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Rivals.com and Scout.com both rank Toledo’s 2011 recruiting class as No. 1 in the MAC. A year ago, UT’s 2010 recruiting class was also ranked No. 1 in the MAC by Rivals.

 The Rockets added 19 signees to a group of eight players who joined the program in January, bringing the total number of new players to 27. Those eight players are currently enrolled at UT and participating in off-season workouts. Fourteen of the Rockets’ new players are ranked as either three-star or four-star recruits.

 The new players who were ranked as “four-star” recruits by at least one recruiting service coming out of high school include three transfer students: Josh Haden (Boston College), Vladimir Emilien (Michigan) and Jordan Haden (Florida). The fourth is defensive end Andre Sturdivant, a signee from Glenville High School in Cleveland.

 Beckman said the relentless efforts of his staff, combined with a successful 2010 season, aided in UT’s success in securing another top recruiting class.

 “I think the word is getting out about all the great things that are happening in our program,” said Beckman, who led the Rockets to an 8-5 record and an appearance in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in 2010. “The winning tradition is back at Toledo, and a lot of young men want to become a part of that. This year’s recruiting class is a very talented and committed group. They will be a major part of the Rocket family for the next four or five years.”

 Locally, UT signed three student-athletes from Northwest Ohio: Kyle Cameron, a center from Toledo Central Catholic; Gabe Gilbert, a linebacker from Clyde High School; and Eddie “Cheatham” Norrils, a defensive back from Toledo St. John’s who was named the Toledo Blade “Player of the Year” in Northwest Ohio. Norrils joins current Rockets Eric Page (Springfield High School) and Isaiah Ballard (Toledo Rogers) as Blade “Player of the Year” selections.

 “We really put a lot of emphasis on recruiting in our own backyard, not only in Northwest Ohio but in the five-hour radius around Toledo that we call Rocket Nation,” said Beckman. “There’s a lot of great talent in the state of Ohio, and we signed some of the best players in the state. Locally, we really want the best players from Northwest Ohio to stay at home and play at Toledo. Our coaching staff is working very hard to make that happen. In the last two days of recruiting, each of our seven assistants visited eight schools in the area, so we visited a total of 112 schools in Ohio in those last two days. That shows you the level of commitment we are making to recruit locally.”

 Beckman noted that 16 of the new players attended a Rocket Football summer camp, either at the Glass Bowl or at one of the satellite camps that the Toledo coaches conducted around the state. “That shows you how important those high school camps are,” said Beckman. “High school recruits are getting a chance to become familiar with our coaching staff, and we get a chance to see a lot of young football talent from around the state.”

 Eight of UT’s 27 new players previously signed letters of intent and are currently enrolled in school: linebacker Jordan Barnes, defensive back Vladimir Emlien defensive lineman Keenan Gibbs, defensive back Jordan Haden, cornerback John James, tight end Colby Kratch, defensive lineman Phil Lewis and cornerback Keith Suggs. Gibbs, James, and Suggs will have freshman eligibility in 2011. Barnes, Kratch and Lewis are junior college transfers; Barnes will be eligible as a sophomore in 2011, while Kratch and Lewis will be juniors. Emlien (Michigan) and Haden (Florida) are transfers who will have to sit out a year before becoming eligible to play in 2012.

The following is a synopsis of the Rockets’ 2011 recruiting class as of Feb. 2, 2011:

Jordan Barnes
Linebacker, Sophomore, 6-1, 240, Fort Wayne, IN-Homestead H.S./Western Oklahoma Community College
High School Coach: Chad Zolman
Anticipated Major: Communication
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Ray Jackson, College of Arts & Sciences
Coach Beckman: “Jordan is an aggressive and physical linebacker who runs well and has good size. I recruited him at Oklahoma State so I’m familiar with him as a player and as a person. He is eligible to play next fall, which is important because we are losing Archie Donald and Drey’Lon Pree to graduation.”

 Jordan Barnes is a 6-1, 240-pound linebacker who is transferring from Oklahoma State by way of Western Oklahoma Community College. Barnes sat out the 2009 season as a redshirt at Oklahoma State, then transferred to WOCC (which does not have a football program) last summer where he earned his associates degree. A three-star recruit according to both Rivals.com and Scout.com, Barnes was originally recruited to Oklahoma State by then-assistant coach Tim Beckman. He played his high school football at Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, IN, earning first-team all-state, all-area and all-conference honors in both his junior and senior years. Both Scout.com and Rivals.com rated him as the No. 28 linebacker in the country, while Rivals also ranked him as the No. 3 player in the state of Indiana. His father, Roosevelt Barnes, was a linebacker at Purdue and also played with the Detroit Lions from 1982-85. Barnes will have sophomore eligibility in the fall of 2011.

