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Toledo's 2026 transfer portal class includes 11 players who earned all-league honors at their previous schools.
Toledo Football Announces Addition of No. 1 Transfer Portal Class in MAC
1/28/2026 10:45:00 AM | Football
Head Coach Mike Jacobs adds 36 transfers, including FCS Defensive Player of the Year Andrew Zock,to 2026 squad
2026 Toledo Transfer Portal Roster
TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo Head Coach Mike Jacobs announced the signing of 36 student-athletes from the 2026 Transfer Portal on Wednesday. The class is ranked No. 1 in the Mid-American Conference by 247Sports.
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Of the 36 additions, 14 are from Mercer University, where Jacobs coached the past two seasons, including 2025 FCS Defensive Player of the Year Andrew Zock.
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Toledo's portal class includes eight defensive backs, five offensive linemen, five wide receivers and five defensive linemen. Most of the signees in the class were starters with their previous schools, with 11 earning all-league honors.
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In addition to Zock, a defensive end who earned First-Team All-SoCon honors at Mercer, the following players also earned all-conference honors at their previous schools: WR Rico Bond (Lindenwood), WR Adjatay Dabbs (Mercer), WR Kalvin Gilbert (Southeast Missouri State), placekicker Reice Griffith (Mercer), safety Kaleb Hutchinson (Mercer), RB Autavius Ison (Mercer), CB Cameron Jones (Holy Cross), RB CJ Miller (Mercer), OL Luke Rector (Garner-Webb) and TE Peyton Strickland (New Hampshire).
"Our staff could not be more excited about the quality, character, and depth of the players we were able to add to Team Toledo in this recent portal cycle," said Jacobs, who was hired as head coach in December. "With a single portal window for the first time, we attacked the portal with a priority and emphasis on players who were veterans and had played significant game reps at their previous institution regardless of level, and we feel as though we were able to accomplish that. Â
"I would also like to personally thank all of our on-campus constituents who were instrumental in onboarding such a large group in a very short window of time. It would not have been possible without the effort and cooperation from our Admissions team, Student Athlete Support Services, Compliance, Housing, and our UT Athletics Creative team."
The following is a brief look at Toledo's 2026 transfer portal signees:Â
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Max Allen, LS, 6-4, 205, Fr. (R), Holly Springs, N.C.-Holly Springs (Mercer)
Max Allen played two games at long snapper for Mercer in 2025 and retains his freshman eligibility in 2026.
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Rico Bond, WR, 6-1, 177, So., St. Louis, Mo. - East St. Louis (Ill.) (Lindenwood)
Rico Bond was a First-Team All-OVC wide receiver for Lindenwood in 2025, totaling 61 receptions for 701 yards and six touchdowns. Bond was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the FCS.
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Caden Camese, DL, 6-1, 285, Jr., Bellevue, Neb.-Bellevue (Mercer)
Defensive lineman Caden Camese played in 30 games for Mercer over the past four seasons, compiling 36.5 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss. He battled injuries for much of 2025, but in 2024 he played in 13 games, starting three with 15 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
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Ahmad Carwise, OL, 6-5, 300, Jr., Piedmont, S.C.-Woodmont (Gardner-Webb)
Ahmad Carwise played in 12 games on the offensive line for Gardner-Webb over the past two seasons, including nine appearances in 2025. Carwise was an all-state first team player at Woodmont High School in Piedmont, S.C.
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Mo Conteh, DB, 6-0, 190, Sr., Columbus, Ohio-Eastmoor Academy (Ohio Dominican)
Mo Conteh played three seasons at Ohio Dominican in Columbus, Ohio, totaling 89 tackles, three interceptions and 14 pass breakups. He had 50 tackles, one interception and eight breakups last season. In 2024, Conteh racked up 37 tackles, two picks and six breakups.
