As the University of Toledo football team has dominated on offense during its first four Mid-American Conference games, the running game really has gotten going.
In MAC play, senior running back Terry Swanson is second in the conference at 124.3 yards per game and is tops in the conference overall at 104 yards per game.
Swanson credits the Rockets’ offensive line for the recent success.
“I believe it starts up front,” Swanson said. “Those guys have definitely been moving and are playing ball at a high level now. We just have to hit those holes when they are open and continue to work.”
As a team, Toledo leads the conference in rushing during MAC play with 269.5 rushing yards per game and are third in the conference overall at 227.1 yards per game behind just Western Michigan and Ohio.
While Swanson leads the way with 728 yards and eight touchdowns, UT redshirt freshman running back Shakif Seymour has been good spelling Swanson, adding 467 yards and six scores. Sophomore Art Thompkins has added 437 yards and one score.
Rockets coach Jason Candle said that the offensive line is starting to find its groove after two starters — Yazeed Atariwa and Chandler Cotterman — are out for the season with injuries and center Nate Jeppesen has missed time with an injury as well.
“I think our guys up front are continuing to build that continuity that we have been looking for,” Candle said. “The communication has been better, and you are not seeing a bunch of missed assignments on the offensive line. Those guys in practice have been kind of up against the wall with the injuries we’ve had. It’s been really impressive to watch them and we are going to need them to continue to play like that down the stretch.”
TIGHT ENDS: On the opening drive of the game against Northern Illinois, UT quarterback Logan Woodside connected with two different tight ends — Jordan Fisher (30 yards) and true freshman Drew Rosi (24 yards). The catches were season longs for Fisher and Rosi. Fisher added a 22-yard grab on UT’s second drive and had three catches in the first half.
MISSING RUSHER: Northern Illinois leading rusher Jordan Huff did not travel because of injury. Huff has missed the past three contests, but came into the Toledo game with a team-high 450 rushing yards and had one touchdown on the season. Marcus Jones got the start in place of Huff.
OHIO KICKOFF TIME ANNOUNCED: The game at Ohio on Nov. 8 will start at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2, the Mid-American Conference announced Thursday.
Contact Brian Buckey at: bbuckey@theblade.com, 419-724-6110, or on Twitter @BrianBuckey.
First Published November 3, 2017, 5:07 a.m.
