The 13 new signees join 16 players who previously committed in December during the Early Signing Period. Tight end CC Ezirim, outside linebacker Donivon Thomas, wide receiver Jediyah Willoughby signed national letters of intent to play football at Toledo, while offensive linemen Rod Orr (Florida State) and David Nwaogwugwu (Rutgers) join the program as transfers. Eight walk-ons were also announced as future Rockets.
"This is a great class of individuals that are . . .
The 2023 recruiting class includes players from 11 different states, with 14 coming from the state of Ohio and four of those coming from Northwest Ohio.
"Our recruiting starts with a local footprint right here in our hometown," said Candle. "We have many players from the local area, whether they be scholarship players or guys who have committed her to be preferred walk-ons. We've seen a major influx of talent from our area on our team. It starts from there and branches out. The state of Ohio has been good to us; the state of Michigan has been good to us. Indiana and western PA have always been good to us. That's our home base. After that, if we need to fly on a plane to find guys, we will."
Below is a look at 21 signees in Toledo's 2023 recruiting class.
Julian Allen
Wide Receiver | 6-1 | 198 | Fr. | Clearwater, Fla.-Clearwater Central Catholic
A three-star prospect according to 247 Sports, Julian Allen transferred to Clearwater Central Catholic for his senior season and helped lead the team to the Florida Class 1M state championship game. In 11 games this season he caught 25 passes for 453 yards and six touchdowns.
Braden Awls
Defensive Back | 6-0 | 175 | Fr. | Sylvania, Ohio-Toledo Central Catholic
Braden Awls is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. During his senior season he was named first team all-conference as well as first team all-district. In his junior season, he was named first team all-conference and second team all-district. He was twice named first team All-Blade. Awls helped lead Central Catholic to a state championship this past fall.
Micah Cherry
Cornerback | 6-3 | 175 | Jr. | Petal, Miss.-Petal/Pearl River CC
A transfer from Pearl River Community College, Micah Cherry was named honorable mention All-MACCC. In his high school career, Cherry had 1,259 receiving yards, 10 receiving touchdowns, 66 tackles, eight interceptions, one pick six, nine PBUs and three forced fumbles. In high school he was also named first team all-region as well as first team Pine Belt.
Chris D'Appolonia
Linebacker | 6-3 | 225 | Fr. | Cranberry Township, Pa.-Seneca Valley
Chris D'Appolonia was named a Big 56 first team all-conference selection. He was also named as a part of the Sweet 16 defense by Butler Eagle newspaper.
CC Ezirim
Tight End | 6-7 | 235 | Fr. | Dublin, Ohio-Dublin Jerome
CC Ezirim was a two-time letterwinner at Dublin Jerome High School. He was an academic all-conference honoree during his career and earned two all-conference accolades on the basketball court. Ezirim lettered four times in track and field and three times in basketball.
Travion Ford
Defensive End | 6-4 | 265 | Fr. (R) | St. Louis, Mo.-Lutheran North/Missouri
Travion Ford is a transfer from Missouri, where he signed as a member of its 2021 recruiting class. A four-star prospect and the No. 139 ranked player in the ESPN300, he was a Sports Illustrated High School All-American candidate entering the 2020 season. In an abbreviated 2020 season, Ford posted 28 tackles 13.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, and recovered a fumble. The previous season as a junior, he collected 37 tackles, 20 TFL, and nine sacks. Ford was the state of Missouri's Class 3 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior and a three-time all-state honoree.
Amare Garrett
Cornerback | 5-11 | 180 | Fr. | St. Petersburg, Fla.-Lakewood
Amare Garret was a three-year letterwinner at Lakewood High School. Last season he totaled 31 tackles and two interceptions. As a junior he tallied 34 tackles and eight passes defended.
RJ Johnson III
Quarterback | 6-2 | 200 | Fr. | Atlanta, Ga.-Westlake
RJ Johnson III is a three-star prospect, according to 247 Sports. He was named first team all-state as a senior and made the MaxPreps All-American team as a sophomore. Twice he has won his high school team's Offensive Player of the Year award.
Mason Ludwig
Offensive Lineman | 6-5 | 285 | Fr. | East Liverpool, Ohio-East Liverpool
A three-star prospect according to 247 Sports, Mason Ludwig earned three all-conference, all-county, and all-state honors at East Liverpool High School, including first team All-Ohio accolades as a junior and senior. He earned the "Block of Granite" Award from WKBN and WTOV-9 in Youngstown as the area's best interior lineman as a senior.
