TOLEDO - You don't have to call him "Slash," but you do have to call him the No. 1 wideout for the University of Toledo football team.
Steubenville Big Red graduate Dwight Macon was moved from the No. 3 quarterback position to the No. 1 wideout position seven practices into spring ball and is looking forward to helping the Rockets win football games come September.
"We have two great quarterbacks in Austin Dantin and Terrance Owens," he said. "I knew I could help this team if I moved to wideout. I have no problem with it. I'm on the field and playing. I've sat out the first two years and I'm ready to play."
He proved he can play both positions at the annual spring game, where he had seven receptions for 114 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown pass on game's first play. Macon also completed 4-of-5 passes for 31 yards at behind center.
"I had a little bit of success in the game," said the criminal justice major. "But, the most important thing was that my team won."
Toledo is under the direction of first-year head coach Matt Campbell. He was named the boss on Dec. 12 and 16 days later led the Rockets to a 42-41 victory over the Air Force Academy in the Military Bowl.
Campbell spent the past three seasons as the Rockets' offensive coordinator. He was also responsible for coaching the offensive line. During that time, Toledo's offense has consistently been among the most productive in the nation.
"Every year you have to prove yourself on that level:," Macon said of playing Division I football. "You have to come out and be ready to play in each practice and in each game.
"The majority of my reps will be at wideout, which is fine with me. Like I said, I just want to play and contribute to the success of our football team. I want our team to win and I want to be a part of that success."
Macon set records at Big Red.
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 for 1,601 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. He ran the ball 139 times for 757 yards and nine more scores. Macon also picked off a pass.
Macon was 36-4 as a starting quarterback and did something no other Big Red quarterback has ever done - face Youngstown Cardinal Mooney three straight years in the playoffs.
"It was really tough sitting on the sidelines," Macon said of his first two years at Toledo. "Sometimes you get down, you get depressed and you think about transferring. A lot of things go through your mind when you sit on the sidelines, especially when you come from being a three-year starter.
"I just had to keep proving myself each year. Now, I have my chance and I have to take advantage of it and run with it."
Playing time wasn't the only adjustment for Macon.
"Time management has been the hardest adjustment," he said. "You have to make time for schoolwork and there is also time devoted to the football program. You have to make time for school because that's the most important part. Plus, you also have to be rested and be ready to play the game.
"At first, it was a pretty tough adjustment from high school life to college life. It's been fine after the first year."
