Miami Hurricanes at Toledo: Five things to watch
The Miami Hurricanes play their first true road game of 2018 when they travel to Toledo on Saturday at noon. Miami faces a big step up in competition this week from Savannah State.
The Miami Hurricanes 77-0 victory over FCS Savannah State did not tell us much. The Hurricanes did what they were supposed to against an undermanned opponent. The Tigers are dropping down to Division II for the 2019 season.
Toledo has one of the best offenses in college football and they showed it against Miami in 2017. The Rockets rolled up 446 yards of total offense in last season’s 52-30 loss to the Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. They return most of their skill position players from that game.
The biggest shoes to fill for Toledo this season are at quarterback. Mitch Guadagni succeeds the Rockets’ all-time leading passer Logan Woodside. Guadagni threw for 265 yards and three touchdowns and added 20 yards on four carries rushing in Toledo’s season-opening 66-3 victory over Virginia Military.
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.
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That trio combined for 21 receptions for 245 yards and three touchdowns in the loss at Hard Rock Stadium in 2017. Athlon Sports ranked the Rockets receiving corps the eighth best in the nation. Athlon also ranked Thompson the nation’s 27th best wide receiver and Diontae Johnson 14th.