TOLEDO, Ohio— University of Toledo head coach Jason Candle announced today that the Rockets have signed 23 student-athletes to national letters of intent for the 2021 season. For the fifth straight year, Toledo put together the top recruiting class in the Mid-American Conference, according to both 247 Sports and Rivals.

"We're very pleased with our 2021 recruiting class," said Candle, who has a 38-21 record in five years as the head coach at Toledo. "It's a class of high–character young men who are accustomed to playing football at a very high level, who are winners on the field and who also care about their academics. We are looking for young men who are looking to become the best possible version of themselves and who will fit into the culture we've built here at The University of Toledo.
 
"Give credit to our staff who did a great job dealing with the unique circumstances of recruiting during the pandemic. Ricky Ciccone, Kevin Sherman and our recruiting department did a fantastic job of maintaining relationships when it wasn't always easy to do so.  When face-to-face conversations are taken away from you and you have to go to Facetime and Zoom calls, you have to take a different approach if you want to be successful. I think we did a great job handling that."

This is the sixth recruiting class for Candle as a head coach and the fifth to be ranked best in the MAC by 247 Sports.

Candle and his staff signed players from nine different states, including nine from Ohio,four from Michigan and two each from Virginia and Illinois. The Rockets also added players from Florida, Missouri, Arizona and North Carolina, as well as one each from Germany and Australia.

In addition, Toledo also will be adding four transfer students who will be eligible to play in 2021, all of whom played their high school football in Florida: Sophomore DT Judge Culpepper (Penn State), Redshirt freshman cornerback Ronald Delancy (Nebraska), redshirt freshman quarterback Tucker Gleason (Georgia Tech) and junior wide receiver Matt Landers (Georgia).
 
The following is a brief look at each of Toledo's 2021 signees and transfers:
 
Trenton Adkins
Athlete, 6-1, 205, Clintwood, Va. - Ridgeview
Trenton Adkins is listed as a four-star recruit by ESPN, and a three-star recruit by 247 Sports and Rivals. He was rated as the 14^th-best prospect in the state of Virginia by 247 Sports and No. 13 by Rivals. Adkins played running back at Ridgeview (Va.) High School where he was a two-time All-State and three-time All-District and All-Region selection.  He rushed for 6,067 yards and scored 91 touchdowns in his prep career. As a junior, Adkins rushed for 2,856 yards and scored 48 touchdowns. His high school team will play a six-game season this spring. A starter at running back since his freshman year, Adkins also plays basketball and runs track. He was part of a 400-meter relay team that finished second in the state in 2019.
 
Jonathan Batzke
Punter, 6-1, 200, Cairns, Australia – Trinity Bay State/Central Queensland
Jonathan Batzke is an Australian punter who has served in the Royal Australian Air Force from 2014-21. He was selected to represent the RAAF Rugby League team in each of the past three years.
 
Drew Beckenhaupt
Offensive Lineman, 6-3, 287, Cleves, Ohio - Elder
Drew Beckenhaupt is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. He was a team captain as an offensive lineman at Elder High School and was voted Best Offensive Lineman by his teammates. Beckenhaupt earned all-conference honors during his career as well and helped lead Elder to 31 victories across four seasons.
 
Xavier Black
Wide Receiver, 6-0, 175, Canton, Ohio – Canton McKinley
Xavier Black earned All-County honors as a senior wide receiver at Canton McKinley High School. As a junior, he racked up 666 receiving yards and five TDs, averaging 21.6 yards per reception.
 
Esean Carter
Defensive Tackle, 6-2, 275, Detroit, Mich. – Martin Luther King
Esean Carter is a three-star recruit at defensive tackle, according to 247 Sports. He earned first-team All-City League honors as a senior.
 
Vontrell Chairse
Outside Linebacker, 6-3, 225, Chicago, Ill. – Wendell Phillips Academy
Vontrell Chairse is a three-star recruit and the No. 52 prospect in the state of Illinois, according to 247 Sports. Chairse, who holds a 3.9 GPA, is slotted to play outside linebacker for the Rockets.
 
Rajon Hill
Cornerback, 6-2, 185, Kansas City, Mo. - Staley
Rajon Hill is rated as a three-star cornerback by 247 Sports. He is a three-time All-District and All-Conference honoree. He also earned All-State honors twice. He also ran track in high school.
 
Connor Jones
Linebacker, 6-1, 226, Hilliard, Ohio - Darby
Connor Jones is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. He was a four-year letterwinner at Darby High School, where he earned multiple first-team all-conference awards and an OCC Defensive Player of the Year accolade. As a junior in 2019 he tallied 95 tackles and five interceptions, four of which he returned for touchdowns. His senior season he registered 87 tackles in eight games.
 
Lennard Kühl
Tight End, 6-5, 230, Munich, Germany - Oklahoma City Casady
Originally from Munich, Gemany, Lennard Kühl moved to the U.S. to play football at Cassady High School in Oklahoma City, Okla. where he was named a team captain. He earned All-Conference honors as a junior on both sides of the ball, leading the league in receptions and tackles for loss as a defensive end. Kühl played on numerous club teams in Germany as a wide receiver, leading the league in touchdown receptions for the Fursty Razorbacks. He also participated in basketball and track in high school.
 
