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phoenyxrisenfromashes · 4 years

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The buzzing seeps through my dreams, producing itself from the tree I am currently swinging from. Every buzz buzz becomes more irritating as I swat at the noise, which now comes from a pesky bee flying around the tire swing ropes. The more the buzzing comes, the more bee’s that swarm. I plant my feet onto the ground, stopping my forward and backward momentum and continue the futile task of trying to ignore the noise.

The insects now come in waves, sweeping over my head like tiny bomber planes. I throw my head back in annoyance and stomp my foot like a child.

With my eye’s still closed I throw my arm in the direction of my nightstand. My fingers graze the alarm just enough to stop the repetitive annoyance. Peeking one eye open, I manage to see that it’s 8:32 in the morning, meaning school starts in less than fifteen minute and I’ll be late once again.

A year ago, that thought alone would make me jump out of bed like a jack in a box, but now? Now I can’t even find the will to drag myself off the mattress. I’ve laid in it so much this past year, there is a hole shaped me in the fetal position right in the middle.

Once I do finally manage to find the strength, I plant my feet in the plush carpet and drag myself into the bathroom across the hall. The usual sounds pulse through the air: running water, brush against teeth, no water, brush through the hair, the pop as the cap is taken of the deodorant stick. Besides, those things, the house is an eerie silent. Honestly, I’m still not used to it.

I look up and the mirror in front of me reflects a girl I do not recognize. The green eyes are not lively, the brown hair is not vibrant, skin no longer kissed by the sun. Once upon a time, I was all those things. It feels like a long time ago, though it was only a year. Flashes of the past zip through my mind, lasting only a second, but they feel like a lifetime. I force them aside, not wanting to start out my day full of heart ache.

Shuffling back into my dark room, I push up my closet door to try and find some decent clothes. I should probably get some laundry done this weekend. I throw on my favorite ripped jeans with my equally favorite tank top: it’s plain and black, like my soul. Sliding on worn out converses, snatching my messenger bag and keys, I walk downstairs. My heavy footsteps the only noise in the place.

The small town of Bradford, TN., barely over one thousand residents, is right in middle of a huge heat wave. The high for the day is 87 degrees Fahrenheit, real feel is 92 degrees. Even at nine in the morning, the sun is shining high and mighty, almost sun burning my pale skin upon first contact. The door of my black ’67 impala sear my fingertips when I open the door and shove my petite body into the stuffy heat.

Twenty minutes later, I’m playing the impossible game of trying to find a parking spot in the filled lot of Bradford High. Once I do, I slide it into park and make my way directly to the front desk, knowing what is about to go down.

“Miss Harrison, late once again I see” Mrs. Linch says, not even peeking up from her computer screen, her manicured nails clicking away on the keyboard as she searches my name.

“Yes, well you see, I need to bathe in the blood of blue-eyed virgins for two hours every morning to keep myself young and daring. You should try it sometime.” I roll my eyes as I snatch the slip from her grasp and start down the hallway to second period.

“Miss Harrison, I gave you plenty of leeway last semester, with your tragic accident and everything, but enough is enough. We are expecting the old you this time around, understood?” Ms. Lakes says as a saunter in ten minutes late, rolling my eyes as I take my seat.

“Yea, thanks for the reminder” I plop down at the lab table next to my one and only remaining friend Harper Chapman. Her dark brown hair falls into her round face as she hunches over her textbook, hazel eyes scanning the words before her.

“I heard her parents were brutally murdered when they were hiking at the beginning of the school year. Before that, she was popular, one of the top students in the whole school” I feel the gazes on me as the other teens whisper their usual gossip. By now, I’m used to most of it, but when I hear them bring up my parents, my anger boils. Nails cut into my palms as I clench my fists, tapping my foot in a rapid motion.

Instinctively, my fingers play with the locket hanging around my neck; two crescent moons come to meet at their tips, folded above the Tree of Life. The pendant rests right in the dip of my collar bone. The slight, rhythmic motion relaxes my hands and heartbeat.

“Ignore them Emery, they don’t know anything” Harper elbows my side playfully as she glances at me. I give her a slight, forced smile before we redirect our attention to the opening door. A tall and lean figure walks in, scanning the room with ice blue, piercing eyes which firmly stop on me. Jetton Malign, the new guy in school. I didn’t realize he was in this class. Black hair that he shoves back with a hand, causes his pale skin to stick out. It’s like ink against parchment paper.

