There’s no doubt Toledo will miss Dequan Finn and Peny Boone this season. Finn was the MAC’s MVP in 2023, and Boone was the league’s offensive player of the year.
The QB-RB duo hit the transfer portal shortly after the Rockets lost to Miami (Ohio) in the MAC Championship. Just like that, the two best players on Toledo — and in the conference — were gone.
The Rockets shouldn’t worry too much, however. While their replacements might not put up the stats those two did, they still have what’s needed to be a productive offense and a conference contender.
Tucker Gleason To Lead Toledo’s Offense
Tucker Gleason will serve as the Rockets’ QB1 in 2024 and has proven he can get the job done when he’s needed to. The junior has filled in for Finn four separate times over the past two seasons and played well in each. The only time he struggled was in Toledo’s loss to Wyoming in last year’s Arizona Bowl. Throughout his career, Gleason has tossed 1,336 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Much like Gleason was to Finn, Jacquez Stuart was a solid backup to Boone. Stuart actually led the Rockets in rushing in 2022, finishing with 770 yards and four scores and will take over as the top back on the depth chart. Last year, he rushed for 574 yards and six TDs and was voted first-team All-MAC as a kickoff returner. He also added 143 yards and a TD through the air.
Willie Shaw III will also be returning in the backfield for the Rockets. Shaw adds plenty of experience entering his fourth year with the program and will look to expand his role.
Not only will we see new faces at QB and RB for the Rockets, but they’ll have all five new faces on the offensive line. It’s likely we’ll see juniors Garrett Schwiebert and Carter Fouty starting on the left side and potentially also Ethan Spoth up front. All three played at some point last season.
Toledo’s Offense Brings Back Impressive Receiving Corps
Where Toledo doesn’t need to worry about replacing any production, though, is in its receiving corps. Its top four pass catchers are coming back, and all were big time contributors for the top offense in the league.
Jerjuan Newton led the conference with nine receiving TDs and his 696 yards were the most on the roster. Junior Vandeross III was just as impactful, turning 47 receptions into 664 yards and four TDs. Larry Stephens was fourth on the team with 272 yards and two scores.
Anthony Torres was a revelation at tight end last season and hauled in 26 catches for 464 yards and three scores, averaging 17.8 yards per reception.
We’ll see if these pass catchers can have as much success with Gleason under center as they did with Finn. They’ll at least make Gleason’s transition easier. And perhaps if they didn’t think they’d have the same success, there’s a good chance they would have tested the transfer portal.
While the Rockets probably won’t have the top two offensive players in the league again this fall — or maybe they will? — Toledo head coach Jason Candle will still have this offense firing on all cylinders like it has been in all eight years of his tenure.