Kyle Cameron
Center, Freshman, 6-2, 280, Toledo, OH-Central Catholic
High School Coach: Greg Dempsey
Anticipated Major: Sports Administration
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Kate Pfile, College of Health and Human Services
Coach Beckman: “We’ve been recruiting Kyle for two years and he was the first one to commit to us from this class. He’s very talented and he plays center, a position we are looking to fill. He’s one of the first players from Toledo Central Catholic to sign with UT in a long time, which we are very happy about. I think Kyle is going to be a great addition to our offensive line.”

 Kyle Cameron is a 6-2, 280-pound center from Central Catholic High School in Toledo where he was a two-time first-team All-Ohio, all-district and all-area player as a senior. He also was a two-time Toledo City League “Lineman of the Year” recipient and was named district “Lineman of the Year” as a senior. As a sophomore, Cameron made first-team all-district and all-conference, as well as honorable mention All-Ohio. He also played defensive tackle, making 17 tackles as a senior. A three-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com, Cameron graded out at 92% efficiency and allowed just two sacks this past year. He has been invited to play in the Big 33 Classic.

Jeremiah Detmer
Placekicker, Freshman, 5-8, 170, Hilliard, OH-Davidson
High School Coach: Brian White
Anticipated Major: Education
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Emily Creamer, College of Education
Coach Beckman: “Jeremiah is not only an outstanding kicker, he’s a good all-around athlete, playing soccer and lacrosse. Jeremiah will really help us in our kicking game, especially on kickoffs. He has a strong leg. He put most of his kickoffs into the end zone in high school.”
 Jeremiah Detmer connected on 36-of-46 field goals and was 131-of-135 on extra points in his high school career. He is rated the No. 4 kicker in Ohio by Rivals.com, and a three-star recruit and No. 9 kicker in the nation by Scout.com. Detmer was named first-team all-state, all-district, all-area and all-conference as a senior, hitting 13-of-16 field goals, including a long of 47 yards. He also booted 58 of his 65 kickoffs for touchbacks. As a junior he made all-district, all area and all-conference, making 13-of-17 field goal attempts, with a long of 49, with 59-of-65 kickoffs going for touchbacks, helping his team to the state title. As a sophomore, he made 10-of-13 field goals with a long of 47. A two-time all-state soccer player for Hilliard Davidson, earned a No. 3 national ranking at the ProKicker.com national event. He has been selected to play in the North-South Ohio All-Star Game and the Big 33 Classic.
Chris Dukes
Cornerback, Freshman, 5-9, 182, Cincinnati, OH-Colerian
High School Coach: Tom Bolden
Anticipated Major: Sports Administration
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Stacey Bowers, Athletics Academic Coordinator
Coach Beckman: “Chris is an outstanding talent from one of the premier football programs in the state. We had a chance to see Chris in one of our camps down in Cincinnati. He has the potential to be an excellent cornerback for us.”
 Chris Dukes made second-team all-state as a senior, totaling 34 tackles and one interception, while averaging 46 yards on kickoff returns. A three-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com, as well as the No. 104 cornerback in the nation according to Scout.com, Dukes has been selected to play in the North-South All-Star Game and the Big 33 Classic. As a junior, Dukes had 44 tackles, three interceptions, six pass deflections and averaged 48 yards on kickoff returns. He made second-team all-state, and earned all-city and all-league honors. As a sophomore, Dukes had 48 tackles and nine pass deflections, earning honorable mention all-state honors. He also ran track and played one year of basketball.

Vladimir Emilien
Safety, Junior, 6-1, 204, Lauderhill, FL-Plantation/Michigan
High School Coach: Steven Davis
Anticipated Major: Business/entrepreneurship
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Clint Longenecker, College of Business
Coach Beckman: “Vlad has speed and size, and he’s a big-time hitter. He’s been at Michigan for most of two seasons, so he understands what Division I football is all about. He could be a big asset to our defense.”