My breath catches in my throat at the sight of him, all six foot two inches. He isn’t very built, he has a sly look to him, but it works. He gives me a look like it’s the first time he’s noticing me and he’s trying to figure me out but can’t. His eyes flicker down to my necklace and my fingers still tracing it. Something like understanding with a hint of anger flickers in his eyes, but it’s gone just as fast as it came.

“Please take your seat, Mr. Malign” Mrs. Lakes demands. He slightly nods his head while he saunters to the one and only empty seat behind mine. It’s like he walks in slow motion and the moment he passes by his scent fills my senses.

It’s almost heavenly, his smell; like pinewood and damp earth. My eyes flutter shut involuntarily has I inhale deeply. Once the stale smell of the classroom is all I get, I open my eyes again.

“When did he start this class?” I lean into Harpers space as I whisper to her.

“He’s been in this class since he started here like three weeks ago. Where have you been, lala land? Personally, he gives me the creeps, I’d say away from him if I were you” she whispers back before concentrating on the board. I shift awkwardly under his intense gaze, though I can’t see him, I can still feel it.

The rest of class I couldn’t concentrate to save my life. If Mr. Lakes gives us a pop quiz next class, I’ll be royally screwed. The bells rings, finally releasing us from first period. As I pack up my bag, Harper races out of the room, which isn’t like her. She always waits for me and we walk to our lockers together. She’s been acting a little weird recently, maybe it’s the time of the month for her.

I shove my way through the sea of sexually confused teenagers and raging hormones on my own, fighting my way to my locker. I hate when people stand in middle of the hallways talking to their friends, it drives me crazy.

When I finally reach it and unlock it, I throw in my bag, only taking the books I need for my next two periods. No reason to lug the thing around all day. I huff them into my arms and slam the locker door shut. I turn around to see Jetton standing directly behind me.

“Holy crap” I breathe out, almost dropping my books. “You can’t do that” I fix the textbooks in my arms and look up at him, literally, as he stands about four inches taller than me. He doesn’t say anything, just continues to analyze me.

Okaaaaaaay, weird.

I step around him and walk down the hall towards my next class, shaking off the guys strangeness. I turn around and see Jetton following me through the crowd, he’s fast. I push myself into the girl’s restroom and into a stall, locking it behind me. The insomnia I’ve developed has left me paranoid and anxious. I sit on the toilet, books in lap and try to steady my breathing. I hear the door open and knock on my stall following.

“Occupied” I say and the footsteps retreat. I close my eyes against the growing pain behind them, which has become almost constant this past year. After doing a few of my breathing exercises and counting to ten three times, I open the stall and walk to the sink, splashing some cold water on my face. I look at myself in the mirror, my skin which use to be golden has become pale with the lack of sun, my eyes use to shine like the ocean in the sun. Now they are dull, outlined by the bags under them.

A dark figure behind me catches my gaze in the mirror. The blurry figure comes into view to reveal the new kid Jetton. Out of surprise I go to yell, but before I get the chance, he has a hand covering my mouth. What the heck?

I bite down on his fingers, feeling the skin break and blood come out. He takes a deep inhale and pulls his hand away, looking furious.

I try running to the door, but he gets there first, locking the handle. Oh god I’m going to die, he’s going to murder me.

I slowly back up until the tile wall hits my back, cooling the beads of sweat that trail down my spine. I try my best to flatten myself against it while he saunters over to me, his gaze darkening. He places his left hand next to my head as he studies his right, which is dripping with his blood. His gaze returns to mine slowly as he licks it off his fingers, his gaze intensifying.

“What do you want” I manage to stutter out. He tilts his head to the side, like he doesn’t quite understand my question.

“Your name. What’s your name?” His voice is soft but deep.

“What’s it to you?” I say, finding a little bit of courage, I stand taller. He raises an eyebrow and backs up, holding his hand out.

“I’m Jetton, you can call me Jett though” He gives me a wink and a smirk. I stare at him dumbfounded, is this guy serious? He drops his hand and backs up more, seeing my face turn from frightened to angry.

“Seriously? First you scare the crap out of me at my locker, then you follow me in the bathroom, the lady’s room might I add, next you look like you’re going to kill me then act like nothing happened? What is wrong with you?” Before I can think about what I’m doing my fist is flying towards his perfect face. My knuckles never make contact though, instead he’s behind me, holding my belt loop to stop my momentum and me from face planting.

