Travis Smith Decommits from Toledo; What's next for the Rockets?

New Wake Forest commit, quarterback Travis Smith (left)
poses with another member of Wake Forest's 2014
recruiting class during his visit over the weekend.
Photo Credit: @CupofT5 on Twitter

Ithaca, Mich. quarterback Travis Smith has officially decommitted from Toledo and has committed to Wake Forest. Smith has been a Rocket commit since June 8 but has since heard from programs such as Indiana and Minnesota, though neither offered. Prior to committing to Toledo, Smith held offers from Bowling Green, Central Michigan, and Western Michigan. Note: Bowling Green. After a MAC Championship season at Bowling Green, head coach Dave Clawson left to accept the head coaching job at Wake Forest. What was one of the first things that Clawson did following his arrival in Winston-Salem? Offer Travis Smith, and Smith bit on the offer. Smith took his official visit to Wake on January 24th and it sealed the deal. Just two days following his visit, Smith flipped from the Rockets to the Demon Deacons.

Now what's next for the Rockets? Smith was the highest rated recruit in Toledo's 2014 class and was highly-ranked nationally. Now what? Well, the Rockets may look elsewhere. Signing day is just over a week away, but Toledo has a backup plan. There are a few whispers leaking out about who the Rockets may look at to fill the need at quarterback. However, with Alabama quarterback transfer, Philip Ely ready to play this season, the need at quarterback won't be evident until next season's class. Anyhow, here are a few names to watch out for when it comes to Toledo's quarterback need in the 2014 class:

Joey Duckworth
Louisville, Ohio
Verbally Committed to Ohio
Duckworth was high on Toledo's list until Smith committed, which led Toledo to back off of all quarterbacks they were once recruiting. With Smith committing to Wake, does Duckworth think about decommitting from Ohio? Maybe not, but there's a chance. Duckworth is the 28th ranked quarterback nationally by Yahoo! Rivals and is 6'3, 209 lbs. we'll just see if Matt Campbell and his staff want to go after the Ohio commit and try to sway him back to the Rockets. Duckworth also holds offers from Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Kent State, and Western Michigan.

Adam Bertke
Maria Stein, Ohio
Verbally Committed to Pittsburgh
Bertke has been committed to Pittsburgh since June, so maybe it's a foregone conclusion that he'll end up with the Panthers. BUT, we thought Smith was coming to Toledo, and that turned against us. Bertke is a pro-style quarterback that is 6'5, 210 lbs. which intrigues college scouts. Bertke holds several offers including Akron, Bowling Green, Illinois, and Kent State.

There are still under the table prospects that the Rockets are keeping quiet about and who can blame them? It takes one schools offer to turn a recruit's commitment upside down. We'll just have to wait it out and see. One prospect that Matt Campbell and his staff could look at in the 2015 class is Ann Arbor Skyline (Mich.) quarterback, Askaree Crawford. Crawford had a break-out junior season and received an Ann-Arbor Dream Team selection. Aside from Toledo, Louisville and Central Michigan have already been in contact with the junior quarterback. Toledo has requested for test scores on the soon-to-be big time recruit.

We'll keep you posted leading up to February 5th. Follow @PrideOfUT on Twitter for the latest.