College Football News Preview 2020: Toledo Rockets

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Toledo Rockets season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Toledo Rockets season with what you need to know.


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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
Schedule Analysis
– Toledo Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

2019 Record: 6-6 overall, 3-5 in MAC
Head Coach: Jason Candle, 5th year, 34-19
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 110
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 73
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 93

No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.

5. College Football News Preview 2020: Toledo Rockets Offense 3 Things To Know

The 2016 Toledo offense ripped off over 6,700 yards. The 2017 attack flirted with 7,000 yards. 2018 was a down year with 5,770 yards and without the same pop, and then came 2019.

5,209 yards.

The Toledo O wasn’t all that bad by most standards – especially with the MAC’s second-best running game – but the passing attack wasn’t consistent or efficient enough, and the scoring wasn’t always there.

Two years ago, Toledo cranked up 525 points, scoring 24 or more in every game but two. Last year’s offense came up with 327 points and failed to get more than 14 in three of the last seven. With eight starters returning, there’s hope to be a whole lot better.


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– Senior Eli Peters will still have to push for the job, but he has the inside track after getting work in half the season with 828 passing yards with six scores and three picks. Sophomore Carter Bradley is a bit of a bigger option, and a slew of underclassmen will get their shot.

The receivers are there to make the passing game a whole lot stronger. Senior Bryce Miller averaged over 19 yards per catch with a team-high 679 yards, and speedy Danzel McKinley-Lewis tied for the team lead with 36 grabs, averaging over 17 yards per catch. 6-4, 240-pound senior Drew Rosi is a nice tight end who can do a lot more than 18 catches.

The running game was strong. Bryant Koback led the way with 1,187 yards with 12 scores – averaging over six yards per carry – and 215-pound senior Shakif Seymour is back as a strong No. 2 back in the rotation.

Four starters are back on the offensive front after a rough year in pass protection, but they’ll once again be great for the ground game. Sophomore guard Nick Rosi is the best of the bunch, but the line should be a strength.

NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Toledo Rockets Defense 3 Things To Know

Former Michigan State football coach Mark Staten hired at Toledo

Staten is the third Dantonio assistant to find a new job within the FBS.

Former Michigan State offensive line and tight end coach Mark Staten will be back on the sidelines in Spartan Stadium this fall . . . just not on the side he is used to.

Staten has been hired to coach tight ends and offensive tackles by Toledo, the school’s head coach Jason Candle announced on Twitter.

The Toledo Rockets are currently scheduled to play at Michigan State on September 19 should the football season go on as planned.

Staten was a mainstay on the staffs of Mark Dantonio, working with him at Cincinnati and all 13 of Dantonio’s years at Michigan State. Staten spent most of his team at MSU coaching the offensive line before switching to tight ends coach and special teams coordinator prior to the 2019 season.

Staten is the third former Dantonio assistant to land a new gig–excluding the ones still on staff under Mel Tucker at MSU. Former receivers coach Terrance Samuel took the same role at UNLV in addition to being named passing game coordinator. Paul Haynes, who coached defensive backs at MSU from 2018-19, took the same position at Minnesota shortly after Dantonio resigned in February.

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