catdaddyp

Seldom used DT Andre Proffit and walk-on TE Grant Gainer to the portal.

Brutal loss. Was hoping to avoid that one.

RB Charles Kellom to the portal.

K Garrison Smith into the portal.

On social media. Since I cover recruiting for a P4 school, my feed is littered with offers, commitments, and portal activity.

Bobby Golden into the portal too. That’s now two senior WRs. I mentioned in another post that we would probably have a few senior WRs move on.

Before the FBS changes, it was an 85 scholarship limit and generally around a 120 roster size. The new rule caps roster size at 105 and will allow schools to decide if they want to stay at the 85 scholarships or increase the scholarship allotment up to 105. In essence, this really hurts walk-ons and the ability to field scout teams in practice. The portal will have an insanely high amount of entries this year due to the roster reductions. The SEC has (at least momentarily) decided to keep scholarships at 85. I haven’t heard of any decisions from the other conferences yet. I thought the MAC made the decision to stay at 85 scholarships too, but now I’m not sure if that was correct.

QB - Tahj Bullock RB - Charles Kellom = 2022 HS signee. 12 games played. 85 rushes for 352 yards and a TD. 27 receptions for 210 yards and 2 TDs. RB - Jordon Simmons = 2024 TP signee. 11 games started and played. 110 rushes for 664 yards and 2 TDs. 27 receptions for 210 yards and 2 TDs. WR - Bobby Golden = 2022 HS signee. 12 games played. 31 receptions for 446 yards and a TD. WR - Adrian Norton = 2023 HS signee. 12 games played. 43 receptions for 843 yards and 7 TDs. 2nd Team All-MAC. WR - Jarvis Rush = 2024 JUCO signee. 11 games played. 9 receptions for 101 yards and a TD. WR - Phaizon Wilson = 2023 TP signee. DNP on offense. OL - Jerrod Burrell = 2024 JUCO signee. 10 games played. 227 snaps on offense. OT - Jayvin James = 2023 HS signee. 12 games played and starting RT. OL - Laurance Seymore - 2024 TP signee. 8 games played. 210 snaps on offense. OL - Tyhler Williams - 2022 HS Signee. 11 games started and played. DE - CJ Nunnally = 2023 JUCO signee. 12 games played. 56 total tackles, 6 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. 1st Team All-MAC x2 DT - Marcus Moore = 2023 HS signee. 12 games played and starter at DT. 31 total tackles. DT - Andre Proffitt = 2021 HS signee. 5 games played. 3 total tackles. LB - Antavious Fish = 2022 JUCO signee. 12 games started and played. 68 total tackles and a sack. LB - Bryan McCoy = 2022 HS signee. 120 total tackles. 2nd Team All-MAC. LB - Gage Summers = 2023 JUCO signee. 35 total tackles. 7 games played on defense with 2 starts. CB - Golden-Nelson = 2022 TP signee. 12 games played with 10 starts. 33 total tackles and 7 pass deflections. CB - Joey Hunter = 2023 TP signee. 10 games played with 6 starts. 10 total tackles and 2 pass deflections. S - Darrian Lewis = 2021 HS signee. S - Darius Owens = 2023 HS signee. DNP on defense. S - Noel Roach = 2021 HS signee. All 4 Special Teams player. 5 games played on defense with 27 snaps. K - Garrison Smith = 2024 TP signee. 24 of 24 on XPs. 13 of 16 on FGs. LS - Liam Reardon = 2024 TP signee. 12 games played and started.

You’re right, I’m sure we’re going to lose a few players that we don’t want to lose. Every school does. Pretty good sign that no one has publicly announced they are leaving as of yet. Edit: 30 minutes later we had our first portal entry. That said, we still have some rising juniors/seniors on the roster that probably won’t contribute much and they may be told to look elsewhere. Not to sound callous, but we have to shed some spots anyway due to the upcoming 105 roster limit.

Timing could be coincidental, but I doubt it. Have to imagine Brookhart sees that the program isn’t far off after spending a year on the inside.