“What the…” I swat his hand away and straighten myself.

“How are you doing that?” I ask, arms folded.

“Doing what?” He gives me an innocent look.

“You’re fast, faster than normal” I realize how crazy I’m sounding but I don’t care.

“I’m just naturally fast” He winks at me and walks out the door, but I don’t by it.

The final bell rings after 3rd period, letting everyone know its lunch time. Once I force myself in the cafeteria, I pass all the different types of cliques and make my way to my new usual spot: the very back of the cafeteria, almost hidden in shadows. Harper already waits at the tables with her bagged lunch. I plop down across from her and groan out loud, laying my throbbing head down.

“Em! Don’t do that! These tables are so gross” she forces my head up, so I resort to resting my chin in my palms. “Stop being so glum, it’s Friday, meaning party tomorrow!” her eyes gleams with excitement and delight when she bites into her first half of her sandwich.

Ah crap. I completely forgot about that stupid pre-grad party in the woods. A tradition for barely a decade that she’s forcing me to be apart of with her. “I’m not sure about that Harper, I mean I gotta study for finals and…” I start before she gives me her famous puppy eyes that she knows I can’t resist. I groan some more before I finally agree. “Fine, but I refuse to enjoy myself” I say.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” she gives me a worried look, knowing full well that I won’t. I forget to eat a lot and I never feel hungry. Whenever I do get the stomach pains reminding me to do so, I end up throwing up every single time. So, I shake my head, “I don’t have money and I don’t have anything at the house, so” I shrug. She frowns at me, shoving her other half of chicken salad sandwich towards me.

I force some bites down past the nausea before a commotion in the lunchroom distracts me. We direct our attention to the growing crowd of teenagers circling around two guys, one of them being my ex, Nick. And the other being no other than new guy Jetton. Even though Nick is the school’s jock and star quarterback, Jett still has two inches on him. His brown hair is cropped down and he flexes his biceps, trying to size up to Jett’s relaxed frame. He shoves him in the chest, forcing Jett back into the crowd and they go wild.

Before I know what I’m doing, I’m shoving through the crowd and standing between them, back towards Jetton. “what the hell are you doing Nick?” the mob silences, intrigued by the ex-popular girl confronting her ex-boyfriend. He doesn’t look me in the eyes but continues to glare at Jetton.

“Em, move out of the way” nick says firmly but in a soft voice. The guy I know, the kind and sweet man I thought would be my high school sweetheart, was not the one I see right now before me.

“Back off Nick” I say, folding my arms over my chest, signaling that I’m not moving or backing down. It’s a stance that he knows well, considering we dated for two and a half years. He looks down on me, green eyes almost engulfed by his pupils.

“He sat in my spot, I asked him to move and he ignored me” he growls. “Seriously? You’re going to fight over a stupid table? You know if you get in trouble, you’ll lose your scholarship. He’s new, how would he know you’ve marked the spot like a dog. I’ll say it one more time Nick, back off” I reply more firmly. We stare at each other for a minute, both silently demanding the other. He turns away abruptly and storms out of the building, his jock posy following, and the gathering disperses. I let out my breath and slump forward, rubbing my aching temples and turn around.

“I’m sorry about him, he’s usually not like this” I look up at him and he smiles down on me.

“No need to apologize, it’s not your fault” he answers.

“It kind of is though, he’s been like that since we broke up” I fidget with my hands, feeling a tad awkward now. He shoves his fists in the pockets of his black jeans and shifts on his feet.

“how come you guys broke up?” he looks at me curiously and I advert my gaze.

“I had my reasons that I’m not keen on sharing with someone I just met” I say softly, thinking back to that time and my chest tightens. I clear my throat to force the pain to go away. “Anyways, I should get back to my friend” I motion to Harper, who is practically standing on the table in anticipation. He doesn’t look at her, nor does he answer me. I give an awkward wave and powerwalk back to the table, hiding my face.

“Is miss Emery coming back out of her shell or misery and depression?” Harper stares at my wide eyed. I haven’t done something like that since junior year, when I was the definition of ‘Queen Bee’, but in the nice way. It was how I met Harper, back in freshman year when she the new girl halfway through the year. She got picked on by Amanda, who was what a teen movie would consider my rival. I stuck up for Harper and put Amanda and her henchmen in her place in front of the whole school.

