2026 MAC Football Preseason Preview: Toledo Rockets

Toledo is in an exclusive club with Alabama and Boise State. Those are the only three FBS programs to finish .500 or better in 16 consecutive seasons.

The Rockets started this streak under Tim Beckman in 2010, sustained it through the Matt Campbell era, and continued their winning tradition through all 10 years of Jason Candle's tenure. But it will be tested greater than ever in 2026. Toledo is undergoing its first head coaching change of the NIL/transfer portal era, and the program has an unprecedented level of roster turnover.

Toledo built a brand on roster continuity, recruiting and retaining NFL talent like Quinyon Mitchell, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Darius Alexander, and Samuel Womack. However, that's far from the case in 2026. Only one primary starter returns, and a near-full reset is how the Mike Jacobs era will begin.

Jacobs was an Ohio State offensive lineman from 1997-2001 who rose in the coaching ranks at smaller schools. He finished 42-8 as the head coach of Notre Dame College (Division II) from 2016-19, then moved to Lenoir-Rhyne (Division II) and posted a 32-9 record from 2020-23, and eventually went 20-6 at Mercer (FCS) from 2024-25. Now he takes on the challenge of sustaining the MAC's longest bowl eligbility streak at a program that expects to compete for conference titles on an annual basis.

What’s New?

As a quick answer, pretty much everything is new at Toledo.

Mike Jacobs arrives from Mercer. In two seasons, he finished 11-3 and 9-3, respectively. The 47-year old head coach claimed two Southern Conference titles and qualified for the FCS Playoffs in both years at the helm, advancing as far as the quarterfinal round in 2024.

Jacobs' inaugural staff is led by offensive coordinator Cris Reisert, defensive coordinator Jahmal Brown, and special teams coordinator Matt Ulrich. Reisert served as the head coach of FCS program Gardner-Webb the past two years, faring 7-5 during the 2025 season. Brown and Ulrich followed Jacobs from Mercer. Brown, a former Bowling Green safety, has extensive history with the head coach, serving as Jacobs' defensive coordinator at three stops — Notre Dame College, Lenoir-Rhyne, and Mercer.

Positional coaches making the trek from Mercer include Fred Jones (running backs), Devin Figaro (wide receivers), Brian Folkerts (offensive line), Jimmy Long (defensive line), and Shawn Chaffee (linebackers). Figaro is another long-time Jacobs' disciple, serving on staff at each of the head coach's three previous stops. Jacobs also embraced his Division II roots and hired Findlay head coach Kory Allen as the associate head coach/tight ends coach and Tiffin defensive coordinator James Daniels as the nickelbacks coach.

Cornerbacks coach Aaron Foster, who held the same role at UTEP from 2024-25, is the only lead assistant to serve on an FBS staff last season. He previously coached under Jacobs at Lenoir-Rhyne from 2021-22.

With drastic coaching changes come dramatic roster changes. The Rockets replaced their 37 outgoing transfers with 37 incoming transfers (14 from Mercer), hoping to maintain a winning standard despite massive turnover. Fans can expect around 15 transfers in its Toledo's 2026 starting lineup, plus or minus two, with defensive end Andrew Zock as the most anticipated newcomer.

Offense

• Key arrivals: QB Khamoni Robinson, RB Corey Smith, RB CJ Miller, WR Rico Bond, WR Anthony Simpson, WR Adjatay Dabbs, WR Kalvin Gilbert Jr., TE Jake Newell, TE Peyton Strickland, C Luke Rector, G Ahmad Carwise, OT Nick Thomas, OT Dylan Senda
• Key departures: QB Tucker Gleason, QB Kalieb Osborne, RB Chip Trayanum, RB Kenji Christian, WR Junior Vandeross III, WR Trayvon Rudolph, WR Ryder Treadway, TE Jacob Petersen, C Anthony Boswell, G Ethan Spoth, G Carter Fouty, OT Cole Rhett
• Key incumbents: QB John Alan Richter, RB Connor Walendzak, WR Terrell Crosby, WR Bryson Hammer, G Jonathan Harder, G Grant Zimmerly, OT Stephen Gales, OT Ibrahim Traore

Toledo boasted the MAC's No. 1 scoring offense for the third time in five years. The Rockets consistently field one of the best units in the conference, but there will be significant overhaul this year. The only returning primary starter is Stephen Gales, who made nine starts at left tackle last season. The only other remaining offensive players who logged any starts in 2025 are tackle Ibrahim Traore (four) and guard Jonathan Harder (two).

Despite significant roster turnover, Toledo will start an incumbent quarterback. John Alan Richter — still holding onto junior status — enters his fifth season with the program. He succeeded in limited action backing up Tucker Gleason over the years, connecting on 63-of-96 passes for 699 yards, firing seven touchdowns to one interception. Richter made one career start in a 2024 win over Northern Illinois, one week after posting a personal-best 227 passing yards off the bench against Buffalo.

Former Lenoir-Rhyne starting quarterback Khamoni Robinson reunites with Jacobs as the likely QB2. Robinson passed for 2,391 yards and 20 touchdowns, while adding 325 yards and nine scores on the ground in 2025.

