Yardbarker: Akron Zips

Tomorrow Is Akron Pro Day

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:15:56 -0500

Akron’s Pro Day is tomorrow. Dynasty represents both Andrew Johnson (RB) and Kevin Grant (ILB). Check out these Kevin Grant facts:

On 1/26/09, right before starting his diet and the training regimen at Athletes Advantage:

weight- 250.9
lean body mass- 205.66
body fat weight- 45.14
body fat %- 18

3/13/09, after sticking to his diet and finishing up the training program:

weight- 242
lean body mass- 215.38
body fat weight- 26.62
body fat %- 11

Over the last 6 weeks, Kevin has added 9.72lbs of lean body mass (lean muscle) and18.52lbs of body fat.

Yeah, I won’t be sleeping much tonight.

Dynasty 2009 NFL Prospect: Kevin Grant

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:02:43 -0500

Kevin Grant

Kevin Grant #30 Akron University

Dynasty Football 2009 NFL Draft Prospect

Kevin Grant is a 6?2 250-pound senior inside linebacker for the Akron Zips. He led the Zips' in tackles this past season and possesses an uncanny ability to find the football. Kevin's extreme dedication and leadership allowed him to play and start in ALL forty-nine Akron football games over the past four years. Kevin truly is half man, half machine.

Growing up in Herndon, Virginia, Kevin attended Herndon High School, where he was a two-sport athlete playing football and basketball. As a senior, Grant Earned first-team all-district, all-region and All-?State. He was also named to the 2003 George Michael "Golden 11? and ?honored as the Defensive Player of the Year for his district and region. Upon leaving high school, Grant ?broke the Herndon single-season tackle record with 139 stops in ?2003.

He decided to take his studies and athletics to the University of Akron Zips. While Virginia Tech and many other great institutions were looking at Kevin's talents, he ultimately chose Akron.

He took a redshirt the 2004 season, until his redshirt freshman season in 2005, when he started in all 13 games at the bandit ?position in the Zips tough defense. By the end of the season Kevin was fourth on the team in tackles with 73 and ranked third in ?sacks with 4.5. He recorded a season-high seven solo tackles at Middle ?Tennessee State, and finished with eight total stops on the night. He was honored as a third team CollegeFootballNews.com Freshman All-?American and The Sporting News Honorable Mention Freshman All-?American team and ended the season earning the Harry "Doc" Smith Award as the top freshman on the ?Zips squad.

After an impressive redshirt freshman season, Kevin The Machine Grant did only better in his 2006 sophomore campaign. He started all 12 games at middle linebacker and ranked second ?on the team with 87 tackles overall, one shy of team leader John Mackey's ?88. He was tied for second on the team with eight tackles ?for losses. The Machine continued his consistency in tackling and ranked 22nd in the MAC with an average of 7.2 ?tackles per game. He had an impressive day at Kent State, earning a career high 15 tackles, including career-high eight solo stops. KG ended the season as the defense's Most Valuable Back ?(Linebackers and Secondary) by the Akron coaching staff for the 2006 ?season.

The following season Kevin showed his toughness and dedication all year long, leading the team on defense starting and playing in all 12 games. He ranked third on the team with 74 stops. The machine recorded 11 tackles at Indiana, and had double digit stops with 10 at Bowling Green, leading all Zips. Kevin anchored the defense and had at least six tackles in a game ?eight times and at least one tackle for loss in four of Akron's last ?six games, including two each at Buffalo, at Bowling Green and at ?Miami. After the end of the 2007 season he was rewarded for his hard work and leadership by earning third team All-MAC from the league's ?coaches.

Prior to the Zips 2008 season Kevin was tabbed preseason second team All-Mid-American Conference ?by Athlon and was nominated as a captain on defense. When the season got underway the true terminator came out in Kevin as he continued to lead the team playing and starting in every game and recorded a team leading 85 tackles including 50 solo stops. Kevin additionally led the squad with 8.5 tackles for loss and with 4.0 sacks. Grant amassed 319 tackles in his career, making him 18th-best among active NCAA players. He earned 36.0 career tackles for losses putting him 21st among active NCAA players. The machine ranks in the Top 25 in tackles and tackles for loss in the NCAA.

