Loyalty went a long way for Santa Cruz’s Malakai Ross-Graves.
When it came time to put pen to paper on National Signing Day 2026, Ross-Graves, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound sophomore defensive lineman for repeat state champion College of San Mateo, didn’t forget the team that didn’t forget him.
Ross-Graves, a Soquel High alum who started his prep career at Santa Cruz, committed to NCAA Division I The University of Akron in Ohio on Wednesday.
“I’m feeling good, feeling happy,” said Ross-Graves, an All-Bay 6 Conference and All-California Region I honoree this season. “There were a lot of unknowns, where was I going to go and what was next. Now I can be well-rested knowing I have a home to go to.”
Ross-Graves is currently rehabilitating from a knee injury that forced him to exit in the second half of the Bulldogs’ 28-27 win over Golden West in the 3C2A State Football Championship on Dec. 13.
“I got hurt and there were a lot of schools I was communicating with that disappeared on me,” Ross-Graves said. “Akron didn’t. They called me and said, ‘We still want you.’ That meant a lot to me. That went a lot into my decision.”
Ross-Graves also had offers from two other Division I programs, Southern Utah University and Northern Arizona.
He was initially slated to visit Akron in early January, but he had a medical appointment he needed to attend. He got good new that day: his injury wouldn’t require surgery.
Soquel High football players, from left, Malakai Ross-Graves, Django Daillak, and Gabe Virgallito celebrate after winning the CCS Division II championship against Christopher High at San Jose City College in 2023. (Brandon Vallance – Santa Cruz Sentinel file)
He and his parents, Dara Ross and Lamont Graves, visited Akron over the weekend.
“It was cold,” said Ross-Graves, who got off the plane wearing sweats and a warm jacket. “But, there wasn’t any wind, so it wasn’t too bad.”
They arrived in Toledo on Friday night, were treated to a late dinner, and given a tour of InfoCision Stadium – Summa Health Field, the Zips’ 30,000-seat home field. They were taken to the skyboxes for a bird’s-eye view of snow-covered venue. The scoreboard read: “Welcome to Akron.”
First thing the next morning, Ross-Graves checked the temperature: It was 4 below zero. After breakfast, Ross-Graves and his family toured the school’s indoor facilities and weight room.
“They were nice facilities, everything you need,” he said.
He suited up in the Zips’ uniform for a photo shoot, and met with the athletics director, and an academic advisor. Eventually, he sat down with fourth-year head coach Joe Moorhead and defensive line coach Anthony Leonard to discuss Ross-Graves’ future, specifically, as a Zip.
“They had questions for me and I had some questions for them,” Ross-Graves said. “I didn’t want generic answers. But they had seen film on me, had plans for me. They saw things that I did well and areas that I can improve on. They want me at defensive tackle but saw me playing some 3-tech, 4-tech, on the edge. They had me all over the d-line. And that’s good. I feel like I can play anywhere on the d-line.”
Ross-Graves said he really likes the coaches. He said he has chatted with Leonard pretty much every week over the past two and half months. “We’ve built a good relationship,” he said.
He joins a program that went 5-7 last season, 4-4 in the Mid-American Conference. The Zips haven’t enjoyed a winning season since going 8-5 in 2015.
Ross-Graves said he’s going to do everything he can to help the Zips become a consistent winner. The last three teams he has played for have ended their season with a state championship.
“It was a rough season, but they were just a few games out of getting a conference championship,” Ross-Graves said. “Hopefully, I help can change that around. The coaches told me their trying to make a change in culture. They were just a few pieces off. I’m excited to come in and help them.”
He also likes about the Zips’ schedule, which includes a nonconference games against Wake Forest, Robert Morris, Minnesota, and UNLV. “It’s a great opportunity to play some great teams and show what I do,” he said.
Ross-Graves will continue to rehab his injury in San Mateo and Santa Cruz, and plans to participate in spring ball with the Bulldogs before reporting to Akron in early June.
“I want to be ready to go in an make a big impact,” he said.