The running back room features a trio of potential No. 1 options — all with varying backgrounds. CJ Miller posted 953 rushing yards, 314 receiving yards, and 17 total touchdowns in Jacobs' offense at Mercer last season. Corey Smith, a former four-star recruit, arrives from Penn State after totaling 182 rushing yards on a 5.1 average over two seasons. Then there's the familiar face Connor Walendzak, who ranked first on the Rockets in rushing in 2024 before taking a backseat role in 2025.

The wide receiver room loses a two-time First Team All-MAC selection in Junior Vandeross III but reloads with a slew of portal additions, primarily from the FCS level. Rico Bond is one potential star in the unit. A finalist for the Jerry Rice Award (top freshman in the FCS), he is fresh off the heels of a 664-yard, 6-touchdown season at Lindenwood. The 6'4" Kalvin Gilbert Jr. (Southeast Missouri State) and Adjatay Dabbs (Mercer) should also be fixtures in the rotation after producing 653 and 856 receiving yards, respectively, last season.

The top FBS addition at receiver is Michigan transfer Anthony Simpson. The sixth-year senior didn't earn much playing time in Ann Arbor but previously saw substantial action at Arizona and UMass, accumulating a team-high 792 receiving yards for the Minutemen in 2023. Rounding out the corps are returning reserves Terrell Crosby, who was fifth on the Rockets with 194 receiving yards in 2025, and Cooper Rusk.

Tight end Jacob Petersen finished third on the team in receiving last year, and his production will be replaced by newcomers Jake Newell and Peyton Strickland. Newell logged 392 receiving yards in three years at Akron, with particularly strong production in 2024, while Strickland is fresh off a First Team All-CAA nod after his stint in the FCS at New Hampshire.

There's almost no continuity anywhere on Toledo's roster, but offensive line features by far the most stability. Stephen Gales and Ibrahim Traore return after combining for all 13 starts at left tackle last season, and they enter 2026 as established remnants from the Jason Candle era. The Rockets also boast experience at guard. Jonathan Harder started two contests last year and often suited up as a reserve at Cincinnati in 2023 and 2024. The team also welcomes back Grant Zimmerly, a two-game starter in 2024 who missed the entirety of 2025 due to injury.

Key transfers joining this bunch include former Gardner-Webb interior linemen Luke Rector and Ahmad Carwise, as well as offensive tackles Nick Thomas (Rhode Island) and Dylan Senda (Auburn).

Defense

• Key arrivals: DE Andrew Zock, DE Ezra Odinjor, DE Zach Johnson, DT Caden Camese, ILB Julian Fox, OLB Isaac Prince, OLB Kari Jackson, CB Cam Jones, CB KJ Thomas, FS Kaleb Hutchinson, FS Donovan Watkins, SS Armorion Smith
• Key departures: DE Malachi Davis, DE Anthony Dunn Jr., DT Esean Carter, DT Martez Poynter, DT Doran Ray Jr., ILB K'Von Sherman, OLB Chris D'Appolonia, OLB Jeremiah Peters, CB Andre Fuller, CB Avery Smith, CB Nasir Bowers, FS Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SS Braden Awls
• Key incumbents: DT Nate Chandler, ILB Langston Long, FS Nicholas Thompson, SS Dylan Hohler

Toled had a generational MAC defense in 2025. The Rockets held seven opponents to 10 points or fewer, five to 3 points or fewer, and never surrendered north of 28 points the entire season. They ranked second in total defense, fourth in scoring defense, and finished atop the MAC in most major categories. Two 2026 NFL Draft picks were products of this unit — free safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and cornerback Andre Fuller — and nine of the 11 starters secured All-MAC honors.

All of that is gone in 2026. Not a single primary starter returns, and only four total starts carry over to 2026, all belonging to the versatile linebacker Langston Long, who should be one of the leaders of this new-look unit.

Another leader to watch is defensive end Andrew Zock, the reigning Buck Buchanan Award (best FCS defensive player) who claimed that honor after a productive season featuring 46 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 23 QB hurries. 2025 wasn't a one-off either; Zock built upon a spectacular Freshman All-American season in 2024 to achieve those numbers. Now, he transitions to the FBS level as one of the most coveted FCS portal additions this offseason.

The defensive end room also adds UAB transfers Ezra Odinjor and Zach Johnson. Odinjor is coming off 27 tackles and a sack with the Blazers, while Johnson added seven tackles and two tackles for loss in the same position group. The most experienced transfer addition at defensive tackle is Caden Camese, who missed the entirety of 2025 at Mercer. The position returns several incumbents gunning for starting spots including Nate Chandler and Lucas Lambert-Pipkin.

Long returns to lead the linebacking corps after the transfers of K'Von Sherman and Chris D'Appolonia. Long finished 10th on the unit with 35 tackles a year ago yet is the top returning tackler on the 2026 squad. The sixth-year senior's starting experience dates back to 2022 when he played strong safety at Virginia, which gives him strong coverage instincts for an inside linebacker.

