RECRUIT PREVIEW - DWIGHT MACON

When the Toledo coaching staff began listing their top recruits at each position for the class of 2010, Dwight Macon was at the top of the quarterback list. Toledo was the Steubenville High School quarterback's first offer, but he gave a commitment to Central Michigan.

Then Butch Jones left CMU to be the head coach at the University of Cincinnati, and Macon had second thoughts, and committed to Toledo.

"When there was the coaching change and most of the coaches who recruited me to Central left to go to Cincinnati, I felt that I always had a connection to the coaches at Toledo, and they know what was going on. I just felt that's where I belonged," Macon told the Youngstown Vindicator. "It wasn't a tough decision."

But Central Michigan wasn't done. The new coaching staff talked to Macon about the "wildcat" position in their new scheme. Toledo always wanted him as a quarterback, and on signing day he became a Rocket.

Head coach Tim Beckman described Macon as one of the most explosive offensive players in Ohio, and there's no doubt about that.

He was the Ohio Division IV 2008 co-Offensive Player of the Year for coach Reno Saccoccia's squad, which lost to Kettering Alter in the state final. He ran for 685 yards and passed for 1,489 yards and 20 TDs with just three interceptions.

The 6-foot, 200-pounder was a Division III first-team all-state selection as a senior, when he missed two games with an injury suffered in the second game against Woodland Hills. He was 116-for-190 passing for 1,601 yards, with 15 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He ran the ball 139 times for 757 yards and nine more scores. He also picked off a pass. His efforts helped him get the second most votes for "Mr. Football" in the state.

Great statistics, but Macon is much more than numbers. He was the type of quarterback who could take control of a game. He was 36-4 as a starter. When the Big Red needed passing yardage, he could throw the short pinpoint pass in traffic or find a receiver deep. If he was pressured, he could run. There were few defensive players in high school who could track him down when he used his running skills. Looking more like a tailback than a quarterback, Macon was able to make cuts and find that second gear that allowed him outrun defensive backs.

Some might say that Macon is too small to be a quarterback, but that is an old way of thinking. Drew Brees proved it wrong in the NFL and players like Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore (5-11) is among a long list of recent college quarterbacks who have proven they can win at the highest level.

New Toledo quarterbacks' coach Scott "Izzy" Isphording said that the first thing that jumps out on tape of Macon is that he's a tremendous athlete. "The evolution of the spread has made the quarterback your go-to guy, and you can play to his strengths," he said. "Obviously, a big strength is his athleticism. He's got a great arm and a good release. And he's done it - he's been the guy."

Macon will play in the Ohio North-South game later this spring and then prepare for the opening of camp in August. Don't bet against his chances of making an impact as a freshman.