I became popular after that, known as the girl who stuck up for people who didn’t have the courage to do it themselves. I used to help people see the beauty in themselves and gain the confidence to show and flaunt it, to stand up against bitches like Amanda and their minions. That’s also how I met Nick and fell for his kindness and compassion towards others, even though he was classified as a jock.

That isn’t me anymore, I stay to myself most of the time. Not even confiding in Harper, who knows every secret and personal aspect of my life. I just don’t want her to worry about me anymore than she already does. So, I don’t say anything, just continue to munch on the sandwich.

Thirty minutes later we are sitting in our fourth period: Latin iii. It’s the second and final class Harper and I share, along with Amanda, Nick, and Jetton. You could say the atmosphere was a more than thick today. It’s usually always bad, but today was extra.

Nick stares at me with sad and gloomy eyes from across the room just like everyday since we broke up, then his gaze shifts to Jetton at the back class and they turn to anger. Amanda shoots golden colored daggers my way, like always, and Harper shoots her own back. I turn away when Jett stares at me. I swear the tension is enough to suffocate an elephant.

The class drags by, but the bell finally rings, and I basically run out and away from the testosterone imbalance. I wave goodbye to Harper, telling her I’ll text her after detention and carry on with my day. The rest of the day goes by at the speed of a blind grandma walking across the highway. Aka, slow as hell.

It’s finally time for detention and as I enter the library, I see Nic sitting in middle of the study area. He looks up as I walk in and his eyes sparkle before falling once again. I eternally scream as I take a seat in the back corner, away from him. It doesn’t work too well as he gets up and walks over to me.

“Hey Em…” he trails off and stands there awkwardly.

“What do you want Nick?” I as without looking up, pulling my textbooks out of my bag.

“Well, I guess someone told the principal about the mix up in the cafeteria and he gave me a week o detention instead of kicking me off the team. If it had gone any further, I’m sure that wouldn’t have been an option. So, thanks, ya know, for stepping in” he says shyly.

“You’re welcome” I say in a flat tone.

“Seriously Emery, you had no reason to do it, it’s not like,” he clears his throat against the hurt I see in his eyes, “it’s not like we’re dating anymore” he finishes.

“I didn’t do it for you. You freaked out on Jetton for no reason” I reply in a harsher tone that intended. He takes a deep breath against his rising anger. He’s been super moody lately, and I’m starting to doubt its only because of the breakup. Before he gets the chance to answer, Jetton walks in nonchalantly, immediately seeing us and sauntering over. He slaps nick on the back, jolting him forward some. He’s slim but strong apparently.

“Sorry ‘bout earlier, didn’t mean to offend you in anyway” he says while squeezing his shoulder. I look back and forth between them, waiting for Nick’s outburst. Instead, he shoves his hand off and walks away. Jett stares after him, a victorious smirk on his lips.

“I know your still new and trying to make friends, or enemies, but you shouldn’t push him like that. He hasn’t been himself this year” I say when he looks at me playfully.

“Is that because he’s still brooding over you dumping him?” he turns the chair around and sits with his arms drooped over the back in one swift motion. I open my mouth to ask how he knows but he cuts me off. “People talk, it wasn’t hard to find out you were the ‘power couple’ of the place.” He uses air quotes and I blush.

“Then I guess you also figured out why” I say, and he nods his head. We fall into awkward silence before he perks up, like he wants to say something but the principal walks in at the same moment, He demands everyone to be quiet for the next two hours. In those couple of hours in silence, Jett continues to sit across from me, occasionally passing me notes or showing me random doodles on his notebooks.

His notes contain little pieces of information about him or famous quotes or even cheesy jokes that almost make me laugh. I find his favorite color is a deep purple, his favorite food is anything not vegan, and his middle name is Wyatt. No brothers, sisters, parents, or known relatives. Alone, just like me.

Jetton insists on walking me to my car when we are released at 6:30, saying that I don’t know what could be lurking. I roll my eyes but allow him.

“So, I heard there’s this wild party tomorrow night out in the woods” he says.

“You sure find out a lot of things pretty fast. But yea, unfortunately there is” I sigh.

“You don’t party?” he asks.

“Not really my thing”

“So, you’re not going then?” he asks, sounding disappointed.

