In his third season as the University of Akron head men's coach, Caleb Porter has snared one of the Zips' best recruiting classes in their history with the signing of eight players, headed by defender Kofi Sarkodie, who played for the USA at the 2007 Under-17 World Cup in South Korea.

Sarkodie, who is completing his U-17 residency in May, is the younger brother of former U.S. U-17 and U-20 and University of Indiana standout Ofori Sarkodie and former University of Cincinnati player Kwame Sarkodie.

Also signed were a pair of former ESP-adidas all-stars Teal Bunbury and Darlington Nagbe, both sons of international players of note.

Bunbury, who resides in Prior Lake, Minn., but has played for Canada's U-17 national team, is the son of former Canada international Alex Bunbury (third all-time with 16 goals). Nagbe, who plays for the Ohio powerhouse Internationals, is the son of Joe Nagbe Sr., who has been capped 77 times for Liberia.

Also signed were midfielder Chris Barton, midfielder Ryan Greenhill, forward Thomas Schmitt and defender Dominic Moore -- who all hail from Ohio -- and first-team All-Central Florida goalkeeper James McCormick.