Akron Football: Nowhere to go but up for the Zips in 2020
By Zach Bigalke
Nation’s worst offense in 2019 returns slew of experience
Few teams in college football bring back a more experienced offense than Akron in 2020.
According to Bill Connelly’s returning production rankings at ESPN, the Zips return 89 percent of their offensive production from last season, third-best across the FBS. As a veteran group gets a second year of experience in offensive coordinator Tommy Zagorski’s scheme, they should show massive improvement.
Of course, there is no direction to go but up after the way the unit performed last season. Akron ranked dead last in the FBS in scoring offense, averaging only 10.5 points per game. No team at the top level of college football gained fewer yards per game than the 243.2 that the Zips averaged in 2019, and their running game also ranked 130th out of 130 teams in the country at only 47.6 yards per game.
Two places where the Zips really must improve is in limiting negative plays and turnovers. Akron finished 2019 last in the FBS in sacks allowed and 128th in total tackles for loss conceded. They also struggled to hold on to the football, coughing up 14 interceptions and 12 fumbles to rank third from last in the FBS in turnover margin.
Focusing on Akron quarterback Kato Nelson
Entering his final season of eligibility, redshirt senior quarterback Kato Nelson is the linchpin for the Zips offense in 2020. Though he was rated as a three-star pro-style quarterback coming out of high school, he has struggled to showcase his arm over his first three years starting for the Zips. That must change if Akron is going to have any chance of reaching bowl eligibility in Arth’s second season at the helm.
Last season, his first in Zagorski’s offense, Nelson’s average stat line read something like this:
- 15-of-28 for 182 yards
- 6.5 yards per attempt
- 1 touchdown per game
- 1 interception ever other game
- 12 rushing yards
- 5 sacks per game
More confidence in the offensive line will go a long way toward helping Nelson improve in his final college season. How well the Akron offense performs in 2020 is wholly dependent on how effective Nelson proves at moving the football with both his arm and his legs.