Page 23 - Toledo Football Media Guide - 2012

2012 OUTLOOK 23

2 Season Outlook

tackles), Dawalyn Harper (nine tackles) and James Gordon (eight tackles) are all back to challenge for spots in the playing rotation.

Toledo’s star linebacker position is a hybridoutside linebacker/safety position that requires solid tackling skills combined with the ability to cover speedy re-ceivers. Two players will be battling it out at the position in training camp, junior Vladimir Emilien

and sophomore Junior Sylvestre . Emilien sat out last season after transferring from the University of Michigan. Sylvestre had 19 tackles on special teams and as a reserve for the Rockets in 2011.

Secondary

Toledo’s secondar y has a chance to be one of the strongest components of the defense this season if the Rockets can fll the holes left by the departure of its two starting cornerbacks, Des-

mond Marrow and Taikwon Paige. Helping ease that loss is a wealth of experience at safety.

Senior JermaineRobinson , a three-year starter at strong safety, is coming of his fnest season as a Rock-et. Robinson had a career-high three interceptions in 2011, two of which he returned for touchdowns. He also had 55 tackles, 6.5 TFL, two forced fumbles and broke up nine passes.

Another senior, Mark Singer , is back for his ffth season after sitting out last year with a shoulder in-jury. Singer had 73 tackles and two interceptions in 13 starts at free safety in 2010.

Campbell said that four other safeties­—juniors Ross Madison and Ethan Kagy , sophomore Cheatham Norrils and redshirt freshman Noah Key —will be competing for playing time this fall. Madison has the most experience, making 25 tackles as a reserve last year.

The cornerback positionwill provide an interesting battleground. The player with the most experience is senior Byron Best , who played cornerback in 2009 and 2010 before moving to star linebacker last year. Best has started 14 games as Rocket, 12 at cornerback. His best season came in 2010 when he had 33 tackles and broke up three passes.

Other candidates at cornerback are sophomores

Keith Suggs , Kishon Wilcher and Jordan Haden , along with redshirt freshman Chris Dukes . Wilcher had 28 tackles as a freshman and distinguished him-self as a gunner on special teams. Suggs started three games, making 12 tackles. Haden is a transfer from

the University of Florida who will be seeing his frst action as a collegian in 2012.

Special Teams

Sophomore Jeremiah Det-mer was Toledo’s kickoff and long feld-goal kicker in 2011. Now it’s his chance to take over all the kicking duties. Detmer will be pushed by sophomore

Clay Simpkins , as well as by junior college transfer Brad Dunavant for kickofs only. Dunavant, a sophomore, is the leading challenger for junior

Vince Penza ’s job as punter. Penza averaged just 37.8 yards per punt last year but came through with consecutive clutch punts in the fourth quarter of Toledo’s win in the Military Bowl. Toledo lost one of the best kick return players in the nation when Eric Page opted to turn pro. Leading candidates to fll those big shoes are juniors Bernard Reedy and David Fluellen , though many others are likely to get a shot.

Schedule

For the frst time in the 94-year history of the ri-valry, Toledo opens its home season against Bowling Green, hosting the Falcons on Sept. 15. “The Battle of I-75” takes place following non-conference road games at Arizona (Sept. 1) and Wyoming (Sept. 8). Toledo’s non-conference slate also includes home games with Coastal Carolina (Sept. 22) and Cincinnati (Oct. 20).

In addition to the home opener with BGSU, the Rockets host MAC opponents Central Michigan, Ball State and Akron, and travel to Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Bufalo and Northern Illinois.

Senior safety Jermaine Robinsonhad 6.5 tackles for loss and returned two inter-ceptions for touchdowns in 2011.