Luke Pawlak was one of the University of Toledo’s top returning players this season.
A reliable placekicker can act as a safety valve on a roster with a new starting quarterback, running back, and all five offensive linemen.
But the senior from Northview suffered a leg injury early in preseason camp, creating tension and urgency for special teams coordinator Stanton Weber.
The Rockets have a next-man-up mentality, but who was the next man?
“You’re assessing the entire room, and you’re sort of waiting for this young freshman to maybe stumble a little,” Weber said. “But he came in with a very aggressive mentality of believing in himself and competing, and he never [stumbled].