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Redshirt freshman Cibastian Broughton impresses as Akron Zips QB
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- Redshirt freshman Cibastian Broughton impresses as Akron Zips QB
The University of Akron football team looked pretty good Saturday, Sept. 12, with "Worm" at quarterback at InfoCision Stadium.
"Worm" is a nickname for redshirt freshman Cibastian Broughton , who made his second career collegiate start and threw four touchdown passes in Akron's 45-10 win over Robert Morris University .
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Granted, Akron , a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision program, opened the home portion of its 2026 schedule against Robert Morris, an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program.
That said, Akron coaches and players said they are encouraged with how Broughton played in Week 1 at Wake Forest and in Week 2 at home against Robert Morris.
"He's just shown an incredible amount of poise and confidence in the ability to run the system," Akron coach Joe Moorhead said of Broughton. "Historically, it's worked best with a thrower who can run, and he's shown that he can do that — make plays with his arm, most importantly, and get it to our play makers, and then create things by design or improvisation.
"So, the thing between he and [redshirt sophomore Brayden] Roggow, to be quite honest, I think it becomes even a bit more impressive when there was zero expectation level that these guys were going to play. So, when they were thrust into the role and they competed and someone won the job, that to me makes it even more impressive."
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Broughton, who is 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, completed 23 of 27 passes for 227 yards with the four TDs and no interceptions against Robert Morris. He also ran for 71 yards on 13 carries.
"We're still working through some kinks, but O-line's been playing good and skilled positions have been playing good," Broughton said. "Defense is handling their part. So, I just try to control what I control and rely on my teammates the best that I can."
Akron quarterback Cibastian Broughton throws a pass against Robert Morris on Sept. 12, 2026, in Akron.
Broughton is Akron's starter at QB after eligibility issues for graduate transfer Reese Poffenbarger have put his status in limbo. Broughton was 21-for-26 passing for 111 yards along with a team-best 82 yards on 14 rushes in Akron's season-opening 38-16 loss to Wake Forest on Sept. 3 in Winston-Salem, N.C.
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"I would say it's been fun, just because the knowledge of all the guys in our room and the knowledge of our coaches," Broughton said when asked about the opportunity to be a starter. "So, it's just been a fun experience, learned a lot about football, learned a lot about them just being good people."
Moorhead said the QB spot "was a fluid situation, fluid during fall camp."
Akron quarterback Cibastian Broughton (11) is forced out of the pocket against Robert Morris on Sept. 12, 2026, in Akron.
"[Broughton and Roggow] were clearly communicated the criteria that was going to be utilized to pick a starter," Moorhead said. "And then we stuck to that and the final scrimmage ended and we made a decision based on their body of work throughout fall camp."
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Poffenbarger was unavailable for the first two games because of NCAA eligibility issues, and it is unclear when he will play for the Zips.
"You go through from January all through spring ball, and then kind of in the summer and you're anticipating the guy that you sign in the [transfer] portal, who's a hell of a thrower, to kind of be the starter with a bunch of experience, and now we got to pivot and adjust, adapt, improvise and overcome," Moorhead said.
Poffenbarger won a high school state championship as a senior in 2020 and graduated from Middletown High School in Maryland in 2021. Poffenbarger redshirted and did play at Old Dominion in 2021, was Albany's starting QB in 2022 and 2023 and was a backup QB at Miami (Florida) in 2024 and at North Texas in 2025.
Akron running back Sean Patrick (13) runs for a touchdown against Robert Morris on Sept. 12, 2026, in Akron.
Broughton connected with redshirt sophomore Sean Patrick on a 35-yard touchdown pass, the first TD pass of his collegiate career, to give Akron a 7-0 lead with 3:52 to go in the first quarter.
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"CB just always, he didn't let the competition get to his head," said Patrick, who ran for 67 yards on eight carries and had four catches for 65 yards. "He just kept his mindset tunnel vision and kept it focused on just taking it one day at a time, just working. He's throwing extra. ... Just being a leader."
Broughton threw two TD passes in the second quarter, a 28-yard strike to sophomore Elijah Alexander to give Akron a 14-7 lead at 13:19 and a 6-yard completion to junior Miles Burris to increase the Zips' advantage to 21-7 at 5:45.
Akron wide receiver Miles Burris (4) catches a touchdown pass as Robert Morris safety Noel Roach (10) looks on Sept. 12, 2026, in Akron.
"He's getting his opportunity and is just showing what he can really do," said redshirt sophomore Marcel Williams, who had four catches for 31 yards.
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Broughton threw a 3-yard TD pass to Alexander as Akron increased its lead to 38-10 with 11:45 to go in the fourth quarter. The Zips also received rushing TDs from Jordan Gant (12 carries, 81 yards) and Roggow.
"[No.] 11 [Broughton] is a great person to be around and work with," said Alexander, who had five catches for 55 yards. "... He brings the juice and he elevates everyone around him to be better."
Akron tight end Elijah Alexander celebrates a touchdown against Robert Morris with his teammates Sept. 12, 2026, in Akron.
Broughton was asked about the background of his nickname, and said: "I used to have a long strand of hair when I was in high school [at Fleming Island in Orange Park, Florida], but cut my hair, obviously, but it kind of grew into how [I] play on the field. So, it's just a all-around name."
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Akron redshirt senior defensive end Omari Abor lauded Broughton for his work ethic.
"Just seeing him in here watching film, he wants to win," said Abor, who had a sack and forced a fumble against Robert Morris. "I'm proud of him. Of course, we are still growing."
Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Redshirt freshman Cibastian Broughton impresses as Akron Zips QB
