As Louisville gears up to face Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl, there’s no shortage of intrigue surrounding the Rockets-especially when it comes to who’s actually calling the shots. With head coach Jason Candle off to UConn, Robert Weiner steps in as interim head coach.
But here’s the twist: Weiner has never been a play-caller at the college level. On top of that, Toledo enters the game without an official defensive coordinator, making both sides of the ball a bit of a mystery heading into Tuesday.
Even with the coaching shuffle, the Rockets aren’t limping into this game. Most of their core players are suiting up, with only a few opting out. That’s a big deal, because this is still a talented team with plenty of weapons-and now, they’ve got a new quarterback at the helm.
With starter Tucker Gleason sidelined due to an injury suffered in the regular-season finale, the Rockets will turn to Kalieb Osborne. And if his last outing is any indication, Toledo might be just fine.
Osborne came off the bench in the second half against Central Michigan, with the Rockets trailing 3-0 in snowy conditions. He proceeded to lead a 21-3 comeback win, going 5-for-7 through the air for 105 yards and adding 52 yards on the ground.
The offense didn’t just survive with him-it adapted. With Osborne in, the quarterback run game became more of a weapon, and the unit didn’t miss a beat.
Osborne’s story is one to watch. A former 3-star recruit out of Michigan, he chose Toledo over interest from Syracuse and others.
In high school, he was a dual-threat machine, racking up 37 passing touchdowns, 25 rushing scores, and over 5,500 total yards. He’s tall, wiry, and has a solid arm-but what stood out most in that Central Michigan game was his poise.
Thrust into a tight game on the road, in the snow, he looked like he belonged. Now, with a bowl game on the line and a new coaching staff watching closely, Osborne has a chance to stake his claim as Toledo’s quarterback of the future.
Helping ease his transition is a running back duo that’s been one of the most effective in the country this season. Chip Trayanum, who transferred in from Ohio State via Kentucky, has emerged as the bellcow of the offense.
Ranked 19th nationally in rushing yards per game, Trayanum brings power and consistency. At 5-11 and 225 pounds, he’s a load to bring down and ranks 11th in the country in runs of 10+ yards.
That’s not just a testament to his physicality-it also speaks to the work of an offensive line that’s opened up running lanes all year long. Louisville’s front will need to be disciplined and physical, because Trayanum rarely goes down on first contact and almost always falls forward.
Backing him up is Kenji Christian, and he’s no slouch either. While he’s built a bit leaner at 6-2, 200 pounds, Christian runs with purpose.
He’s actually forced more missed tackles than Trayanum this season and averages more yards after contact. He’s got the burst to hit the edge and the toughness to grind out yards between the tackles.
With a new quarterback under center, expect this 1-2 punch to be heavily featured-and if they get rolling, it could spell trouble for the Cardinals.
On the perimeter, Toledo has a dynamic weapon in Junior Vandeross, who might be the best slot receiver Louisville has faced this year outside of Malachi Toney. Vandeross is a nightmare after the catch-shifty, explosive, and creative in space.
He’s also a threat on gadget plays and can stretch the field vertically. Louisville’s secondary looked sharp against Kentucky in their last outing, but they had allowed 83 completions in the three games prior.
If they give Vandeross too much room to operate, he could flip the game in a hurry.
Trayvon Randolph is another name to keep an eye on. While he doesn’t get the same volume of targets as Vandeross, he’s a versatile piece who can hurt defenses in a number of ways.
He can stretch the field, move the chains, and make plays after the catch. With Osborne likely to extend plays outside the pocket, Randolph could be the beneficiary of some broken coverages or late-developing routes.
He’s the kind of player who can sneak up on a defense if they focus too much attention elsewhere.
Up front, Toledo’s offensive line has been one of the most reliable units in the country, allowing just 13 sacks all season. Gleason’s mobility helped keep that number low, but Osborne might be an even better athlete.
The question is whether he can stay composed in the pocket when Louisville turns up the heat. The Cardinals bring a different level of pass rush than most MAC teams, and while Toledo’s line has handled its business all year, this will be a new kind of test-especially with Rene Konga and Wesley Bailey opting out, which could thin the depth chart and shift the pressure to younger players.
So, while the Rockets may be without their head coach and coordinators, they’re not short on talent or storylines. Kalieb Osborne has the keys to the offense, a strong run game behind him, and playmakers on the perimeter. If the offensive line holds up and the defense can steady itself without a coordinator, Toledo has the pieces to make this bowl game anything but predictable.