Nick Gerogosian of VandelaySports.com is the MAC Daddy – for years he has covered the Mid-American Conference with all a fanatic’s passion and a beat reporter’s attention to detail. He again joins Fantasy College Blitz to prepare you for your draft like no one else can.

Akron RB Alex Allen (10) stiff arms Penn State LB Sean Lee (45) and knocks him down. (Icon SMI)

New coach Ron Ianello comes to Akron from Notre Dame to kick start a program that has to be considered a ‘sleeping giant.’  The Zips have a beautiful new InfoCision Stadium that sat half-full during its inaugural season.  After winning the MAC in 2005 Akron has won just 17 games during the past four seasons. The talent is there, the hotbed recruiting areas of Ohio and western Pennsylvania are in place, and the facilities are the best in the league ~ so now it’s up to Ianello to catapult this perennial underachiever into a consistent winner.

The Team

Akron returns their top two QBs, Patrick Nicely and Matt Rodgers.  Nicely threw for over 1,300 yards and six TDs as a true freshman after Rodgers was injured early in the season.  While Broderick Alexander returns as the team leading rusher (just 198 yards in 2009), Alex Allen (right) was granted a sixth year of eligibility.  Adding depth to this unit is two-time Ohio Mr. Football Award winner Erick Howard. True freshman Giorgio Bowers will press for playing time too this fall.  WR Jeremy LaFrance is the leading returning receiver and three offensive linemen return led by LT Corey Woods.

Defensively the new coaching staff is implementing a 4-3 alignment and have three solid DLs to build on in Almondo Sewell, James Harvey and Hasan Hazime.  Sophomore LB Brian Wagner earned all-conference honors after producing 132 tackles last season.

The VerdictAkron entered the 2009 campaign with high hopes and with injuries and bad luck finished 3-9 so Coach JD Brookhart was dismissed.  This year’s team should be solid on defense and there are some offensive playmakers to push Akron over the .500 mark.  With a new coaching staff and an unproven running game, another sub-.500 mark is more likely. The running backs look like your best fantasy option with the upside edge to Erick Howard, Stark County’s Player of the Decade..

2010 Schedule & Prediction

Sept 4  Syracuse  W
Sept 11  Gardner-Webb  W
Sept 18  at Kentucky  L
Sept 25  at Indiana  L
Oct 2  NIU   L
Oct 9  at Kent State  L
Oct 16  at Ohio   L
Oct 23  Western Michigan W
Oct 30  at Temple  L
Nov 6  at Ball State  L
Nov 17  Miami (O)  W
Nov 26  Buffalo   W

5-7 Overall; 3-5 MAC

Related posts:

1. 2010 Bowling Green Falcons Preview
2. Eastern Michigan Eagles 2010 Preview
3. 2010 Ball State Cardinals Preview
4. 2010 Buffalo Bulls Preview
5. Ohio Bobcats 2010 Preview

Tags: Akron Zips, MAC, Zippy