2 out-of-state players say they'll play Rocket football

1/31/2001

The University of Toledo football team has received verbal commitments from a western Pennsylvania quarterback and a linebacker from Oklahoma.

Bruce Gradkowski (6-2, 180) is the quarterback who visited Toledo this past weekend at the urging of offensive coordinator Rob Spence, who recently attended one of his basketball games in the Pittsburgh area.

Gradkowski, from Seton-La Salle High School, chose UT over Division I-AA schools Eastern Kentucky, Delaware and Florida International.

He set new standards for passers in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League as a senior, completing 188 of 327 attempts for 2,978 yards and 30 touchdowns with five interceptions.

Derold Mansfield (6-0, 230) is a linebacker from Union High School in Tulsa. He is a teammate of running back Trinity Dawson, who previously committed to UT.

Mansfield was also recruited by Tulsa and Oklahoma State.

Gradkowski and Mansfield bring the number of those committed to UT to eight, leaving one scholarship to be awarded by coach Tom Amstutz.

A high school senior officially can sign a binding letter of intent next Wednesday.