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Senior Stephen Gales started 11 games at left tackle last season. He is one of four returning offensive linemen with experience as a starter..
Toledo to Open Mike Jacobs’ Era on March 17 With First Spring Practice
3/11/2026 10:18:00 AM | Football
Rockets’ first-year head coach welcomes a solid mix of returners and highly regarded newcomers
TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo Rockets will kick off their 2026 spring football practice season on Tuesday, March 17, the first official practice under first-year Head Coach Mike Jacobs. Tuesday will be the first of 15 practices this spring, culminating with the Spring Showcase on Saturday, April 18 at the Glass Bowl that will be open to the public.
Jacobs' was named Toledo's 28th head football coach last December following an impressive 10-year run as head coach at three different schools. He will welcome a solid core of returners to the 2026 squad, as well as a transfer portal class that was ranked No. 1 in the Mid-American Conference by 247 Sports last January.
"Our roster has come together as a combination of a really talented returning group that stuck with us, as well as the addition of roughly 50 players between the portal and high school recruits," said Jacobs, a 24-year coaching veteran who compiled a 94-23 record as the head coach at Mercer, Lenoir-Rhyne and Notre Dame College. "They've worked hard and really come together as one. We've been excited about what we've seen so far in winter workouts. Now we are on to phase two, which is spring football practice and intense competition at all positions."
Among Toledo's top returning players are a quartet of offensive linemen who have seen significant action in their careers. Senior Stephen Gales returns after starting 11 games at left tackle in 2025. Seniors Ibrahim Traore and Jonathan Harder also have starting experience, as does junior Grant Zimmerly, who is back after missing the 2025 season due to injury. Also returning is junior quarterback John Alan Richter, who threw for 699 yards and seven touchdowns over the past two seasons.
The transfer portal additions include 11 players who received all-league honors at their previous schools, led by defensive end Andrew Zock, who was the 2025 FCS Defensive Player of the Year at Mercer. The other all-conference honorees are wide receiver Rico Bond (Lindenwood), wide receiver Adjatay Dabbs (Mercer), wide receiver Kalvin Gilbert Jr. (Southeast Missouri State), placekicker Reice Griffith (Mercer), safety Kaleb Hutchinson (Mercer), running back Autavius Ison (Mercer), cornerback Cam Jones (Holy Cross), running back CJ Miller (Mercer), offensive lineman Luke Rector (Garner-Webb) and tight end Peyton Strickland (New Hampshire).
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Jacobs said the spring practice season will be another step in his staff's evaluation of the team heading into training camp next summer.
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"Everything will be earned, every single position is open, and I expect it to be a highly competitive spring," said Jacobs. "We want to see daily and marked improvement. We want ultra-competitive physical practices and competition for position battles. Just as important, we want to stay healthy in the spring and come out clean rolling into the off-season workouts and then into training camp in August."
Toledo opens the 2026 season at Michigan State on Sept. 5 and then plays three consecutive home games, beginning with "The Biggest Party in Toledo" vs. Central Connecticut State on Sept. 12, followed by contests vs. Temple on Sept. 19 and San Diego State on Sept. 26. This will be the first time the Rockets have had seven home contests on their schedule since 2018 and just the third time overall.
Season ticket deposits for the 2026 season are available now at utrockets.com/fbdeposit or by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at 419-530-GOLD.
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Jacobs' was named Toledo's 28th head football coach last December following an impressive 10-year run as head coach at three different schools. He will welcome a solid core of returners to the 2026 squad, as well as a transfer portal class that was ranked No. 1 in the Mid-American Conference by 247 Sports last January.
"Our roster has come together as a combination of a really talented returning group that stuck with us, as well as the addition of roughly 50 players between the portal and high school recruits," said Jacobs, a 24-year coaching veteran who compiled a 94-23 record as the head coach at Mercer, Lenoir-Rhyne and Notre Dame College. "They've worked hard and really come together as one. We've been excited about what we've seen so far in winter workouts. Now we are on to phase two, which is spring football practice and intense competition at all positions."
Among Toledo's top returning players are a quartet of offensive linemen who have seen significant action in their careers. Senior Stephen Gales returns after starting 11 games at left tackle in 2025. Seniors Ibrahim Traore and Jonathan Harder also have starting experience, as does junior Grant Zimmerly, who is back after missing the 2025 season due to injury. Also returning is junior quarterback John Alan Richter, who threw for 699 yards and seven touchdowns over the past two seasons.
The transfer portal additions include 11 players who received all-league honors at their previous schools, led by defensive end Andrew Zock, who was the 2025 FCS Defensive Player of the Year at Mercer. The other all-conference honorees are wide receiver Rico Bond (Lindenwood), wide receiver Adjatay Dabbs (Mercer), wide receiver Kalvin Gilbert Jr. (Southeast Missouri State), placekicker Reice Griffith (Mercer), safety Kaleb Hutchinson (Mercer), running back Autavius Ison (Mercer), cornerback Cam Jones (Holy Cross), running back CJ Miller (Mercer), offensive lineman Luke Rector (Garner-Webb) and tight end Peyton Strickland (New Hampshire).
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Jacobs said the spring practice season will be another step in his staff's evaluation of the team heading into training camp next summer.
Â
"Everything will be earned, every single position is open, and I expect it to be a highly competitive spring," said Jacobs. "We want to see daily and marked improvement. We want ultra-competitive physical practices and competition for position battles. Just as important, we want to stay healthy in the spring and come out clean rolling into the off-season workouts and then into training camp in August."
Toledo opens the 2026 season at Michigan State on Sept. 5 and then plays three consecutive home games, beginning with "The Biggest Party in Toledo" vs. Central Connecticut State on Sept. 12, followed by contests vs. Temple on Sept. 19 and San Diego State on Sept. 26. This will be the first time the Rockets have had seven home contests on their schedule since 2018 and just the third time overall.
Season ticket deposits for the 2026 season are available now at utrockets.com/fbdeposit or by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at 419-530-GOLD.
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