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Adjatay Dabbs, WR, 6-0, 170, Jr., Greeneville, Tenn.-Greeneville (Mercer)
Adjatay Dabbs, a First-Team All-Southern Conference player for Mercer in 2025, tallying 45 receptions for 856 yards and eight touchdowns. Dabbs led the Southern Conference in receiving yards and yards per reception (19.0). In 2024, Dabbs caught 28 passes for 417 yards.
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Julian Fox, LB, 6-1, 220, Jr., Cordele, Ga.-Crisp County (Mercer)
Linebacker Julian Fox had 83 tackles for Mercer in 2025, second on the team and 10th in the Southern Conference. He added 2.0 tackles for loss and three QB hurries. Fox, who played 26 games in three seasons overall at Mercer, had an 89.2 grade by PFF, the sixth-best for any linebacker in the FCS (12th in Division I) and 23rd in the FCS among those who played at least 500 snaps in 2025.
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Kalvin Gilbert, WR ,6-4, 181, Jr., Jacksonville, Fla. (Independence CC/Southeast Missouri State) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Kalvin Gilbert caught 46 passes for 653 yards and seven touchdowns for Southeast Missouri State in 2025, earning honorable mention All-OVC recognition. He played at Independence C.C. (Kan.) in 2024, catching 17 passes for 217 yards and one TD.
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Reice Griffith, PK, 5-11, 170, Sr., Pace, Fla.-Pace (Mercer)
Reice Griffith made 14-of-17 field goals for Mercer in 2025, including 2-of-2 from 50 yards or beyond, with a career-long kick of 51 yards. He led the Southern Conference (SoCon) in field goal percentage (82.4%), earning First-Team All-Southern Conference honors. Griffith also made 16-of-20 field goals in 2024 and 10-of-15 in 2023, making him 40-of-52 in his career. Griffith, who is a perfect 145-of-145 in extra point attempts in his career, is the all-time leading scorer in Mercer history with 265 points.
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Kaleb Hutchinson, S, 6-0, 185, Sr., Augusta, Ga.-Westside (Coastal Carolina/Mercer)
Safety Kaleb Hutchinson had 66 tackles, a team-leading three interceptions and four pass breakups for Mercer in 2025, earning First-Team All-SoCon honors. Hutchinson played in all 13 games on special teams in 2024, making 12 tackles. He began his career at Coastal Carolina but did not see game action in two seasons there.
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Autavius Ison, RB, 5-11, 190, Jr., Atlanta, Ga.-Riverdale (Charleston Southern/Mercer)
Autavius Ison played two seasons at Charleston Southern before transferring to Mercer in 2025. In 2024, Ison rushed for 795 yards and four TDs, earning All-Big South honors. He rushed for 189 yards as a freshman in 2023.
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Kari Jackson, LB, 6-1, 238, So. , West Bloomfield, Mich.-West Bloomfield (Penn State)
Linebacker Kari Jackson joins the Rockets after two seasons at Penn State. Jackson was a three-star recruit coming out of high school. He was ranked as the No. 14 player in the state of Michigan and No. 52 linebacker in the nation, according to 247Sports.
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Dominic Johnson, OL, 6-3, 290, So., Ocala, Fla.-Trinity Catholic (Georgia State)
Dominic Johnson saw limited action at Georgia State the past two seasons. Coming out of high school at Trinity Catholic HS in Ocala, Fla., Johnson was a three-star prospect who helped his team make back-to-back appearances in the Class Suburban 1 state championship game.
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Zach Johnson, DE, 6-3, 240, So., Ocala, Fla.-Carrollwood Day (UAB)
Zach Johnson played in nine games as a freshman at UAB, making seven tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and three QB hurries. Johnson was a three-star recruit out of high school.
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Cameron Jones, CB, 5-11, 190, Jr., Reading, Pa.-Wilson (Holy Cross)
Cornerback Cameron Jones was named First-Team All-Patriot League in 2025, finishing with 56 tackles, a team-best eight pass deflections and one interception (a pick-six). In 2024, Jones earned Second-Team All-Patriot League honors, compiling 56 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups.
