The University of Toledo football team had used the Midwest to fill out its 2020 recruiting class until picking up a commitment from Kennesaw, Ga., quarterback Gavin Hall, on Monday.
Hall, a three-star pro-style quarterback from Kennesaw Harrison High School, is now the top-rated of Toledo’s 10 commitments in the class, according to 247Sports.com. He is ranked as the 35th best pro-style quarterback in the country.
In 2018, Hall threw for 1,323 yards and 12 touchdowns, recording a 54.5 completion percentage (96 of 176), while leading Harrison to a 9-3 record.
Hall (6-foot-2, 173 pounds) had 24 offers, including Central Michigan and Miami (Ohio).
“I met some of the players when I was there,” Hall told 247Sports about choosing Toledo. “They were great guys. The coaching staff was awesome. It's awesome. I'm going to have a chance to be part of it. It's just a special place. If you go up there and spend a day you can tell it's a happening place, and the football is some of the best in the country."
Prior to Hall’s commitment, the Rockets placed a high emphasis on recruiting in its own backyard.
With a splash on the recruiting trail the past two weeks, Toledo’s Class of 2020 has seven from the state of Ohio and one each from Michigan, Indiana, and Georgia.
Last week, Sawiaha Ellis, a 6-2, 220-pound athlete from Fairfield High School, committed to the Rockets.
A three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, Ellis was garnering interest from Mid-American Conference schools with offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, and Kent State. His coach, Jason Krause, told The Butler County Journal-News that Ellis also had recruiting interest from Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, Indiana, and Pittsburgh.
Ellis is ranked the 73rd overall prospect in the state of Ohio.
In March, Ellis told 247Sports: "I was also at Toledo for a visit, and I liked how their coaches interact with their players. The players go to their coach’s houses, and they all seem to get along really well. I really like the schools that have that family feeling about them."
Two days earlier, Toledo received a commitment from Maxen Hook, a 6-2, 180-pound safety from New Palestine High School in Indiana.
Hook, a two-star recruit, also held offers from Air Force, Navy, Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, and Miami (Ohio). He is the 28th prospect in the state of Indiana.
In 2018, Hook made 126 tackles (14½ for loss), four sacks and added six pass break-ups, three interceptions (one for a touchdown) and three forced fumbles.
Two weeks ago, local product Garrett Schwiebert of Patrick Henry chose Toledo. Schwiebert is a 6-7, 250-pound offensive lineman who also had an offer from Eastern Michigan.
He is a three-star recruit and ranks as the 61st prospect in Ohio.
Aside from the four recent commitments, Toledo has pledges from five other Ohio prospects — Springfield wide receiver Larry Stephens (5-11, 183 pounds); defensive ends Tariq Williamson (6-3, 235) from Akron East and Jaelan Crider (6-3, 245) from Stow-Munroe Falls; Massillon offensive lineman Vinny Sciury (6-4, 300); and Eastwood product Jaden Rayford (6-1, 200).
Deshawn Walker (6-1, 210), a linebacker from River Rouge, is the lone commitment from Michigan.
Stephens, a three-star recruit and the No. 53-ranked player in the state, is the top-rated prospect after Hall in the class. Stephens' cousin, Chris Wallace, was a star quarterback for Toledo in the 1990s, throwing for 5,454 yards and 44 touchdowns.
“It just felt like home,” Stephens told The Springfield News-Sun. “I had two great visits, one with my parents and another with my teammates. It was a good visit both times. I love the coaching staff and the players there. They were recruiting me the hardest, too.”
Williamson is also a three-star prospect and ranked 58th in Ohio.
Toledo has had the top recruiting class in the MAC for three straight seasons.
First Published June 13, 2019, 12:00 p.m.