Offensive Line Ready to Set the Tone for Toledo's New Era

Sixth in a series of position-by-position outlooks for the 2026 Toledo Football team.

TOLEDO, Ohio - There is an old saying in football that games are won in the trenches.

For first-year head coach Mike Jacobs, that philosophy is more than a cliché. It's the foundation he expects the Rockets to build upon in 2026.

"Championships are won at the line of scrimmage," said Jacobs. "We are excited about the returning starting experience and the players we were able to add through the portal to enhance the overall depth of the offensive line room. [Offensive line coach] Brian Folkerts is an elite teacher and communicator who will get the most out of this group."

That confidence starts with an offensive line that returns key contributors while welcoming an influx of talent through the transfer portal. Veterans Stephen Gales, Ibrahim Traore and Jonathan Harder provide experience, while younger players continue to develop. Additions Luke Rector, Ahmad Carwise, Nick Thomas, Dominic Johnson and Dylan Senda have strengthened a room that Folkerts believes can become one of Toledo's deepest groups.

"I feel really good about the O-line going in," said Folkerts. "I would argue that we're probably one of the stronger positions on the team."

The combination of returning experience and transfer additions has created uncommon depth, with as many as eight or nine linemen capable of contributing this fall. But while talent is essential, Folkerts believes the unit's greatest strength has become the bond it has formed since the coaching staff arrived in December.

With so many new faces across the roster, Folkerts made building relationships a priority. Throughout the offseason, he opened his home for cookouts, organized team dinners and looked for opportunities to bring the group together outside the football facility.

"For a position like the offensive line, building that chemistry is so important," said Folkerts. "We have a really tight-knit group. In today's transfer portal world, that's becoming more rare."

The investment has been noticeable to the players. The linemen even have a nickname for themselves—"OGs," short for Offensive Guardians—a reminder of both their responsibility and the trust they've built with one another.

"We've been bonding together a lot more than I honestly ever have with an O-line group," said Gales. "It doesn't feel forced. Everybody wants to be a part of the group."

Rector took notice of the culture immediately after transferring from Gardner-Webb in January. While his relationship with offensive coordinator Cris Resiert helped bring Rector to Toledo, it was the atmosphere inside the program that confirmed he had made the right decision. (Resiert was the head coach at Gardner-Webb.)

"The guys that were already here made it really feel like home," said Rector. "We hit the ground running, and Coach Folk brought us all together. We've been building ever since."

As one of the veterans who remained through the coaching transition, Gales has naturally become a leader for the younger players and newcomers joining the program.

"I feel like a lot of the guys look up to me," said Gales. "I try to be an example. Everybody's clicking, and I think everything is going well."

Leadership, combined with the work put in throughout the spring, helped the offensive line come together quickly despite the number of new faces.

"By the third or fourth practice, we were rolling," said Rector. "The guys who stayed here are great dudes. Everybody's bought in."

The continuity has carried over to the rest of the offense. The offensive line has spent the offseason developing continuity with quarterback John Alan Richter and a stable of running backs, creating confidence that the entire offensive unit will be ready when the season opens.

"The chemistry has been really good," said Rector, "and I'm really excited about what we can do in both the run game and the pass game."

For Folkerts, those relationships become most important once the ball is snapped. Toledo's protection system relies on constant communication before each play, with the offensive line, quarterback and running backs all working in concert to identify defensive pressure and make adjustments.

Protecting the quarterback has been a defining trait of Folkerts' coaching career. Last season at Mercer, the Bears ranked second in the FCS, allowing just 0.42 sacks per game. In his lone season at Northern Iowa in 2024, the Panthers ranked among the nation's best, surrendering only 1.75 sacks per game as both programs fielded one of the top offenses in the country.

"We've got to be five as one," said Folkerts.

The players have responded quickly to Folkerts' teaching style, something Gales said has helped accelerate the group's development.

As preseason camp approaches, the Rockets believe the pieces are in place. Experience has been retained. Depth has been added. Most importantly, a group assembled from returning veterans and new arrivals has developed into a unified offensive line.

Championships may be won at the line of scrimmage, but they are built long before kickoff. Through months of competition, communication and camaraderie, Toledo's offensive line believes it has laid that foundation heading into the 2026 season.

Players Mentioned

Ahmad Carwise

Stephen Gales

Jonathan Harder

Dominic Johnson

Luke Rector

John Alan Richter

Dylan Senda

Nick Thomas

Ibrahim Traore