The defensive backfield is where the Akron Zips made their bread and butter in 2018, as the unit was crazy good at causing disruption, picking up nine interceptions for 206 yards and one touchdown. The Zips also finished 32nd in the country in average opponent passing yards per game (201.4), including an impressive 154.7 yards over the last three games of the season in a stretch which included Ohio, Bowling Green and South Carolina.
The offseason will see a significant loss of talent, with Darian Dailey, Denzel Butler and Jordan George, three of Akron’s top defensive backs by statistics, all graduating.