TOLEDO - The University of Toledo football staff put on a lot of miles to put together their 2008 recruiting class, both out of state and within the state of Ohio.

Of the 23 committed players that head coach Tom Amstutz announced today, the first day that high school recruits may sign a national letter-of-intent, eight come from the state of Ohio. UT also recruited on a national scale, picking up commitments from eight other states, including four from Florida.

"I’m very excited about this class," said Amstutz, who has a 55-32 record in seven seasons as UT’s head coach. "We went far and wide to get the best football players available. We competed against the highest level of schools we could and came away with some victories."

Amstutz added that Toledo’s winning tradition, upcoming schedule and frequent appearances on national television were all key factors in recruits’ decisions to choose Toledo. The Rockets have had 12 winning seasons since 1994 and been to four bowl games during Amstutz’s tenure as head coach. In the past four season, 21 Toledo football games have been on one of the ESPN stations in the past four seasons, bringing the Rockets into recruits’ living rooms on a regular basis.

"National TV coverage continues to be an important part of our program," said Amstutz. "Our future schedules, with games against schools like Ohio State, Michigan, Arizona and Missouri, is also a key factor in attracting recruits to Toledo."

Toledo lost eight starters from last year’s team. And while the Rockets do have plenty of talent to make a run at their fifth MAC West title under Amstutz, it’s a good bet the freshman class will be counted on in 2008. In the past two seasons, the Rockets have had 23 true freshmen play significant roles on the team.

"There will be an opportunity for several players to help us next year.," Amstutz added. "I think as many as a dozen newcomers could be regulars in our lineup next fall."

The following is a brief look at the Rockets’ 2008 recruiting class:

• Albertson Alexandre, DL, 6-5, 240, Miami, FL-North Miami / Foothill (CA) Community College: Alexandre had 25 tackles for loss and 15 sacks in his freshman season at Foothill C.C. He was a first-team junior college All-American as a defensive end and was named the defensive player of the year in the Nor-Cal Conference, as well as being named to the All-California J.C. team. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

• Terrell Anderson, OLB, 6-1, 204, Penn Hills, PA-Pittsburgh Central Catholic: Anderson led the state of Pennsylvania with 19.5 sacks and was named first-team all-conference by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pittsburgh Tribune as a senior. He tallied 99 tackles, two forced fumbles and one blocked punt. He led Pittsburgh Central Catholic to a 16-0 record, a PIAA 4A state championship and a No. 11 national ranking in USA Today. As a junior, he made second-team all-conference, racking up 72 tackles, eight sacks and one forced fumble. Anderson has been selected to play in the East-West All-Star Game.

• Andreas Ashwood, DB, 6-1, 190, Hillsborough, FL-Hillsborough: Ashwood had 49 tackles as a senior, earning first-team all-conference, first-team all-district and second-team all-county honors. A four-year letterwinner at Hillsborough, Ashwood had 10 career interceptions. He was coached by his father in high school.

• Isaiah Ballard, DB, 5-11, 190, Toledo, OH-Rogers: Ballard earned conference co-player of the year in the Toledo City League as a senior. He also earned first-team all-conference, first-team all-district and first-team Division II All-Ohio honors. He played a number of positions, including running back where he ran for 1,084 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior. He also had 41 receptions for 380 yards. On defense he played linebacker and safety, where he totaled 90 tackles, nine tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and two interceptions. He also returned kickoffs and punts. As a junior, Ballard ran for 823 yards on 109 carries, while catching 12 passes for 99 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns overall. He had 99 tackles, seven tackles for loss and seven forced fumbles. Ballard has been invited to play in the 2008 North-South All-Star Game.

• Fadi Farha, OL, 6-4, 290, Ypsilanti, MI-Ann Arbor Pioneer: Farha started all 20 games at left tackle as a junior and senior at Ann Arbor Pioneer, making first-team all-conference and first-team all-area as a senior, and first-team all-conference at a junior. He was named honorable mention all-state by the Detroit News, and was No. 27 on their "Blue Chip" list. He also ranked No. 44 on the Detroit Free Press "Top 50" list.

• Danny Farr, OL, 6-5, 285, Evanston, IL-Evanston Township: Farr is rated as the No. 27 player in the state of Illinois by Rivals.com, the No. 33 defensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com and the No. 19 player in the Chicago area by the Chicago Tribune. He was a three-year starter and a two-time team captain. Farr is an all-conference basketball player for an Evanston Township team that is currently 21-2.

