Toledo Rockets Roster 2019 Rockets Roster

Head Coach: Jason Candle        2017 Salary: $700,950        Offensive Coordinator: Brian Wright       Defensive Coordinator: Brian George         

Stadium: Glass Bowl       Surface: Turf        City: Toledo        State: Ohio

College football fans seem to love the small school, underdog concept. There are a handful of teams that annually fall into this category. Boise State frequents the conversation, and last year the University of Central Florida finished the year with an unblemished 13-0 mark, culminated with an upset of Auburn in the Peach Bowl. The Mid American Conference all play early season battles against top-flight BCS teams, and once in a while there is an upset. However, the casual NCAA football fan may not realize that the Toledo Rockets rank second on the list of these secondary schools in victories over the last four years. 39 wins over four seasons is nothing to sneeze at.

Rockets Look to Repeat as MAC Champs in 2018

Fresh off their first MAC championship in over a decade, Toledo looks to carry that momentum into 2018. They'll do so with a new signal-caller under center. The first question would be to address who would replace a veteran quarterback like Logan Woodside. Woodside engineered a team that put up 38 points per game. The early front runner was Mitchell Guadagni. Guadagni had flipped only a half dozen passes thus far in his college career, but he beat out a couple talented freshman to earn the starting nod. In his first official start, he did not disappoint. Guadagni helped lead Toledo to 66 points during a week one pasting of VMI. He hit on 11 of 16 for 265 yards and three scores.

It appears the Rocket's offense won't miss a beat in 2018. While there is no Kareem Hunt to ride to pay dirt, Art Tompkins and Bryant Koback are hard-running backs. One plus for whomever gets the nod at quarterback is the bevy of pass catchers on the team. Junior Diontae Johnson out of Ruskin, Florida is back, flanked by a pair of sure-handed seniors, Jon'vea Johnson and Cody Thompson. If week one's display of unstoppable offense is any sign of things to come, Toledo will continue to run one of the most high-powered offenses onto the field each week.

Toughened Up Defense

No matter how many points a team puts on the scoreboard, that number needs to be higher than their opponent. If not, you score a lot, but lose. Toledo held their own in 2017. However, the defensive side of the ball may be where they are the most improved in 2018. Junior college transfer Reggie Howard will help shore up the defensive line which lost both ends to graduation. Tyler Taffe and Richard Olekanma are physical linebackers who operate within the Rocket's 4-2-5 scheme. The strength of this defense will be the five D-backs. They stole 15 passes last season, and look to carry that turnover strong-point forward into 2018.

In their opening victory, the defense picked off VMI twice and recorded four sacks on the day. While VMI isn't known as a perennial offensive juggernaut, the only drive of any consequence was a paltry 58 yard, eight play sequence, which led to their only 3 points on Saturday night. Toledo's third year coach Jason Candle will look to keep the Glass Bowl hopping for Rocket home games. How well Toledo can play on the road may determine whether they earn a back-to-back trip to the MAC championship game. They'll get a chance at revenge very early in their 2018 season.

The small school Rockets will play host to a big school bully on September 15. Last year Toledo actually led Miami at the intermission, but fell apart in the second half, losing 52-30. The noon kickoff at the Glass Bowl will be the first of back-to-back non-conference home games. These two battles will be telltale for how far this Toledo team can go in 2018.