If Moorhead is hoping to land another P4 HC gig, he’ll be back in 2025. I still believe that’s the case and if so, he needs to complete the turnaround. Moorhead can leave any offseason he chooses and land a high profile OC position, regardless of his record as a HC here. Here are some reasons why I think he’ll return despite having limited resources: - He’ll have a starting QB return for the first time since DJI. We never got to see DJI progress in Moorhead’s system due to injury. If Finley flipped the TD/INT ration by only 2 or 3, we are talking all-conference. - 4 out of 5 starting OL return. It was the youngest starting OL in conference play. I know some have been disenchanted with the OL, but here are some facts. For the first time in Moorhead’s 3 years we rushed for over 100 yards per game. The OL has also drastically improved in pass protection. Sacks have dropped from 63 in Arth’s last season (2021) to 56 in Moorhead’s first season (2022) to 46 (2023) to 30 (2024). None of that is elite, but it’s all headed in the right direction. - The defense has improved in conference play, especially in points allowed. Arth’s last year allowed 35.3 (2021). Tibesar’s first was 30.4 (2022) to 28.4 (2023) to 26.6 (2024). Again, not great, but headed in the right direction. - The 2025 schedule is MUCH easier than the 2024 schedule. - The majority of the team will return - barring a mass portal exodus. Unless Moorhead is just done fighting the constant uphill battle, I can’t see him leaving when he could potentially make a bowl (or more) in 2025.

Kent State heating up with portal entries. What a mess that program has rapidly turned into.

Bump for update. Not much has changed from last week.

Bump for update.

You’re correct. Nunnally, Adler, and Richards are all seniors. However, Nunnally hardly played his freshman year and could apply for a redshirt to return as a redshirt senior. I’m with you, I like the potential Dall and Cheatom possess. That said, I’d like to see us land someone with the similar pass rushing ability as Nunnally. Our pass rush has consistently been close to the bottom of the conference.

I don’t believe so. He wasn’t listed online if he did.

Not necessarily, but can sometimes be the case. I believe Bullock and J. Hunter were the only non-seniors (football wise) to walk.

Should be a good game. Ohio is playing much better football since their last meeting. Gotta hand it to the Ohio staff, they had a huge amount of turnover and still managed to make it to the MACC.

I really like both Hunter and Owens. Owens needed to add some mass before consistently contributing. He may be ready to contribute in 2025. I think Hunter played in 7 games as a true freshman. Mostly special teams, but he should see significant snaps on defense next season. Adams has his degree already, but could redshirt and come back.

Offer to Kaelin Drakeford of Eastern Illinois. Edit: Looks like we also offered his brother earlier in the year. Ashton is a 2026 prospect.

Agree, it’s a good core. My guess is James gets flipped to LT. Mann could be ready to step in at RT, similar to James’ situation this season. Shor backed up at LT and will need to make a substantial leap if he’s going to start next year. Depth at both OT spots will probably need to be addressed in some fashion. I agree there is a drop off at DT after Moore. Brockington and Murphy gave us some good reps when they were healthy. Madden is still somewhat raw despite being an upperclassman. Hull looks like he will eventually develop into a stud. We’ve done well bringing in quality DTs from the portal with Holt, Jones, Lavea, and Kapongo. I’d expect we land another good one (or two). I’m not 100% sure on Nunnally, but he was originally a 2021 HS recruit. If I’m not mistaken, he has the ability to apply for a redshirt year from 2021.

