WATCH: Toledo Football Signing Day

Toledo, Ohio – University of Toledo Head Coach Jason Candle announced today that the Rockets have added 10 student-athletes to their 2018 football recruiting class. The signees join 18 players who inked with UT in December during the early signing-period for a total of 28 newcomers.

            Toledo's class is ranked No. 1 in the Mid-American Conference by 247 Sports and Scout.com, the second consecutive year that the Rockets have nabbed the top class in the MAC according to those scouting services. Candle said he feels this class will be a great addition to the Toledo Football program, which won 11 games and a MAC Championship in 2017.

           "We're always going to address the needs of our program," said Candle, who was named the 2017 MAC Coach of the Year. "But we also are looking for young men with good character who are committed to the excellence that is necessary to be successful in the classroom. We want guys who love football and all the preparation that goes into being a great team. I feel like all the young men in this class will fit into the culture of our program.

          "Coming off a championship season, there are a lot of positive things happening in our program. Our job is to make sure we protect the culture of our locker room and bring in good people who are only going to enhance it."

          Candle added that the 2018 recruiting class will help to address the future needs of his team.

          "Our first priority was to address the line of scrimmage. It's a heavy class on the offensive and defensive line. That's an area that always gets addressed after every season. That's where the game is won, in the trenches. If you can't control the line of scrimmage, you're probably not going to control the outcome of the game.

           "After that, it comes down to quarterback play. I think we signed two really good quarterbacks, two players who will have really bright futures at Toledo. Beyond that, you need really good athletes at linebacker, in the secondary, at receiver and in the backfield. Those are all areas where we solidified ourselves.

           "At the end of the day, all of these guys will have a chance to make an impact in our program."

            This is the third recruiting class for Candle as head coach. His 2017 class was ranked No. 1 in the MAC by all major recruiting services, and his 2016 class was ranked No. 2 in the MAC by 247 Sports. Before taking over as UT's head coach in December of 2015, Candle had been an assistant on the Rockets' staff since 2009. In 2010, Candle was named one of the top recruiters in the nation by Rivals, the only coach from the MAC to make the list that season. He was named Mid-American Conference Recruiter of the Year in both 2011 and 2012 by Scout.com.

            Candle and his staff signed players from 12 different states, and 12 of the future Rockets are from Ohio and Michigan. The Rockets once again tapped the talent-rich state of Florida, hauling in four signees from the Sunshine State. The remaining recruits hail from all over the map: California, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

            The following is a brief look at each of the Rockets' 2018 signees:

Sam Baker
Offensive Lineman, 6-3, 285, St. Petersburg, Fla.-Admiral Farragut
Baker is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports.
 
Jackson Barrow
Linebacker, 6-1, 205, Indianapolis, Ind.-Cathedral
Barrow is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He was a three-time letterwinner at Cathedral High School. He compiled a team-high 92 tackles his senior season, including 15.0 tackles for loss and one safety. The two-time all-state linebacker also earned team Defensive MVP honors and was a team captain during his career. 
 
Nate Bauer
Defensive Back, 6-0, 190, Akron, Ohio-Archbishop Hoban
Bauer is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. Bauer helped Archbishop Hoban win a state championship in 2017, its first season playing elevated competition in Division II. He recorded three tackles, one TFL, and two pass breakups in the state championship game, as well as one reception for 36 yards. He also helped the Knights to Division III state championships in 2015 and 2016.
 
Parker Bisek
Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 285, Union, Ky.-Ryle
Bisek is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He was an honorable mention all-state honoree in 2017, helping Ryle to an 8-3 record and a berth in the KHSAA Class 6A football playoffs.
 
Daniel Bolden
Linebacker, 6-1, 230, Cincinnati, Ohio-Colerain
Bolden is a three-star recruit according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He helped lead Colerain to an OHSAA state semifinal appearance as a senior and was named first-team All-Greater Miami Conference, All-Southwest Ohio, and All-Ohio. The team captain and 2017 team MVP tallied 127 tackles as a senior as well as six sacks, four forced fumbles, four interceptions, and two touchdowns. Bolden started 42 consecutive games at linebacker for Colerain.
 
