There’s no place like home, and for University of Toledo wide receiver Jaden Dottin home is Massachusetts.

He’s the lone Rocket from the Bay State and has upwards of 40 tickets for friends and family. And that isn’t nearly enough.

“So many people have been telling me, ‘We’re going to the game! We’re going to the game!’” Dottin’s father, Aram Dottin, said. “People that I didn’t even think were following or paying attention have said, ‘Oct. 7, we’re going to the game!’”

The Dottin contingent is large enough that Aram spent most of Monday answering questions and finalizing logistics for the noon kickoff at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.

Kyle Rowland

Scouting report: Toledo football at Massachusetts

Jaden saw UMass on the schedule soon after he transferred to UT in May. But he thought the game was in Toledo. Once he realized it was in Amherst, Mass., 90 miles from his hometown of Cambridge, the countdown was on and excitement began to build.

“It’ll be a special game for me personally since I haven’t played a college game in my home state and it’s been a while since a lot of my family has seen me play,” Dottin said. “It’ll be fun to see my people and get a lot of support. It’ll definitely be cool to see.”

Unfortunately, Dottin’s mother, Nataly Mcausland, won’t be in attendance because she has relocated to the West Coast, where Dottin’s younger brother is attending prep school in California. Aram — who will be at Saturday’s game — is aiming to make his first trip to the Glass Bowl for the Eastern Michigan game. The distance between Massachusetts and Toledo, and other kids’ athletic endeavors, creates challenges for Dottin’s parents.

Dottin transferred to Toledo after three seasons at Penn State. The former four-star recruit was a top-60 wide receiver in the class of 2020. Dottin played in one game in 2020, three in 2021., and started the season-opener against Ohio in 2022, catching the only two passes of his Penn State career. In high school, he had offers from Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, Rutgers, and Boston College, among others.

In five games for the Rockets, the 6-foot-2 Dottin has played 138 snaps. He has four catches for 49 yards, two of which were toetaps along the sideline.

“He’s just scratching the surface,” Toledo coach Jason Candle said. “He’s learning how we do things. Any time a transfer comes in, there’s an adjustment phase. He’s dealt with nagging injuries that he won’t [make excuses about]. But I’ve been really happy with his play. He’s been consistent, and I think the future is very bright for him.”

When Dottin entered the transfer portal in January, Toledo wasn’t far from his mind. The Rockets were one of his first offers in high school. Dottin visited the UT campus prior to his commitment in May and had a 1-on-1 conversation with linebacker Dallas Gant, who started his career at Ohio State and has since flourished in Midnight Blue and Gold.

The discussion was reassuring and comforting for Dottin, who wants to follow in the footsteps of other recent Power Five transfers who’ve thrived for the Rockets.

“The winning culture, the winning program, how Candle runs things, and his whole mindset aligned with my goals,” Dottin said. “It wasn’t a hard decision for me once I started building a relationship with coach Candle and the staff.”

On the other end, Toledo didn’t want to bring someone into their offense and wide receiver room who would disrupt the culture and rhythm.

“He’s been a good fit, and once you’re a good fit, you get comfortable,” Candle said. “And once you’re comfortable, I think your play can surface. That’s what you’re seeing now.”

Dottin described the offense’s current status as stacking days and then the results are evident on Saturdays. Toledo ranks highly in most offensive statistical categories. If they continue to build on those performances and follow it up in practice, it’ll be a fun season, he said.

The Rockets are pleased with their progress, but there is no satisfaction through five games. Dottin is not alone in explaining that they have more to prove and there’s more in the tank.

In his Penn State bio, Dottin listed his hobby as creating memories with family and friends.

Noon Saturday at UMass is an ideal venue.

First Published October 5, 2023, 1:32 p.m.