 Vladimir Emilien was a four-star safety out of Florida who signed with Michigan, playing the 2009 season and the season opener in 2010 for the Wolverines before deciding to transfer. He will be eligible to play in 2012 and will have two years of eligibility remaining. Emilien played in five games as a freshman for the Wolverines in 2009, making one tackle on special teams. At Plantation High School, Emilien registered 93 tackles, eight tackles for loss and three interceptions as a junior. He missed his senior season due to a knee injury. He was rated four-star prospect and the nation’s No. 14 safety by Rivals.com, as well as the 60th-best prospect in the state of Florida. He also was rated as the nation’s 19th-best safety by Scouts, Inc., a three-star prospect and No. 41 safety nationally by Scout.com, an All-Southeast region selection by Prep Star, and was listed as the 95th overall prospect in the state of Florida by SuperPrep.com. He reportedly runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds and registered a 32-inch vertical leap.

Keenen Gibbs
Defensive Lineman, Freshman, 6-3, 270, Cincinnati, OH-LaSalle
High School Coach: Tom Grippa
Anticipated Major: Undecided
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Stacy Bowers and Laura Johnson, Athletics Academic Coordinators
Coach Beckman: “Keenan comes from a very prestigious high school that plays in one of the best leagues in Ohio. He’s a very explosive player with great hips. He will help provide great depth on the defensive line.”

 Keenen Gibbs was a first-team all-league and second-team all-district selection as a senior. He also made first-team all-league as a junior. He was ranked as the No. 176 defensive end in the nation coming out of high school by ESPN.com, and was listed as a “Top 10” defensive line prospect in Ohio by the McCallister Scouting Report. As a senior, Gibbs had 70 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. His junior statistics were 75 tackles, 10 TFL and five sacks. He also averaged a double-double for LaSalle’s basketball team, and competed in the shot put and discus for the track & field squad. Gibbs originally signed with the 2010 recruiting class, but delayed his entry into UT until 2011.

Antwan Gilbert
Running Back, Freshman, 5-10, 170, Dayton, OH-Trotwood Madison
High School Coach: Maurice Douglas
Anticipated Major: Communication
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Clint Longenecker, College of Business
Coach Beckman: “Antwan has excellent speed and great burst. He’s from an outstanding football program at Trotwood Madison. He could be a great back of the future for us.”

 Antwan Gilbert rushed for nearly 6,000 yards in three seasons at Trotwood Madison, including 2,531 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior. He earned first-team all-state honors his senior season, and was the Southwest District Division II co-Offensive Player of the Year. As a junior, Gilbert rushed for 2,576 yards and 32 TDs, making first-team all-state and first-team all-conference honors. He also caught 17 passes as a junior for 281 yards and two scores. In both his junior and season seasons, Gilbert was named “Offensive Player of the Year” in the Great Western Ohio Conference. As a sophomore, Gilbert ran for 864 yards and seven touchdowns, adding 21 receptions for 182 yards and two TDs. Scout.com ranks him as a three-star recruit and the No. 39 running back in the nation, while Rivals.com ranks him as a three-star recruit and No. 13 all-purpose back in the country.

Gabe Gilbert
Linebacker, Freshman, 6-1, 230, Green Springs, OH-Clyde
High School Coach: Marc Gibson
Anticipated Major: Education
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Emily Creamer, College of Education
Coach Beckman: “Gabe is a very good athlete and a local talent from a Clyde team that made the playoffs this past season. We expect Gabe to be a great asset to our program at linebacker over the next four or five years.”

 Gabe Gilbert earned honorable mention all-district and second-team all-league honors as a senior, racking up 43 tackles, two interceptions, four sacks and one forced fumble. As a fullback, he rushed for 542 yards and 13 touchdowns. As a junior, Gilbert made honorable mention all-league honors as a quarterback, throwing for 1,075 yards and seven TDs to go with 537 yards and 10 scores on the ground. As a sophomore, Gilbert had 40 tackles and one interception.

Josh Haden
Running Back, Junior, 5-8, 195, Fort Washington, MD-Friendly/Prince George’s Community College
High School Coach: George Early
Anticipated Major: Communication
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Dr. James Benjamin, College of Arts & Sciences
Coach Beckman: “Josh is an outstanding talent and a proven Division I running back. He comes from a great football family. I’ve known about the Hadens since my days at Ohio State. His older brother Joe is with the Browns, and his younger brother Jordan is joining our team, as well. We’re excited to have Josh become a Rocket.”

