TOLEDO, Ohio - The spring football practice season opened this week for the Toledo Rockets with Head Coach Jason Candle's squad eager to continue preparations for the 2022 season.

The Rockets practiced in the Fetterman Training Center on Monday and Tuesday. They have 15 practices scheduled for the spring, culminating with an open scrimmage in the Glass Bowl on April 9. 

"I'm excited to get going and watch this 2022 team take shape and carry some momentum from winter workouts into spring football," said Candle, now entering his seventh season as Toledo's head coach and 14th season overall with the program. "I want to see us continue to improve and see us take some lessons we learned in February and apply them to spring. Hopefully, that'll give us a clearer picture on how our football team will look in the 2022 season."

Toledo, which went 7-6 in 2021, won three of its final four games last season, with five of its six losses coming by a touchdown or less. Candle thinks the lessons learned last season will be motivation for the 2022 squad. 

"Last year taught us that the margin of error is so thin, and you have to be at your best to win league games, "said Candle. "There's a lot of parity in our league and it's a hard league to win, start to finish. We have to continue to work on that through the offseason and continue to build and prepare for those moments."

Among the starters returning from last season's  squad are five All-MAC players: senior outside linebacker Jamal Hines, senior defensive tackle Desjuan Johnson, junior wide receiver/return specialist Devin Maddox, senior linebacker Dyontae Johnson and sophomore safety Maxen Hook. Two former All-MAC players are also back, junior offensive lineman Nick Rosi (2019) and junior safety Nate Bauer (2020).

The Rockets are deep at virtually every position so there will intense competition for spots in the playing rotation this spring. The Rockets open their 2022 season with a pair of non-conference home games vs. Long Island (Sept. 3) and UMass (Sept. 10) before hitting the road to play at Ohio State on Sept. 17 and at San Diego State on Sept. 24.

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

Offense
Toledo returns key players at nearly every position on an offense that led the Mid-American Conference in scoring (33.4) in 2021.

Sophomore quarterback Dequan Finn assumed the starting role midway through the 2021 campaign and put up some big numbers in the air and one the ground. Finn threw for 2,067 yards and 18 touchdowns with only two interceptions. His biggest game came against Eastern Michigan when he completed 30-of-45 passes for 461 yards and three scores. He was also dangerous on the ground, rushing for 505 yards and nine TDs. Competing with Finn this spring will be redshirt freshman Tucker Gleason and sophomore A.J. Gucciardo.

Protecting the quarterbacks will be an offensive line that returns three starters and others who have seen starting action or significant playing time. Senior tackle Mitchell Berg and junior guard Tyler Long were regulars on a line that helped the Rockets average nearly 200 yards per game on the ground. Junior guard Nick Rosi, a third-team All-MAC pick in 2019, returns after missing all of last season due to injury. Junior Lavel Dumont started the first seven games at tackle in 2021, while sophomore guard Vinny Sciurry started the final six games at guard. Sophomore Michael Bergen and senior Kelvin Ateman also saw regular action up front in 2021.

At running back, first-team All-MAC selection Bryant Koback has moved on, leaving the door open for a talented corps of players vying for playing time.  Sophomores Micah Kelly and Jacquez Stuart are back after rushing for 314 and 250 yards, respectively. Others in the mix this spring are sophomore Jordan Lowe, redshirt freshmen Lamy Constant and Willie Shaw, as well as sophomore transfer Peny Boone (Maryland).

The receiving corps is led by junior Devin Maddox, who caught 41 passes for 567 yards and four touchdowns in 2021. Senior Matt Landers came on strong late in the season and proved to be an effective deep threat, averaging a team-best 25.7 yards per catch on 20 receptions. Sophomore DeMeer Blankumsee (16 receptions) was a regular in the rotation last year, as was junior Jerjuan Newton (13 receptions) until he was sidelined by an injury. Others who saw action last year are junior Adam Beale and redshirt freshman Thomas Zsiros. At tight end, the Rockets return senior Jamal Turner, who caught eight passes in 2021. Sophomores Justin Stephens and Alex Enders also return after seeing some action last year.

Defense
    The Rockets had one of the best defenses in the MAC last year, and have the talent to be just as good if not better in 2022. Toledo counts five All-MAC honorees among the 12 returnees who have been regular starters on defense at some point in their career.

Toledo's front seven features the 1-2 senior punch of three-time All-MAC outside linebacker Jamal Hines and two-time All-MAC defensive tackle Desjuan Johnson. Hines, a first-team all-league pick in 2021, had 88 tackles, 15.0 TFL and 10.0 sacks in 2021. Johnson, a second-team selection, had 70 tackles, 12.5 TFL and 4.6 sacks last year.

Joining Hines on the edge are four players with significant experience: senior Terrance Taylor (6.0 TFL in 2021), a starter who missed the second half of last season due to injury; senior Nate Givhan (4.0 TFL); junior Adrian Woliver; and sophomore D'Andre Ragin. Other returning defensive tackles are junior Judge Culpepper (43 tackles, 3.0 sacks), who started in every game last season; junior Cavon Butler (22 tackles), a starter in five games in 2021; sophomore Darius Alexander (21 tackles); and junior Devan Rogers (eight tackles). 

At linebacker, senior Dyontae Johnson had 87 tackles and 8.0 TFL tackles on his way to earning second-team All-MAC honors in 2021. He is joined by sophomore Jackson Barrow (42 tackles), and junior Daniel Bolden, who sat out last year with an injury after racking up 20 tackles in 2020. 

Toledo's secondary is also blessed with abundant talent, with five players who have been starters in their careers. 

Returners among the safeties include a pair of All-MAC recipients, sophomore Maxen Hook and junior Nate Bauer. Hook had 95 tackles and three pass breakups as a freshman in 2021, earning third-team All-MAC accolades. Bauer, a second-team All-MAC choice in 2020, had 55 tackles and 6.5 TFL last season. Seniors Zachary Ford (45 tackles, three breakups) and Troy Simon were regulars in the rotation in 2021. 

At cornerback, sophomore Quinyon Mitchell started in all 13 games in 2021, making 34 tackles and breaking up eight passes. Junior Chris McDonald, who has had 17 breakups in the past three seasons, was a regular in the rotation at cornerback and nickelback. Sophomore Ronald Delancy III (11 tackles) made an impact off the bench and on special teams

Special Teams
Junior Thomas Cluckey returns at placekicker after making 14 field goals in 2021. Five-year starter Bailey Flint must be replaced at punter. Freshman and fellow Aussie Jonathon Batzke will compete with Cluckey for Flint's position. 

Toledo has numerous speedsters at its disposal at the return positions. Devin Maddox earned second-team All-MAC honors at punt returner in 2021, while Jacquez Stuart averaged 27.9 yards per kickoff return.


Head Coach Jason Candle first spring practice press conference.