Ben Lisk
Long Snapper, 5-10, 210, Phoenix, Ariz. – Paradise Valley
Ben Lisk is a long snapper from Phoenix. He was named Special Teams Player of the Year at his high school, and earned second-team All-Region as a long snapper.
 
Jaylin Mines
Safety, 6-1, 190, Detroit, Mich. – Oak Park
Jaylin Mines is a three-star recruit at safety, according to 247 Sports. He is also the No. 50-rated safety in the country and No. 21 prospect in the state of Michigan, according to 247, and was named All-State by the Detroit News.
 
Damon Ollison II
Linebacker, 6-0, 210, Akron, Ohio – Archbishop Hoban
Damon Ollison II is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. Ollison helped his team win back-to-back state titles in 2017 and 2018, as well as a regional final appearance in 2019. He registered 86 tackles, two interceptions, and forced five fumbles in 2019.
 
Jeremiah Peters
Outside Linebacker, 6-4, 215, Miami, Fla. – Booker T. Washington
Jeremiah Peters is a three-star recruit at outside linebacker, according to 247 Sports. He was named first-team All-Dade Country and first-team All-State as a senior.
 
Isaiah Pipken
Outside Linebacker, 6-6, 225, Wake Forest, N.C. – Wake Forest
Isaiah Pipkin is a three-star recruit at outside linebacker, according to 247 Sports. A star basketball player in high school, Pipkin did not play varsity football until his junior year when he registered 30 tackles, two sacks and three pass deflections. He had an interception for Wake Forest High in the 4AA East Regional Final in 2019.
 
Doran Ray, Jr.
Defensive Tackle, 6-2, 270, Detroit, Mich. – Cass Technical
Doran Ray, Jr. is three-star recruit at defensive tackle, according to 247 Sports. He joins high school teammate CJ Wilson, Jr. as a signee out of Detroit Cass Tech and will be one of five Cass Tech grads on the Toledo roster in 2021. As a senior, Ray was named first-team All-State, All-Region and All-City, and was named to the All-State Dream Team by the Detroit News and the Metro Detroit Dream Team by MLive.com. He had seven sacks and 28 tackles for loss, forced three fumbles and was credited with 10 QB hurries. As a junior, Ray totaled 38 tackles, five sacks, 13 tackles for loss and six QB hurries, earning second-team All-City League honors.
 
Jalen Riven
Linebacker, 6-3, 210, Toledo, Ohio – Central Catholic
Jalen Riven is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. He was a four-year letterwinner at Central Catholic High School. He is a three-time TRAC champion and helped Central Catholic win two regional championships as well. Outside of football, Riven was a two-time OHSAA state qualifier in track and field, winning a state championship as a member of the school's 4x400 relay team.
 
Willie Shaw III
Running Back, 5-11, 180, Chicago, Ill. – Brother Rice
Willie Shaw III is a three-star recruit at running back, according to 247 Sports. Rivals lists him as the 10th-best prospect in the state of Illinois and the No. 21 running back in the country. As a junior in 2019, Shaw rushed for over 1,400 yards, racked up 350 receiving yards and scored 13 touchdowns. He earned first-team All-Conference honors and was named MVP of the Catholic League Blue Division.
 
Riley Starnes
Offensive Lineman, 6-6, 285, Patriot, Ohio – Gallia Academy
Riley Starnes is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. A four-year letterwinner at Gallia Academy High School, he earned three OPSWA Division IV All-Ohio distinctions, three all-district selections, and three all-conference honors. Starnes was also a four-time academic all-conference performer in the classroom and a team captain as a senior in 2020.
 
Dalen Stovall
Wide Receiver, 6-2, 190, Stow, Ohio – Stow-Munroe Falls
Dalen Stovall is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. He earned three varsity letters at Stow-Munroe Falls High School and was a two-time all-state selection at wide receiver. As a junior in 2019 he caught 42 passes for 603 yards and six touchdowns.

Andrew Vaught
Offensive Lineman, 6-6, 265, Roanoke, Va. – Roanoke Catholic
Andrew Vaught is a three-star recruit and the No. 62 prospect in the state of Virginia, according to 247 Sports. As a junior, Vaught earned first-team All-State honors at defensive tackle and was named second-team All-State at offensive tackle. He was also named his conference's Lineman of the Year.
 
Elijah Wesley
Quarterback, 6-0, 186, Canton, Ohio – McKinley
Elijah Wesley is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. Wesley threw for 1,484 yards and 14 TDs in 2019 while rushing for 743 yards and five scores, averaging 8.2 yards per carry.
 
CJ Wilson, Jr.
Outside Linebacker, 6-2, 235, Detroit, Mich. – Cass Technical
CJ Wilson, Jr. is a three-star recruit and rated as the No. 52 prospect in the state of Michigan, according to 247 Sports. He joins high school teammate Doran Ray, Jr. as a signee out of Detroit Cass Tech and will be one of five Cass Tech grads on the Toledo roster in 2021. Wilson earned All-State honors as a senior, and picked up All-City League and All-Regional honors in his junior and senior seasons. As a junior, he had 36 solo tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.
 
