"I want to thank . . .
This is the fifth recruiting class for Candle as a head coach and the fourth to be ranked best in the MAC.
Candle and his staff signed players from nine different states, including nine from Ohio and three from both Michigan and Florida. The Rockets also added players from Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey, and Texas.
The following is a brief look at each of Toledo's 2020 signees:
DeMeer Blankumsee
Wide Receiver, Fr., 5-10, 171, Cincinnati, Ohio / Winton Woods
DeMeer Blanksumsee is a three-star prospect and the No. 23-ranked prospect in the state of Ohio according to 247 Sports. A four-year letterwinner at Winton Woods High School in Cincinnati, he helped lead his team to an OHSAA Division II State Championship Game berth in 2017 and a semifinal appearance in 2018. Blankumsee won 37 games in his four years as a varsity football player at Winton Woods. He earned All-Ohio honors in 2019 from the Ohio Prep Sportswriter's Association (OPSWA).
Clay Caudill
Tight End, Fr., 6-3, 235, Mansfield, Ohio / Mansfield
Clay Caudill is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports and is the No. 11-ranked tight end in the country according to ESPN. As a senior in 2019, he helped lead Mansfield Senior High School to a 13-2 record and a berth in the OHSAA Division III State Championship game.
John Coleus
Athlete, Fr., 5-11, 177, Fort Myers, Fla. / Fort Myers
John Coleus was a three-year letterwinner at Fort Meyers High School and helped his team to an FHSAA Class 6A Regional Semifinal appearance in 2019 and a Regional Final in 2018. An all-state performer in 2018, Coleus ended his career with 1,584 all-purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns in addition to 237 tackles and four interceptions on defense. He was named the MVP of the Rotary South All-Star Classic game this past fall after tallying an interception and a touchdown reception in the game.
Lamy Constant
Running Back, Fr., 6-0, 180, East Orange, N.J. / Canarsie
Lamy Constant is a four-star prospect according to ESPN and a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. As a junior in 2018, he rushed for 1,087 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games for Canarsie High School. He played seven games as a senior in 2019, rushing for 422 yards and four touchdowns.
Jaelen Crider
Defensive Line, Fr., 6-2, 255, Stow, Ohio / Stow-Munroe Falls
Jaelen Crider is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports and he was a four-time letterwinner at Stow-Munroe Falls High School. He earned OPSWA All-District honors as a senior in 2019. Crider's pick six helped Stow-Munroe Falls to an upset victory over No. 6-ranked Barberton in one of the team's biggest wins of last season.
Sawiaha Ellis
Linebacker, Fr., 6-1, 208, Hamilton, Ohio / Fairfield
Sawiaha Ellis is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. As Fairfield's quarterback in 2019, he completed 67.8 percent of his passes and totaled 1,228 yards and nine touchdowns through the air. Ellis also rushed for 501 yards and nine touchdowns en route to being named First Team All-Greater Miami Conference this past season. He also earned all-conference honors as a wide receiver in 2018.
Gavin Hall
Quarterback, Fr., 6-2, 189, Kennesaw, Ga. / Harrison
Gavin Hall is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. He led Harrison to a 15-0 record and a GHSA AAAAAA State Championship, the first in school history, as a senior in 2019, throwing for 117 yards and rushing for a touchdown in the state championship game. He led an offense that averaged over 40 points per game and almost 400 yards per game. He ended the 2019 season with 1,974 passing yards and 20 touchdowns.
Maxen Hook
Safety, Fr., 6-1, 193, New Palestine, Ind. / New Palestine
Maxen Hook is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. A three-time all-state honoree at New Palestine High School, Hook was named Indiana's Defensive Back Mr. Football in 2019. As a senior last season he helped lead his team to a Class 5A state title, totaling 90 tackles to go with four fumble recoveries and two interceptions. Hook also caught 23 passes for 447 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
Cauren Lynch
Running Back, Fr., 6-0, 210, Irving, Texas / Parish Episcopal
Cauren Lynch is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. He helped Parish Episcopal High School to an TAPPS Division I state championship last season and earned all-district honors as well.
