SPORTSINK.COM PHOTO
Medina's Benny Cunningham (right) officially signed with the University of Akron football program on Wednesday. Mason Schreck signed his NLI as well and will attend the University at Buffalo and play football for the Bulls.
AKRON, Ohio – Four local football stars have signed on to help newly appointed University of Akron football coach Terry Bowden rebuild the program.
After back-to-back 1-11 seasons under fired coach Rob Ianello, Bowden was officially hired on Dec. 28, 2011 and had to hit the ground running to fashion a competitive recruiting class for National Signing Day.
The Zips’ staff signed 21 prospects on Wednesday, including 10 from Ohio, and more importantly four from our SportsInk.com coverage area.
Curtis Black (Kent Roosevelt), Benny Cunningham (Medina), Quaison Osborne (Hudson) and Andrew Pratt (Green) are part of a new foundation as Bowden attempts to create enthusiasm for a program that has fallen on hard times since winning a Mid-American Conference championship in 2005.
One of the biggest challenges the UA athletics administration faces is trying to get paying customers to attend home games at 30,000-seat InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field. The hope is that Bowden will create a winner and help generate tickets sales.
By clicking on the VIDEO icon above you can hear Coach Bowden’s comments on Black, Osborne and Pratt. Cunningham already is enrolled at UA and by clicking on the AUDIO icon above you can hear Zips’ assistant director of football operations Jordan Heighway talk about the former Medina standout.
Cunningham’s brother, Seth, already is a member of the UA football squad.
Here are bio capsules on the four SportsInk.com-area athletes joining the Akron Zips football program:
Curtis BLACK, Kent Roosevelt, 6-4, 325, OL: Black made a big impact for the PTC Metro champion Rough Riders, after playing just one year of high school football. His mobility for his size and his ability in basketball are impressive when projecting his future as a Mid-American Conference offensive lineman. Black played football at the request of his friend, former Kent star Ryan Anderson, and earned HM all-district.
Benny CUNNINGHAM, Medina, 6-1, 172, DB: One of Akron’s earliest recruits, Cunningham gave his verbal commitment to former coach Rob Ianello over the summer after a junior year in which he had 79 tackles and one interception for a team that upset Canton McKinley in a regional quarterfinal. As a senior, he had 67 tackles and registered three interceptions and four pass breakups. New Zips' coach Terry Bowden honored the commitment and Cunningham already is enrolled at UA and is a member of Bowden's first class.
Quaison OSBORNE, Hudson, 6-4, 318, OT: A third-team Division I All-Ohio selection, Osborne was the cog for the Explorers, who returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Behind the burly left tackle, junior Ben Gedeon rushed for 1,423 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Andrew PRATT, Green, 6-5, 200, WR: A first-team Suburban League and second-team All-Northeast Inland District performer, Pratt is one of the finest all-around athletes to come out of Green. He had 39 receptions for 734 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior in just his second year of high school football. He also had a punt return touchdown. Pratt also excels in track (state finalist 400 meters) and has been a three-year starter in basketball. He played football for coaches Ed Cybak and Tom Stacy.