“No, I am. My best friend is forcing me. Says it will break my ‘depression shell’ I’ve apparently built around myself” I snort out. “Are you going?” I find myself hopeful that he will say yes. I feel comfortable around him and he’s the first, besides Harper, to make me feel like my life is still normal. Treating me like a person instead of walking on glass around me. He seems to push away my anxiety and I’ve realized I don’t have a splitting headache like I would normally this time of day.

He looks down at me, eyes sparkling with delight and a mischievous grin. “booze and drugs in middle of a dark and dreary woods with no adults? Sounds like my kind of scene” he says, making me laugh. We reach my old beat up ’67 impala, my dads prized possession.

“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then” he says when I open my door, backing away slowly. “I guess so” I close the door behind me, finally feeling some excitement for tomorrow night.

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junker-town · 6 years

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Can Toledo repeat, despite a new cast of characters?

Head coach Jason Candle has some stars to replace but will be choosing from the deepest pool of talent and athleticism in the conference.

You could forgive Toledo for finishing with a hangover. It happens sometimes when you finally get to cross a long-standing item off of the to-do list.

Since an 8-5 2010, the Rockets have won at least seven games each year and have won at least nine six times. But they continuously figured out ways to not win the MAC West.

In 2011, they fell in a 63-60 MACtion classic to NIU, losing the standings tie-breaker.

In 2012, they fell a touchdown short at NIU to hand the division to a team that would reach the Orange Bowl.

In 2013, they were riding a five-game winning streak — which featured victories over nine-win Navy and eventual 10-win conference champ Bowling Green — when NIU came to town but laid an egg and lost by 18. They lost at 5-7 Akron a week later for good measure.

In 2014, they again went 7-1 in MAC play. And again, the loss was a nail-biter to NIU, which also finished 7-1.

In 2015, they beat Arkansas and Iowa State and began 7-0. And even when they again slipped up to NIU, 32-27 at home, all the Rockets had to do was beat WMU at home to win the West. They lost, 35-30.

In 2016, they finally conquered the NIU demon, winning by seven in Chicago. But WMU beat Toledo by 20 to wrap up a 12-0 regular season.

That’s a ridiculous stretch of losing the one game you can’t afford to lose, and it meant the steadiest ship in a parity-heavy conference went 13 years between MAC title game appearances. Flashes in the pan like Akron, Buffalo, and Kent State had all made it.

In 2017, it finally all came together. Toledo beat NIU by 10 and WMU by 27. The Rockets’ only regular season losses were at Miami and Ohio, and when Ohio blew the MAC East with a late upset loss to Akron, Toledo got the pleasure of stomping the Zips to win its first conference title since 2004. Head coach Jason Candle had officially pulled off what Tim Beckman (who left for Illinois in 2012) and Matt Campbell (who left for Iowa State in 2016) could not.

And then the Rockets got destroyed by Appalachian State in the Dollar General Bowl. But whatever. The important hurdle had been cleared.

Still, with with the leadership on this team, such a poor final performance was particularly disappointing, because while the Rockets remain perhaps the most purely talented team in the league, the two-deep will change drastically. Among those who need to be replaced:

QB Logan Woodside, who threw for 3,882 yards in 2017 and more than 10,000 in his career.

RB Terry Swanson, who rushed for 1,363 yards last year.

Two all-conference offensive tackles (Elijah Nkansah and Brant Weiss).

Defensive end Olasunkanmi Adeniyi, who exploded for 20 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

Linebackers Jack Linch and Ja’Wuan Woodley, the No. 2-3 tacklers on the team.

Corner Trevon Mathis, the team leader with 11 passes defensed.

To be sure, things could be worse. The receiving corps and secondary are loaded, and the key replacements will be chosen from a roster that is always among the MAC’s most talented — per the 247Sports Composite, the Rockets have finished either first or second in MAC recruiting in all but one year this decade.

From a recruiting perspective, they are the Alabama of the MAC. And nobody in this conference has nailed succession plans like Toledo has, be it at head coach, quarterback (Terrance Owens to Phillip Ely to Woodside), running back (Adonis Thomas to David Fluellen to Kareem Hunt to Swanson), etc. But every chance for turnover is a chance for drop-off, and with the MAC title monkey finally off of their back, Candle’s Rockets now must prove themselves all over again.

