5 Best Toledo Rockets Football Players, Ranked

The Toledo Rockets football program was established in 1917. Over its history, the highest it has ranked in the AP Top 25 was No. 12 after starting 12-0 that season. 

The program competes in the Mid-American Conference, and today, football betting on their college football odds is available at the BetMGM online sportsbook.

Below, I’ll rank the top five Rockets. 

5 Best Toledo Rockets Football Players, Ranked

Toledo Rockets All-Time Greatest Football Players

1. Chuck Ealey

Ealey played quarterback for Toledo from 1969 to 1971.

Over those three seasons, he never lost a game, leading Toledo to 35 consecutive wins. 

He threw 45 touchdowns (seventh in program history). He held that record until the turn of the century. 

He was a first-team All-American and three-time MAC Offensive Player of the Year.

The school retired his No. 16, and he’s enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. 

2. Mel Long

At Toledo, Long played defensive tackle at just 6-feet-1 and 230 pounds. 

While there, he was a consensus All-American, a first-team All-American, and the MAC Defensive Player of the Year. The school also retired his No. 77. 

He’s enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. 

3. Kareem Hunt

Hunt played running back for Toledo from 2013 to 2016 before being selected as a third-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2017 NFL Draft. 

While at Toledo, he ran for 4,945 yards, breaking Chester Taylor’s record. 

He holds two of the top seven single-season rushing records, headlined by 1,631 yards in 2014, which ranks second. 

Additionally, he holds two of the top five single-game rushing marks, rushing for 271 yards in 2014 against Arkansas State. That same year, he also ran for 265 yards against Bowling Green. 

These marks are fourth and fifth, respectively. 

He ran for 44 touchdowns (third).

Hunt was two-time first-team All-MAC and second-team All-MAC. 

4. Chester Taylor

Taylor played running back for Toledo from 1998 to 2001. 

While there, he ran for 4,848 yards, which was the program record until Hunt came along. 

That said, he does hold the program record for rushing touchdowns with 56. 

He had 21 in 2001 and 18 in 2000. 

Taylor was a third-team All-American, Hula North MVP, and Motor City Bowl MVP. 

5. Gene Swick

Swick was the quarterback for Toledo from 1972 to 1975.  

He racked up 7,266 passing yards (fourth), which was a program record until the early 2000s. 

He also tossed 43 touchdowns (ninth). 

Swick accumulated 8,083 total yards (fifth) and 62 total touchdowns (sixth). 

He won the Sammy Baugh Trophy (best quarterback), was a first-team All-American, a three-time first-team All-MAC selection, a two-time MAC Offensive Player of the Year, and the school retired his No. 18.