TOLEDO, Ohio - The 2024 spring football practice season began today for the Toledo Rockets with Head Coach Jason Candle's squad eager to continue its preparations for the 2024 season.

The Rockets opened practice in the Fetterman Training Center in the first of 15 spring practices that follow winter workouts in January and February. The spring season culminates with the Spring Showcase open scrimmage in the Glass Bowl on Saturday, April 6. 

"Our guys have been working really hard since January to lay the foundation of what the season will be," said Candle, a two-time MAC Coach of the Year who enters his ninth season as head coach with the Rockets. "Winter workouts are phase one of the calendar year, then we transition to the second phase which is spring practice. We're just looking for growth in each individual player as we start to mold and find out what 2024 will be. Spring practice is not the final answer to that, but it's a great preview of what it could be."

The Rockets return six All-MAC players from last season's 11-3 squad, including first-teamers Jerjuan Newton (WR), Jacquez Stuart (KR) and Maxen Hook (S). Also returning are tight end Anthony Torres (second team), placekicker Luke Pawlak (third team) and defensive tackle Darius Alexander (third team). 

Head Coach Jason Candle and his staff will use the spring to continue evaluations at all positions. The Rockets will be looking to replace several players who played key roles on a team that has gone 20-8 over the past two seasons with two trips to the MAC Championship Game, including a MAC title in 2022, with bowl berths in each of the past three seasons.

Toledo opens the 2024 season with a home game vs. Duquesne on Thursday, Aug. 29, followed by another contest in the Glass Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 7 vs. UMass. Mid-American Conference play will begin in late September (dates TBA) following road contests at Mississippi State on Sept. 14 and Western Kentucky on Sept. 21.

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

Offense
Toledo returns several key returners on offense, plus junior quarterback Tucker Gleason, who has had significant playing time in his career, including as a starter in the 2023 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl.

Gleason will be battling for the starting quarterback spot with sophomore John Alan Richter and redshirt freshmen RJ Johnson III and Jake DeHaan. Gleason has the edge in experience. In addition to playing in last season's bowl game, he started two games in 2022, earning MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week vs. Eastern Michigan and throwing for 329 yards vs. Bowling Green.

At running back, the Rockets return senior speedster Jacquez Stuart, who has rushed for 1,344 yards and 10 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Stuart has game-breaking wheels, as evidenced by his 80-yard touchdown run vs. Wyoming in the Arizona Bowl. Joining Stuart in the running back room are junior Willie Shaw (134 yards in 2023), sophomore Connor Walendzak, junior Elijah Wesley, and seniors Mike Drennen II, Bryce McMahon and Kris Pechac.

Toledo has excellent depth at the wide receiver position, led by senior Jerjuan Newton, who was a first-team All-MAC selection in 2023 after making the second team in 2022. Newton paced the Rockets with 52 receptions, 696 receiving yards and nine TDs last season. Another returner who made a big impact in 2023 was Junior Vandeross III, a junior who grabbed 47 passes for 664 yards and four scores. Juniors Larry Stephens (22 receptions) and Jaden Dottin (12 catches) also are back.

A slew of young receivers will also be battling for playing time, including junior Thomas Zsiros, sophomores Eric Holley III, Don Munnerlyn and Cooper Rusk, and redshirt freshmen Julian Allen, Jediyah Willoughby and Bryson Hammer. Transfers Tre Richardson (Hutchinson CC) and Terrell Crosby Jr. (Iowa State) have also joined the squad this spring.

The tight end position should be an area of strength for Toledo. Senior Anthony Torres caught 26 passes for 464 yards in 2023, earning second-team All-MAC honors. Sophomore Lenny Kühl is back in the mix after missing all of last year with an injury. Sophomore CC Ezirim, redshirt freshman Donivon Thomas and junior transfer Sam Lee (Hillsdale) are also expected to battle for significant roles.

The offensive line has a large field of candidates to replace the five departing starters from 2023. Going into the spring, the top candidates at center are sophomore Ethan Spoth and sophomore transfer Maddox Marcotte (Hutchinson CC). The returning guards are juniors Carter Fouty and Drew Beckenhaupt, sophomore Jackson Cannon, a transfer from Mississippi State in 2023, and redshirt freshman Grant Zimmerly. Senior Jakob James, a transfer from Ohio State, should also be competing for a spot. The Rockets have five returnees at tackle, juniors Garrett Schwiebert and Rod Orr, sophomore Stephen Gales, and redshirt freshmen Mason Ludwig and Cole Rhett.
 
Defense
The defense has veterans at every position, led by three-time All-MAC safety Maxen Hook and 2023 third-team All-MAC defensive tackle Darius Alexander.

Hook, a senior, had another big year in 2023 despite missing five games due to injury. He had 70 tackles and led the team with three interceptions, earning first-team All-MAC honors for the second year in a row. Other returners at safety are junior Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, a starter in five games in 2023 who tied for third on the team with 69 tackles. Senior Andre Fuller (11 tackles in 2023), sophomore Braden Awls and redshirt freshmen Roland McGhee Jr., Dylan Hohler and Nicholas Thompson are the other returning veteran safeties.

Toledo has big shoes to fill at cornerback with the departure of two-time All-American Quinyon Mitchell and 2023 All-MAC selection Chris McDonald, as well as key backup Ronald Delancy III. Two returning corners with playing experience are juniors Avery Smith and Nasir Bowers. Also back is senior Micah Cherry, who joined the squad last year as a junior college transfer. Newcomers to watch are senior transfers Jadarrius Perkins (Florida) and Zeke Blake (Youngstown State).

The linebacking corps is led by seniors Daniel Bolden and Jackson Barrow. Bolden started every game in 2023 and was second in the team with 94 tackles. Other returners vying for playing time are junior Damon Ollison II, and sophomores Chris D'Appolonia and Drew Covington. Transfers Lance Dixon (West Virginia) and K'Von Sherman (Hutchinson CC) are also in the mix.

Toledo returns are large number of returners to the defensive line. At defensive tackle, senior Darius Alexander, a third-team All-MAC pick with 36 tackles and four sacks in 2023, leads a group that also includes senior Cavon Butler (29 tackles), juniors Martez Poynter (17 tackles), Esean Carter and Doran Ray, Jr. , as well as sophomore Kiel Eldridge.

Leading the defensive end/outside linebacker group are seniors D'Andre Ragin (41 tackles, 8.0 TFL in 2023) and Deshawn Holt (26 tackles, 6.0 TFL). Also returning is junior Jeremiah Peters (22 tackles, 7.0 TFL) and sophomore Travion Ford (10 tackles). Sophomore transfer Josh Lee (Hillsdale) and a number of other younger players will also be battling for playing time.
 
Special Teams
The Rockets return both their placekickers and punter from last season, as well as several key kick returners. Senior placekicker Luke Pawlak, a third-team All-MAC pick in 2023, returns after making 12-of-15 field goals last year. Sophomore punter Emilio Duran is back after a solid rookie campaign and is looking to improve on his 37.8 punting average. Senior Michael Denning, who handled the kickoffs last season, also returns.

Senior Jacquez Stuart, a first-team All-MAC selection who was third in the country with a 29.1 kickoff return average, is back. Sophomores Eric Holley III and junior college transfer Tre Richardson will also see reps at kickoff return this spring. Richardson and redshirt freshman Julian Allen may also be competing at punt returner with senior Jerjuan Newton.

Tickets
Season ticket orders for the 2024 season are available at UTRockets.com/FBTix or by calling 419-530-GOLD (4653).