 A former starting running back at Boston College, Josh Haden is currently enrolled at Prince George’s (MD) Community College and will be eligible to play for the Rockets next fall. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. Haden rushed for 479 yards on 120 carries and caught 13 passes for 100 yards in 13 games as a freshman for Boston College in 2008. As a sophomore in 2009, Haden played in seven games, rushing for 213 yards on 58 attempts while catching four passes. Coming out of high school, Haden was listed by Rivals.com as a four-star recruit and the No. 3 running back in the nation. He was a first-team all-state running back in high school, rushing for 1,350 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior at Friendly High School in Fort Washington, MD in 2007. In 2006, he combined with his brother Joe Haden (currently playing for the Cleveland Browns) to lead the Patriots to a state title. Haden’s younger brother Jordan, a transfer from Florida, enrolled at UT this semester.

Jordan Haden
Safety, Sophomore, 5-11, 200, Fort Washington, MD-Friendly/Florida
High School Coach: George Early
Anticipated Major: Business
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Dr. Stanford Westjohn, College of Business
Coach Beckman: “I knew about Jordan through Urban Meyer. Coach Meyer had only great things to say about Jordan. He’s a great kid from a great family. He the size and speed needed to be a key player in our defensive backfield.”

 A four-star recruit, Haden was the 12th-ranked safety in the country by Rivals.com and No. 21 by Scout.com coming out of Friendly High School in Fort Washington, MD in 2009. He joined his older brother, Joe Haden, at the University of Florida, enrolling in January of 2010. He left the Gators’ program prior to the start of the 2010 season. He will have three years of eligibility for the Rockets, beginning in 2012. As a junior, Haden had 62 tackles and three interceptions, rushed for 283 yards and three TDs, and caught seven passes. He will be joined next fall by his older brother, Josh Haden, a transfer from Boston College.

John James
Cornerback, Freshman, 5-11, 163, Cleveland, OH-John Adams
High School Coach: Gary Jackson
Anticipated Major: Sports Medicine
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Stacy Bowers and Laura Johnson, Athletics Academic Coordinators
Coach Beckman: “John will upgrade our speed in the secondary. He’s a natural corner with great coverage skills. John was the skill position MVP at our camp in Cleveland (in 2009).”

 John James is a versatile player who made first-team all-league and second-team all-district as a senior while playing wide receiver, running back and cornerback. He rushed for 315 yards, had 715 receiving yards and scored nine touchdowns as a senior. On defense, he had 33 tackles and five interceptions. In his junior season, he made second-team all-league, rushing for 600 yards and six TDs, and picking off six passes on defense. He also had three picks as sophomore. James is a standout on the track, as well, finishing third in the 100 meters and second in the 4x400 at the state championship meet in 2009. James originally signed with the 2010 recruiting class, but delayed his entry into UT until 2011.

Noah Key
Defensive Back, Freshman, 6-0, 180, Columbus, OH-Bishop Hartley
High School Coach: Brad Burchfield
Anticipated Major: Engineering
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Jon Pawlecki, College of Engineering
Coach Beckman: “Noah was a tailback in high school but we project him as a defensive back in college. He had a huge senior season at Bishop Hartley. He scored 44 touchdowns, the same as his jersey number. His dad played football at Michigan so he’s got a great football background.”

 Noah Key rushed for 2,885 yards and 44 touchdowns on 338 carries last season. He shared the Division IV Offensive Player of the Year award, leading Bishop Hartley to a state title. Defensively, Key finished with three interceptions, five pass deflections and one fumble recovery. He also returned 17 kickoffs, including one for a touchdown, and had seven catches for 38 yards including two scores. As a junior, he rushed for 1,300 yards and 20 TDs on 168 carries, returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and intercepted two passes. As a sophomore, Key rushed for 800 yards. A three-time, first-team all-district selection, Key earned first-team all-state honors as a senior. Key’s father, David Key, was a cornerback at Michigan and played two seasons in the NFL.

Colby Kratch
Tight End, Junior, 6-4, 245, Watertown, MN-Watertown-Mayer H.S./North Dakota State College of Science
High School Coach: Craig Johnson
Junior College Coach: Chuck Parsons
Anticipated Major: Communication
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Ray Jackson, College of Arts & Sciences
Coach Beckman: “Colby is an aggressive, hard-nosed tight end. He’s a tough possession receiver and an aggressive blocker in the run game. He comes from an athletic family. His father played at Iowa and then in the NFL for the Giants and the Patriots, and his mother was a high jumper at Iowa.”