The Machine amazingly started and played in ALL 49 games during his collegiate career and was donned captain during his senior season. This shows that he has a lot of leadership abilities and is mentally tough to play throughout the entire year. At the NFL level, the seasons are longer and the games are much tougher. Kevin's stats show that he has what it takes to stay healthy for an entire season, physically and mentally; something that many amazing college players cannot claim (Knowshon Moreno, Chris Wells, Percy Harvin). With the assets he already has along with his continued drive to improve his speed and overall abilities, Grant has tremendous upside. Kevin's consistency and determination on and off the field will make him an asset to any NFL team.

We are extremely excited about the addition of Kevin to the Dynasty family. Go ahead and check out his new website: http://dynastyreps.com/grant/

Please direct all media/interview inquiries to: press@dynastyreps.com

Akron vs SU: The (very sad) recap

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:41:54 -0500

There is just one thing I'd like to ask Athletic Director Dr. Daryl Gross after watching Akron beat Syracuse. Do you still think keeping this head coach of yours is a good move?

Akron vs SU: First half impression

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:29:52 -0500

All I can say after having watched the first half of the game between Akron and Syracuse is: "Wow!"

Akron vs SU: Final Thoughts

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:26:09 -0500

As the game is about to begin I give you my "Final Thoughts" on it. Just like the "First Thoughts" I did at the beginning of the week, these too are random and just off the top of my head as I think about the game.

Akron vs SU: The Preview

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:39:17 -0500

It is that painful time of the week yet again, where we look at the near future and try to figure out what Syracuse will do against their next opponent.

GAME - Akron Zips @ Ohio Bobcats 11-22-2008

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:48:16 -0500

GAME - Ball State Cardinals @ Akron Zips 09-13-2008

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:48:12 -0500

GAME - Akron Zips @ Syracuse Orange 09-06-2008

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:47:56 -0500

GAME - Akron Zips @ Army Black Knights 09-20-2008

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:47:36 -0500

Another interview with Da Beat of N.Y.

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:04:01 -0500

It is Thursday and that means that once again we catch up with the man who is going to talk Syracuse all year long in this blog, Da Beat of N.Y., and I am sure he is going to have a lot to say when it comes to the Akron game.

Akron vs Syracuse: First Thoughts

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:28:29 -0500

Well, it's about time to let go of the past, aka the Northwestern game, and begin the focus on the game against this week's opponents the Akron Zips. As will happen every Tuesday before the game there will be First Thoughts, a blog where I will just give some thoughts about the game.

Former Buckeye Commit Lands With Zips

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:44:18 -0500

DeVoe Torrence probably envisioned himself breaking tackles and scoring touchdowns against Wisconsin this upcoming season. Although he will be able to do that, it just won't be on a primetime night game in Madison on October 4, when Ohio State faces the Badgers. Instead, Torrence will be suiting up for the Akron Zips on August 30 against the Badgers in Camp Randall Stadium. The former Buckeye commit, Torrence has been put on scholarship by Akron, after recently being found not guilty on charges of having sex with underage girls, along with a bunch of his fellow students at Massillon Washington High School. Jim Tressel's staff took his scholarship off the table when charges were brought against Torrence earlier in the year. DeVoe, the younger brother of OSU receiver/defensive back Devon Torrence, was a 4-star recruit, and may be the most talented recruit to ever play for the Zips. Of course Jason Taylor is the most successful NFL player from the school, and DeVoe is hoping he can follow in a similar path. Torrence joined the team on August 3, when camp opened and should compete for immediate playing time.

How Good are these Akron Zips

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:27:57 -0500

The Akron Zips football team is off to a good start this season with a 3-3 record. Like me, at first glance, most people would consider a 3-3 record as a big disappointment. Digging deeper into the Zips three losses tells a different story.

USF Proves Florida is Tops in Football

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:39:28 -0500

Being from Ohio it's unthinkable for me to believe that any other state, be it CA, PA, TX or FL is more dominant than Ohio when it comes to High School football. Kirk Herbstreit is definitely on this same page. But what proves that both Kirk and Swope Blog are wrong is the emergence of the University of South Florida football program. They clearly prove that Florida is the dominant state in high school football.

Rubber Bowl's Days May Be Numbered

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:29:05 -0500

With the University of Akron preparing to build a new on-campus football stadium, the days of the Rubber Bowl may be numbered....the Akron Beacon-Journal takes a look back at the old football stadium..... http://stilespoints.blogspot.com/