West Branch’s 6-foot-7 senior tight end Gavin Gregory has accepted a football scholarship from the University of Toledo, where he will join head coach Jason Candle, a West Branch High School graduate. (Photo by Ron Firth)

BELOIT — It’s a West Branch to West Branch connection.

Gavin Gregory, the Warrior football team’s heavily-recruited 6-foot-7, 240-pound senior tight end with big-time college measurables, recently announced his commitment to perennial Mid-American Conference power Toledo.

Gregory, who is a two-sport standout in football and basketball for the Warriors, had been recruited in football by such schools as Wisconsin and Michigan in the Big Ten, Pitt from the ACC and Iowa State from the Big 12, among others.

But he decided he wanted to stay close to home, and chose Toledo, which is a great fit for him in more ways than one. On one hand, his family will be able to see him play while staying in the Buckeye State. But equally important, he’ll be playing for a head coach, who like himself, was also a standout pass catcher at West Branch during his prep days. That is Toledo head football coach, Jason Candle, a former All-Ohioan for the Warriors and standout receiver at Mount Union.

Candle has enjoyed great success as the Rockets’ head coach. He has compiled a 73-40 record and his Rockets have won MAC championships in 2017 and 2023 and are an annual bowl participant. Toledo is the preseason favorite to win the MAC title this fall.

“(Toledo) first contacted me during basketball season,” said Gregory. “I have a few connections and they reached out and sent my film and the tight ends coach (Derek) Sage reached out and said he liked how I looked on film and went through my unofficial transcript and how I was in the classroom and it all kind of flowed from there.”

West Branch head football coach Tim Cooper knows Gregory is a great fit for Toledo.

“He’s just a great kid,” said Cooper. “He’s in the weight room all the time. He’s getting stronger because he wants to be great at his craft.”

Since committing to the Rockets, Gregory, who has been a key player on West Branch teams which have gone 34-5 in his three previous seasons, has been contacted by other schools but likes everything about Toledo.

“I was under the radar during the recruiting process,” said Gregory. “I was talking to Coach Sage and he said once I post my commitment there’s going to be other schools that are going to be like, hey, what’s that guy like? After I committed, two days afterward, Cincinnati called me up and I had a talk with them, but Toledo is just like a good fit.”

Gregory, a standout in the classroom as well, plans to major in Sports Management or Exercise Science at Toledo and loved everything about the school when he made an official visit.

“I’m just really excited to get it going there,” he explained. “I got to hang out with some of the players on my official visit and they’re really good people up there and a good program, and I just can’t wait.”

Gregory said playing big-time college football at a well-respected program like Toledo, which also plays a strong out-of-conference schedule, was appealing to him.

“This year they play Kentucky,” said Gregory. “They play some pretty big schools — about two or three each year.” In 2026, when Gregory will be a freshman, the Rockets will play Michigan State, Syracuse and San Diego State.

And as far as his West Branch connection with Coach Candle?

“I actually just talked to him (Coach Candle),” said Gregory. “I really like that program. The facility (the Glass Bowl) is nice and everyone there is really nice.”

But before Gregory takes the Ohio Turnpike West to Toledo, he says he has some unfinished business at West Branch and wants to enjoy his final season of high school football.

“Really, just going 10-0 (is the goal),” said Gregory, who knows the playoffs and everything else will take care of itself if that happens again. “I’m more of a team success guy. Whatever is good for the team,” he closed.