Carter Bradley
Quarterback, 6-3, 208, Jacksonville, Fla.-Providence
Bradley is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports, and he is a consensus Top 20 pro-style quarterback prospect. He participated in the Elite 11 finals, which annually invites only the best high school quarterbacks in the nation to attend.
 
Nick Carey
Offensive Lineman, 6-7, 290, Novi, Mich.-Detroit Catholic Central
Carey is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He helped Detroit Catholic Central to a semifinal appearance in the MHSAA Division I state tournament as a senior. Carey enjoyed winning seasons with the Shamrocks the last three seasons, including a 13-1 mark as a junior in 2016 and a berth in the state championship game.
 
Jalin Cooper
Wide Receiver, 6-4, 180, Medina, N.Y.-Medina
A three-star recruit according to Scout.com and 247 Sports, Cooper is the 14th-ranked recruit from the state of New York in the 2018 class. He was an all-state performer as a junior in 2016, when he totaled 1,213 total yards and 16 touchdowns (seven rushing, six receiving, two kickoff returns, one punt return). In 2017, he caught 14 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns. A skilled returner, he tied a career-high with 247 kick return yards as a senior and had four return touchdowns during his career.
 
Evander Craft
Linebacker, 6-3, 215, St. Francis, Wis.-St. Francis/College of DuPage
Craft is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He was an all-state and all-conference running back in high school, earning conference player of the year honors as a senior in 2016. That season, he rushed for 2,207 yards and 29 touchdowns, averaging 11.0 yards per carry. He played linebacker at College of DuPage, helping the Chaparrals to a 7-3 record in 2017.
 
Lavel Dumont
Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 270, Tampa, Fla.-Wharton
Dumont is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He was named one of the 50 best players in the Tampa area prior to the 2017 season by the Tampa Bay Times, despite playing organized football for the first time in 2016.
  
Conor Head
Offensive Lineman, 6-3, 261, Richfield, Ohio-Revere
Head earned first team all-state honors during his playing career at Revere. The offensive lineman was also a two-time Northeast All-Inland District selection and Suburban League selection. Head was honored by the local media too, being named to the Akron Beacon Journal's All-Star team.
 
Jordan Hendy
Defensive Back, 6-1, 185, Sunnyvale, Calif.-Fremont/College of San Mateo
Hendy is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. In 2017, he tallied 24 tackles in nine games with the College of San Mateo. He recorded nine pass breakups and three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
 
Jamal Hines
Defensive End, 6-2, 216, Cincinnati, Ohio-Princeton
Hines is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports.  He earned AP Division II all-district honors as a junior and he was a first team All-Greater Miami Conference selection.
 
Jake Hudson
Defensive End, 6-4, 240, Mission Viejo, Calif.-Tesoro/Saddleback CC
Hudson is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. In 21 games for Saddleback CC, he accumulated 68 tackles, 18 TFL, and 10.0 sacks. In 2017, he also forced three fumbles and broke up two passes, helping Saddleback to a record of 8-3.
 
Desjuan Johnson
Defensive End, 6-3, 240, Detroit, Mich.-East English Village Prep
Johnson is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He helped East English Village Prep to an MHSAA Division II district final appearance as a senior and a 9-2 record.
 
Dyontae Johnson
Outside Linebacker, 6-2, 210, Detroit, Mich.-Cass Technical
Johnson is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. Johnson helped Cass Tech to an MHSAA state championship and an undefeated season in 2016 and regional titles in 2016 and 2017. He received the team's Linebacker Leadership Award as a junior and senior.
 
Melvin Johnson II
Defensive End, 6-5, 285, Las Vegas, Nev.-Canyon Springs/Riverside CC
Johnson is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He was named a first-team All-American by the California Community College Football Coaches Association in 2016. He tallied 37 tackles and 9.0 tackles for loss as a freshman that season. While playing at Canyon Springs High School, Johnson was a first-team all-state and all-conference defensive lineman.
 
Tyler Long
Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 295, Toledo, Ohio-Springfield
Long helped Springfield to a 10-1 record and a Northern Lakes League (NLL) championship in 2016. He was named first team All-NLL and second team Division II all-district for his part in the Blue Devils' success. Long was named a first team Division II all-state selection in 2017 by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association.
 