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Candle

Offense

Swanson’s breakout 2017 continued one hell of a trend: Toledo has produced a 1,000-yard rusher in seven of eight seasons this decade. And the one time the Rockets did not (2015), they produced two 900-yard rushers (Hunt and Swanson).

Still, the run game was a bit more boom-or-bust than normal. Toledo struggled in short-yardage (121st in power success rate) and ranked just 88th in overall rushing success rate. Weak competition and big-play ability salvaged the overall numbers, but the ground game came up short in key moments — in three losses, Swanson carried 37 combined times for just 132 yards (3.6 per carry), and when Swanson missed the EMU game, Shakif Seymour managed only 3.2 yards per carry in a near-loss.

Thanks to Woodside, however, this wasn’t much of a concern. Toledo ranked sixth in passing success rate, 10th in passing downs success rate, and 19th in overall Passing S&P+. Toledo could start slowly (78th in Q1 S&P+) knowing that it would soon home in on opponent weaknesses (39th in Q2, second in Q3, 32nd in Q4).

The security blanket is gone now. Toledo must break in a new QB, and no one has been groomed extensively for succession. Backup Michael Julian is also gone, leaving junior Mitch Guadagni (76 career rushing yards, 1-for-6 career passing) and sophomore Caleb Martin as the favorites in the race. Both are green, and incoming high-three-star freshman Carter Bradley is even greener.

Whoever wins will have one hell of a receiving corps. Cody Thompson caught 64 balls for 1,269 yards in 2016, and when he got hurt five games into 2017, Diontae Johnson took over as go-to and finished with 77 catches for 1,344.

With Thompson’s return, you’ve now got two go-tos, plus senior Jon’Vea Johnson, who has 1,462 yards himself over the past two seasons. The line of succession in the receiving corps is deep as hell, as former three-star recruits like sophomore Bryce Mitchell, redshirt freshman Nick Kovacs, and perhaps true freshmen Jalynn Williams and Jalin Cooper all have to wait their turns.

Photo by Andrew Weber/Getty Images

Cody Thompson

Still, Woodside was asked to salvage quite a few second- or third-and-long situations with the inconsistent run game, and asking a first-time starter to do the same could backfire.

In Seymour, though, there’s potential for yet another star. The sophomore from Cleveland had an up-and-down debut season: he rushed 11 times for 102 yards against Elon in his first game, averaged 3.2 yards per carry over the next four games, exploded for 8.7 per carry for the next five games, then slumped back to 4.6 for the last four. His season stats, however — plus-4.9 percent marginal efficiency, plus-0.03 marginal explosiveness, 6.1 yards per carry — were the best on the team.

At 5’11, 218 pounds, Seymour brings some nice bowling ball qualities, which could set up a complement in 5’8, 180-pound junior Art Thompkins. Thompkins is explosive, having averaged 6.5 yards per carry over his first two seasons.

Of course, even if Seymour becomes a star, there are questions up front. Losing Nkansah, Weiss, and two-year starting center Nate Jeppesen means there’s a lot of beef to replace from a line that was already shakier than expected. Florida State transfer Bock Ruble could help at left tackle, and the experience level remains high — five other juniors and seniors have combined for 39 career starts. But the line’s still got something to prove after a less impressive season than normal.

There are former three-star recruits everywhere you look, and because of it, what constitutes a replacement-level starter is different here than in most of the conference. Still, there’s a nightmare scenario in which the run game doesn’t become efficient and a new QB isn’t ready to make big passes on third-and-7 just yet. This offense has ranked in the Off. S&P+ top 55 for each of the past seven seasons, so I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt, but one has to acknowledge the drop-off potential.

Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images

Shakif Seymour

Defense

While Toledo’s offense has been consistently stellar, Toledo’s defense has been all over the map: 103rd in Def. S&P+ in 2014, 25th in 2015, 70th in 2016, 57th in 2016.

The 2017 UT defense struggled pretty dramatically against a decent run game (107th in Rushing S&P+) but completely dictated the terms against opposing passing games. The Rockets ranked 19th in passing success rate and 11th in passing downs success rate and now return all but one of last year’s top 10 defensive backs (Mathis).

Wow, there’s a lot of talent in the back. And the classes are strangely balanced between seniors (safety Josh Teachey and corner Ka’dar Hollman), juniors (safeties Kahlil Robinson, Jordan Williams, and DeDarallo Blue), and sophomores (corner Justin Clark, safety Tycen Anderson). Third-year defensive coordinator Brian George played a lot of guys last year, and almost all of them produced.