 Colby Kratch, 6-4, 245-pound tight end, played junior college football at the North Dakota State College of Science, racking up 10 receptions as a sophomore in 2010. He played his high school football at Watertown-Mayer High School in Minnesota where he had 40 tackles and seven sacks as a senior on the defensive line, earning all-conference honorable mention. Kratch, who also played high school hockey, is the son of Bob Kratch, an offensive lineman at the University of Iowa who also played in the NFL for eight years for the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. Kratch’s mother, Kristi, was a high jumper at Iowa. He will have junior eligibility in the fall of 2011.

Phil Lewis
Defensive Lineman, Junior, 6-3, 285, Grosse Pointe, MI-South/Grand Rapids Community College
High School Coach: Tim Brandon
Junior College Coach: Tony Annese
Anticipated Major: Criminal Justice
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Mark Wintgens, College of Health and Human Services
Coach Beckman: “We’re very excited about Phil joining our football program. He comes from a tremendous junior college program and is well-prepared to play Division I college football. He will provide immediate help on the defensive line.”

Phil Lewis was named defensive MVP as a defensive tackle at Grand Rapids Community College in 2009, totaling 52 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks and two blocked kicks. As a freshman at GRCC, Lewis had 23 tackles, 6.5 TFLs and two sacks. Lewis earned first-team all-league and league defensive MVP honors as a defensive tackle for Grosse Pointe South (MI) High School as a senior, racking up 71 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and five sacks. Lewis was a standout track & field athlete in high school, earning all-region honors in the shot put and discus as a senior. Lewis originally signed with the 2010 recruiting class, but postponed his entry on the football team until 2011.

Matt Neal
Defensive Line, Freshman, 6-3, 280, Merrillville, IN-Merrillville
High School Coach: Zac Wells
Anticipated Major: Undecided
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Stacy Bowers, Athletics Academic Coordinator
Coach Beckman: “We’ve been recruiting Matthew Neal for two years now. He’s an inside defensive lineman with good speed and strength. He comes from a football family. His father played college football and his brother plays for the Packers. He’s really going to help us in the future.”

 Matt Neal had 70 tackles, three tackles for loss and three pass breakups as a senior, helping Merrillville to an 8-3 record and a berth in the state playoffs. He earned all-area, all-conference and honorable mention all-state honors. As a junior, he earned all-area and honorable mention all-conference honors, as his team went 12-2 and advanced to the state semifinals. For his career, Neal totaled 149 tackles and 13 tackles for loss. His brother, Michael Neal, Jr., played defensive tackle at Purdue and is currently with the Green Bay Packers, while his father, Michael Neal, Sr., played football at Weber State.

Eddie Norrils
Defensive Back, Freshman, 6-0, 185, Toledo, OH-St. John’s
High School Coach: Doug Pearson
Anticipated Major: Education or Law Enforcement
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Dr. John Plenefisch, College of Arts & Sciences
Coach Beckman: “Eddie Norrils is an all-around talent, one of the best players in Northwest Ohio this year.  We love to keep local talent at the University of Toledo so we are very pleased that he chose to stay home and join the Rocket family.”

 Eddie Norrils, a two-way star as a wide receiver/defensive back for Toledo St. John’s, was named the Toledo Blade “Player of the Year” in Northwest Ohio, as well as the district “Player of the Year.” He is the fourth consecutive Blade “Player of the Year” to select UT. Known throughout his high school career by his middle name, Cheatham, Norrils caught 58 passes for 1,061 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior. He added eight interceptions on defense, returning three for scores. Norrils earned first-team all-state honors as a receiver, and first-team all-city as a receiver and defensive back. Norrils had seven interceptions as a junior and two as a sophomore, giving him 17 for his career. He has been selected to play in the North-South All-Star Game, as well as the Big 33 Classic. Norrils is also a four-year starting point guard at St. John’s.

Justin Olack
Wide Receiver, Freshman, 6-4, 210, Shadyside, OH-Massillon Washington
High School Coach: Jason Hall
Anticipated Major: Physical Therapy
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Dr. Michelle Masterson, College of Health and Human Services
Coach Beckman: “Justin Olack is a talented player from a traditionally great football program at Massillon Washington. He’s a big, tall receiver who can really move. He’s also a great track athlete. We are very excited about Justin’s potential.”