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Trenton Jones, WR, 5-10, 170, So., Hastings, Fla.-St. Augustine (Mercer)
Wide receiver Trenton Jones caught five passes in seven games as a freshman at Mercer. Coming out of high school, Jones was a three-star prospect, catching 74 passes for 1,223 yards and 12 TDs as a senior.
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Ethan Malafa, TE, 6-6, 250, Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio-Mariemont (Butler)
Tight end Ethan Malafa caught six passes for 66 yards and one touchdown for Butler in 2025. Used primarily as a blocking tight end, Malafa played in 24 games for the Bulldogs over the past three seasons. He earned a 76.6 pass block rating by PFF, the 11th-best mark in the FCS.
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Markus Meincke, P, 6-7, 220, Jr., Hamburg, Germany-International School of Hamburg (Mercer)
Markus Meincke joined Mercer as a punter in 2025 after playing one season of soccer at UAB in 2023.
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CJ Miller, RB, 5-11, 230, Sr., Gadsden, Ala.-Gadsden (Mercer)
CJ Miller rushed for 957 yards and 14 touchdowns for Mercer in 2025, ranking second in the Southern Conference in rushing yards and first in TDs, earning first-team All-SoCon honors. As a sophomore, Miller rushed for 404 yards and three TDs.
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Jake Newell, TE, 6-4, 245, Sr. , Springfield, Ore.-Thurston (Arizona State/Akron)
Tight end Jake Newell played the last three seasons at Akron after beginning his career at Arizona State. He played in 29 games for the Zips, totaling 52 receptions for 392 yards and three touchdowns. His best season came in 2024 when he caught 35 passes for 254 yards and two scores.
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Ezra Odinjor, DE, 6-3, 240, Jr., Kennesaw, Ga.-Allatoona (Georgia Tech/UAB)
Ezra Odinjor began his career at Georgia Tech and played the past two seasons at UAB, where he totaled 48 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. He started 10 games for UAB last season, making 27 tackles.
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LaDavion Osborn, CB, 6-1, 183, Sr., Tyler, Texas-Lake Highlands (Northern Colorado)
LaDavion Osborn appeared in 24 games at cornerback for Northern Colorado over the past three seasons, making 52 tackles. As a sophomore in 2023, Osborn totaled a career-best 23 tackles.
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Israel Petite, CB, 5-11, 170, Jr., Macedonia, Ohio-Nordonia (Robert Morris)
Cornerback Israel Petite played two seasons at Robert Morris, totaling 36 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups in 2025.
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Isaac Prince, LB, 6-0, 215, Sr. , Snellville, Ga.-Shiloh (Mercer)
A four-year linebacker at Mercer, Isaac Prince had a break-out season in 2025 with 53 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. He had an 82.6 grade by PFSN, the sixth-highest among linebackers in the Southern Conference. Prince played a total of 36 games for the Bears in his career, racking up 74 tackles.
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Luke Rector, OL, 6-5, 300, Sr., Valdese, N.C.-Draughn (Gardner-Webb)
Offensive lineman Luke Rector earned honorable mention All-Big South honors at Gardner-Webb in 2025.
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Khamoni Robinson, QB, 6-1, 195, Monroe, N.C.-Monroe (Lenoir-Rhyne)
Khamoni Robinson completed 177-of-277 passes for 2,391 yards and 20 touchdowns for Lenoir-Rhyne in 2025. He also ran for 325 yards and nine scores. Robinson's best game came in a 48-46 win over Catawba on Nov. 15 in which he threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more.
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Ben Sahakian, DE, 6-4, 224, Sr. , Mount Prospect, Ill.-Prospect (Cornell)
Ben Sahakian played in all 10 games for Cornell in 2025, making 35 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, six QB hurries and four forced fumbles.
