Toledo’s Defensive Line is Built From the Ground Up

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

TOLEDO, Ohio – Defensive line coach Jimmy Long didn't inherit a finished product when he arrived at Toledo last December.

He inherited a project.

There were returning players to evaluate and relationships to build. The transfer portal demanded daily attention. High school prospects had to be recruited. Some players needed convincing that Toledo was the place to continue their careers.

Before Long could coach a pass rush or install a defensive front, he first had to build an entirely new room.

"It was a grind," said Long. "Getting here, meeting the guys, seeing what we had, recruiting the guys you wanted to keep, then identifying the right guys in the portal. We had visits almost every day for a month."

By the time spring practice began, the makeover was well underway.

"The defensive line room is another position that has undergone substantial turnover," said head coach Mike Jacobs. "Landing a player the caliber of Andrew Zock was a huge step in the rebuilding of that room. There will be a tremendous amount of competition at a number of positions."

The Rockets added experienced transfers, welcomed one of the program's largest freshman defensive line classes in recent years and retained a handful of players Long believed could thrive in his system. It wasn't simply about replacing production. It was about finding players who fit the identity he wanted the room to have.

"I want guys that I know are good football players," said Long. "Maybe they don't have the most incredible measurables, but they're going to get the job done and play at a consistently high level."

That philosophy has followed Long throughout his coaching career. Whether at Lenior-Rhyne or Mercer, his defensive fronts consistently ranked among the nation's best. Last season, Mercer ranked third in the FCS in sacks (3.5 per game), fifth in tackles for loss (8.0 per game) and 11th in rush defense (110.2 yards).

During his two seasons at L-R, Long's defensive line held opponents to less than 105 rushing yards per game, while averaging more than seven TFLs. In 2019, L-R ranked fourth in sacks (3.6) and eighth in rush defense (81.9 yards).

While talent certainly mattered, Long believes elite defensive lines are built on something less glamorous than sacks and tackles for loss: details, consistency and trust.

"Sometimes it's a matter of inches," said Long. "Every alignment. Every first step. Every hand placement."

To an outsider, those details can seem insignificant. To Long, they're often the difference between a routine play and a game-changing one.

"You can have a Ferrari engine," he said with a smile, "but if you've got a 1994 Honda Accord transmission, you're not putting any power to the ground."

Every player has a ceiling. The goal is helping each player consistently reach it.

"If we can get everybody playing to their highest potential consistently," said Long, "we're going to be really good."

That message has resonated quickly throughout the room. One reason is Zock.

The former Mercer captain and FCS Defensive Player of the Year followed Long to Toledo after helping anchor one of the nation's top defenses. More importantly, he arrived with firsthand experience in the demanding culture Long brought north.

"I can always back up what the coaches are teaching because I've seen it work," said Zock, who had 20 TFLs, including 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a program-record 23 QB hurries last season. "I know they have a great plan."

Zock quickly became more than just another transfer. He became another voice reinforcing the standard. The adjustment extended beyond football. Moving from Georgia to northwest Ohio meant colder winters and unfamiliar surroundings, but the chemistry inside the locker room developed almost immediately.

"There was never a divide," said Zock. "We've built a great bond. You can really see how much we've grown from the beginning of spring until now."

Competition has fueled much of that growth. Part of that evolution is Zach Johnson, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound transfer from UAB who had two TFLs and three QB hurries in nine games last season.

Long had recruited Johnson heavily out of high school before their paths went separate ways. When the opportunity arose to reunite at Toledo, neither side hesitated.

"I knew how good of a coach Coach Long was," said Johnson. "I knew he'd help me improve. He develops players."

Long teaches aggressive football. He wants his defensive linemen attacking the line of scrimmage, creating disruption and making game-changing plays. But aggression only works when players trust the system.

"I think belief is one of the biggest things," said Long. "When they believe what they're being taught is putting them in the best position to make plays, they play at a much higher level."

Said Johnson: "Everyone is locked into the process."

A player who executes his assignment correctly every snap often has a greater impact than someone capable of flashes of brilliance. That consistency, according to Long, is what separates good defenses from championship defenses.

Satisfied isn't part of his vocabulary, though.

"Our best player needs to get better," said Long. "And our worst player needs to get a lot better."

Eight months after arriving in Toledo, Long has rebuilt a defensive line from the ground up.

Now comes the part everyone has been waiting for – seeing what it can become.

Players Mentioned

Zach Johnson

Andrew Zock