Thomas Zsiros
Wide Receiver, 6-3, 200, Maumee, Ohio – St. Johns Jesuit
Thomas Zsiros is a three-star prospect according to 247 Sports. He earned three varsity letters at nearby St. Johns Jesuit, where he earned two All-Ohio selections including a first team distinction in 2020. Zsiros collected 119 receptions for 2,047 yards and 23 touchdowns in 27 games during his high school career.
 
Transfer students:

Judge Culpepper
Defensive Tackle, 6-4, 280, So., Tampa, Fla. – Plant/Penn State
Judge Culpepper spent three seasons on the roster at Penn State, including a redshirt year in 2018. He played in 22 games and was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Culpepper tallied five tackles in 2020, including a three tackle effort against Maryland.  He played under current Rocket assistant Robert Weiner at Plant High School, where he was a two-time team captain.
 
Ronald Delancy III
Cornerback, 6-0, 160, Fr. (R), Miami, Fla. – Northwestern/Nebraska
Robert Delancy III played in three games for Nebraska in 2020. In high school, he helped lead Miami Northwestern to state championships as a junior and senior, playing cornerback and safety. During his career, he recorded four interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns. Delancy also won a state championship at Carol City High School as a freshman.
 
Tucker Gleason
Quarterback, 6-3, 225, Fr. (R), Tampa, Fla. – Plant/Georgia Tech
Tucker Gleason also played high school football at Plant under Robert Weiner, where he threw for more than 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns in two seasons as the starting quarterback. In 2018 as a junior, Gleason threw for 2,0001 yards and 27 touchdowns and also rushed for more than 1,000 yards. He was a second-team all-state honoree and first-team all-county selection in 2018.
 
Matt Landers
Wide Receiver, 6-5, 200, Jr., St. Petersburg, Fla. – St. Petersburg/Georgia
Matt Landers saw action in 25 games across three seasons at Georgia, including 12 games in 2019. That season he registered 10 receptions for 105 yards, catching a career-high three passes for 25 yards and a TD in the Bulldogs' Sugar Bowl contest against Baylor. Landers played in nine games in 2020, catching two passes for 27 yards in the season opener against Arkansas. Landers was a consensus three-star prospect at St. Petersburg High School.
 

Toledo Rockets 2021 Recruiting Class
 

Name	Position	Height	Weight	Hometown	High School / Previous School
Trenton Adkins	ATH	6-1	205	Clintwood, Va.	Ridgeview
Jonathon Batzke	P	6-1	200	Cairns, Australia	Trinity Bay State/Central Queensland
Drew Beckenhaupt	OL	6-3	287	Cleves, Ohio	Elder
Xavier Black	WR	6-0	175	Canton, Ohio	Canton McKinley
Esean Carter	DT	6-2	275	Detroit, Mich.	Martin Luther King
Vontrell Chairse	OLB	6-3	225	Chicago, Ill.	Wendell Phillips Academy
Rj Hill	CB	6-2	185	Kansas City, Mo.	Staley
Conner Jones	LB	6-1	226	Hilliard, Ohio	Darby
Lennard Kühl	TE	6-5	230	Munich, Germany	Oklahoma City Casady
Ben Lisk	LS	5-10	210	Phoenix, Ariz.	Paradise Valley
Jaylin Mines	S	6-1	190	Detroit, Mich.	Oak Park
Damon Ollison II	LB	6-0	210	Akron, Ohio	Archbishop Hoban
Jeremiah Peters	OLB	6-4	215	Miami, Fla.	Booker T. Washington
Isaiah Pipkin	OLB	6-6	225	Wake Forest, NC	Wake Forest
Doran Ray, Jr.	DT	6-2	270	Detroit, Mich.	Cass Technical
Jalen Riven	LB	6-3	201	Toledo, Ohio	Central Catholic
Willie Shaw III	RB	5-11	180	Chicago, Ill.	Brother Rice
Riley Starnes	OL	6-6	285	Patriot, Ohio	Gallia Academy
Dalen Stovall	WR	6-2	190	Stow, Ohio	Stow-Munroe Falls
Andrew Vaught	OL	6-6	265	Roanoke, Va.	Roanoke Catholic
Elijah Wesley	QB	6-0	185	Canton, Ohio	McKinley
CJ Wilson, Jr.	OLB	6-2	235	Detroit, Mich.	Cass Technical
Thoms Zsiros	WR	6-3	200	Maumee, Ohio	St. John's Jesuit

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Transfer Students
 

Judge Culpepper	DT	So.	6-4	280	Tampa, Fla.	Plant / Penn State
Ronald Delancy III	CB	Fr. (R)	6-0	160	Miami, Fla.	Northwestern / Nebraska
Tucker Gleason	QB	Fr. (R)	6-3	225	Tampa, Fla.	Plant / Georgia Tech
Matt Landers	WR	Jr.	6-5	200	St. Petersburg, Fla.	St. Petersburg / Georgia

Head Coach Jason Candle Press Conference on National Signing Day.