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ELON, N.C. – With the 2017 Elon football season approaching, get to know the Phoenix's upcoming opponents with our preview series. Elon will open its 2017 campaign, the first under head coach Curt Cignetti, at FBS opponent Toledo on Thursday, Aug. 31,in Toledo, Ohio.
 
TOLEDO ROCKETS
 
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Home stadium: Glass Bowl
Conference: Mid-American Conference
2016 record: 9-4
2016 conference record/finish: 6-2 (2nd West)
2016 Postseason: Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
All-Time series: First meeting
Head coach: Jason Candle (2nd season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 44/22
Offensive/Defensive starters returning: 6/7
Top returning offensive players: 
• RB Terry Swanson (116 carries, 583 yards, 5.0 ypc, 4 TD, 44.8 ypg)
• QB Logan Woodside (289-418 passing, 4129 yards, 45 TD, 9 INT, 69.1 completion pct.)
• WR Cody Thompson (64 rec., 1269 yards, 11 TD, 19.8 ypc, 97.6 ypg)
Top returning defensive players: 
• LB Ja'Wuan Woodley (54 ua, 25 at, 79 total tackles, 13.0 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 5 QBH, 2 FF)
• LB Tyler Taafe (32 ua, 38 at, 70 total tackles, 6.0 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 2 QBH)
• DL Olasunkanmi Adeniyi (33 ua, 16 at, 49 total tackles, 8.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 8 QBH)

2017 Schedule
Aug. 31 vs. Elon
Sept. 9 at Nevada
Sept. 16 vs. Tulsa
Sept. 23 at Miami
Oct. 7 vs. Eastern Michigan
Oct. 14 at Central Michigan
Oct. 21 vs. Akron
Oct. 26 at Ball State
Nov. 2 vs. Northern Illinois
Nov. 8 at Ohio
Nov. 15 at Bowling Green
Nov. 24 vs. Western Michigan
 
A Glance at the Rockets
Jason Candle will guide the Rockets for the second full season in 2017. Toledo returns 15 total starters, including five who have earned All-MAC honors during their careers – senior quarterback Logan Woodside, senior wide receiver Cody Thompson, junior wide receiver Jon'Vea Johnson, senior linebacker Ja'Wuan Woodley and junior running back Terry Swanson.

The Rockets' offense features big-play receivers in Thompson and Johnson who both averaged over 19.0 yards per catch in 2016. In fact, Thompson set a school record with 1,269 receiving yards last year. Woodside led the nation in touchdown passes (45) and was second in passing efficiency (183.3) as he became the first Toledo quarterback to ever crack the 4,000-yard passing mark in a season. His 45 TD tosses are also a program record and were just one shy of the MAC record.

Defensively, Toledo allowed 25.7 points and 396.5 yards per game in 2016. The unit amassed 21 sacks and 47 quarterback hurries in 13 games last season. Toledo picked off six passes and broke up another 45 passes a year ago.

Last year, the Rockets began the year with three consecutive victories, including a 45-3 decision over CAA Football member Maine, on their way to a 9-4 campaign and a second-place finish in the MAC West. Toledo dropped just two league games, falling to Ohio and at Western Michigan. The Rockets earned an invite to the 2016 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., where they fell to Appalachian State by a 31-28 margin.
 
Matchup
The game will mark the first meeting between Elon and Toledo and the first for the Phoenix against a MAC program.