Quinyon Mitchell
Cornerback, Fr., 6-1, 181, Williston, Fla. / Williston
Quinyon Mitchell is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. A three-time letterwinner at Williston High School, he finished his career with 86 tackles, eight interceptions, and 19 pass deflections. Mitchell also ran for 983 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior in 2019, averaging 9.5 yards per carry.
Martez Poynter
Defensive Line, Fr., 6-3, 255, St. Louis, Mo. / Trinity Catholic
Martez Poynter is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. A second-team all-state honoree last season, he also helped Trinity Catholic High School to the MSHSAA Class 3 state semifinals. A three-year letterwinner, Poynter tallied 118 tackles in his career and 11 sacks, nine of which came during his senior campaign.
Jaden Rayford
Safety, Fr., 5-11, 191, Pemberville, Ohio / Eastwood
Jaden Rayford is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. He helped Eastwood High School to an 11-1 record in 2019 and a deep run in the OHSAA Division V playoffs. The four-year letterwinner earned all-state honors during his career and helped Eastwood to an OHSAA Division V Runner-Up finish in 2017 as a sophomore. His 4,710 career rushing yards are the most in school history and the most by any player in Northern Buckeye Conference history.
Garrett Schweibert
Offensive Line, Fr., 6-6, 255, Hamler, Ohio / Patrick Henry
Garrett Schweibert is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. He was a First Team All-Ohio selection this past season and helped lead Patrick Henry High School to an OHSAA Division VII state semifinal appearance and a 10-4 record.
Vinny Sciury
Offensive Line, Fr., 6-3, 285, Massillon, Ohio / Perry
Vinny Sciury is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. The first-team All-Ohio lineman and 2019 team captain helped Perry High School to a 9-3 record last season.
Larry Stephens
Wide Receiver, Fr., 5-11, 189, Springfield, Ohio / Springfield
Larry Stephens is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. Last season he helped lead Springfield High School to the OHSAA Division I state semifinals and a 12-2 overall record. Stephens was a three-year letterwinner and earned all-conference, all-district, and all-state honors during his career. He tallied 1,127 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns and was named Greater Western Ohio Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
Jackson Stoefen
Offensive Line, Fr., 6-4, 278, Eldridge, Iowa / North Scott
Jackson Stoefen is a three-star prospect and the No. 11-ranked prospect in the state of Iowa according to 247 Sports. He helped lead North Scott High School to a 9-4 record and a berth in the IAHSAA Class 3A playoffs last season. Stoefen earned first-team all-district and second-team all-metro honors during his high school career and was named to the all-academic team every season.
Geri Theodore
Defensive Line, Fr., 6-3, 238, Clearwater, Fla. / Clearwater Academy International
Geri Theodore is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. As a senior in 2019 he totaled 57 tackles and 14 tackles for loss to go with five sacks. In five games as a junior in 2018 he tallied 24 tackles, six tackles for loss, and three sacks.
Latrell Thompkins
Defensive Line, Fr., 6-3, 240, Detroit, Mich. / Denby
Latrell Thompkins is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. He helped Denby High School to a 10-3 record last season and an MHSAA Division 5 state semifinal berth. Thompkins had 12 sacks last season and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in Denby's MHSAA Division 5 regional final victory.
Deshawn Walker
Linebacker, Fr., 6-1, 205, River Rouge, Mich. / River Rouge
Deshawn Walker is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. He helped lead River Rouge High School to its first state championship in school history, tallying eight tackles in the championship game. The 2019 all-state linebacker finished the season with 106 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks.
Tanner Wigand
Offensive Line, Fr., 6-6, 272, Manitowoc, Wis. / Manitowoc Lincoln
Tanner Wigand is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. Wigand was a three-year letterwinner at Manitowoc Lincoln High School and was a first-team all-conference selection this past season. Anchoring the offensive line, he helped his team rank third in the conference with 1,379 total rushing yards in 2019.
The Rockets also announced the addition of John Leilli as a preferred walk-on.
John Leili
Offensive Lineman, Fr., 6-5, 315, North Ridgeville, Ohio / North Ridgeville
John Leili is a preferred walk-on from North Ridgeville High School, where he was a team captain. During his high school career he earned all-county and all-district honors.