Akron Zips football coach Joe Moorhead gives insight after spring practices

University of Akron football coach Joe Moorhead said April 25 his team is in “a discovery mode” after the Zips had their 15th and final spring practice ahead of the 2026 season.

Akron football players wore practice uniforms with helmets and pads Saturday as they took part in a Spring Showcase at InfoCision Stadium.

No score was kept as the offense played against the defense. Touchdowns were scored, extra point and field goal kicks were converted, tackles were made and a few turnovers happened, too, in a scrimmage.

More Akron Zips coverage: Akron football ends best season in nearly a decade with win, Jordan Gant milestone

The Akron Beacon Journal spoke with Moorhead after the scrimmage, and asked him his thoughts on the team.

“Our three goals as a team heading into the spring were, No. 1, develop an identity and we wanted that to be based on our preparation, our physicality, our precision and our persistence,” Moorhead said. “No. 2, we wanted to do a great job attacking situational football, explosive plays, [forcing] turnovers, third down, red zone and then special teams. And lastly and most importantly, we needed to improve every practice. As an individual, as a position group, as a side of the ball and as a team, we needed to step off the field better than we stepped on it.

“I think for the most part, outside of a couple days that were up and down, we really took the positive steps forward and were able to achieve those goals.”

Moorhead said the Zips are “going to end up replacing roughly 40 scholarship players of our 85” because of players graduating or transferring. Three of Akron’s top returning players are running back Jordan Gant, wide receiver Marcel Williams and defensive lineman Cyrus Durham.

Moorhead said Akron has 82 players on scholarship, with three spots to fill.

Here are five other takeaways from Moorhead on the Zips, who open the season Sept. 3 at Wake Forest, Sept. 12 at home against Robert Morris, Sept. 19 at Minnesota and Sept. 26 at home versus UNLV. Kickoff times are to be determined.

What do you think about Akron’s offense after 15 spring football practices?

“I am excited about the offense,” Moorhead said. “We lost Ben Finley to graduation, we returned all of our running backs, lost [wide receiver] Israel Polk to Oklahoma State, [tight end] Jake Newell to Toledo and four linemen with a ton of production – Keylen Davis to Pitt, Maasai King to Iowa State, Kenneth McManus IV to Auburn and Delvin Morris to Kansas State.

“… We’ve made a ton of progress over 15 opportunities this spring. Obviously, lost a bunch of good players to either graduation or the portal, and brought some guys in at mid-year. I think over the course of 15 practices, we took a lot of positive steps.

“Marcel Williams is a returning all-league player. Jordan Gant is a 1,000 yard rusher. Colin Lyons is a guy on the offensive line that’s been really steady along with Allen Jones Jr., and I think Reese Poffenbarger, the quarterback we brought in from North Texas, has done a really nice job.”

Poffenbarger has previously been at Old Dominion, Albany, Miami (Florida) and North Texas.

What do you think about Akron’s defense after 15 spring football practices?

“Hit hard again. Lost [linemen] Bruno Dall to UCF and Julien Laventure to Texas Tech, a couple linebackers, Elijah Reed to Utah, so same thing. In this portal era, you have to be prepared for attrition and bringing guys in, but I think we’re young at a couple places, but I think the defense is like the offense and took some positive steps forward.

“… On the defensive front, Ronald Hull as an interior defensive tackle, and Cyrus Durham did the best job this spring. Linebacker is really a complete position battle with Gage Summers leaving, and then we lost Melvin Spriggs to the portal [and Southern Mississippi], Markus Boswell to the portal [and Texas] and Rich Benenge to the portal [and Albany], so there’s really good competition there. Kind of the same thing at defensive back. Mehki Flowers is playing well, Aamii Branch is playing well, Terence Thomas is playing well and we are getting Catrell White back and healthy.”

What do you think about Akron’s special teams after 15 spring football practices?

“Matt Schramm returns as the kicker and he’s in a nice position battle with Aidan Stire,” Moorhead said. “Joey Castle is coming back as our punter. He is returning and doing a good job, and then we have a couple long snappers battling there. We are still looking to bring in one or two bodies to help in the position battles [on special teams].”

Which positions on the Akron football team have the most experience?

“Offensively, our deepest and I think most talented positions are running back and wideout,” Moorhead said. “You have Jordan Gant as your starter and a returning 1,000-yard rusher, and then behind him is Sean Patrick, who technically until he got hurt, was a starter and was having a heck of a season. He’s had a really nice spring. And then Marquese Williams, the transfer from Minnesota, and then Taven Curry [a transfer from UAB and Louisiana-Monroe], we are essentially four-deep there with guys who could go in and play high level football.

“Marcel Williams coming back at wide receiver is an all-league guy, like Gant. That is our two returning all-league guys on offense. Kyan Mason played a lot of really good football for us last year. … Cameron Monteiro played some. Luke Sivon played a little bit at the end of the year, and then we got a couple transfers, one from Old Dominion [Titus Myers], one from Charlotte [Miles Burris] and then a junior college kid [Gentz Hilburn]. At tight end, we have Conner Cravaack. Conner played a ton last year, and we brought in a junior college kid [Elijah Alexander] and a transfer from Michigan State [Wyatt Hook].”

Which positions on the Akron football team have the least experience?

“We have two guys who started games on the offensive line, but the rest of it is probably the least experienced,” Moorhead said. “Our defensive line, outside of Cyrus, Ronald and Jon’Trell Mixon, to a certain extent, is inexperienced. The least experienced position on the defense is linebacker and it is not close. We don’t have a guy that started a game at that position right now.”

Moorhead added defensive lineman Kiawan Murphy and defensive back Ben Kamara transferred to Western Kentucky and North Dakota, respectively.

Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron football coach Joe Moorhead says team in ‘discovery mode’