 Justin Olack caught 37 passes for 661 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior, earning third-team all-state and first-team all-district honors. A three-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com, Olack caught 49 passes as a junior for 785 yards and three TDs, earning all-district and all-league honors. Olack has been invited to play in the Big 33 Classic and the North-South All-Star Game. He also runs the hurdles and sprints on the track team and played one season of baseball. Rivals ranks him as the No. 46 player in the state of Ohio, while Scout.com ranks him No. 139 among receivers in the nation. Olack is from the same high school as current Rocket Jeff Myers.

Collin Perchinske
Offensive Lineman, Freshman, 6-5, 265, Cleveland, OH-Padua Franciscan
High School Coach: Tony Shuman
Anticipated Major: Education
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Dr. Brian Randolph, College of Engineering
Coach Beckman: “Collin Perchinske is a throw-back player, a hard-nosed lineman who loves to work and gets better every day. He played defensive line in high school but right now we project him as an offensive lineman.”

 Collin Perchinske made first-team All-Northeast Lakes District and second-team all-state as a senior defensive end. He totaled seven sacks, six passes knocked down, three forced fumbles and one interception as a senior, and 50 tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble and 12 QB hurries as a junior. Rated as the No. 81 player in Ohio by Ohio High Magazine, Perchinske was selected to play in the North-South All-Star Game. Perchinske is from the same high school as current Rocket Dan Molls.
 
Alonzo Russell
Wide Receiver, Freshman, 6-4, 190, Washington, D.C.-H.D. Woodson/Milford (NY) Academy
High School Coach: Greg Fuller
Anticipated Major: Sports Management
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Stacy Bowers, Athletics Academic Coordinator
Coach Beckman: “Alonzo Russell is rated as one of the top prep school players in the country, so we’re pleased to have him join our family. He’s tall and fast, and has great skills. He comes from an excellent prep school, Milford Academy, the same school that gave us Jermaine Robinson.”

 Alonzo Russell is a three-star prospect by Scout.com and Rivals.com. He is rated as the No. 12 prep school player in the nation by Rivals.com. He attended Milford Academy in New York, the same prep school as current Rocket safety Jermaine Robinson. As a senior at Woodson High School in Washington, D.C., Russell caught 52 passes for 1,153 yards and 14 touchdowns. He added four TDs on kickoff and punt returns, and three more scores on seven interceptions. A first-team All-Metro D.C. selection, Russell also played basketball and ran track.

Andre Sturdivant
Defensive Lineman, Freshman, 6-3, 265, Cleveland, OH-Glenville
High School Coach: Ted Ginn
Anticipated Major: Undecided
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Dr. Ray Jackson, College of Arts & Sciences
Coach Beckman: “Tank Sturdivant could be an immediate impact player for us. He’s got the size and speed to really help us on the defensive line.”

 A first-team all-state defensive end from Cleveland Glenville, Andre Sturdivant is ranked as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com and a three-star player by Scout.com. Rivals ranks him as the No. 10 weak side defensive end in the country and the No. 14 player in the state of Ohio. Scout.com ranks him as the No. 55 defensive end in the country. Sturdivant has been selected to play in the North-South All-Star Game and the Big 33 Classic.

Keith Suggs
Cornerback, Freshman, 5-10, 175, Indianapolis, IN-Ben Davis

High School Coach: Mike Kirschner
Anticipated Major: Business or Psychology
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Clint Longenecker, College of Business
Coach Beckman: “Keith comes from a tradition-rich football program. He was an outstanding performer in our summer camp. He will be a great cover corner and a physical presence for us in years to come.”

 Keith Suggs was rated as the No.144 cornerback in the nation and the No. 29 player in Indiana by Scout.com coming out of high school. He earned honorable mention all-county honors as a senior. Suggs also was a sprinter on the track team at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis. He had 65 tackles, nine pass breakups and one forced fumble as a senior, and 57 tackles, two interceptions and 10 pass breakups as a junior. Suggs originally signed with the 2010 recruiting class, but delayed his entry into UT until 2011.

Junior Sylvestre
Defensive Back, Freshman, 6-0, 195, Hollywood, FL-South Broward
High School Coach: Allen Held
Anticipated Major: Undecided
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Clint Longenecker, College of Business
Coach Beckman: “Junior Sylvestre could be a special player. He’s a great track athlete with the size and speed needed to play our star or safety positions.”