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Dylan Senda, OL, 6-5, 303, Jr., Livonia, Mich.-Dearborn Divine Child (Northwestern/Auburn)
Dylan Senda began his career at Northwestern and played the last three years at Auburn. He played in 12 games for the Tigers on the offensive line in 2025. He selected as a first-team all-state honoree in high school by the Detroit Free Press, the MHSFCA and the Associated Press.    Â
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Anthony Simpson, WR, 5-11, 186, Sr., Hartford, Conn.-Bloomfield (Arizona/UMass/Michigan)
Anthony Simpson played the 2025 season at Michigan, but had his best season at UMass in 2023 when he caught 57 passes for 792 yards and three touchdowns, earning First-Team All-Independent honors from Phil Steele. Simpson began his career at Arizona, where he averaged 19.0 yards on 18 kickoff returns for the Wildcats in 2022.
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Amorion Smith, S, 6-1, 212, Sr., Detroit, Mich.-River Rouge (Cincinnati/Michigan State)
Safety Amorion Smith played at Michigan State for the last three seasons, becoming a regular in the rotation in 2025 with 35 tackles, one interception and two pass breakups. Smith began his career at Cincinnati, making 20 tackles in 12 games for the Bearcats as a redshirt freshman in 2022.
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Corey Smith, RB, 5-10, 175, So., Milwaukee, Wis.-Catholic Memorial (Penn State)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Corey Smith rushed for 154 yards in four games as a true freshman at Penn State in 2024, and 30 yards in six games as a redshirt freshman last season. His biggest highlight was a 78-yard run vs. Washington in 2024. A consensus four-star prospect coming out of high school, Smith was tabbed as the No. 17 running back in the nation and No. 2 player in the state of Wisconsin by Rivals, the No. 23 running back and No. 3 player in the state by 247Sports.               Â
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Peyton Strickland, TE, 6-3, 235, Goffstown, N.H.-Goffstown (New Hampshire)
Peyton Strickland caught 24 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns for New Hampshire in 2025, earning first-team All-CAA honors. His longest reception of the year was a 65-yard touchdown reception vs. NC Central.
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KJ Thomas, CB, 5-11, 180, So. Conyers, Ga.- Hebron Christian Academy (Mercer)
KJ Thomas registered 27 tackles and seven pass breakups as a freshman for Mercer in 2025, earning All-Freshman Team honors from the Southern Conference. Thomas, an all-region cornerback in high school, also played wide receiver as a prep and ran on the track team.
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Nick Thomas, OL, 6-4, 311, Sr., East Orange, N.J.-Immaculate Conception (Boston College/Rhode Island)
Nick Thomas played four seasons on the offensive line at Boston College before transferring to Rhode Island last season, where he played in 10 games for the Rams. He earned a 73.9 grade from PFF, the 15th-highest mark for an offensive tackle in the FCS.
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Donovan Watkins, DB, 5-11, 180, Jr. , Winnsboro, S.C.-Fairfield Central (Mercer)
Donovan Watkins is a transfer from Mercer, where was a key player for the Bears for the past two seasons. He moved into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman in 2024, totaling 22 tackles, one interception and eight pass breakups. Last season, he racked up 34 tackles, two interceptions and nine breakups.
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Andrew Zock, DE, 6-2, 250, Jr., Citra, Fla.-Hawthorne (Mercer)
Andrew Zock won the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award as the best defensive player in FCS as a sophomore for the Mercer Bears. He also earned First-Team All-Southern Conference honors, racking up 46 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 23 QB hurries in 2025. Zock had a 90.6 grade from PFF, second in the FCS and 12th in all of Division I among defensive ends. He had the ninth-highest grade by PFF among all FCS defensive players who played at least 500 snaps in 2025. In his freshman season, Zock amassed 38 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks and 15 QB hurries. He made Second-Team All-Southern Conference, was named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year and finished fourth in the balloting for the Jerry Rice Award as the top FCS freshman in the country.
TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo Head Coach Mike Jacobs announced the signing of 36 student-athletes from the 2026 Transfer Portal on Wednesday. The class is ranked No. 1 in the Mid-American Conference by 247Sports.
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Of the 36 additions, 14 are from Mercer University, where Jacobs coached the past two seasons, including 2025 FCS Defensive Player of the Year Andrew Zock.
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Toledo's portal class includes eight defensive backs, five offensive linemen, five wide receivers and five defensive linemen. Most of the signees in the class were starters with their previous schools, with 11 earning all-league honors.
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In addition to Zock, a defensive end who earned First-Team All-SoCon honors at Mercer, the following players also earned all-conference honors at their previous schools: WR Rico Bond (Lindenwood), WR Adjatay Dabbs (Mercer), WR Kalvin Gilbert (Southeast Missouri State), placekicker Reice Griffith (Mercer), safety Kaleb Hutchinson (Mercer), RB Autavius Ison (Mercer), CB Cameron Jones (Holy Cross), RB CJ Miller (Mercer), OL Luke Rector (Garner-Webb) and TE Peyton Strickland (New Hampshire).
"Our staff could not be more excited about the quality, character, and depth of the players we were able to add to Team Toledo in this recent portal cycle," said Jacobs, who was hired as head coach in December. "With a single portal window for the first time, we attacked the portal with a priority and emphasis on players who were veterans and had played significant game reps at their previous institution regardless of level, and we feel as though we were able to accomplish that. Â
"I would also like to personally thank all of our on-campus constituents who were instrumental in onboarding such a large group in a very short window of time. It would not have been possible without the effort and cooperation from our Admissions team, Student Athlete Support Services, Compliance, Housing, and our UT Athletics Creative team."
The following is a brief look at Toledo's 2026 transfer portal signees:Â
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Max Allen, LS, 6-4, 205, Fr. (R), Holly Springs, N.C.-Holly Springs (Mercer)
Max Allen played two games at long snapper for Mercer in 2025 and retains his freshman eligibility in 2026.
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Rico Bond, WR, 6-1, 177, So., St. Louis, Mo. - East St. Louis (Ill.) (Lindenwood)
Rico Bond was a First-Team All-OVC wide receiver for Lindenwood in 2025, totaling 61 receptions for 701 yards and six touchdowns. Bond was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the FCS.
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Caden Camese, DL, 6-1, 285, Jr., Bellevue, Neb.-Bellevue (Mercer)
Defensive lineman Caden Camese played in 30 games for Mercer over the past four seasons, compiling 36.5 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss. He battled injuries for much of 2025, but in 2024 he played in 13 games, starting three with 15 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
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Ahmad Carwise, OL, 6-5, 300, Jr., Piedmont, S.C.-Woodmont (Gardner-Webb)
Ahmad Carwise played in 12 games on the offensive line for Gardner-Webb over the past two seasons, including nine appearances in 2025. Carwise was an all-state first team player at Woodmont High School in Piedmont, S.C.
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Mo Conteh, DB, 6-0, 190, Sr., Columbus, Ohio-Eastmoor Academy (Ohio Dominican)
Mo Conteh played three seasons at Ohio Dominican in Columbus, Ohio, totaling 89 tackles, three interceptions and 14 pass breakups. He had 50 tackles, one interception and eight breakups last season. In 2024, Conteh racked up 37 tackles, two picks and six breakups.
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Adjatay Dabbs, WR, 6-0, 170, Jr., Greeneville, Tenn.-Greeneville (Mercer)
Adjatay Dabbs, a First-Team All-Southern Conference player for Mercer in 2025, tallying 45 receptions for 856 yards and eight touchdowns. Dabbs led the Southern Conference in receiving yards and yards per reception (19.0). In 2024, Dabbs caught 28 passes for 417 yards.
