The University of Toledo football program had a banner day during Wednesday's early-signing period.
Led by two highly-rated recruits that garnered significant attention from Power Five programs, the Rockets put together the top class in the Mid-American Conference once again.
Three-star running back Trenton Adkins and three-star linebacker Damon Ollison headed up the class as both officially signed with the Rockets.
Toledo had a total of 23 players sign on the dotted line, including 18 three-star players.
“We're happy what this 2021 class looks like,” coach Jason Candle said. “It's a start. It looks very good for this year's class. But it's only a start.”
The Rockets once again had the No. 1 ranked class in the MAC, according to 247Sports.com. It marks the fifth straight year that Toledo had the top recruiting class in the conference.
Candle, who has a 37-21 record after wrapping up his fifth season as head coach, said the steadiness in landing solid recruiting classes can be attributed to several factors.
“It's a direct reflection of our team's consistency,” he said. “We haven't taken a dip from one year as a 10-win team to the next as a three-win team.”
Candle, who also was the Rockets' offensive coordinator from 2009-15, took over as head coach in December of 2015. He has led UT to four bowl appearances and to the 2017 MAC title.
Six of his former players also have gone on to play in the NFL since 2017.
“There has been a lot of consistency with the people in this building,” Candle said. “There is obviously a great history and tradition here and a great product to sell. I think a lot of things go into that.”
Toledo's class is ranked 65th in the country.
Adkins, a Virginia native, also had offers from Arizona State, Maryland, Memphis, and North Carolina. The 6-foot-1 and 195-pound athlete is the No. 32 athlete in the nation and No. 11 player in Virginia. Adkins, who is labeled as an athlete in recruiting, is the fourth highest-rated (.878) player in program history at Toledo, according to 247sports.
On Dec. 4, Ollison committed to the Rockets. The linebacker from Akron Hoban High School also had offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Arkansas, and Arizona State. His 247Sports composite rating is .859. Ollison, who is 6-foot and 215-pounds is the No. 34 player in his class from Ohio and No. 51 at outside linebacker, according to 247Sports. Sports Illustrated labeled Ollison an All-American candidate before the 2020 season.
Candle said he believes the staff is once again bringing in “a number of really high quality human beings.”
Nine of the 23 players in the class hail from the state of Ohio, including St. John's Jesuit wide receiver Thomas Zsiros and Central Catholic linebacker Jalen Riven. Both signed with the Rockets during the early-signing period on Wednesday.
Candle said his recruiting always starts in the shadows of the Glass Bowl.
“We are recruiting locally here first,” Candle said. “We have a great local recruiting area that we can tap in to.”
Zsiros, a 6-foot-3 and 200-pound wideout, caught 36 passes for 517 yards and eight touchdowns en route to earning Division II All-Ohio first-team honors as a senior.
St. John's coach Larry McDaniel said Zsiros creates mismatches.
“Once he really understands what he possesses, and he embraces that with the level of confidence that you need to be successful at the next level, I think the sky’s the limit for him,” McDaniel said. “He’s a big, strong, fast human being.”
McDaniel, a former longtime college assistant coach, said Zsiros excels during 50-50 ball situations, especially over the middle. He is ranked as the No. 58 player in the state by 247sports.
“His hands are exceptional … and with his size, he’s going to go up and take it away from everybody,” McDaniel said.
Riven, 6-foot-3, 215-pound linebacker, is the 64th ranked player in Ohio. Both Riven and Zsiros are three star prospects, according to 247sports.
Central coach Greg Dempsey said Riven possesses both a versatility and explosiveness that make him a valuable contributor at the next level.
“He’s explosive coming off the edge, and has great size and physicality,” Dempsey said. “One of the most important parts of defending in today’s game is the passing game, and Jalen can help you in a variety of ways there. He’s big enough to play linebacker and stand up against the run. And, with his size and athleticism, he can be on the field during passing downs. I think they’re going to have a lot of fun developing him as a player and defining his role within their defense.”
The other recruits from the Buckeye state are: offensive lineman Drew Beckenhaupt (6-3, 287, from Cleves), wide receiver Xavier Black (6-0, 175 from Canton), linebacker Connor Jones (6-1, 226 from Hilliard), Ollison (Akron), offensive lineman Riley Starnes (6-6, 285, from Patriot), wide receiver Dalen Stovall (6-2, 190, from Stow), and quarterback Elijah Wesley (6-0 185, from Canton).
Candle said another benefit of focusing on recruits from the Midwest is that it allow families to travel to the Glass Bowl to watch their family member play for the Rockets.
“We always make Toledo home and go from there and branch out away from our own doorstep if we have to. But if we could get them all from here we'd love to,” Candle said.
The class also includes four players from Detroit: defensive tackle Esean Carter (6-2, 275), safety Jaylin Mines (6-1, 190), defensive tackle Doran Ray, Jr. (6-2, 270), and linebacker Clarence Wilson (6-2, 235).
He also recruited two athletes from Chicago: linebacker Vontrell Chairse (6-3, 225) and running back Willie Shaw III (5-11, 180).
Candle also reached overseas to bring in one foreign-born player. Punter Jonathon Batzke (6-1, 200) is from Cairns, Australia.
He also brought in players from Kansas City (cornerback Rajon Hill), Oklahoma City (tight end Lennard Kühl), Phoenix (long snapper Benjamin Lisk), Miami (linebacker Jeremiah Peters), Wake Forest, N.C. (linebacker Isaiah Pipkin), and Roanoke, Va. (offensive lineman Andrew Vaught).
Candle said having a good recruiting class is just the first step.
“It' recruit. It's retain. It's develop. It's how we can turn really good talented young people into great Rockets,” he said. “That's the ultimate challenge. The teams that are able to do that are the ones that win the most. And those are the programs that produce guys to go to the NFL. And we have lots of guys that are playing on NFL teams that came through here.”
The class includes seven linebackers, five linemen, three wide receivers, and two defensive backs.
“These are guys that will reach their full potential in the classroom and do everything they can to be the best football players they can be, and most importantly, they will represent their family and the University of Toledo at a very high level,” Candle said.
First Published December 16, 2020, 10:32 p.m.