 Junior Sylvestre was an all-county wide receiver/defensive back at South Broward High School. He averaged 7.3 yards and scored four touchdowns on 19 carries, caught eight passes for 85 yards, and had 57 tackles as a senior. He played in the Broward County Athletic Association All Star Game. Sylvestre was a track standout in high school, running on a 4x400 relay team that placed second in the state as a junior, and making the state finals in the 200 as a sophomore.

Trent Voss
Linebacker, Freshman, 6-3, 210, East Grand Rapids, MI-East Grand Rapids
High School Coach: Peter Stuursma
Anticipated Major: Undecided
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Stacy Bowers, Athletics Academic Coordinator
Coach Beckman: “Trent Voss committed to us last summer. He’s one of the top players in Michigan, and he played on a state championship team. He could be a very good linebacker for us.”

 Trent Voss was a first-team all-state selection who was named to the Detroit Free Press Dream Team and was ranked as the No. 31 player in the state of Michigan by the Detroit News. Voss, who also earned first-team all-conference and all-area honors, had 140 tackles, 16 sacks, four interceptions, four fumble recoveries and five forced fumbles as a senior. A three-star recruit by Scout.com, Voss helped East Grand Rapids High School win its fifth straight Division III title. He also rushed for 690 yards and seven touchdowns on 113 carries. As a junior, Voss totaled 110 tackles, four forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and one interception, earning all-conference and all-area honors. He had 85 tackles and three interceptions as a sophomore, and 80 tackles as a freshman.

Robert Walton
Running Back, Freshman, 5-9, 185, Cleveland, OH-Glenville
High School Coach: Ted Ginn
Anticipated Major: Business
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Stacy Bowers, Athletics Academic Coordinator
Coach Beckman: “Robert Walton is a running back who has great bursts of speed. He’s not tall, but he’s built very solidly. He could be an outstanding running back in our league.”

 Robert Walton was list as a top 20 running back by Ohio Varsity.com, rushing for over 1,000 yards in both his junior and senior seasons. As a junior he helped Cleveland Glenville reach the state championship game, rushing for 1,020 yards and 16 touchdowns on 133 attempts. In his career, he gained 2,283 yards in three seasons.

Kishon Wilcher
Cornerback, Freshman, 5-7, 168, Detroit, MI-Cass Tech
High School Coach: Thomas Wilcher
Anticipated Major: Business
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Robert Yonker, College of Business
Coach Beckman: “Kishon Wilcher was the fastest player at any of our summer camps. That’s over 2,000 players, so that’s pretty impressive. We project him at cornerback, but he could also play slot receiver. He’s got a great football background. His father played at Michigan and coached him at Cass Tech.”

 Kishon Wilcher was a first-team all-state, all-metro and all-city running back and receiver in high school who will play defensive back for the Rockets. Wilcher’s father is former Michigan running back Thomas Wilcher, who also coached him at Detroit Cass Tech. Wilcher was rated as the No. 32 player in the state of Michigan by the Detroit News and was named to the Detroit Free Press Dream Team. He scored 16 touchdowns as senior, catching 62 passes for 1,100 yards to go with 356 yards rushing. As a junior, he caught 46 passes for 325 yards, gained 685 yards rushing and scored 10 TDs, earning all-city and all-metro honors. A three-star prospect by Rivals.com, Wilcher ran the 200 meters and 4x200 relay on the track team, earning all-state and All-America honors.

Ethan Wirth
Offensive Lineman, Freshman, 6-6, 280, Williamston, MI-Williamston

High School Coach: Steve Kerstes
Anticipated Major: Business
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Robert Yonker, College of Business
Coach Beckman: “Ethan Wirth is a big, physical tackle who comes from a very good high school program. He could be an impact player for us some day.”

 Ethan Wirth was an honorable mention all-state lineman who made the Detroit Free Press “Dream Team” and was rated as the No. 45 prospect in Michigan by the Detroit News. A three-star prospect by Rivals.com and Scout.com, Wirth was also ranked as the No. 83 offensive lineman in the nation. Wirth, who also played defensive tackle, helped lead Williamston to a 9-2 record and a berth in the Division 4 playoffs in 2009, and helped his team to the state finals in 2010. Wirth has also lettered in basketball and track.