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Julian Fox, LB, 6-1, 220, Jr., Cordele, Ga.-Crisp County (Mercer)
Linebacker Julian Fox had 83 tackles for Mercer in 2025, second on the team and 10th in the Southern Conference. He added 2.0 tackles for loss and three QB hurries. Fox, who played 26 games in three seasons overall at Mercer, had an 89.2 grade by PFF, the sixth-best for any linebacker in the FCS (12th in Division I) and 23rd in the FCS among those who played at least 500 snaps in 2025.
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Kalvin Gilbert, WR ,6-4, 181, Jr., Jacksonville, Fla. (Independence CC/Southeast Missouri State) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Kalvin Gilbert caught 46 passes for 653 yards and seven touchdowns for Southeast Missouri State in 2025, earning honorable mention All-OVC recognition. He played at Independence C.C. (Kan.) in 2024, catching 17 passes for 217 yards and one TD.
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Reice Griffith, PK, 5-11, 170, Sr., Pace, Fla.-Pace (Mercer)
Reice Griffith made 14-of-17 field goals for Mercer in 2025, including 2-of-2 from 50 yards or beyond, with a career-long kick of 51 yards. He led the Southern Conference (SoCon) in field goal percentage (82.4%), earning First-Team All-Southern Conference honors. Griffith also made 16-of-20 field goals in 2024 and 10-of-15 in 2023, making him 40-of-52 in his career. Griffith, who is a perfect 145-of-145 in extra point attempts in his career, is the all-time leading scorer in Mercer history with 265 points.
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Kaleb Hutchinson, S, 6-0, 185, Sr., Augusta, Ga.-Westside (Coastal Carolina/Mercer)
Safety Kaleb Hutchinson had 66 tackles, a team-leading three interceptions and four pass breakups for Mercer in 2025, earning First-Team All-SoCon honors. Hutchinson played in all 13 games on special teams in 2024, making 12 tackles. He began his career at Coastal Carolina but did not see game action in two seasons there.
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Autavius Ison, RB, 5-11, 190, Jr., Atlanta, Ga.-Riverdale (Charleston Southern/Mercer)
Autavius Ison played two seasons at Charleston Southern before transferring to Mercer in 2025. In 2024, Ison rushed for 795 yards and four TDs, earning All-Big South honors. He rushed for 189 yards as a freshman in 2023.
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Kari Jackson, LB, 6-1, 238, So. , West Bloomfield, Mich.-West Bloomfield (Penn State)
Linebacker Kari Jackson joins the Rockets after two seasons at Penn State. Jackson was a three-star recruit coming out of high school. He was ranked as the No. 14 player in the state of Michigan and No. 52 linebacker in the nation, according to 247Sports.
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Dominic Johnson, OL, 6-3, 290, So., Ocala, Fla.-Trinity Catholic (Georgia State)
Dominic Johnson saw limited action at Georgia State the past two seasons. Coming out of high school at Trinity Catholic HS in Ocala, Fla., Johnson was a three-star prospect who helped his team make back-to-back appearances in the Class Suburban 1 state championship game.
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Zach Johnson, DE, 6-3, 240, So., Ocala, Fla.-Carrollwood Day (UAB)
Zach Johnson played in nine games as a freshman at UAB, making seven tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and three QB hurries. Johnson was a three-star recruit out of high school.
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Cameron Jones, CB, 5-11, 190, Jr., Reading, Pa.-Wilson (Holy Cross)
Cornerback Cameron Jones was named First-Team All-Patriot League in 2025, finishing with 56 tackles, a team-best eight pass deflections and one interception (a pick-six). In 2024, Jones earned Second-Team All-Patriot League honors, compiling 56 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups.
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Trenton Jones, WR, 5-10, 170, So., Hastings, Fla.-St. Augustine (Mercer)
Wide receiver Trenton Jones caught five passes in seven games as a freshman at Mercer. Coming out of high school, Jones was a three-star prospect, catching 74 passes for 1,223 yards and 12 TDs as a senior.
