63;Alex Robarge;6-5;313;Fr.
C;66;Ryan Beckman;6-3;285;Fr
;65;Tony Georges;6-2;285;Fr.
RG;75;Jordan Daniels;6-5;292;Fr.
;68;Deacon Allen;6-1;263;Fr.
RT;73;Owen Murphy;6-6;300;Fr.
;76;Nate Williams;6-6;305;Fr.
TE;25;Tristian Brank;6-4;248;Fr.
;11;Nik Ognenovic;6-5;252;So.
WR;3;Michael Mathison;5-10;180;So.
;16;Tony Grimes Jr.;5-8;167;Fr.
WR;4;George Qualls Jr.;6-2;185;Jr.
;88;Timothy Scippio;6-2;205;Jr.
WR;9;Konata Mumphield;6-1;178:Fr.
;13;Oran Singleton;5-11;168;Fr.
QB;0;DJ Irons;6-6;215;So.
;1;Kato Nelson;6-1;212;Sr.
RB;6;Jonzell Norrils;5-10;200;Fr.
;2;Anthony Williams Jr.6-1;195;;Fr.
Defense
Coordinator: Matt Feeney
POS;NO.;PLAYER;HT;WT;YR
DE;3;Zach Morton;6-4;260;Jr.
;6;Curtis Fann Jr.;6-3;250;Fr.
DT;0;Bryce Wilson;6-3;285;So.
;98;Logan Hawkins;6-2;285;So..
DE;45;Ryan McClain;6-4;240;Jr.
;4;Ryan Johnson;6-4;250;So.
OLB;5;Michael Scott;6-3;245;Jr.
;17;Juan Jarrett;6-1;192;Fr.
ILB;27;Bubba Arslanian;5-10;215;Jr.
;59;Andrew Behm;6-1;212;;Fr.
ILB;9;Jeslord Boateng;6-1;230;So.
;20;Michael Snowden;6-2;200;Fr.
OLB;7;Julian Richardson;6-3;227;So.
;2;Corey Thomas Jr.;6-4;220;Fr.
CB;13;Chu Ogbonna;6-2;185;Jr.
;34;Tyson Durant;6-0;175;Fr.
SS;12;Charles Amankwaa;5-11;168;So.
;39;DiMarco Johnson;6-1;201;Fr.
FS;29;Jalen Hooks;6-2;195;Jr.
;1;Randy Cochran;6-0;193;So.
CB;8;Jaylen Kelly-Powell;6-0;180;Sr.
;18;A.J. Watts;6-1;193;So.
Special teams
POS;NO.;PLAYER;HT;WT;YR
K;12;Cory Smigel;5-8;150;So.
;47;Jerry Fitschen;6-0;210;Sr.
P;46;Ethan Slike;6-0;182;So.
;42;Kyle Romenick;6-2;207;Fr.
LS;41;Tyler Rieger;6-0;208;Fr.
;50;Kyle Bauman;5-11;215;So.
H;42;Kyle Romenick;6-2;207;Fr.
KR;3;Michael Mathison;5-10;180;So.
;13;Oran Singleton;5-11;168;Fr.
PR;3;Michael Mathison;5-10;180;So.
;13;Oran Singleton;5-11;168;Fr.
Akron statistics
SCORING;1;2;3;4
Akron;21;10;0;38
Opponents;20;48;37;14
Akron total: 69/ Avg.: 23.0
Opp total: 119/ Avg.: 39.7
PER-GAME AVERAGES
Rushing 128.7
Passing 226.0
vs. rush 174.0
vs. pass 223.0
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: DJ Irons, 31 att, 165 yds (5.3 avg), 2 TD; Jonzell Norrils 36 att, 114 yds (3.2 avg); Anthon Williams, 15 att, 75 (5.0 avg.) 1 TD; Kato Nelson, 21 att, 19 yds (0.9 avg)
Passing: DJ Irons, 44 of 58 (75.9 pct) 534 yds, 5 TD, 1 INT; Kato Nelson, 16 of 26 (61.5 pct) 144 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: Michael Mathison, 18 rec, 230 yds (12.8 avg) 1 TD; Konat Mumpfield, 11 rec, 108 yds (9.8 yds) 2 TD; Tristian Brank, 6 rec, 77 yds (12.83); George Qualls Jr., 5 rec, 70 yds (14.0 avg); Tony Grimes Jr., 5 rec, 66 yds (13.2 avg) 1 TD; Anthony Williams Jr., 5 rec, 49 yds (9.8 avg); Jonzell Norrils, 5 rec, 28 yds (5.6 avg) 1 TD; Oran Singleton Jr., 4 rec, 49 yds (12.3 avg) 1 TD
Kick scoring: Cory Smigel, 2-2 FG, 9-9 EP, 15 pts
Tackles: Bubba Arslanian, 37 (16 solo); Jeslord Boateng, 20 (10); Jaylen Kelly-Powell, 14 (8); Charles Amankwaa, 11 (7); Randy Cochran Jr., 11 (6); A.J. Watts 9 (7); Jalen Hooks, 9 (7); Bryce Wilson 8 (3)
Interceptions-yds: None
Sacks-yds lost: Michael Scott 1.5-15; Jeslord Boateng 0.5-5
Punting: Ethan Slike, 9 att, 49.6 avg