Seth Elchert’s words (and his decision) sound familiar: Relationships, genuine, honest.
That’s how the Liberty-Benton wide receiver described University of Toledo head coach Jason Candle, wide receivers coach RJ Fleming, and quarterbacks coach Robert Weiner.
Last week, Elchert became the third member of Toledo’s acclaimed 2026 recruiting class, committing to the Rockets over offers from Miami, Bowling Green, Marshall, Central Michigan, Akron, and Kent State. He has visited Ohio State, Notre Dame, Purdue, Louisville, and Duke.
With two more seasons until signing day, Elchert could have waited for an inevitable Big Ten (or power conference) offer. Instead, he went with comfort — and UT felt like the right place.
“Toledo has been one of the colleges that’s been recruiting me the longest,” said Elchert, a three-sport starter in football, basketball, and baseball. “I’ve built a really good relationship with all the coaches there. They’re all super genuine. They’re straight-up, forward-thinking, super honest. I’ve also got the opportunity to build a relationship with a lot of the players. I've been talking to 2026 quarterback [Bo Polston] a lot, so it just has felt like home since the start.”
It’s difficult for the 6-foot-3, 185-pound target to go unnoticed. And not because of his size. Since Day 1 of his high school career, Elchert has been one of the most dynamic wide receivers in northwest Ohio. He caught 48 passes for 871 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman and followed it up with 74 receptions for 1,052 yards and 12 TDs last season.
There’s a reason why Ohio State invited Elchert to attend spring practice. OSU running backs coach Carlos Locklyn visited Liberty-Benton in May to see Elchert. Coaches from Northwestern, Purdue, and Louisville have also taken an interest in the rising junior.
At the Buckeyes’ camp this summer, wide receivers coach Brian Hartline pulled Elchert away to work with him in a private group, a hint that the level of interest in Elchert is not a mirage.
“Anytime Toledo can land a big, in-state prospect nearly two years ahead of signing day, it’s a big win,” said Toledo native Jeremy Birmingham, who covers recruiting for Ohio State’s Rivals network. “Elchert has all the tools to be a dominant receiver in the MAC, and choosing to make a decision now speaks volumes about where he thinks the Rockets program is going. He’s a prospect that could very well find himself with bigger offers down the line, so the chance to really grow his relationship with the Toledo staff now could serve them well as his recruitment unfolds.”
When 2026 Indiana QB Bo Polston committed to UT during the spring, it created headlines because the four-star spurned offers from Michigan and Georgia. He also said he was “1,000 percent” dedicated to the Rockets and would not change his mind over the next two years.
The response from Elchert was similar. Both players continue to be recruited. On3 predicts a 38.9 percent chance that Polston will go to Michigan and a 34.1 percent chance that he will end up at Virginia Tech. Toledo only has a 2.2 percent chance, less than Ball State’s 2.7 percent.
“Our hearts are both in Toledo,” Elchert said.
Birmingham has covered recruiting for more than a decade and is one of the most respected voices in the Midwest. And he believes Elchert has the tools to be a Big Ten-level player. Working his way to an elite prospect will require Elchert to polish his game, according to Birmingham.
“[Elchert] has great size at 6-foot-3 and runs very well but is lacking a bit in the technical side of receiver play, which is understandable considering the level of competition and the fact that he’s never really focused on just football,” Birmingham said. “Those things will come and I won’t be surprised if Big Ten programs — Purdue, Indiana, and Wisconsin with Luke Fickell’s background — come calling.”
The decision to pick Toledo instead of waiting for potential power conference offers didn’t take much thought.
“I’m not chasing big names,” Elchert said. “I want to go to a school that’s my best fit, where I love the coaches, love the campus, and I’d go to that school even if I wasn’t playing football.”
When the Rockets offered Elchert in March, he assumed Toledo would be his destination. Central Michigan, Purdue, and Louisville were three serious contenders. Relationships, proximity to home, and playing time factored into Elchert’s choice.
Another crucial detail was UT’s recruiting, especially Polston’s commitment.
“Oh, that’s a big impact, because we want to play together,” Elchert said. “We have a really good relationship. We text every single day.”
In a text message to The Blade, Polston said, “Very pumped and excited! Me and Seth are very close friends and have been talking about this for awhile now. I’m so happy for him and his family. We are putting together a special class for Toledo. I promise nobody is going to overlook Toledo ever again. We will be a powerhouse football team.”
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