Paul Wisniewski
Offensive Lineman, Freshman, 6-4, 295, Carol Stream, IL-Glenbard North
High School Coach: Ryan Wilkins
Anticipated Major: Chemical Engineering
UT Faculty/Staff Recruiting Assistant: Jon Pawlecki, College of Engineering
Coach Beckman: “Paul Wisniewski is a hard-nosed, physical player with great size and strength. He’s a true competitor who loves to play the game.”

 Paul Wisniewski was named first-team all-state by the Chicago Tribune and earned a spot on the Chicago Sun-Times Top 25 list as a senior offensive lineman. A team captain as a senior, Wisniewski was voted his team’s most valuable player and was named the Offensive Lineman of the Year in the DuPage Valley Conference. As a junior, Wisniewski made second-team all-conference. He was named academic all-conference in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.

2011 University of Toledo Football Recruiting Class
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown-High School / Transfer or Prep
Barnes, Jordan LB 6-1 240 So. Fort Wayne, IN-Homestead/Western Oklahoma C.C.
Cameron, Kyle C 6-2 280 Fr. Toledo, OH-Central Catholic
Detmer, Jeremiah PK 5-8 170 Fr. Hilliard, OH-Davidson
Dukes, Chris CB 5-9 182 Fr. Cincinnati, OH-Colerian
Gilbert, Antwan RB 5-10 170 Fr. Dayton, OH-Trotwood Madison
Gilbert, Gabe LB 6-1 230 Fr. Green Springs, OH-Clyde
Haden, Josh RB 5-8 195 Jr. Fort Washington, MD-Friendly/Prince George’s C.C.
Key, Noah DB 6-0 180 Fr. Columbus, OH-Bishop Hartley
Kratch, Colby TE 6-4 245 Jr. Watertown, MN-Watertown-Mayer/N. Dakota St. Coll. of Science
Neal, Matt DL 6-3 280 Fr. Merrillville, IN- Merrillville
Norrils, Eddie DB 6-0 185 Fr. Toledo, OH-St. John’s
Olack, Justin WR 6-4 210 Fr. Shadyside, OH-Massillon Washington 
Perchinske, Collin OL 6-5 265 Fr. Cleveland, OH-Padua Franciscan
Russell, Alonzo WR 6-4 190 Fr. Washington, D.C.-H.D. Woodson/Milford (NY) Academy
Sturdivant, Andre DL 6-3 265 Fr. Cleveland, OH-Glenville
Sylvestre, Junior DB 6-0 195 Fr. Hollywood, FL-South Broward
Voss, Trent LB 6-3 210 Fr. East Grand Rapids, MI-East Grand Rapids
Walton, Robert RB 5-9 185 Fr. Cleveland, OH-Glenville
Wilcher, Kishon CB 5-7 168 Fr. Detroit, MI-Cass Tech
Wirth, Ethan OL 6-6 280 Fr. Williamston, MI- Williamston
Wisniewski, Paul OL 6-4 295 Fr. Carol Stream, IL-Glenbard North

Previously Signed Recruits Eligible to Play in 2011
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown-High School / Transfer or Prep
Gibbs, Keenen DL 6-3 270 Fr. Cincinnati, OH-LaSalle
James, John CB 5-11 163 Fr. Cleveland, OH-John Adams
Lewis, Phil DL 6-3 285 Jr. Grosse Pointe, MI-South/Grand Rapids C.C.
Suggs, Keith CB 5-10 175 Fr. Indianapolis, IN-Ben David

Transfers Eligible to Play in 2012
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown-High School / Transfer or Prep
Emilien, Vladimir S 6-1 204 Jr. Lauderhill, FL -Plantation/Michigan
Haden, Jordan DB 5-11 200 So. Fort Washington, MD-Friendly/Florida

Other Facts About Toledo’s 2011 Recruiting Class
* MAC rank by Rivals.com: 1st
* MAC rank by Scout.com: 1st
* Players who are three-star or four-star recruits: 14
* Players invited to play in the Big 33 Classic (top 33 players in state of Ohio): 7
* Players invited to play in the North-South All-Star Game: 7
* Total state championship game appearances: 12
* Total state championship victories: 9
* Total state playoff game appearances: 169
* Players who attended a UT summer football camp: 16
* Players with a grade-point average above a 3.0: 13

Recruits by State
Ohio (13)
Michigan (4)
Indiana (3)
Florida (2)
Maryland (2)
Illinois (1)
Minnesota (1)
Washington, D.C. (1)