Consider Charlie Frye Akron’s version of last year’s NIU star running back Michael Turner.

The 6-foot-4, 228-pound Akron quarterback holds 49 school passing records and is 2,855 yards away from passing Byron Leftwich as the MAC’s career-passing leader.

“He’s a big, strong kid who throws the football well,” NIU coach Joe Novak said. “He’s such an athlete back there. He’ll even rush the ball.”

Frye even has his own Heisman Trophy Web site that boasts his many acknowledgements and records.

Despite the hype, Frye said he doesn’t let it get to his head.

“Once you cross the line onto the football field, you don’t think about that stuff for one second,” the Willard, Ohio native said. “You can only get in there and try to do the best you can.”

Things didn’t look too good for Akron with a first-year coach, J.D. Brookhart, at the helm of its program and its top four receivers from 2003 graduated.

The Zips’ situation looked even bleaker after falling in their first three games and being out-scored 130-34. Frye threw two interceptions and had only 72 yards in Akron’s 51-0 loss to Virginia.

“That was probably the toughest team I’ve ever faced since being at Akron,” Frye said. “They’ve got a tough defense.”

Frye even considered leaving a year early for the NFL last year, like Miami-Ohio quarterback Ben Roethlisberger did. Frye said he wanted to stay with his teammates for his final year.

Falling in the first three games fed a determination to win against Kent State in the Zips’ MAC opener last weekend. Frye threw 178 yards and two touchdowns in Akron’s 24-19 victory.

“It’s never good to lose, but you learn a lot from playing teams like Virginia,” junior wide receiver Jason Montgomery said.

Frye is from a crop of Ohio quarterbacks in the MAC that include Roethlisberger, who now starts for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bowling Green’s former quarterback Josh Harris, who plays for the Baltimore Ravens, and NIU quarterback Josh Haldi.

Frye has been compared to MAC predecessors who made it to the NFL, such as Chad Pennington, Byron Leftwich and Roethlisberger.

“I can’t imagine him being anywhere but right up there with them,” Brookhart said. “He’s an exceptional player with exceptional skills. I’d have a hard time believing that they’re any better than this guy.”

Haldi, who is expected to start his first game since the season opener Sept. 4 at Maryland after aggravating a stress fracture, met Frye at the preseason MAC media day in Detroit.

“He’s just real good,” Haldi said. “He got it going last week. He makes all the throws, and he’s really savvy in the pocket. He’s just a good player.”