Newbies and unproven options like sophomore corners Victor Williams, Keelen Roberts, and Samuel Womack, redshirt freshman DeAmonte King, JUCO transfer Jordan Hendy, and freshman Nate Bauer almost all have recruiting profiles that suggest major upside, as well. The secondary isn’t taking a step backwards anytime soon.

Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Ka’dar Hollman

We’ll see pretty quickly how well George’s attempts at depth in the front six pay off, as the Rockets lose their top three tacklers on the line and top two at linebacker. Still, the two backup LBs (Richard Olekanma and Tyler Taafe) played enough snaps to combine for 63 tackles and five tackles for loss, and 10 returning linemen made at least 3.5 tackles last year.

The known stars are gone up front, and Adeniyi was all sorts of impressive last year. But once again, there are both upperclassmen and newbies waiting in the wings. Senior nose tackle Reggie Howard is a potential star, and while a trio of junior ends (Lucas Maynard, Chris Norwood, and Andrew Boczar) combined for just 14 tackles in 2017, four of them were TFLs. Candle brought in a pair of JUCO ends just in case, and there are seven former three-star true or redshirt freshmen in the mix. There are five such linebackers, too, plus mid-three-star JUCO transfer Evander Craft.

Athleticism? Check. Potential? Of course. Known quantities? Not so much.

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Tyler Taafe (17)

Special Teams

Toledo had one of the most nondescript special teams unit in the country. The Rockets not only ranked 64th in Special Teams S&P+, they also ranked between 53rd and 86th in every individual special teams category.

Kicker Jameson Vest’s got a pretty solid leg (he was 5-for-7 on field goals over 40 yards, though he missed three under-40s and two PATs), and Diontae Johnson’s two return scores suggest massive upside if he can generate a little more consistency. This is closer to being a good unit than a bad one, in other words.

2018 outlook

2018 Schedule & Projection Factors

Date Opponent Proj. S&P+ Rk Proj. Margin Win Probability 1-Sep VMI NR 49.8 100% 15-Sep Miami 13 -11.0 26% 22-Sep Nevada 101 14.2 79% 29-Sep at Fresno State 44 -3.4 42% 6-Oct Bowling Green 97 12.8 77% 13-Oct at Eastern Michigan 96 7.6 67% 20-Oct Buffalo 93 11.9 75% 25-Oct at Western Michigan 87 5.2 62% 31-Oct Ball State 117 18.4 86% 7-Nov at Northern Illinois 69 1.5 53% 15-Nov at Kent State 127 16.8 83% 23-Nov Central Michigan 116 18.3 85%

Projected S&P+ Rk 49 Proj. Off. / Def. Rk 37 / 67 Projected wins 8.4 Five-Year S&P+ Rk 6.4 (35) 2- and 5-Year Recruiting Rk 73 / 81 2017 TO Margin / Adj. TO Margin* 1 / -3.1 2017 TO Luck/Game +1.5 Returning Production (Off. / Def.) 62% (63%, 62%) 2017 Second-order wins (difference) 10.3 (0.7)

It would be crazy not to give Toledo the benefit of the doubt, wouldn’t it? The Rockets have been the MAC’s most consistently good team, and despite departed stars, this roster is loaded with a mixture of upperclassmen and high-upside youngsters. Even losing Woodside, the Rockets are projected 49th in S&P+.

Meanwhile, only three teams on the schedule are projected higher than 87th: No. 13 Miami (which visits Toledo on Sept. 14), No. 44 Fresno State, and No. 69 NIU.

A loss at NIU could mean the division title goes back to DeKalb, but this is going to be an athletic team again this year, probably the MAC’s safest bet.

Team preview stats

All power conference preview data to date.

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alminutocomdo · 7 years

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Puerto Plata.-El Dominican Republic Jazz Festival celebrará sus 21 años, con 6 conciertos, en el que desfilarán estrellas como Marco Pignataro, Rafelito Mirabal, Guy Frometa, Sean Jones, Brian Linch, William Cepeda y Fefita la Grande.

