Buck Buchanan winner Andrew Zock commits to Toledo, boosts Rockets' pass rush

Andrew Zock, the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award winner from Mercer, committed to Toledo on Jan. 13, giving the Rockets an immediate boost at edge rusher. Zock arrives off a season in which he posted roughly 11.5 sacks and a high tackle-for-loss total, production that made him one of the FCS' most disruptive defenders and a sought-after piece in the early January portal wave.

Toledo gets a proven playmaker who fits cleanly into a defense that has been hunting for consistent pressure off the edge. Zock's ability to win with speed-to-power and change game plans on third down should translate to more clear pass-rush packages and the opportunity to retool how the Rockets use stunts and blitzes. For a Group-of-Five program, landing a Buck Buchanan winner midseason is a roster-level upgrade that can swing short-term competitiveness and provide a template for leveraging the single January window.

Mercer will lose its anchor, and that creates both immediate gaps and recruiting work for the Bears' staff. Replacing roughly a dozen impactful plays that change down-and-distance is not trivial; Mercer will need to lean on its depth, newly arrived transfers, or freshman development to fill snaps and retain a defensive identity built around getting after the quarterback. The timing inside the consolidated January portal window amplifies the challenge, as programs have limited time to react before spring practices begin.

Zock's move also underlines a pattern emerging this portal cycle: high-performing FCS defenders are drawing mid-major and Group-of-Five interest in the new single January window. That trend matters to coaches and fans across the subdivision. For FCS programs, it raises the stakes on retention strategies, counteroffers, and quick turnaround recruiting. For Group-of-Five programs, it offers an efficient way to add NFL-caliber production without waiting on multi-year development.

What to watch next: how Toledo integrates Zock into its rotation and whether the Rockets adjust scheme to maximize his pass-rush reps. Fans should track early spring depth charts and preseason defensive packages to see if Zock lines up as an every-down rush threat or is employed in high-leverage pass-rush snaps. Mercer supporters will want to watch who steps up at SAM and how defensive play-calling adapts to a changed personnel mix.

Our two cents? This is a classic portal win for Toledo and a wake-up call for FCS defenses: keep developing edge depth and be ready to move fast when the January window opens. If you follow either program, circle spring practice and early fall film—Zock's next clips will be worth the watch.