• Sam Gaymon, WR, 6-3, 200, Redford, MI-Detroit Renaissance: Gaymon made the Detroit News first-team all-city team as a senior captain, catching 25 passes for 517 yards and eight TDs. A three-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com, Gaymon was ranked No. 49 on the Detroit Free Press’ Fab 50 list, the No. 12 player in Michigan by Scout.com, and the No. 19 player in Michigan by Rivals.com. Rivals also listed him as the No. 93 wide receiver in the nation. As a junior, he made honorable mention all-city with 18 receptions for 310 yards and three scores. He is also the team captain of the basketball team.

• Leroy Houston, WR/KR, 5-11, 180, Daytona Beach, FL-Seabreeze: Houston caught 34 passes for 434 yards and four TDs, rushed for 1,069 yards and 14 TDs in 122 attempts and averaged 17 yards per punt return as a senior. He earned first-team Class 4A all-state honors and was named the Volusia County "Offensive Player of the Year." As a junior, he had 33 receptions for 440 yards and nine TDs, rushed for 820 yards on 159 attempts and returned two punts for touchdowns. Houston played in the North-South All-Star Game.

• Hank Keighley, DL, 6-4, 230, Dayton, OH-Kettering Keighley: Keighley was named first-team all-state Division IV, first-team All-Southwest District, first-team all-league, district "Player of the Year" and the Greater Catholic League North "Player of the Year" as a senior. He had 61 tackles, and was credited with 22 hits behind the line of scrimmage and seven knocked down passes. As a junior, Keighley made second-team all-area, second-team all-league and special mention All-Southwest Ohio. He had 91 tackles and 19 tackles for loss. Keighley helped his team to the state title game as a senior and to the semifinals as a junior. He is an honor roll student who reportedly benches 350 pounds and runs the 40 in 4.66. He is also a black belt in karate.

• Johnathan Lamb, DL, 6-4, 250, Southfield, MI-Southfield: Lamb made first-team all-area and first-team all-league as a senior. He was ranked No. 42 on the Detroit Free Press’ Fab 50 list. A team captain and team MVP, Lamb had 56 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and six sacks as a senior. As a junior, he had 51 tackles and four sacks, making second-team all-area and first-team all-league. Lamb also plays basketball for Southfield High School.

• Phillipkeith Manley, OL, 6-5, 295, Hamilton, OH-Hamilton: Manley is rated as the No. 63 player in the state of Ohio by Ohio High Magazine and No. 56 guard in the nation by ESPN.com. He earned first-team all-league, first-team All-Butler County and honorable mention All-Southwest Ohio. He is joined in the Rockets’ recruiting class by teammates Damien McIntosh and Kenny Veal.

• Damien McIntosh, LB, 6-3, 215, Hamilton, OH-Hamilton: McIntosh is listed as the No. 69 inside linebacker in the nation by ESPN.com. He was named first-team all-league, first-team all-county and All-Southwest Ohio honorable mention as a senior. As a junior, he made second-team all-conference. McIntosh also is on the track & field team at Hamilton. He is joined in the Rockets’ recruiting class by teammates Phillipkeith Manley and Kenny Veal.

• John Morookian, OL, 6-5, 295, New Berlin, NY-Milford Academy: Morookian was listed as the No. 30 prep school player in the nation by Rivals.com, and a three-star recruit by both Rivals and Scout.com. He was a first-team all-state selection as a senior in high school and made all-conference as a junior. He played in the Rhode Island/Connecticut All-Star Game as a senior.

• David Pasquale, QB, 6-2, 215, Cape Coral, FL-Cape Coral: Pasquale made second-team Class 5A all-state as a "utility player." He was also first-team all-area as a quarterback and was named Southwest Florida "Player of the Year" by the News-Press. Pasquale, who has been selected to play in the FACA All-Star Game, completed 159-of-290 passes for 1,847 yards and 14 TDs. He also rushed for 629 yards on 155 carries, scoring 14 times. On defense, he had 66 tackles and three interceptions. As a junior, Pasquale completed 122-of-218 passes for 1,184 yards and 10 TDs. He also played basketball, was a sprinter on the track team and a state finalist in the shot put, putting the shot 53-5 as a junior.

• Alex Pettee, QB, 6-2, 200, Santa Clarita, CA-Hart / Pierce (CA) Community College: As a freshman at Pierce Community College, Pettee completed 200-of-366 passes for 2,196 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also rushed for 405 yards. He was the leading passer in the Western State Conference and was named the conference’s offensive player of the year. He also earned honorable mention JC All-America honors and was a first-team JC Academic All-American. As a senior in high school, Pettee completed 182-of-339 passes for 2,763 yards and 20 touchdowns and earned All-Foothill League honors. Pettee is an excellent student, graduating from high school with a 4.2 grade point average. Both of his parents are UT graduates. Pettee will have three years of eligibility at UT.

