Rising defense adds to Rocket title hopes
By Evan Meyer:
TOLEDO ROCKETS
COACH: Jason Candle – fifth season
2020 RESULTS: 4-2 - tied for second in MAC West Division
2021 MAC MEDIA POLL PREDICTION: Second East Division
TOLEDO ROCKETS
COACH: Jason Candle – fifth season
2020 RESULTS: 4-2 - tied for second in MAC West Division
2021 MAC MEDIA POLL PREDICTION: Second East Division
ABOUT THE ROCKETS:
Toledo opened the 2020 season with a victory at arch rival Bowling Green to retain the I-75 trophy. After a three point loss at Western Michigan, UT rebounded with a win a 45-28 win over Eastern Michigan. However, the Rockets 27-24 loss at home to Ball State ended any hopes for Western Division title. Toledo finished the season with two wins at Northern Illinois (41-28) and Central Michigan (24-23).
As usual, the 2021 Rockets have . . .
Toledo opened the 2020 season with a victory at arch rival Bowling Green to retain the I-75 trophy. After a three point loss at Western Michigan, UT rebounded with a win a 45-28 win over Eastern Michigan. However, the Rockets 27-24 loss at home to Ball State ended any hopes for Western Division title. Toledo finished the season with two wins at Northern Illinois (41-28) and Central Michigan (24-23).
As usual, the 2021 Rockets have . . .
. . . plenty of returning offensive weaponry. The defense, meanwhile, hopes to take another step up after improving last year.
OFFENSE:
>> The UT offense averaged 32.5 points and 484 yards over six games. Toledo brings back a wealth of talent and experience. The key will be at quarterback, with Carter Bradley stepping in for Eli Peters. The latter suffered a career-ending injury last year and is now working in a coaching role with the Rockets.
>> Carter Bradley led UT to wins over NIU and CMU last year. The sophomore completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 849 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
>> Bradley will have a strong running game behind him. Junior RB Bryan Roback led UT in rushing last year with 522 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught 20 passes for 228 yards and two scores.
>> Toledo led the MAC is passing last year, averaging 325.8 ypg. The 18 passing TDs was also tops. Even without Peters, the Rockets should continue to roar. All three wideouts return and six receivers had 10 or more receptions.
Isaiah Winstead led Rocket receivers with 25 catches and 429 receiving yards. >> Isiah Winstead leads list with 25 receptions for 484 yards and two scores. Also a threat is senior Danzel McKinley-Lewis who had 20 catches for 281 yards with a pair of scores. Fellow senior Bryce Mitchell recorded 13 catches for 206 yards.
>> Perhaps the strongest part of the offense is the offensive line who return all give starters beginning with senior C Bryce Harris, LG Luke Dorgerer. Sophomore RG Tyler Long, RT Nick Rosi, and senior OT Vitaly Gurman.
>> Perhaps the strongest part of the offense is the offensive line who return all give starters beginning with senior C Bryce Harris, LG Luke Dorgerer. Sophomore RG Tyler Long, RT Nick Rosi, and senior OT Vitaly Gurman.
Dyontae Johnson recorded 47 tackles with 4.5 tfl. DEFENSE:
>> The Toledo defense allowed 362.2 yards and 24.3 points (3rd MAC) in their six games. That was a vast improvement from 2019, when UT finished dead last in both yards and points allowed.
>> UT returns four All-Conference performers on defense.
>> It starts up front with junior edge rusher Jamal Hines, who had 29 total tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. Joining him is DT Desjuan Johnson with had 27 stops and three sacks.
>> The linebackers are led by junior Dyontae Johnson (47 total tackles) and fellow junior Daniel Bolden (20 total tackles).
>>The secondary is led by senior S Tycen Anderson and FS Nick Bauer while senior Samuel Womack and junior Justin Clark figure on the corners.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
>> Toledo will have both of its kicking specialists back for 2021. Punter Bailey Flint, a native of Australia, averaged 36.4 yards per kick last season.
>> Sophomore placekicker Thomas Cluckey won the job late last season and in four games was a perfect 5-for-5 on field goals. He converted 11-of-12 PATs.
>> As for the return game, McKinley-Lewis averaged 15.7 yards per kickoff return in 2020.
SCHEDULE:
>> Toledo opens the 2021 campaign on September 3 against FCS member Norfolk State (Mid-Eastern Athletic). It follows that contest with one of the biggest non-conference games the Rockets have had in many years. as they travel to South Bend to face Notre Dame.
After Colorado State (Mountain West) comes to the Glass Bowl, UT starts MAC play facing Western Division and MAC Championship game winner Ball State. UT finishes its non-conference schedule with a game at Massachusetts.
That game starts a stretch of four contests at home (NIU, WMU, and EMU). The only road game in that stretch will be against CMU. The Rockets last three games will all come against East Division foes (at BGSU and Ohio) before ending the schedule on November 27 against Akron.
>> The Toledo defense allowed 362.2 yards and 24.3 points (3rd MAC) in their six games. That was a vast improvement from 2019, when UT finished dead last in both yards and points allowed.
>> UT returns four All-Conference performers on defense.
>> It starts up front with junior edge rusher Jamal Hines, who had 29 total tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. Joining him is DT Desjuan Johnson with had 27 stops and three sacks.
>> The linebackers are led by junior Dyontae Johnson (47 total tackles) and fellow junior Daniel Bolden (20 total tackles).
>>The secondary is led by senior S Tycen Anderson and FS Nick Bauer while senior Samuel Womack and junior Justin Clark figure on the corners.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
>> Toledo will have both of its kicking specialists back for 2021. Punter Bailey Flint, a native of Australia, averaged 36.4 yards per kick last season.
>> Sophomore placekicker Thomas Cluckey won the job late last season and in four games was a perfect 5-for-5 on field goals. He converted 11-of-12 PATs.
>> As for the return game, McKinley-Lewis averaged 15.7 yards per kickoff return in 2020.
SCHEDULE:
>> Toledo opens the 2021 campaign on September 3 against FCS member Norfolk State (Mid-Eastern Athletic). It follows that contest with one of the biggest non-conference games the Rockets have had in many years. as they travel to South Bend to face Notre Dame.
After Colorado State (Mountain West) comes to the Glass Bowl, UT starts MAC play facing Western Division and MAC Championship game winner Ball State. UT finishes its non-conference schedule with a game at Massachusetts.
That game starts a stretch of four contests at home (NIU, WMU, and EMU). The only road game in that stretch will be against CMU. The Rockets last three games will all come against East Division foes (at BGSU and Ohio) before ending the schedule on November 27 against Akron.
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