TOLEDO BRINGS UP-TEMPO ATTACK TO CAMELLIA BOWL

Toledo does not have a set number of plays the offense wants to run each game. They just want to play fast.

“We are an up tempo team,” Toledo head coach Jason Candle said. “We play fast. We don’t count the number of plays on Sunday after a game. We don’t count on our success based on the number of plays we run, but we try to be as efficient as we can and get ourselves in and out of good plays.”

Toledo’s offense features a 3,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver this season.

Junior quarterback Logan Woodside has completed 271-of-392 passes for 3,882 yards with 43 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Woodside was the backup to former Alabama quarterback Phillip Ely last season. Toledo’s running game is anchored by All-MAC running back Kareem Hunt, who has 240 rushing attempts for 1,355 yards and eight touchdowns. Junior Cody Thompson has 59 catches for 1,110 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Woodside earned first-team All-MAC honors this season. He leads the NCAA with 43 touchdown passes and ranked second nationally in pass efficiency (183.9). He also led the MAC in passing yards (3,882) and passing yards per game (323.5).

“He is a gym rat.” Candle said. “He embraces what it takes to be really good at his craft and really good at his position. He understands and plays the most scrutinized position in all of sports. He embraces that and does a really god job of making the other 10 people around him on offense better.

“He moves our offense and has done a really good job being efficient with the ball and not making a bunch of mistakes. Some of his interceptions have been freak plays, tipped balls and balls that hit receivers in the hands.”

Toledo placed 12 players on the All-MAC Conference squad, including seven first-team selections. Johnson was a second-team All-MAC pick.

TOLEDO OFFENSE:
• Toledo leads the MAC and ranks fourth in the NCAA in total offense this season. The Rockets are averaging 529.8 yards per game this season. Toledo had 500 or more yards in eight of 12 games. The Rockets surpassed the 600-yard mark three times against BYU (692), Akron (622) and Fresno State (619).

• Toledo leads the MAC and ranks eighth in the NCAA in passing offense. The Rockets are averaging 329.8 passing yards per game this season. Toledo had 300 or more passing yards in eight of 12 games. The Rockets threw for a season-high 505 yards at BYU on Sept. 30.

• Toledo ranks second in the MAC and 19th in the NCAA in scoring offense. The Rockets are averaging 38.8 points per game. Toledo scored 30 or more points 11 times this season. Toledo scored 50 points in the loss at BYU (55-53) and the win over Fresno State (52-17).

• Toledo ranks fourth in the MAC and 44th in the NCAA in rushing offense. The Rockets are averaging 200.7 rushing yards per game. Toledo ran for 300 or more yards five times this season, including a season-high 318 yards against Fresno State.

• Senior Michael Roberts, junior Cody Thompson and sophomore Jon’vea Johnson have combined for 35 touchdown receptions this season. Roberts, a first-team All-MAC selection, ranks second in the MAC and sixth in the NCAA with 15 TD catches this year. Thompson and Johnson both rank third in the MAC with 10 touchdown receptions each.

• Senior left tackle Storm Norton and senior right guard Mike Ebert were both first-team All-MAC selections for the Rockets.