Rockets picked to win MAC West Division

July 26, 2017 | Athletics, News
By Paul Helgren



The University of Toledo football team was picked to finish in first place in the Mid-American Conference’s West Division in voting by members of the league’s media contingent.

The annual preseason poll was released today at the conference’s 2017 Football Media Day at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

The Rockets received 22 first-place votes and a total of 142 points in the annual poll, 35 points ahead of second-place Western Michigan.

Toledo also picked up 21 out of 24 votes to win the MAC Championship Game. Ohio (31 points) was picked to repeat as MAC East Division champion, followed by Miami (129).

“It’s good to know that people think you’re going to be a good team, but championships aren’t won in the off-season,” said UT Head Coach Jason Candle. “We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re certainly not a finished product. Our team is ready to start camp and prepare for what we hope will be a great season.”

Toledo was 9-4 in Candle’s debut as head coach in 2016, earning a berth into the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.

UT returns one of the nation’s most explosive offenses. Led by senior quarterback Logan Woodside, Toledo averaged 38.0 points per game and led the Mid-American Conference in total offense with a school-record 517.8 yards per game in 2016. Woodside paced the nation with 45 touchdown passes and was named a Heisman contender by the Heisman Trophy Trust. Two of his favorite targets are back — Cody Thompson (64 receptions, 11 TDs, 19.8 yards per catch) and Jon’Vea Johnson (40 receptions,10TDs, 19.3 yards per catch) — as is 2015 second-team All-MAC running back Terry Swanson.

On defense, the Rockets return seven starters, including All-MAC linebacker Ja’Wuan Woodley.

The Rockets open their season at home vs. Elon Thursday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. For ticket information, go to utrockets.com or call 419.530.GOLD (4653).

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