The Akron Zips have gone 7v7. Those seven standouts lost to the MLS Draft have been replaced by seven incoming freshman eager to make their mark on the next level.

Today’s Signing Day analysis starts with the defending national champion Zips.

Akron

Signings: Will Trapp (Columbus Crew), Bryan Gallego (New York Red Bulls), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders), Diego Navarette (Santiago, Chile), Kyle Culbertson (Crew Soccer Academy), Andy Chiu, David Murrow (Internationals SC)
Skinny: Akron has three players from our Top 100 in their incoming class, including Trapp (5), Yedlin (7) and Gallego (10). Trapp could really thrive in Akron’s style. He has quick feet and has a good soccer brain. Yedlin is a dangerous athlete with a lot of potential while Gallego is a natural leader on the defense.

The rest of the group is a good mix of skilled players and one that coach Caleb Porter knows he needs.

“With the departure of seven starting players and five underclassmen, we certainly had holes to fill,” he said via the team’s website. “I am confident that this group will help us maintain our standard of excellence on and off the field.”

Pittsburgh

Signings: Julian Dickenson (Cobb FC), Lee Johnston (JBS FC Premier), Alexander Lowman (Cobb FC), Ryan Myers (FC Delco), Chukwudi Onyeukwu (Cobb FC)
Skinny: The Panthers filled some nice positions and can use the help after finishing second to last in the Big East Blue last season. Johnston is a big goalkeeper known in the Florida ODP crowd. Teammates Onyeukwu and Dickenson, of Cobb FC, will bring an added bonus of chemistry to the rest of the group.

Loyola Marymount

Signings: Ryan Felix (West Coast FC), Jack McCracken (Pateadores), David Flores (Real Salt Lake AZ), Mason McDowell (Marin Academy), John McFarlin (Santa Rosa United), Vince Paldino (LA Galaxy), Dylan Seedman (LA Galaxy), Juan De Rada (LAFC), Bryce Bacic (Crossfire Premier)
Skinny: The Lions have an especially large class considering they didn’t lose many seniors from a season ago. The class of the West Coast conference, LMU brings in six midfielders, a right back, a forward and a goalkeeper. Felix is a particularly strong defensive midfielder who enjoyed club success with West Coast FC.

Missouri State

Signing: Brandon Besong (Heartland Soccer Club), Emmerich Hoegg (Crestview Soccer Club), Ryan Navarre (Alpharetta Ambush), Chris Roth
Skinny: The Bears added a few attackers in their quest to move up the Missouri Valley Conference standings this season. Missouri State has a good mix of youth and leadership to help implement their newcomers.