Toledo PFF grades: Gleason is nation's top QB, for at least one day

Each week, The Blade will recap the most interesting Toledo football grades released by Pro Football Focus, the scouting website that evaluates players’ performance on every play of every game. For context, grades are based on a 0-100 scale.

Tucker Gleason (94.5 passing): How good was Gleason in Saturday’s 30-20 romp over Miami? He was the highest-graded starting quarterback in the country. Gleason completed a career-best 27 passes, and his 318 passing yards were just shy of a career high. His 71.1 completion percentage was his second-best when attempting more than 11 passes. Gleason threw two touchdowns and two interceptions, although the INTs were offset by just 11 incompletions.

Jacquez Stuart (80.4 pass blocking): The 5-foot-9, 175-pound lightning bolt isn’t exactly known for his pass blocking. It’s been a weakness throughout his career, mostly because of Stuart’s size when trying to stop linebackers and blitzing cornerbacks and safeties. But against Miami he got some redemption, grading out as the Rockets’ best pass blocker on 11 dropbacks.

D’Andre Ragin (76.4 pass rush): In 36 snaps, Ragin rushed 24 times, finishing with four QB hurries, and was UT’s most effective pass rusher, according to PFF, despite not having a tackle for loss. Darius Alexander, who had a career-high seven tackles, three TFLs, and two sacks, graded out No. 2.

Avery Smith (79.8 tackling): The junior cornerback from Georgia didn’t have the highest coverage or tackling grade, but he allowed a staggering zero yards after catch on five receptions, displaying a remarkable ability to get receivers on the turf. Smith had two pass breakups.