* beside player indicates new addition. QB (4) Finley (R. Sr.) Johnson Jr. (R. Sr.) * Roggow (R. Fr.) Broughton (Fr.) * Likely Leaving/Out of Eligibility: Bullock (R. Sr.) - Portal RB (5) Curry (R. Jr.) * Gant (R. Jr.) * Gee (Jr.) * Williams (R. So.) Patrick (R. Fr.) Likely Leaving/Out of Eligibility: Simmons (R. Sr.) - Portal Kellom (R. Jr.) - Portal WR (11) Adams (R. Sr) Grear (R. Sr.) * Walker (R. Sr.) Davis (R. So.) Hills (R. So.) * Louis (R. So.) Polk (R. So.) Mason (R. Fr.) Monteiro (R. Fr.) * M. Williams (R. Fr.) * Sivon (Fr.) * Likely Leaving/Out of Eligibility: Rush (R. Sr.) - Portal Campbell (R. Sr.) - Portal (?) Golden (Sr.) - Portal Granger (Sr.) - Portal (?) Norton (Jr.) - Portal Wilson (R. Jr.) - Portal TE (4) Newell (R. Jr.) Whisner (R. Jr.) Cravaack (R. So.) Witherspoon (R. Fr.) OL (15) Lyons (R. Sr.) Shor (R. Sr.) Motley-Simmons (R. Sr.) Johnson (R. Sr.) * Moore (R. Sr.) * Archer (R. Jr.) * Davis (R. Jr.) Fox (R. Jr.) George (R. Jr.) G. Jones (Jr.) * King (Jr.) * Mann (R. So.) Morris (R. So.) Gould (Fr.) * McManus (Fr.) * Likely Leaving/Out of Eligibility: Blanchard Thomas Fields Burrell (Sr.) - Portal Seymore (R. Sr.) - Portal Williams (R. Jr.) - Portal James (R. So.) - Portal Mitchell (R. Fr.) - Portal DE (9) C. Brown (R.Jr.) * Durham (R. Jr.) * Cheatom (R. So.) Dall (R. So.) Duncan (So.) * D. Frazier (R. Fr.) J. Frazier (R. Fr.) Kavals (Fr.) * Watkins (Fr.) * Likely Leaving/Out of Eligibility: Adler Richards Nunnally (R. Sr.) - Portal Graham (R. Fr.) - Portal (?) DT (8) Madden (R. Sr.) Laventure (R. Jr.) * Murphy (R. Jr.) Musika (Jr.) * Vega (Jr.) * Hull (So.) Davis (R. Fr.) Brown-Demery (Fr.) * Likely Leaving/Out of Eligibility: Kapongo Lavea Brockington (R. Sr.) - Portal (?) Proffitt (R. Sr.) - Portal Moore (Jr.) - Portal LB (8) Cooper (R. Sr.) Summers (R. Sr.) (?) Murphy (R.Jr.) * Spriggs (R. So.) Benenge (So.) Hocker (R. Fr.) Boswell (Fr.) * James (Fr.) * Reeves (Fr.) * Likely Leaving/Out of Eligibility: Fish (Sr.) - Portal McCoy (Sr.) - Portal CB (8) DeWalt (R. Sr.) Proby (R. Sr.) Jarmon (R. Jr.) Kamara (R. Jr.) * Reed (R. Jr.) White (R. So.) A. Branch (So.) * Johnson (R. Fr.) Likely Leaving/Out of Eligibility: Golden- Nelson (R. Sr.) - Portal Hunter (R. Sr.) - Portal NB (3) Branch (R. Sr.) * Greenwood (R. Sr.) T. Thomas (R. Jr.) Likely Leaving/Out of Eligibility: D. Lewis (R. Sr.) - Portal S (8) Anderson (R. Sr.) David (R. Sr.) D. Johnson (R. Sr.) Stepney (R. Sr.) * Flowers (R. Jr.) * Somerville (R. So.) * Hunter (R. Fr.) T. Davis (Fr.) Likely Leaving/Out of Eligibility: P. Lewis Roach (R. Sr.) - Portal Owens (R. So.) ST (3) I believe the starting K, P, and LS receive scholarships. Dennis (R. Sr.) * (LS) Samaha (R. Jr.) * (P) Schramm (R. Fr.) * (K) (Wiley, Rhoades, and Castle could also start) Likely Leaving/Out of Eligibility: Jackson (KO) Book (P) Smith (R. Sr.) (K) - Portal Reardon (R. Sr.) (LS) - Portal

