Akron snags former MSU commit

Latrobe (Pa.) Greater Latrobe three-star offensive guard Paul Simkovich was one of the better early commitments in Michigan State's 2006 recruiting class.

But with the change of coaches in East Lansing, Mich., the 6-foot-4, 298-pounder suddenly found himself looking for a few more options to consider.

That search led him to Akron, the school he committed to over the weekend after an official visit.

Simkovich changed his mind when the Spartans fired John L. Smith and hired Cincinnati's Mark Dantonio. Simkovich said he was impressed with Akron coach J.D. Brookhart and the school's $10 million training complex. He had been to Akron on several occasions during the spring before he committed to the Spartans.

"They have amazing facilities that would rank right up there with other teams in the Big Ten," Simkovich, the nation's No. 29 offensive guard, said. "I've taken visits to schools all over the country and those facilities are just as good if not better than a lot of other schools. They're also brand new, and that's something that was really impressive to me.

"They have a major commitment to winning football at Akron, and that's something when I began to look around that kept standing out to me."

Simkovich also said Akron's academics won him over.

"Coach Brookhart made it clear that he wants his players to get an education first and foremost," Simkovich said. "That was huge. I understand that academics are important in case you get injured."

The Zips also picked up another commitment from two-star cornerback Da'von Moore this weekend. The 6-foot, 201-pounder from Pittsburgh Brentwood was also offered by Pittsburgh and Toledo.