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Ethan Malafa, TE, 6-6, 250, Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio-Mariemont (Butler)
Tight end Ethan Malafa caught six passes for 66 yards and one touchdown for Butler in 2025. Used primarily as a blocking tight end, Malafa played in 24 games for the Bulldogs over the past three seasons. He earned a 76.6 pass block rating by PFF, the 11th-best mark in the FCS.
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Markus Meincke, P, 6-7, 220, Jr., Hamburg, Germany-International School of Hamburg (Mercer)
Markus Meincke joined Mercer as a punter in 2025 after playing one season of soccer at UAB in 2023.
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CJ Miller, RB, 5-11, 230, Sr., Gadsden, Ala.-Gadsden (Mercer)
CJ Miller rushed for 957 yards and 14 touchdowns for Mercer in 2025, ranking second in the Southern Conference in rushing yards and first in TDs, earning first-team All-SoCon honors. As a sophomore, Miller rushed for 404 yards and three TDs.
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Jake Newell, TE, 6-4, 245, Sr. , Springfield, Ore.-Thurston (Arizona State/Akron)
Tight end Jake Newell played the last three seasons at Akron after beginning his career at Arizona State. He played in 29 games for the Zips, totaling 52 receptions for 392 yards and three touchdowns. His best season came in 2024 when he caught 35 passes for 254 yards and two scores.
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Ezra Odinjor, DE, 6-3, 240, Jr., Kennesaw, Ga.-Allatoona (Georgia Tech/UAB)
Ezra Odinjor began his career at Georgia Tech and played the past two seasons at UAB, where he totaled 48 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. He started 10 games for UAB last season, making 27 tackles.
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LaDavion Osborn, CB, 6-1, 183, Sr., Tyler, Texas-Lake Highlands (Northern Colorado)
LaDavion Osborn appeared in 24 games at cornerback for Northern Colorado over the past three seasons, making 52 tackles. As a sophomore in 2023, Osborn totaled a career-best 23 tackles.
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Israel Petite, CB, 5-11, 170, Jr., Macedonia, Ohio-Nordonia (Robert Morris)
Cornerback Israel Petite played two seasons at Robert Morris, totaling 36 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups in 2025.
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Isaac Prince, LB, 6-0, 215, Sr. , Snellville, Ga.-Shiloh (Mercer)
A four-year linebacker at Mercer, Isaac Prince had a break-out season in 2025 with 53 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. He had an 82.6 grade by PFSN, the sixth-highest among linebackers in the Southern Conference. Prince played a total of 36 games for the Bears in his career, racking up 74 tackles.
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Luke Rector, OL, 6-5, 300, Sr., Valdese, N.C.-Draughn (Gardner-Webb)
Offensive lineman Luke Rector earned honorable mention All-Big South honors at Gardner-Webb in 2025.
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Khamoni Robinson, QB, 6-1, 195, Monroe, N.C.-Monroe (Lenoir-Rhyne)
Khamoni Robinson completed 177-of-277 passes for 2,391 yards and 20 touchdowns for Lenoir-Rhyne in 2025. He also ran for 325 yards and nine scores. Robinson's best game came in a 48-46 win over Catawba on Nov. 15 in which he threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more.
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Ben Sahakian, DE, 6-4, 224, Sr. , Mount Prospect, Ill.-Prospect (Cornell)
Ben Sahakian played in all 10 games for Cornell in 2025, making 35 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, six QB hurries and four forced fumbles.
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Dylan Senda, OL, 6-5, 303, Jr., Livonia, Mich.-Dearborn Divine Child (Northwestern/Auburn)
Dylan Senda began his career at Northwestern and played the last three years at Auburn. He played in 12 games for the Tigers on the offensive line in 2025. He selected as a first-team all-state honoree in high school by the Detroit Free Press, the MHSFCA and the Associated Press.    Â
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Anthony Simpson, WR, 5-11, 186, Sr., Hartford, Conn.-Bloomfield (Arizona/UMass/Michigan)
Anthony Simpson played the 2025 season at Michigan, but had his best season at UMass in 2023 when he caught 57 passes for 792 yards and three touchdowns, earning First-Team All-Independent honors from Phil Steele. Simpson began his career at Arizona, where he averaged 19.0 yards on 18 kickoff returns for the Wildcats in 2022.
