Toledo: The quick and dirty
August 30, 2006
Toledo Rockets:
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Conference: Mid-American Conference
2005 Record: 8-3 overall, 6-2 in MAC
Last Game: Won the GMAC Bowl 45-13 over UTEP.
MUGS
Alston:
Hopkins:
Amstutz:
Toledo players to watch:
Clint Cochran
Quarterback
Cochran has big shoes to fill after the graduation of former quarterback Bruce Gradkowski. All Gradkowski did was throw for nearly 9,200 yards and 85 touchdowns in his three-year career running one of the Mid-America Conference’s most prolific offenses.
Mike Alston
Linebacker
Alston was first-team all-MAC in 2005 and figures to be the centerpiece of the Rockets defense this year. Alston racked up 59 tackles including 12.5 for a loss and 9.5 sacks, making his whereabouts a priority for the ISU offensive line.
Chris Hopkins
Tight End
Hopkins had a solid year, pulling in 31 receptions in 12 games last year, totalling 335 yards, an average of 11.5 yards per catch. His second-team all-MAC selection makes him another prime target of the ISU defensive scheme.
About the coach:
Tom Amstutz
Head Coach
Tom Amstutz is in his sixth season at Toledo and has led the Rockets to major success. He is 45-18 in those five years, the best winning percentage in school history. His .714 winning clip is fourth in MAC history. Toledo has made a bowl in four of his five seasons.
Last time they met:
This is the first meeting between these two teams. Iowa State is 7-4 in season openers under Dan McCarney but has won six of its last seven opening games, the lone loss in that span coming in 2002 against No. 3 Florida State.
Toledo Roster:
Offense
LT – John Greco, 6-5, 318, Jr.
2005 first-team all-MAC and is on the
2006 Lombardi Award watch list
LG – David Perkins, 6-2, 308, Jr.
C – Hassan Adebesin, 6-0, 300, Sr.
RG – Jesse Anderson, 6-4, 300, Sr.
RT – Greg Luna, 6-8, 330, Sr.
TE – Chris Hopkins, 6-5, 255, Sr.
QB – Clint Cochran, 6-3, 205, So.
RB – Jalen Parmele, 6-0, 222, Jr.
WR – David Washington, 6-5, 219, Jr.
WR – Steve Odom, 5-10, 170, Sr.
WR – D.J. Nichols, 6-1, 219, Sr.
Defense
DE – Bernard Faithful, 6-3, 240, Jr.
DT – J.P. Bekasiak, 6-6, 296, Sr.
DE – Sean Williamson, 6-2, 265, Jr.
OLB – Mike Alston, 6-2, 212, Sr.
*Lombardi Award candidate was
defensive MVP of the GMAC Bowl after recording three sacks
ILB – Keith Forestal, 6-3, 215, So.
ILB – Eric Heller, 6-0, 219, Fr.
OLB – Mike Chamberlain, 6-2, 208, Sr.
SS – Lester Richmond, 6-1, 184, Fr.
FS – Tyrrell Herbert, 6-2, 190, Jr.
CB – Nigel Morris, 6-0, 181, Jr.
CB – Bo Martin, 6-2, 198, Sr.
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