Cruz Tops the Zips signing day list!

[thesaviormattlawton]

Zips Football Recruiting Class Rated Tops in the MAC
Rivals.com and Scout.com rank UA's 2005 class first in the league

Feb. 5, 2005

AKRON, Ohio - According to a pair of the national collegiate football scouting services, the Akron Zips hauled in the top recruiting class in the Mid-American Conference with Wednesday's signing of 24 student-athletes to national letters of intent.

Scout.com has the Zips' 2005 class ranked No. 1 among the 14 schools which played football in the MAC in 2004, and No. 69 nationally. The Zips are ahead of such high-profile progams as Utah (71) and Boise State (73), and just behind Big 12 Conference members Oklahoma State and Baylor, each tied for No. 64.

Akron is also first in the conference on the Rivals.com list. The Zips come in tied for 82nd nationally with Northern Illinois. University of Central Florida (71) and Marshall (77) are ranked ahead of the Zips and NIU, but both schools are headed for Conference USA in the fall.

Head coach J.D. Brookhart, who enters his second season, and his staff recruited three players ranked among the 50 nationally at their position, according to Rivals.com. Jose Crúz (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort HS) is ranked No. 36 in the nation among tight ends, Zack Anderson (Lester, Pa./Interboro HS) is rated No. 44 among offensive tackles and Carlton Jackson (Pompano Beach, Fla./Blanche Ely HS) is ranked 50th in the athlete category, though he will play quarterback in the fall.

[El-Moldo]

ZIP-a-dee-doo-dah, ZIP-a-dee-yay.

[Heaven&Hoops]

Why the switch from North Carolina to Akron? Seems like a big change of plans.

[Lion-line05]

Rather be a Big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big Pond!!!

[El-Moldo]

In the winter, when small ponds freeze over, the big fish often die do to lack of oxygen. Then when the ice melts you find them floating near the shore.

[Eaglealum]

The "pond" in the MAC is plenty big enough for a d-6 er. Face it, college standouts are 20 years apart around here. If we get a few guys a year to a d-1 program and actually stick for more than a cup of coffe, we oughtta be happy.