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Amorion Smith, S, 6-1, 212, Sr., Detroit, Mich.-River Rouge (Cincinnati/Michigan State)
Safety Amorion Smith played at Michigan State for the last three seasons, becoming a regular in the rotation in 2025 with 35 tackles, one interception and two pass breakups. Smith began his career at Cincinnati, making 20 tackles in 12 games for the Bearcats as a redshirt freshman in 2022.
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Corey Smith, RB, 5-10, 175, So., Milwaukee, Wis.-Catholic Memorial (Penn State)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Corey Smith rushed for 154 yards in four games as a true freshman at Penn State in 2024, and 30 yards in six games as a redshirt freshman last season. His biggest highlight was a 78-yard run vs. Washington in 2024. A consensus four-star prospect coming out of high school, Smith was tabbed as the No. 17 running back in the nation and No. 2 player in the state of Wisconsin by Rivals, the No. 23 running back and No. 3 player in the state by 247Sports.               Â
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Peyton Strickland, TE, 6-3, 235, Goffstown, N.H.-Goffstown (New Hampshire)
Peyton Strickland caught 24 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns for New Hampshire in 2025, earning first-team All-CAA honors. His longest reception of the year was a 65-yard touchdown reception vs. NC Central.
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KJ Thomas, CB, 5-11, 180, So. Conyers, Ga.- Hebron Christian Academy (Mercer)
KJ Thomas registered 27 tackles and seven pass breakups as a freshman for Mercer in 2025, earning All-Freshman Team honors from the Southern Conference. Thomas, an all-region cornerback in high school, also played wide receiver as a prep and ran on the track team.
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Nick Thomas, OL, 6-4, 311, Sr., East Orange, N.J.-Immaculate Conception (Boston College/Rhode Island)
Nick Thomas played four seasons on the offensive line at Boston College before transferring to Rhode Island last season, where he played in 10 games for the Rams. He earned a 73.9 grade from PFF, the 15th-highest mark for an offensive tackle in the FCS.
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Donovan Watkins, DB, 5-11, 180, Jr. , Winnsboro, S.C.-Fairfield Central (Mercer)
Donovan Watkins is a transfer from Mercer, where was a key player for the Bears for the past two seasons. He moved into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman in 2024, totaling 22 tackles, one interception and eight pass breakups. Last season, he racked up 34 tackles, two interceptions and nine breakups.
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Andrew Zock, DE, 6-2, 250, Jr., Citra, Fla.-Hawthorne (Mercer)
Andrew Zock won the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award as the best defensive player in FCS as a sophomore for the Mercer Bears. He also earned First-Team All-Southern Conference honors, racking up 46 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 23 QB hurries in 2025. Zock had a 90.6 grade from PFF, second in the FCS and 12th in all of Division I among defensive ends. He had the ninth-highest grade by PFF among all FCS defensive players who played at least 500 snaps in 2025. In his freshman season, Zock amassed 38 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks and 15 QB hurries. He made Second-Team All-Southern Conference, was named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year and finished fourth in the balloting for the Jerry Rice Award as the top FCS freshman in the country.
Toledo Football - Bacon Raton Bowl of Beans - Post Game Press Conference - 12/23/2025
Wednesday, December 24
Toledo Football - Boca Raton Bowl of Beans - Post Game Press Conference - 12/23/2025
Wednesday, December 24
Toledo Football - Bowl Game Head Coaches Press Conference - 12/19/2025
Saturday, December 20
Coach Mike Jacobs Introductory Press Conference
Thursday, December 11
