2017 Toledo Football Recruiting: DE Joshua Maize talks visit, scholarship offer

Toledo isn't just looking forward to the upcoming season, as Jason Candle and crew also have their eyes set towards building the Rocket program into a Mid-American Conference powerhouse for years to come.

Taking little time off to relax, the Rockets coaching staff played host to a three-star defensive end on Saturday. Making the trek to the Glass City from Deerfield, Illinois with his family, Joshua Maize enjoyed his time with the UT coaching staff.

"I was pleasantly surprised by the entire visit. I had not heard much about Toledo before today, but the coaching staff did a great job facilitating information to my family and I. They took us around the whole campus and it was a lot nicer than I expected. It was a great experience and what stood out to me was the intensity in which the coaches coached with and the level in which the players responded with. It was just an all around great environment." The 6'5, 230-pounder stated to Hustle Belt.

Coming into the weekend with reported scholarship offers from the likes of Indiana, Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Miami, Northern Illinois, and New Mexico, Maize added Toledo to his growing list on Saturday. While the Rockets might be the new kid on the block when it comes to his recruitment, they undeniably have his attention.

"I had taken notice to the program last year when they went on the great run they had. When they got in touch and told me to come down and offered, it was huge. The entire staff showed my family and I tremendous hospitality and coach Candle kept it real with us and deviated from the usual recruiting sales pitch, which was a nice change up meant a lot. Toledo will definitely have a place on my final list."

Maize doesn't have a clear cut leader for his commitment at the moment, but that could change in the coming days.

"Every school I've gone to I've had a pleasant experience. In the next couple of weeks I'll sit down with my family and figure out which schools are the best fit and look closer at them. As far as what I'm looking for in a program is a good staff that can help develop me on and off the field, and a good comfortable learning and living environment." He said.

According to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Maize is currently considered the 50th weak-side defensive end, and 1,088th overall prospect in the class of 2017.

Want to see Joshua Maize in action? Take a few moments to check out some of his high school highlights, courtesy of the team at Hudl: