Toledo, Ohio - Toledo enters the 2019 spring football season with a combination of proven veterans and younger players looking for a chance to prove themselves. The Rockets begin spring drills on Wednesday with a morning practice at the Fetterman Training Center. Fourth-year head coach Jason Candle and his staff will begin the process of finding the right mix of players that will give the Rockets the best chance to compete for the Mid-American Conference title next fall. 

    A total of 14 returning starters are among the 50 letterwinners returning from last season's 7-6 squad, seven on offense, five on defense and two special teams players. If recent history is any indicator, playing time at all positions will be up for grabs right up to kickoff of the Rockets' season opener at Kentucky on Aug. 31.

  The Rockets will have 14 practices this spring, culminating with an open scrimmage at the Glass Bowl on Friday, April 12. 

    The following is a brief overview of the Rockets heading into the spring practice season:

Offense
    A spirited battle at the quarterback position is likely this spring, with at least four players vying to become the Rockets' chief signal-caller. Senior Mitchell Guadagni and junior Eli Peters both saw significant action last season. Guadagni started seven games before an injury ended his season. He threw for 1,053 yards and 13 touchdowns while completing 57.5 percent of his passes. He also ran for 428 yards and three scores. Peters stepped in and started six games, completing 55.1 percent of his tosses for 1,837 yards and 18 TDs. Redshirt freshmen Carter Bradley and Cross Wilkinson have a year in the system now and will have an opportunity to prove themselves this spring.

    The Rockets return three senior starters on the offensive line, including center Bryce Harris, a second-team All-MAC pick in 2018. Joining Harris are 6-8, 340-pound left tackle Cameron Bell and 6-4, 315-pound right guard Yazeed Atariwa. Other experienced returners are juniors Brandon Heidecker, Luke Doerger and Josh Fenn,  and sophomores Mitchell Berg and Kelvin Ateman.  

    At running back, sophomore Bryant Koback and junior Shakif Seymour have established themselves as strong contenders to be featured in next year's rotation. Koback led the Rockets with 917 yards and 14 TDs as a redshirt freshman in 2018, while Seymour has scored 17 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Senior Ronnie Jones rushed for 144 yards in 2018. Jones, now in second season at running back after switching from safety, should see more opportunities to carry the ball this spring.

    The receiving corps will have a new look with the graduation of the All-MAC trio of Cody Thompson, Diontae Johnson and Jon'Vea Johnson. The most experienced returner is senior Desmond Phillips, a quick slot receiver who caught 27 passes in 2018. Other returning veterans include junior Danzel McKinley-Lewis, junior Bryce Mitchell and senior Andrew Davis. McKinley-Lewis started the first three games last year before missing the remainder of the season due to injury. He caught 23 passes as a sophomore starter in 2017. 

    Toledo looks solid at tight end with the return of senior Reggie Gilliam, a second-team All-MAC choice in 2018. Gilliam caught just six passes last season, but three were for touchdowns. In addition, he is a fine blocker and led the nation with four blocked kicks on special teams. Junior Drew Rosi and sophomore Jamal Turner are also back after seeing significant playing time last season.

Defense
    Eleven letterwinners return to Toledo's defensive line, the most of any position on the team. Two returning starters are among them­—senior defensive tackle Nate Childress, a two-year starter who had 32 tackles in 2018, and sophomore defensive end Jamal Hines, who had 49 tackles and 9.0 tackles for loss in his rookie campaign. 

    Other defensive linemen who were part of the regular rotation in 2018 include senior Willie Ross (24 tackles); junior Tyrone Chambers (14 tackles); and sophomores Desjuan Johnson (17 tackles), Devonte Dunn (17 tackles) and Terrance Taylor (16 tackles).

    Another experienced part of Toledo's defense is its secondary, with three starters returning in 2019, along with many others who have seen significant action.  Senior safety Kahlil Robinson has picked off five passes in his career and was second on the team with 69 tackles in 2018. Fellow senior DeDarallo Blue has started 27 games at safety, compiling 103 tackles in his career. Junior cornerback Justin Clark had 35 tackles and four pass breakups as a starter last season. Other experienced safeties include junior Tycen Anderson (44 tackles in 2018) and sophomores Zachary Ford (32 tackles, three breakups), Saeed Holt (36 tackles) and Desmond Bernard. Returning cornerbacks include junior Samuel Womack and sophomore DeAmonte King.

    Senior Jordan Fisher is the top returner at linebacker. Fisher, a converted tight end, racked up 60 tackles in 2018.  Other returning letterwinners vying for playing time this spring are senior Evander Craft, junior Erik Davis and sophomores Dyontae Johnson, Daniel Bolden and A.J. Crider. 

Special Teams
    Sophomore D.J. Wellons and freshman Evan Davis will get a chance to show if they are ready to replace Jameson Vest, Toledo's all-time leading placekicker. Junior Bailey Flint, a two-year starter, returns at punter, as does junior Sean Mills at long snapper.   
         
    Toledo has numerous speedsters to try out at the return positions this spring, including seniors Danzel McKinley-Lewis, Desmond Phillips and Ronnie Jones.