Most of the major pieces in the linebacking corps hail from the transfer portal, with Julian Fox and Isaac Prince arriving from Mercer. Fox was second on Jacobs' roster with 85 tackles last year, while Prince added 53 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 3.0 sacks. Another intriguing addition is Kari Jackson, who hasn't played a snap of college football yet. Jackson was a four-star recruit to Penn State in the class of 2024, and Toledo will prove him an opportunity to finally showcase those skills at the collegiate level.

Playing in Toledo's secondary in the Jason Candle era was a special honor. From 2019-26, Toledo sent nine selections to the NFL Draft, and six were defensive backs — including 2024 first-round pick Quinyon Mitchell and 2026 second-round pick Emmanuel McNeil Warren, who both attained All-American status with the Rockets. There are lofty expectations to live up to in this program, and returning reserve safeties Nicholas Thompson (25 tackles, 1.5 TFL in 2025) and Dylan Hohler (7 tackles, 1 INT in 2025) hope to uphold that standard.

The transfer laden defensive back room also consists of cornerbacks Cam Jones (Holy Cross) and KJ Thomas (Mercer). Both earned accolades in 2025, with Jones warranting a First Team All-Patriot League selection and Thomas garnering Southern Conference All-Freshman honors. New safeties include Mercer transfers Donovan Watkins and Kaleb Hutchinson and Michigan State transfer Armorion Smith. The sixth-year senior Smith started seven games for the Spartans last fall, generating 35 tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception.

Special Teams

• Key arrivals: PK Reice Griffith, KR Corey Smith, KR Anthony Simpson, KR/PR Rico Bond, LS Max Allen
• Key departures: PK Dylan Cunanan, KR Trayvon Rudolph
• Key incumbents: PK Anthony Ruggles, PUNT Emilio Duran, KR/PR Bryson Hammer

Unlike the offense and defense, Toledo's special teams wasn't the MAC standard in 2025. The Rockets will have to do some refurbishing in this unit under new coordinator Matt Ulrich, but they retain two key specialists. One is punter Emilio Duran, who enters his fourth season as the Rockets' starter, booting 174 punts while donning the blue and gold.

Perhaps the most valuable special teams player back in the lineup is Bryson Hammer. Of Toledo's 17 MAC selections last December, Hammer is the only one still on the roster. He was the only FBS player to return 30 punts in 2025, and his 362 yards ranked atop the MAC and sixth in the country. Not only did Hammer excel as a punt returner — in three kickoff returns, he returned one 52 yards, and he is a realistic candidate to take over Trayvon Rudolph's spot in the kickoff game.

Transfers with kick return experience that could also get involved include Corey Smith (6 returns Penn State), Anthony Simpson (22 returns at Arizona and UMass), and Rico Bond (3 returns at Lindenwood).

Another impact transfer on special teams is kicker Reice Griffith. Griffith served as Mercer's lead placekicker for three years, connecting on 40-of-52 attempts with accuracy improvements between each season. Mercer's all-time leading scorer finished 14-of-17 last season and knocked down both attempts from 50+ yards, and he is 145-of-145 on extra points in his career.

Outlook

It's jarring Toledo finished 8-5 last season.

The Rockets not only ranked atop the MAC in scoring offense, total offense, and passing offense, among other key categories, but they had arguably the greatest MAC defense of the 21st century. They were top-five in a slew of major statistics ranging from scoring defense to total defense to third-down defense.

But two one-point losses in MAC play to Western Michigan (led 13-0; lost 14-13) and Bowling Green (led 21-0; lost 28-23) changed the fortune of Toledo's season. Two of the Rockets' other defeats to Kentucky and Louisville were also by one score, and all eight wins were through sheer domination, all by 18 points or more.

Everything resets in 2026 under Mike Jacobs, and Toledo must replicate its success on both sides of the ball with a new cast of characters. There are more question marks than usual with the program, especially given the litany of FCS transfers making the jump. A bulk of starters arrived from Mercer which went 9-3 last season, with its lone FBS matchup being a 62-17 shellacking at Auburn.

But the Rockets are set well where it matters the most, and that's the trenches. Four returning offensive linemen with starting experience helps, and they brought in several transfers to complement their abilities. And on the defensive line, the Andrew Zock and Ezra Odinjor combo should be one of the top pass rushing combos in the MAC.

The schedule is favorable for this refurbished roster. Toledo hosts three non-conference games and its lone road trip is a winnable Week 1 matchup at Michigan State. Of the Rockets' eight MAC opponents, only Western Michigan and Ohio qualified for bowl eligibility last season, and that Western Michigan game is at the Glass Bowl where Toledo finished 6-0 in 2025 with an average score of 46-8.

MAC Championship appearances continue to be the expectation at Toledo, but there is so much volatility in this team's 2026 outlook after the loss of 21 starters and an entire coaching staff.

Schedule

All dates and times are current as of publication. An asterisk (*) denotes a conference game.

^ played at neutral-site Ford Field in Detroit, MI