Los directivos de la Fundación Educativa Dominican Republic Jazz Festival, FEDUJAZZ, dieron a conocer el programa del evento que tendrá presentaciones en la Plaza España, en Santo Domingo, el Centro León de Santiago, el anfiteatro del Hotel Casa Marina, en Sosúa, en la Plaza Independencia en Puerto Plata y en la playa de Cabarete, del 29 de octubre al 5 de noviembre.

La presidenta de FEDUJAZZ, María Elena Gratereaux, destacó el hecho de que se trata de un programa de conciertos gratuitos, que solo vende algunas localidades en el área VIP, para generar fondos para las actividades educativas de la fundación.

La rueda de prensa contó con la presencia de la Soberana, Fefita la Grande quien manifestó su alegría de poder participar en este importante evento y llevar su música y sus temas más populares a la audiencia que participa cada año del festival.

Gratereaux destacó que este año el festival trae figuras de la talla del trompetista estadounidense Brian Linch, ganador del premio Grammy, quien ha sido parte de algunas de las bandas más distinguidas del mundo, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messenger y del Horace Silver Quartet. Linch ha tocado con músicos como Eddie Palmieri y Héctor Lavoe.

Igualmente, el trompetista Sean Jones quien ha tocado con la orquesta de Chicago, O’ Farril, Illinois Jaquet Band, Joe Lovano entre otras figuras del Jazz.

El programa del evento presenta el 29 de octubre, en la Plaza España, con la presentación de la Big Band del Conservatorio Nacional de Música de Santo Domingo, teniendo como invitado al pianista francés Alain Mallet, y el Ensamble de Jazz del Conservatorio de Paris con su director Ricardo Del Fra.

El 1 de noviembre en el Centro León, actuarán la agrupación El Eco de Argentina, con Guillermo Nojechowicz, Marco Pignataro, Brian Linch, Hello Alves, Kin Nazarian y Fernando Huergo, así como el dominicano Rafelito Mirabal y su grupo Sistema Temperado.

El jueves 2 en el anfiteatro de Casa Marina en Sosúa actuarán los artistas israelíes, Anat Cohen con el Berklee Global Jazz Institute Ambassadors y Roni Eytan y su cuarteto, junto al domincano Javier Vargas y el grupo Atre.

El viernes 3 el evento se traslada a la Plaza Independencia de Puerto Plata, con el Trio Paz de Brasil y la actuación del dominicano Guy Frometa y su trio.

El sábado 4 en la primera actuación en Cabarete, actuarán el Berklee College Ambassadors y su invitado George Garzone, además de Sean Jones y Brian Linch.

El cierre la noche del domingo 5 de noviembre contará con la participación de William Cepeda d Puerto Rico, Marco Pignataro de Italia, con el recital “Almas Antiguas Quartet”, junto a Alan Pascua, Adam Cruz, Ehud Ettun, y de República Dominicana el merengue típico de “La Mayimba”, Fefita la Grande.

Jennifer Kirkman vicepresidenta de FEDUJAZZ agradeció a los patrocinadores por su respaldo, dentro de los cuales destacó al Ministerio de Turismo, Jet Blue, Brugal, Berklee Global Jazz Institute, Embajada de los Estados Unidos, Embajada de Israel, Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Resorts, Sea Horse Ranch, Recicladora del Cibao, Casa Linda, Gratereaux Delva y Asociados, Millenium, Viva Wyndham Tangerine, Amhsa Marina, Gansevoort, Ultra Violeta, Banreservas, Banco del Progreso, Centro León, Reef Condos, Villa Taina, OK Motors, VH Hoteles, Gran Ventana, hotel Blue Jack Tar, emisora Raices, Nelly Rent Car, Gilmar Travel y Before Branding.

Taty Olmos del Ministerio de Turismo y Lorenzo Sancassani fundador del festival agradecieron el respaldo e invitaron a la población a disfrutar de estos magníficos espectáculos gratuitos.

Al término de la Rueda de Prensa un grupo encabezado por el maestro Roberto Santana y con estudiantes de Fedujazz interpretó varios temas a los asistentes al evento en Café del Mar en Cofresí.

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DR Jazz Festival celebrará sus 21 años, con 6 conciertos del 29 de octubre al 5 de noviembre Puerto Plata.-El Dominican Republic Jazz Festival celebrará sus 21 años, con 6 conciertos, en el que desfilarán estrellas como Marco Pignataro, Rafelito Mirabal, Guy Frometa, Sean Jones, Brian Linch, William Cepeda y Fefita la Grande.

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