Now through the junior college woods and an adaptation period at the University of Toledo, Tuzar Skipper is inching closer to a role as a Division I contributor.

The Rockets’ lone junior college transfer in the recent recruiting class, Skipper is in the rotation at defensive end during UT’s spring practice. During the Rockets’ Thursday practice — their eighth of the spring — Skipper found his way into the backfield and foiled a play near the end of an 11-on-11 session.

Given a new home and a new playbook, Toledo coach Jason Candle said Skipper has acclimated well.

“I think he’s adapted very well. Not only is it a new setting, a new environment, it’s not just the playbook — it’s everything,” Candle said.

“You’re trying to figure out each and every day where your classes are, where you’re eating at, and just what a daily routine looks like at this level of football. … That’s hard, but he’s answered the call, for sure.”

Skipper tied for the team lead with three sacks and had 24 tackles in six games at Monroe (N.Y.) College last season. The Connecticut native enters the 2016 season as a junior.

So far, Skipper and his coach said the fit has been natural.

“The coaches are great, the players are great, and the facilities are great,” Skipper said. “It’s nothing like junior college — everything is better. Everything is wonderful, to tell you the truth.”

The defensive line was UT’s deepest position last season and figures to be among the tightest competition on the roster again.

There will be chances for advancement in the position group during the next few months. UT lost six senior defensive linemen from last season’s team, including three of the four starters from a unit that ranked 10th in the country in rushing defense.

Skipper is running with the second team, taking snaps behind senior John Stepec.

With many new players in the fold, Skipper said this group is hoping to be even more dominant than their predecessors.

“There were some tough players, some players I wish we still had, but that’s why we have guys to fill in those shoes,” Skipper said. “I think we can actually be better than they were. We just have to keep going and push ourselves to work everyday.”

Candle said much of spring practice is determining which players are ready for the field and, in the infancy of the 2016 season, Skipper is part of that conversation.

“There’s a high standard here on the defensive line, and there are a couple really good players who returned. I think some of the younger guys — [Skipper] included — understand what it’s going to take to be in the mix,” Candle said. “So far, he’s been committed to doing that, and I certainly appreciate that.”

GLASS BOWL TURF: UT will install a new artificial surface at the Glass Bowl ahead of the 2016 season, the school announced.

After spring practice concludes in April, UT will oversee the installation of a FieldTurf surface called Revolution 360. The current Glass Bowl field is also a FieldTurf surface that was installed in 2008.

Cosmetically, the playing field at the Glass Bowl won't look much different from the current surface. Among the minor changes: the numbers on the field will be outlined in blue; the bench areas will be painted blue; and “Glass Bowl” will be written in blue along the sideline to the right of each bench.

Contact Nicholas Piotrowicz at: npiotrowicz@theblade.com, 724-6110, or on Twitter @NickPiotrowicz

First Published March 25, 2016, 4:13 a.m.