Surprise Commitment

Rocket Digest has uncovered another Toledo Rocket commitment, and this one may surprise you. Find out who is the latest to pledge his future football years to Coach Amstutz and his Midnight Blue and Gold inside. What position does this surprise commitment play? Is the position itself a second surprise?

Rocket Digest has learned that Florida quarterback David Pasquale has committed to the Toledo Rockets football program. Standing 6-foot-2, 220-pounds, Pasquale adds a run-pass threat to the Rockets already potent offense.

"My strengths are my athleticism and accuracy," Pasquale told Rocket Digest when speaking about his commitment. "A lot of people see me at 220-pounds and don't think I can run. If I have something to work on it's my arm strength. I have a strong arm for high school, but I need to see how it is at the college level."

An official visitor on the weekend of January 11, Pasquale adds to a successful visit weekend that included a verbal from fellow Florida commitment Ty Jones. Just days after returning from the visit, Pasquale got the news he was waiting for.

"Toledo offered me last Saturday. I called Coach Amstutz and committed on Tuesday night. I knew I wanted to go to Toledo before I actually got the offer.

"My host was Robin Bailey, the wide receiver. We hung out with Ty Jones and Nick Moore for most of the visit.

"It was a great visit."

Along with the Saturday offer, Amstutz wasn't shy about how he sees the new commit fitting into the Rockets offense for 2008. Despite the return of junior-to-be Aaron Opelt, both Amstutz and Pasquale expect to compete for the starting role this fall.

"The coaches told me they want me to compete," said Pasquale. "I want to go in there and compete. They recruited me as a quarterback."

And would Pasquale redshirt should Opelt retain his starting role under center?

"Oh, of course," the Florida 5A 2nd-team All-Offense athlete said. "If the coaches ask me to redshirt it means there's something that they want me to work on. I'd be open to it."

Pasquale completed 55% of his passes for for 1,847 yards and 14 scores. He also accounted for 629 yards and 14 scores on the ground.

As a starter on the defensive side of the ball, Pasquale finished with 33 tackles and 3 interceptions.

Pasquale joins junior college transfer Alex Pettee as the second quarterback in the class of 2008.

He also lists a 3.4 GPA.