Toledo Quarterback has big test versus Miami Hurricanes

Toledo quarterback Mitch Guadagni has big shoes to step into this season replacing the Rockets all-time leading passer Logan Woodside. The Miami Hurricanes will be Guadagni’s biggest test of 2018.

Woodside shredded the Miami Hurricanes secondary for 342 yards and three touchdowns in a 52-30 loss in 2017 at Hard Rock Stadium. Guadagni gets the benefit of playing the Hurricanes at the Rockets home the Glass Bowl.

In his debut as a starter, Guadagni threw for 265 yards and three touchdowns and added 20 yards on four carries in a 66-3 victory over FCS Virginia Military. Guadagni had completed only one pass in six attempts for 16 yards in his career before taking over as the starter for this season.

All of his previous attempts came in four games in 2017. Guadagni was incomplete on his first five attempts in three games before finally completing a pass against Bowling Green last season.

Guadagni is a redshirt Junior who was a three-star signee in the class of 2015. He sat out his Freshman year and did not see any game action as a Redshirt Freshman in 2016.

Guadagni’s first action came last season. Guadagni was the 56th ranked pro quarterback coming out of high school and the 67th ranked recruit in Ohio. He was also recruited by Indiana, Akron, Buffalo and FCS James Madison per 247 Sports.

Guadagni didn’t have to do a lot in the Rockets season-opening victory over VMI. He completed 11 of his 16 attempts. Guadagni has a trio of stellar receivers to work with.

Diontae Johnson, Jon’Vea Johnson and Cody Thompson form one of the best wide receiver corps in the country. The two Johnsons and Thompson have all earned All-MAC and have at least ten touchdown receptions in their careers.

Guadagni and his teammates have had two weeks to prepare for the Hurricanes following a bye week after their blowout victory to begin the season. That has given him ample time to prepare for an excellent Miami secondary. The Hurricanes first team has three Senior starters in the secondary. Miami is mostly young behind that.

It will be a battle of Guadagni and the Rockets experienced receivers versus the Miami Hurricanes experienced defensive backs. Behind that Miami will need their second and third team cornerbacks and safeties to play beyond their years.

One player to watch when Miami goes to the nickel is Senior Jhavonte Dean. This will be a key game for Dean to show he deserved to be ranked the top Junior College cornerback in 2016.

The Rockets have been known for the prowess of their passing offense with the trio of receivers they have and with Woodside under center the past few seasons. In reality, they have a balanced offense that has run the ball more often than pass it under third-year head coach Jason Candle.

Toledo attempts an average of about 31 times per game with Candle as the Head Coach and runs about 39 times. Six different Toledo running backs had at least five carries in their season opener.

Toledo was not able to achieve that balance against Miami last season. Woodside attempted 50 passes and the Rockets had 34 rushing attempts. If that is the case on Saturday against the Hurricanes, the Rockets could be in for a long afternoon.

Last season’s game was close with Toledo leading 16-10 at halftime. Miami exploded for 42 second-half points, including 28 in the fourth quarter in a wild 52-30 victory. Miami doesn’t want to make the game a shootout either with Malik Rosier’s struggles with accuracy.

The Rockets will try to achieve balance against Miami with Guadagni taking a secondary role and relying on his big three receivers to move the chains.