Akron must contain Tigers' rushing attack

DeAngelo Williams is the NCAA career leader in all-purpose yards.
DETROIT (AP) -- DeAngelo Williams won't be alone on the field at today's Motor City Bowl.
But with as much hype as the Memphis tailback is getting in the buildup to the Tigers game with Akron at Ford Field, it might seem that way.
Williams, the NCAA's career leader in all-purpose yards, finished the season with 1,726 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns and was named a second-team All-American.
"He's an incredibly dangerous back," Akron coach J.D. Brookhart said. "You know he's going to bust a couple big runs during the game, but you have to try to limit him."
The Zips (7-5) beat Northern Illinois 31-30 in the Mid-American Conference championship game, but allowed 270 yards to Huskies tailback Garrett Wolfe in the process. That worries Brookhart, because while Wolfe was one of the nation's leading rushers, he isn't considered the same kind of NFL prospect as Williams.
"Wolfe is a good runner, but DeAngelo is special," he said. "Garrett will be an NFL draft pick, but DeAngelo will be a high pick."
Akron defensive end Brian White agrees with his coach.
"He's going to be tough to stop," he said. "He reminds me a lot of Barry [Sanders]."
In the meantime, the Tigers (6-5) are worried about Akron turning out to be a team of destiny.
Zips team of destiny
The Zips were not highly-regarded going into the season, but they won a tiebreaker to win the MAC's Eastern Division, then beat Northern Illinois on Luke Getsy's 36-yard touchdown pass to Dominik Hixon with 10 seconds to play.
The win gave Akron their first championship in 105 years of football and put them into their first Division I-A bowl game, but Memphis coach Tommy West isn't taking them lightly.
"All we know is that we're playing a championship team, and that's exciting," West said. "After Bowling Green beat us in a bowl game last year, we know what the MAC is capable of them. We'll be ready."
Concerned about Akron
West also doesn't think that Wolfe's record-setting performance means that his running attack has nothing to worry about.
"Akron is ranked 23rd in the country in defense," he said. "I think that was something unusual."
On offense, Akron is led by Getsy and Hixson. The junior quarterback threw for 3,000 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Hixon had 1,147 receiving yards and seven scores. Brett Biggs led the Zips in rushing with 1,184 yards and 10 scores.
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