CONTENTS n n n - of College Football Games

The Un i v e r s i T y of Ak r o n • 2008 fo o T b A l l Me d i A GU i d e
2007 Season in Review
Mackey saw action in one series at Buffalo, just to see how he would hold
up in game situations. The following week, he saw more action at Bowling
Green, making six tackles and getting a PBU. He returned to the starting
lineup versus Ohio and made nine tackles the following week at Miami.
Mackey also had two picks versus the RedHawks, both in the endzone
as the Zip defense did not allow any points in the 7-0 loss. Mackey ended
his career with 239 tackles, leading the team in tackles in 2006 and ranking
second in 2005. He had 20 career TFL, four interceptions, two forced
fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Grant ranked third on the team with 74 stops. The 2005 Freshman
All-American has ranked among the team’s top four in stops each of his
first three years, ranking second last season and fourth in 2005. This year,
Grant had 11 tackles at Indiana, despite leaving that contest with an injury
that slowed the junior the next two games. He also had double digit stops
with 10 at Bowling Green Grant had 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. Grant has 234 tackles in just three seasons with 33 TFL to
his credit.
Williams burst onto the
scene the first play of the
2007 season, returning the
opening kickoff 70 yards. He
ranked second in the NCAA
and first in the MAC with his
kick return average of 31.90
yards per return. Williams’
31.90 yards per return additionally
stands as an Akron
single-season record and
ranked second on the MAC
seasonal list. His other big
games as a return specialist
include two of 117 yards
versus Kent State, three for
105 yards at UConn and four
for 151 yards versus Ohio.
In the win over the Bobcats,
Williams returned a kick
95 yards for a touchdown
and was named MAC East
Special Teams Player of the
Week. As a running back, he
only had 728 yards on the
season. However, he had 612 of those yards in league play, averaging 4.9
yards per carry versus MAC opponents. Although Western Michigan kicked
away from Williams, the junior still had a big role in the Zips win, getting 72
yards on 14 rushes (5.1 avg.) and catching three passes for 74 yards with
a 60-yard TD. The following week, Williams broke the century mark for the
first time, gaining 114 yards on 22 attempts versus Temple. He capped
the season with a career effort versus MAC champion Central Michigan,
gaining 145 yards on 18 attempts (8.1 avg.) thanks to TD runs of 61 and 56
yards. Williams ended the season 10th in the MAC in rushing yards (60.67
per game) and seventh in all-purpose yards per game (133.50), which also
ranks 49th in the NCAA.
Arthur and Robinson Get All-Star Invitations
Two University of Akron seniors, Jabari Arthur and Nate Robinson,
have been invited to play in two of the most prestigious all-star games
for National Football League hopefuls. Arthur played in the 62nd annual
Hula Bowl and Robinson was picked for the 83rd annual East West Shrine
Game.
Arthur, who graduated from the University of Akron in December
2007, hauled in a game-high five catches for a game-high 88 yards as his
Aina (East) team defeated Kai (West).
Arthur caught his first pass early in the first quarter, a six-yard slant he
turned into a 19-yard gain to the one yard line. Late in the second quarter,
Arthur was on the receiving end of a 34-yard streak down the right sideline.
Late in the third quarter on the East’s own 27, Arthur caught a two-yard
crossing pass and turned it into a 12-yard gain and a first down.
After what proved to be Arthur’s final catch, Versus television analyst
Kelly Stoffer, a former Colorado State and Seattle Seahawks quarterback,
said, “How about Jabari Arthur? He showed up today. He has had a nice
game. J.D. Brookhart, who is his coach at Akron, was one of my wide receivers
in college. I know J.D. understands how to play that position and it
has transferred well to Arthur.”
Robinson practiced at the Shrine Game, but was not medically cleared
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to participate in the game. He has been the target of NFL scouts all season
due to his size, strength and athleticism. He collected 26 tackles from his
defensive tackle position in his senior season, including five for losses and
two sacks. He only played in 10 games, missing all (two) or parts (five) of
seven contests due to a pair of injuries.
Almondo Sewell Gets Freshman Recognition
True freshman defensive lineman Almondo Sewell was named honorable
mention Freshman All-American by Scout.com and The Sporting
News.
Bryan Williams & Andre Jones Among NCAA Top 15
Akron had the nation’s top special teams combination in kick returner
Bryan Williams and punt returner Andre Jones. Williams ranked second in
the NCAA in KOR with an average of 31.9. Jones ranked 11th in the NCAA
in punt returns in 2007 with an average of 14.5. No other school had two
players in the NCAA top 15 for both return categories. For good measure
(but below the NCAA minimum) Jones averaged 32.8 yards per kick return
(9 for 295) as well in 2007.
Williams had one kick return for a TD, a 95 yarder in the Zips win over
Ohio before an ESPN2 national telecast. Jones also had a kick return for
a TD as he took a lateral from Alphonso Owen on the last play as the Zips
defeated Western Michigan on a play that was featured across the nation.
John Mackey Honored by ESPN’s Mark May
Rover John Mackey was named to ESPN’s All-Mayday team due to
his leadership, performance and overcoming a potential career-ending injury.
The senior was not just a defensive captain; he was the heart and soul
of the 2007 Zips.
The annual honorary squad, as named by College Football Hall of
Famer and analyst Mark May, was revealed on ESPN over two nights Jan.
2-3. May said, “To make this team, you not only have to be a good football
player, but you also have to be physically and mentally tough, knowing the
difference between pain and injury.”
Mackey was named third
team All-Mid-American Conference
by the league’s coaches
despite missing all or parts
of five games after tearing his
right ACL early in the Kent
State game. Prior to the injury,
Mackey was the Zips leader in
tackles through three games,
was named MAC East Defensive
Player of the Week for his
effort at Indiana and caused a
fumble on the first play from
scrimmage the following week
versus Kent State. Later in the
first quarter, Mackey suffered
what was thought to be a career-ending
injury.
As Mackey was strengthening
his knee in preparation
for surgery, he did not feel
much pain. After consulting
the Zips’ medical staff, Mackey
decided to give a return to the
field a shot. He played one series at Buffalo, just to see if he could perform.
The following week, he saw more action at Bowling Green, getting a pass
breakup and six tackles. Mackey then returned to the starting lineup in a
win over Ohio on ESPN2, showing May, Lou Holtz and Rece Davis firsthand
what he was made of. The ESPN trio covered the Zips’ game the
next Wednesday at Miami, seeing Mackey lead the Zips with nine tackles
and two interceptions in the endzone as Akron’s defense did not allow any
points in a 7-0 loss to the MAC East Division champion.
Mackey ended his senior season with 50 tackles, eighth-best on the
team, three interceptions, four pass breakups and a forced fumble. He
ended his four-year career with 239 tackles, including 20 for losses. Along
with his team-best 88 tackles in 2006, he ranked second on the team in
stops with 95 in 2005, helping the Zips to the MAC Championship.
Playing with an injury was nothing new to Mackey. As a junior, he led
the Zips in tackles, playing with a severely injured shoulder.
Akron’s 66th and Final Season at the Rubber Bowl