In total the Zips added 18 new members to the roster on National Signing Day and for the most part these student athletes hail from either Florida, with 11 players calling that state home and Ohio with four. Other areas were Georgia and Pennsylvania with two and one player(s) respectfully.

“We think they will make our program more exciting and take it to a new level. Just like the student body that adds excitement and flare to the team,” Head Coach Terry Bowden said to the audience.

This year the Zips added talent to the Defensive side by signing nine players, with the common position being in the defensive back area. Akron also added depth to offensive positions like running back, offensive line and receivers.

“We need to create inner competition between each position. There’s got to be a great sense of ‘I want to be the best at my position.’ We got to have people compete everyday with each other to get to the next level, the best go win and we are expecting people to step up and play right away,” Bowden continued to say to the crowd at the Live National Signing Day.

Akron will begin training for the 2015 season March 16 and will start their season off visiting the Sooners of Oklahoma Sept. 5.