Alex Morgan
Tight End, 6-5, 245, Pickerington, Ohio-Pickerington Central
Morgan is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. Morgan helped Pickerington Central to an OHSAA Division I state championship as a senior, catching two passes for 72 yards in the title game.
 
Derrius Mullins
Defensive Lineman, 6-5, 325, Columbus, Ohio-St. Francis De Sales
Mullins is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He was a two-time all-state honoree as well as a two-time all-conference and all-district player. Mullins finished his career making 29 consecutive starts on the defensive line, and his senior year he registered 78 tackles and 25.5 tackles for loss. In 2016, he helped take St. Francis De Sales to the OHSAA Division III state semifinals, a year in which the team finished with a record of 13-1. Mullins also qualified twice for track and field state championships in the shot put and discus.
 
CJ Nossaman
Long Snapper, 6-1, 190, Powell, Ohio-Olentangy Liberty
Nossaman was the starting long snapper and a three-time letterwinner at Olentangy Liberty, where he helped lead the Patriots to a 24-4 record his final two years. His teams advanced to the OHSAA Division I state semifinals his junior and senior seasons.
 
D'Andre Ragin
Linebacker, 6-3, 218, Opa Locka, Fla. / St. Thomas Aquinas
Ragin is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He tallied 39 tackles as a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas, as well as two sacks. Ragin helped lead his team to a 12-3 record in 2017 and a berth in the FHSAA Class 7A state semifinals.
 
Devan Rogers
Defensive Tackle, 6-2, 285, Sidney, Ohio-Sidney
Rogers is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He is a three-time Greater Western Ohio-North all-conference honoree and an all-state player. He helped Sidney to a 10-2 record as a senior while tallying 84 tackles. In three years of varsity football, Rogers averaged 8.0 tackles per game, recording 255 stops in his career.
 
Caleb Sutherland
Defensive Back, 6-0, 180, Seffner, Fla.-Armwood
Sutherland is a three-star recruit according, to Scout.com and 247 Sports. As a senior, he served as a team captain and helped lead Armwood to a 14-1 record and to Florida's Class 6A state championship game. He tallied 36 tackles, including 12.0 for loss, and two sacks. For his career, Sutherland totaled 101 tackles, 27.0 TFL, 6.0 sacks, 11 pass breakups, and a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Terrance Taylor
Defensive End, 6-4, 214, Chicago, Ill-Phillips
Taylor, a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports, won an IHSA 5A state championship as a senior. In the title game, he registered seven tackles and three sacks to help Phillips to a 33-7 triumph. Taylor had 104 total tackles in 2017, 16 TFL, and 31 sacks en route to an all-state distinction.
 
Josh Tilque
Long Snapper, 6-1, 185, Statesville, N.C.-Statesville
Tilque is the 14th-ranked long snapper prospect in the nation. He helped lead Statesville to a 9-3 record and a berth in the NCHSAA 3AA football playoffs as a senior. Tilque won both the University of South Carolina long snapping camp and the Kohls Kicking/Long Snapping Southern Showcase long snapping competition. He was also an all-conference swimmer his junior and senior year at Statesville.
 
Cross Wilkinson
Quarterback, 6-3, 205, Wheeling, W. Va.-Wheeling Park
Wilkinson is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports and the third-ranked prospect in West Virginia. He helped lead Wheeling Park to a state title as a sophomore in 2015, a year in which he threw for 2,249 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. For his career, Wilkinson accumulated 6,447 passing yards and 64 touchdowns, averaging 15.5 yards per attempt. His 2,406 passing yards as a senior were a career-best.
 
Jalynn Williams
Athlete, 5-10, 188, St. Petersburg, Fla.-St. Petersburg
Williams is a three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports. He was selected to participate in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl after his senior season. Williams averaged 23.8 yard per catch during his career and averaged 97.7 all-purpose yards per game. He scored 15 touchdowns combined the last two seasons, with seven coming on running plays, five on TD receptions, two on punt returns, and one on an interception.


Head Coach Jason Candle national signing day press conference.