Shawn Munnerlyn
Wide Receiver | 6-5 | 220 | So. | Columbus, Ohio-Independence/Rutgers
A former three-star recruit according to 247 Sports, Shawn Munnerlyn started his career at Rutgers. At Independence High School, he caught 42 passes for 935 yards and 14 touchdowns. His most productive season came in 2019 when he caught 19 passes for 409 yards and six scores as a junior.
David Nwaogwugwu
Offensive Lineman | 6-5 | 305 | Sr. | Bronx, N.Y.-DeWitt Clinton/Rutgers
David Nwaogwugwu played the last two seasons at Rutgers after beginning his collegiate career at Temple. He appeared in eight games for the Scarlet Knights and 10 games for the Owls, making two starts. A 2019 American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team selection, Nwaogwugwu was a three-star recruit coming out of high school and a four-year letterwinner at DeWitt Clinton High School.
Rod Orr
Offensive Lineman | 6-6 | 300 | So. | Gadsden, Ala.-Gadsden/Florida State
A former four-star prospect and the No. 22-ranked offensive tackle coming out of high school, Orr redshirted his first season at Florida State and did not appear in a game in 2022. At Gadsden High School he earned first-team all-state honors as a senior and was selected to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game.
Wayne Peart II
Defensive Tackle | 6-4 | 285 | Fr. | Pembroke Pines, Fla.-Chaminade Madonna
A three-star prospect according to 247 Sports, Wayne Peart II helped lead Chaminade Madonna College Preparatory School to three state championships in 2019, 2021, and 2022. As a senior this past fall, he recorded 51 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. He tallied 50 tackles and eight sacks as a junior.
Cole Rhett
Offensive Lineman | 6-7 | 315 | Fr. | Columbus, Ohio-Bishop Watterson
Cole Rhett is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. He was named first team All-CCL as a senior.
Laith Shamma
Defensive End | 6-6 | 250 | Fr. | Ann Arbor, Mich.-Ann Arbor Huron
Laith Shamma is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. As a senior he was named all-area Dream Team as well as first team all-conference.
Sam Smith, Jr.
Wide Receiver | 6-4 | 210 | Fr. | Delta, Ohio-Wauseon
Sam Smith Jr. is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. In his senior season, he was named first team all-league and second team all-district. As a junior, he was named second team all-league as well as second team all-district. In his sophomore season he was named honorable mention all-league. Smith was a three-year letter winner, totaling 98 catches, 2,057 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns.
Donivon Thomas
Outside Linebacker | 6-5 | 220 | Fr. | Chattanooga, Tenn.-Brainerd
The Chattanooga Times Free Press named Donivon Thomas one of its "Dynamite Dozen" prior to the start of the 2022 season as one of the area's top high school players.
Nicholas Thompson
Cornerback | 6-2 | 193 | Fr. | Fort Wayne, Ind.-Bishop Luers
Nicholas Thompson is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. He played both ways for Bishop Luers High School, registering 79 tackles and two interceptions on the defensive end, and catching 55 passes for 1,029 yards and eight touchdowns on offense. Thompson earned all-state accolades from the Indiana Football Coaches Association as a senior in 2022.
Connor Walendzak
Running Back | 5-11 | 200 | Fr. | Perrysburg, Ohio-Perrysburg
Connor Walendzak is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. During his high school career he totaled 4,274 rushing yards, 74 total touchdowns, and 673 receiving yards. Walendzak was named first team All-Ohio at running back in 2020, and second team All-Ohio in 2021. He was named Toledo Blade Player of the Year in 2022, and offensive district player of the year in 2021 and 2022. Walendzak was also named first team All-NLL in 2020, 2021 and 2022, as well as NLL Player of the Year in 2022.
Jediyah Willoughby
Wide Receiver | 6-1 | 198 | Fr. | Fairburn, Ga.-Langston Hughes
Jediyah Willoughby recently wrapped up a successful prep career at Langston Hughes High School, helping his team go 15-0 and win the school's first 6A State Championship in December. This past season he tallied 39 catches for 653 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 12.3 yards per catch. He also rushed for 184 yards and four touchdowns. Willoughby helped lead Langston Hughes to a No. 15 national ranking according to MaxPreps.
Grant Zimmerly
Offensive Lineman | 6-4 | 285 | Fr. | Perrysburg, Ohio-Perrysburg
A three-start prospect according to 247 sports, Grant Zimmerly earned second-team all-state honors at Perrysburg High School. As a senior he was named first team All-NLL, as well a first team all-area player by the Toledo Blade.