QB: Finley was on point most of the night and threw some phenomenal passes. However (and as usual) he did have a few passes that could have been picked. Most of his incompletions were either drops, slightly out of reach, or intentionally thrown away. Bullock was effective as a runner and completed two passes. His emergence in conference play had a significant impact on our offense. RB: Simmons was held out, so Kellom carried the load and came out of the game for only 2 snaps. It was the second straight week of concerted effort to run the ball, as we ran 34 times vs 23 pass attempts. Kellom had 21 of those rushes and also scored the go ahead TD on a reception in OT. WR: Did anyone think Norton would play every snap, go without a catch, and we’d win? Toledo was determined to eliminate Norton from the gameplan, which gave other receivers one-on-one opportunities. Granger had two impressive catches, including a sliding grab. Polk also had a few big ones. TE: The tight ends were utilized only once in the passing game, but played a major role as blockers. OL: Similar to most of the season, pass blocking was solid and run blocking could have been better. Blanchard and James were excellent at OT. Thomas filled in at RT, after James went down, and was adequate. Williams, Davis, and Morris played every snap on the interior. DL: The DL struggled all night to put pressure on Toledo’s QB. That said, Nunnally came through in a big way on the final play of OT. We gave up 176 yards on the ground, which is almost right at our average in conference play. Most of the snaps at DT went to Moore, Kapongo, and Brockington. Murphy and Madden each saw at least 18 snaps. Dall and Richards played over 20 snaps a piece backing up Nunnally and Adler. Cheatom also saw some action. LB: Fish, Summers, and McCoy took all the snaps at linebacker. As Fish’s play has fallen off a bit down the stretch, Summers has exploded onto the scene. Summers finished with 19 total tackles. McCoy came off the bench and finished with 17 total tackles. We did have some trouble tracking the TE in coverage during the second half. DB: It was a mixed bag for our DBs. Tackling was excellent - the best it’s been all year. Pass coverage was a challenge for portions of the game, but that can’t all be placed on the DBs. Without much of a pass rush, they had to cover for an extended period of time. That’s hard to do against anyone and especially difficult against some of the receiving options Toledo has. Golden-Nelson, Reed, and White took all the snaps at CB. It was the usual rotation at safety with P. Lewis and Anderson starting, and D. Lewis sliding over from NB to back them up. ST: Special Teams were truly special. It was hard to tell, but I think Adler got a hand on two of Toledo’s missed FGs. Book was a weapon for us again, consistently flipping field position. Jackson put every kickoff in the endzone. Coaching: It wasn’t perfect by any means, but the staff saved their best for last. I loved the commitment to the run game. Even though it was tough sledding at times, it forced Toledo’s defense to push up and gave the passing game room to work. Toledo has the best non-P4 secondary we’ve seen and the run game helped offset some of their aggressiveness. The defense was clearly designed to not let anything over our heads and to force Toledo to string together long drives. We gave up a ton of yardage (465) and allowed Toledo to eventually shoot themselves in the foot. What a way to end the season. Toledo probably has more talented depth than us at just about every position, yet this team gave it all they had and pulled out a victory. We needed Toledo to help us by goofing up a few times, but our effort gave us a chance to be in position to win. We are at the corner and can potentially turn it….finally. This program really isn’t far off. This season, we had enough talent to compete with our MAC peers and did not get blown out in a non-P4 contests. Our biggest loss was by 20 to Ohio and we actually had them on the ropes for a portion of that game. Another strong recruiting class, coupled with development of returning players, will put this program in a position it has not been in for a long time. QB: Finley Bullock RB: Kellom M. Williams WR: Golden Rush WR: Granger Polk WR: Norton TE: Newell Cravaack LT: Blanchard Shor LG: Morris C T. Williams RG: K. Davis RT: James D. Thomas DE: Nunnally Cheatom DE: Adler Dall Richards DT: Moore Brockington DT: Kapongo Murphy Madden LB: Fish McCoy LB: Summers McCoy NB: D. Lewis Greenwood CB: Reed White CB: Golden-Nelson White S: P. Lewis D. Lewis S: J. Anderson D. Lewis Best Players on Offense: QB - Finley WR - Granger RB - Kellom LT - Blanchard RT - James Best Players on Defense: LB - McCoy DE -Nunnally S - P. Lewis CB - Golden-Nelson CB - White

And with that, Akron beats the 3.5 Vegas season win total. Ensue Toledo fanbase meltdown after defeat to “lowly” Akron.