AKRON – The University of Akron head men's soccer coach Caleb Porter announced his 2008 recruiting class, including defender Kofi Sarkodie, forward Teal Bunbury, forward Darlington Nagbe, midfielder Chris Barton, midfielder Ryan Greenhill, forward Thomas Schmitt, defender Dominic Moore, and goalkeeper James McCormick.

The class includes three players with national team experience, three All-Americans, four region II ODP members and six all-state performers.

"We are very excited about our new crop of freshmen that will join the program next fall," Porter said. "Once again we have been fortunate to attract the top national talent and it bodes well for the future of Akron soccer. This group should make their presence felt immediately, complimenting our current players while bolstering certain aspects of our team.

"To consistently be competitive as one of the nation's best programs, it's important to have difference makers. However, these players must also possess character and winning qualities that fit our culture and style of play. Without question, these young men fit the mold and help us mesh individual talent and team chemistry. I am confident they will represent the program in a first class manner on the field and in the classroom as we strive to achieve our goals."

Sarkodie (Huber Heights, Ohio/Edison Academic Center, US U-17 Residency Program), has represented the United States Youth National Team at the U-20, U-18, U-17 and U-15 levels, and is currently captain of the 1991 age group. Sarkodie is a two-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Youth All-American and was invited to last summer's adidas Elite Soccer Program (ESP) camp. In the fall of 2007, he was one of just five US players born in 1991 to play in the U-17 World Cup, starting and playing 90 minutes against Tajikistan in the opening match. In the summer of 2006, Sarkodie assisted on a goal in the United States' 2-1 win over Canada. He also spent several years playing for the Ohio FC Mutiny based out of Dublin, Ohio. He is the younger brother of Indiana standout and United States Youth National Team captain Ofori Sarkodie and former Cincinnati Bearcat Kwame Sarkodie.

Bunbury (Prior Lake, Minn./Shattuck-St. Mary's (Minn.) School) is a member of both the Canadian U-17 National Team and US Soccer Region II ODP team. Bunbury additionally is listed as the United States' 20th-best recruit by Rise Magazine, and is a two-time NSCAA/adidas Youth All-American. Teal was an All-Star at the adidas ESP showcase in 2006 and 2007, and traveled with the 2006 ESP all-star team to England. Teal's father, Alex Bunbury, was a Canadian International, who is third all time in goals for Canada with 16 and fourth all time in international appearances with 65.

Nagbe (Lakewood, Ohio/St. Edward HS) is rated the 21st-best recruit in the United States by Rise Magazine, scoring 18 goals with 10 assists in 2007. He was a member of the Region II ODP team, a 2007 adidas ESP All-Star and member of the Ohio north ODP team. He was a first team All-Cleveland selection as a senior and a second team honoree as a sophomore while attending Lakewood High. Darlington, who won four Ohio state club titles with the Internationals, was additionally a member of the U15 National Pool in 2004. Nagbe's father, Joe Nagbe Sr. is the current captain of the Liberian full national team and has been capped 77 times, scoring 20 goals for his country.

Barton (Twinsburg, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit HS) was named to the 2007 NSCAA/adidas High School All-America team, was a member of the US Youth Soccer Region II ODP team and was the '07 Ohio Division II Player of the Year. He was additionally first team All-Ohio, all-district and on the 2007 Cleveland Plain Dealer's "Best of the Best" list. Along with current Zip and rising sophomore Michael Nanchoff, Barton led Walsh Jesuit to the 2006 state championship, scoring four goals and adding an assist on the season. Barton's club team, the Cleveland Internationals, have won the state cup five times. Barton additionally is a standout on the Walsh Jesuit track team, earning first team All-Ohio honors in 2007 in both the 100 and 200 meters, placing third and fourth, respectively, at the state meet, while owning the school record in the 100 at 10.6 seconds.

Greenhill (Solon, Ohio/Solon HS) was named Division I first team All-Ohio, scoring 10 goals and adding two assists as a senior. He was also named to the NCSAA/adidas All-Region IV team, as well as the Ohio North ODP team. Greenhill was a two-time All-Cleveland selection, earning first team honors in 2007 and third team in '06 while being named honorable mention in '05. He helped his club team, CASA, win the 2007 Ohio State Cup Championship, and currently plays with the Cleveland Internationals US Developmental Academy Team.

Schmitt (Berea, Ohio/Berea HS) a member of the Ohio North ODP team and, along with Greenhill, helped lead CASA to the 2007 Ohio state Cup Championship. In 2007 at Berea, he scored 32 goals as he was tabbed third team Division I All-Ohio and first team All-Cleveland. Schmitt scored a total of 70 goals for his career and was a two time, first team All-Southwest Conference selection. As a junior, he scored 18 goals in 17 matches to rank as his conference's second-leading goal scorer. He added 12 goals as a sophomore and eight as a freshman for the Berea varsity squad.

Moore (Akron, Ohio/Firestone HS) was named second team All-Ohio as a senior. He scored 33 career goals, as he was named All-City three times and being a two-time, first team all-district selection. Moore is additionally a standout on the football field and for Firestone's track team. He served as the place kicker on Firestone's football squad, helping the team to the City Series Championship. On the track team, he placed seventh in the state in the 110-meter hurdles as a sophomore.

McCormick (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park HS) led his high school to the region final and was tabbed Orange County Player of the Year, first team All-Metro, and first team All-Central Florida by the Orlando Sentinel. McCormick is a three-time Florida State ODP participant and was invited to the Super Y National ODP camp. For his career, McCormick posted 29 shutouts.

In 2007, Akron had the nation's fifth-best recruiting class according to CollegeSocccerNews.com, which included freshman All-Americans Ampaipitakwong and Steve Zakuani, as well as Blair Gavin, who was recently brought into the US U-20 National Team Camp in New Orleans. The Zips finished 2007 with a 15-4-2 record, won their 10th MAC Championship, won their fifth MAC Tournament title and were the 14th seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The Zips open the 2008 season at the Indiana University Classic (Aug. 29 and 31), facing Notre Dame on Friday (5 pm) and host Indiana on Sunday (2 pm)