Toledo Football: Can Rockets win without Matt Campbell?
The Toledo football team could keep itself surprisingly safe within the winning column in 2016, despite its personnel losses.
The Toledo Rockets are at a crossroads after a successful 2015 season but head coach Matt Campbell took the job at Iowa State and Jason Candle looks to build on his success.
Related Story: 25 Best Small School Players of All-Time
Most of the offense returns and even though the defense has two major question marks for spring, Toledo looks capable of resolving them.
The Rockets technically do lose starting quarterback Phillip Ely, but they return proven junior quarterback Logan Woodside, who took a redshirt last season. Woodside played a bit in 2013, and in 2014, he threw for 2,272 yards and threw five touchdowns in the regular season finale against Eastern Michigan.
More from Saturday Blitz
- Michigan State vs. Maryland: Location, time, prediction, and more
- ACC Power Rankings: Can #4 FSU overthrow Clemson at Death Valley East?
- Most heartwarming social media reactions to Nick Chubb’s injury
- Ranking college football’s top 10 quarterbacks after Week 3
- Things are going to get much darker for the Houston Cougars
Plenty of other positives remain for Toledo, including the return of leading rushers Kareem Hunt and Terry Swanson, and four starters on the offensive line. Receiver Alonzo Russell is gone, but Toledo is still in great shape at the position with Corey Jones, Cody Thompson and Diontae Johnson back.
The first major concern is three of four starters on the defensive line are gone, as well as several reserves. Treyvon Hester is a great asset to have back, and the expectation is John Stepec should have no problems stepping up in a bigger role. Transfers Tuzar Skipper and Jhonny Williams should also see themselves work in the rotation.
The second question mark with the defense is the secondary, which loses most of its major contributors. Dejuan Rogers returns after ranking third on the team in total tackles and had a major role in forcing turnovers.
More saturday blitz: Ranking The New Head Coaching Hires
Before the season starts, however, determining how comfortable Candle is in his first head coaching job will determine if the Rockets can take the MAC Championship from Bowling Green or if they’ll fall back to the pack.