• Daris Quinn, LB, 6-1, 220, Collinsville, IL-Collinsville / Joliet Junior College: Quinn was a first-team all-conference and first-team all-region linebacker this past season at Joliet (IL) Junior College. He had 70 tackles for the Wolves, who went 10-2. In high school, Quinn made all-conference as a linebacker and running back in his junior and senior season at Collinsville (IL) High School, and at running back only as a sophomore. As a senior he gained 952 yards and scored 13 TDs while making 60 tackles on defense. He had 752 yards rushing and nine TDs as a junior, and 800 yards and five TDs as a sophomore.

• Darius Reeves, RB, 6-1, 180, Columbus, OH-Gahanna Lincoln: Reeves rushed for nearly 4,000 yards and 55 touchdowns in three seasons at Gahanna Lincoln. As a senior, he rushed for more than 1,500 yards and had 30 TDs, earning first-team all-conference and first-team all-district honors. As a junior, he ran for 1,672 yards and 16 scores, earning first-team all-conference, first-team all-district and honorable mention all-state honors. As a sophomore, he was an honorable mention all-district selection, rushing for 800 yards and nine touchdowns.

• Malcolm Riley, DL, 6-5, 250, Fort Wayne, IN-Snider: Riley was selected to the "Top 33" team by the Bloomington Herald, the Indiana Football Coaches Association "Fantastic 50" team, and the Journal-Gazette all-area and all-conference teams as a senior. In 12 games he had 39 solo tackles, 24 assists, 16 tackles for loss, six sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and three pass breakups. He was first team all-conference (SAC) his junior and senior years. Riley had 49 tackles and six sacks as a junior.

• Jermaine Robinson, DB, 6-3, 195, Pittsburgh, PA-Brashear: Robinson was a quarterback/defensive back in high school, earning first-team all-city honors on defense and offense. He also was the City League "Player of the Year" and was a first-team 4A all-state honoree on defense. He threw for 1,648 yards and 28 TDs on 96-of-144 passing as a senior. He also rushed for 15 TDs. On defense, he had 89 tackles, six sacks and five interceptions. As a junior, he completed 105-of-190 passes for 1,128 yards and 15 TDs while rushing for 10 scores. He added 90 tackles, eight sacks and five interceptions on his way to first-team City League honors. He is rated as the No. 26 safety in the country, No. 17 player in the state of Pennsylvania and a three-star recruit by Rivals.com.

• Mark Singer, DB, 6-1, 195, Cinnaminson, NJ-Delaran Holy Cross: Singer, who had 18 career interceptions as a prep, made first-team all-conference and first-team All-South Jersey as a senior. He had 78 tackles, four interceptions and five forced fumbles. He also caught 36 passes for 630 yards and nine TDs, helping his school to the Group 3 state championship title. He also made first-team all-conference in his sophomore and junior years. He had 60 tackles and five interceptions as a junior. Singer, who will play in the North-South All-Star Game, also plays basketball.

• Kenny Stafford, WR, 6-4, 185, Columbus, OH-St. Francis DeSales: Stafford was an all-league and honorable mention all-district honoree as a senior, hauling in 25 receptions for 444 yards and six touchdowns. As a junior, he made honorable mention all-district, catching 27 passes for 645 yards and eight TDs. Stafford, who played in the National All-Star Game in Florida, is listed as the No. 24 player in the state of Ohio by Rivals.com. He is the nephew of former NFL star and Ohio State Buckeye Chris Carter.

• Kenny Veal, DB, 6-0, 180, Hamilton, OH-Hamilton: Veal earned second-team All-Butler County honors while rushing for 920 yards and six TDs as a senior. He also caught 11 passes for 134 yards and three TDs, and also played defensive back. He has been selected to play in the Big 33 All-Star Game. He is ranked as the No. 61 player in the state by Ohio High Magazine, and the No. 30 cornerback in the nation by ESPN.com. He is joined in the Rockets’ recruiting class by teammates Damien McIntosh and Phillipkeith Manley.

• Anthony Washington, DB, 6-1, 175, Fairborn, OH-Fairborn: Washington was a first-team all-league and honorable mention all-state selection as a senior. He rushed for 625 yards on 132 carries, scoring five TDs. He also caught 24 passes and made one interception as a defensive back. As a junior, Washington was honorable mention all-league. He was his team’s special teams "Player of the Year" in both his junior and sophomore seasons. He has been selected to play in the North-South All-Star Game.