CONTENTS n n n - of College Football Games
CONTENTS n n n - of College Football Games
CONTENTS n n n - of College Football Games
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The Un i v e r s i T y <strong>of</strong> Ak r o n • 2008 fo o T b A l l Me d i A GU i d e<br />
PLAYER BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES<br />
#8 Jos e cr u Z<br />
6-5, 235, So., TE<br />
Johnstown, Pa. (Bishop McCourt HS)<br />
Redshirt Freshman (2007): Played in all 12 games,<br />
both as a backup tight end and on the special teams,<br />
specifically PAT/FG and kick<strong>of</strong>f return where he helped<br />
Bryan Williams rank second in the NCAA in kick returns.<br />
Freshman (2006): Redshirted … Joined the team in<br />
January and competed in spring practice, but signed in<br />
Feb. 2005.<br />
Prior to Akron: A firstteam<br />
AA All-State selection<br />
as a senior ... Ranked<br />
No. 36 nationally among<br />
tight ends by Rivals.com<br />
... A first-team all-area pick<br />
by the Tribune-Democrat<br />
in 2004 after totaling 26<br />
catches for 266 yards ... A<br />
key blocker for the Crushers<br />
squad as a senior,<br />
which rushed for 2,285<br />
yards ... Helped lead the<br />
team to a 7-2 mark in 2004<br />
and a spot in the District<br />
5/6 title game ... Coached<br />
by Ken Salem.<br />
Personal: Born on May<br />
19, 1987 in Queens, N.Y. ...<br />
Son <strong>of</strong> Martha and James<br />
Bernard and Jose and Coquette<br />
Cruz.<br />
#52 mAr q u i n n dA v i s<br />
6-6, 285, RFr., DL<br />
Youngstown, Ohio (Youngstown Rayen HS)<br />
Named a Scholar-Baller for posting at least a 3.0 GPA<br />
for the 2007-08 academic year ... Also earned Dean’s<br />
List honors (at least a 3.25 GPA) for the Fall <strong>of</strong> 2007 and<br />
Spring <strong>of</strong> 2008 semesters.<br />
Freshman (2007): Redshirted.<br />
Prior to Akron: As a senior, recorded 35 tackles, including<br />
10 for losses … Led his team to a 7-3 record<br />
and a conference title in 2006 … Was a two-time, first<br />
team all-conference selection … Also participated in track.<br />
Personal: Born on March 26, 1989 in New Castle, Pa. … Son <strong>of</strong> Devida Davis.<br />
32<br />
#69 cAs e y es t r A d A<br />
6-4, 285, RJr., OL<br />
Folsom, Calif. (Sacramento City <strong>College</strong>/Folsom HS)<br />
Junior (2007): Redshirted … Graduated from Sac City<br />
in December 2006 and enrolled at Akron in January<br />
2007 … Participated in spring drills.<br />
Prior to Akron: Played one season at Sac City, earning<br />
first team All Mid-Empire Conference … The Panthers<br />
went 7-4 and won a conference championship.<br />
Personal: Born on November 11, 1986.<br />
Akron’s 66th and Final Season at the Rubber Bowl<br />
#15 Bri A n Fl A h e r t y<br />
6-4, 245, Sr., TE/LS<br />
Stow, Ohio (Stow-Munroe Falls HS)<br />
In the spring <strong>of</strong> 2008, was recipient <strong>of</strong> a $2,000 postgraduate<br />
scholarship, as awarded by the Northeastern<br />
Ohio Chapter <strong>of</strong> the National <strong>Football</strong> Foundation … A<br />
fifth-year senior for 2008, posted a 3.925 grade point<br />
average in the Fall <strong>of</strong> 2007 and owns a 3.825 GPA for<br />
his career in International Language Arts … Has earned<br />
Dean’s List recognition (at least a 3.25 PGA) all but one<br />
semester – a total <strong>of</strong> six times – during his career at<br />
Akron ... Named a Scholar-Baller in 2006-07 and 2007-08 for posting at least a<br />
3.0 GPA for those academic years.<br />
Junior (2007): Played in all 12 games, serving as the starting snapper for both<br />
PAT/FG and punts … Did not have any receptions, but was credited with a tackle<br />
in the Kent State and Miami games … Started the season as just the deep snapper<br />
for punts, but assumed duties for snapping both punts and placement kicks<br />
in the Kent State game … Through his help, Akron converted 25-<strong>of</strong>-26 extra<br />
points and 15-<strong>of</strong>-18 field goals during the 2007 season.<br />
Sophomore (2006): Played in nine games and earned his first career start in the<br />
Central Michigan contest … Also started at tight end versus Western Michigan<br />
... In addition to being a tight end, continued his role a the deep snapper … Took<br />
over as the starting<br />
snapper for PAT/FG<br />
in the Bowling Green<br />
contest and held the<br />
spot the remainder <strong>of</strong><br />
the season<br />
Redshirt Freshman<br />
(2005): Served<br />
as a member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
scout team ... The<br />
No. 2 long-snapper ...<br />
Moved from quarterback<br />
to tight end in<br />
the spring.<br />
Freshman (2004):<br />
Redshirted<br />
Prior to Akron: An alldistrict<br />
and All-WRC<br />
selection in 2002 and<br />
2003 ... Passed for<br />
1,714 yards and 13<br />
touchdowns (4 rushing)<br />
his senior season<br />
... Also played basketball<br />
... Earned three<br />
letters in football and<br />
basketball ... Coached<br />
by Cyle Feldman.<br />
Personal: Born Aug.<br />
6, 1985 in Akron ... Son<br />
<strong>of</strong> Tom and Chris Flaherty<br />
... His father was<br />
the UA <strong>of</strong>fensive line<br />
coach from 1973-83<br />
... His uncle, Tim Flaherty,<br />
played football<br />
for Akron (’71-’74).
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