Injuries last season forced University of Toledo fifth-year senior Mitch Guadagni to take a step back, observe the game, and lock in on the mental side of being a quarterback.
A year removed from a concussion and a broken collarbone, a mentally refreshed and focused Guadagni has earned the starting quarterback job for Toledo, beating out a crop of talented young passers.
“I definitely think I've developed a lot more in the mental stage of the game,” Guadagni said. “Just being hurt last year, I was able to see everything differently. I have never really been injured, so I took care of the little details in the mental side of the quarterback position. That's where I think I've grown the most.”
Toledo coach Jason Candle and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Brian Wright noticed a big leap from Guadagni from his fourth year in the program to his fifth.
“His approach has really been good this last year,” Wright said. “I think he's understanding truly where he is at and what he has to do to get better. That's from a personal standpoint of watching the video tape and watching himself execute plays. What is it that he needs to do better and what is it that he's doing well and he can build on? I think he's been able to really identify that.”
Guadagni won the quarterback competition last season, as well, and in seven games flashed his potential as a dual-threat quarterback. He threw for 1,053 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 428 yards with three more scores. But a concussion at Fresno State cost him a start in the Bowling Green game and then a season-ending collarbone injury at Western Michigan derailed his promising junior season.
“He's worked extremely hard,” Wright said. “He's had a great attitude this offseason. I think he's just come to work every day and worked hard on getting better. I'm proud of how he's come back from last year's injuries.”
Guadagni held off competition from junior Eli Peters, redshirt freshmen Carter Bradley and Cross Wilkinson, and true freshman Dequan Finn to win the starting job.
“The guys we have in our quarterback room could start at any other program in the MAC,” Guadagni said. “They are fantastic players and fantastic people and great leaders. It's an honor being named starter, because I think any of them could be. I think they are great players. They definitely push me, and we definitely push each other. It's very competitive in this room.”
That competition forced Guadagni to be sharp every rep in practice.
“We've got a lot of competition in that room, and human nature if you are a competitor is going to up your level of commitment and performance, I would hope, and up your level of preparation,” Wright said.
Aside from the mental side of the game, Wright said Guadagni has exhibited growth in identifying defenses and how they are covering certain plays and formations and the ins and outs of how they are trying to make things difficult for the opposing offense.
Wright and Guadagni have worked hard this offseason on cleaning up his footwork on his drop-backs and making them as smooth as they can to transition into the throwing motion.
“We worked on the pace on his drop and getting him back there with a good base to throw the football,” Wright said. “Sometimes he would change up that pace of getting back there. Sometimes it would be a little bit slow, and sometimes it would be a little bit quick. Then that would just change up his whole throwing motion and his base and throw off his timing. We really worked on the timing of the drop and then the foundation of his footwork.”
Guadagni saw last season taken away from him in a flash, so he is looking forward to getting back on the field and making the most of his fifth season in the program.
“I'm just going to enjoy every moment,” Guadagni said. “You don't really know when it can be taken away from you. I didn't really think before the half that my season would be over at Western Michigan. I need to just enjoy the moment, and it will be an exciting year.”
First Published August 27, 2019, 5:01 p.m.
