Offense sells.
It’s why most people would say Toledo is 4-1, a record that includes stress-free wins over Mississippi State and defending Mid-American Conference champion Miami. The Rockets lead the MAC in scoring and passing offense.
But don’t ignore the defense, especially the defensive line, a havoc-inducing, wrecking-ball unit that should bulldoze every offensive line in the conference.
“They’re very disruptive in all phases,” Toledo head coach Jason Candle said. “And not only disruptive but that pressure can be continued because they rotate and play a lot of guys. So our better players are fresh in the fourth quarter.”
Their ring leader is Darius Alexander, an imposing 6-foot-4, 310-pound enforcer from Fort Wayne. He has a team-high five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, thanks to a career Saturday in UT’s 30-20 win over the RedHawks — seven tackles, three TFLs, and two sacks. He added pass breakup and QB hurry to earn MAC defensive player of the week honors.
Alexander ranks sixth in the MAC in tackles for loss and 16th in sacks. Among defensive linemen who have played 190 snaps, Alexander grades out 25th in pass rush and 26th in overall defense, according to Pro Football Focus.
“Practice,” defensive line coach Frank Okam responded when asked why Alexander is such a difference maker. “I tell the guys that I believe that practice is everything. The way you train your body, the way you prepare, you’re going to get some version of that on game day. As you prepare in your process and you have a standard of preparation, you practice a certain way that should lend itself to good results.”
The Rockets have the nation’s 10th-ranked rush defense, limiting opponents to just 86.6 rushing yards per game and allowing only 2.7 yards per rush, which ranks seventh nationally. Opponents have scored three rushing touchdowns in five games. They have 10 rushes for more than 10 yards, 13 for no gain, and nine rushing attempts that have lost yardage.
The most rushing yards Toledo has given up in a game is 59 by Mississippi State running back Johnnie Daniels, who had 77 yards versus Florida and 75 against No. 1 Texas.
“I think it’s very difficult [for opposing offenses], especially when we have our D-line coach just stressing us to keep going and not for us to get tired,” Alexander said. “Even though you have people coming in for us, we still try to stay with full energy and explosiveness keep going.”
On Saturday, seven defensive linemen played at least 10 snaps. Nine defensive linemen/edge rushers have been on the field for 75-plus snaps this season.
The statistics and analytics tell a promising story. Louisiana State’s nation-leading eight forced fumbles are only two more than Toledo. The Rockets rank in the top 25 with 14 sacks, and their 33 TFLs rank in the top 50. They are No. 1 in the MAC in scoring defense and rushing defense and third in total defense.
PFF grades UT 23rd in overall defense, 23rd in coverage, 25th in tackling, and 26th in rush defense.
UP NEXT Who : Toledo (4-1) at Buffalo (3-2).
When : Saturday, noon
TV : ESPNU
Follow along : Updates and analysis will be published throughout the game at
toledoblade.com .
Watch : Our Rocket Rundown video series looking ahead to the game can be viewed
here .
“We try to establish the run game and start there, and then when it’s time to get in the pass game, we try to execute there too,” Alexander said. “But it always starts up front with the D-line, so we just try to execute every time.”
Despite being a two-time all-state selection and a top-30 prospect in Indiana, Alexander only had two offers: Toledo and Bowling Green. He chose the Rockets and has steadily climbed the depth chart, turning in a third-team All-MAC season a year ago.
Alexander was named to Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List this summer, and Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy said Alexander could be the highest-drafted G5 player in the 2025 NFL draft. Nagy tweeted a clip of Alexander overpowering former Wyoming offensive guard Isaiah Adams in the Arizona Bowl. (Adams was drafted in the third round by the Arizona Cardinals.)
UT linebacker Lance Dixon, a former five-star recruit who transferred to Toledo after stops at Penn State and West Virginia, said former teammate Micah Parsons — a three-time All-Pro with the Dallas Cowboys — is the only defender he has played with that’s more athletically gifted than Alexander, lofty praise but a statement with credibility.
“We’re talking about a kid that played left tackle as a freshman, that’s probably going to be an NFL draft pick,” Candle said.
“I do think Darius has the skill set, the athletic build, the mindset, the mental makeup, the toughness, and the durability to be a really, really special player,” Okam said. “Some of the things he can do, there are not a lot of people in the country that can do that.”
Offense attracts eyeballs, but defense wins championships. Toledo’s defense can carry the Rockets to Detroit and beyond, with Alexander playing the role of conductor.
“DA’s been a leader in that part,” Candle said. “It’s been just fun to watch his development, his growth. …We’re going to need him each and every week the rest of the way to be at his best.”
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