[h=1]Toledo LB Daniel Bolden suffers season-ending ACL injury[/h]
Aug. 16—Daniel Bolden has always wanted to be a coach.
He just thought his first sniff at the job would come under different circumstances.
The University of Toledo starting linebacker suffered a season-ending torn ACL in July, delivering a blow to the Rockets' rebuilt defense and giving the 6-foot-1, 245-pound Bolden a different perspective in 2021.
"It's an opportunity to get into coaching a little bit earlier," he said. "I'll be back on the field next year, but this is going to help me tremendously when I come back to play, getting to see it from coach [Vince] Kehres' point of view and pick his brain on why he's calling things and why we're running coverages in certain situations. It's helped me out a lot with my understanding of football. I love helping the young guys out. They're still learning the defense."
Bolden, a fourth-year junior from Cincinnati, has played in each of Toledo's 31 games since he arrived on campus. He had a career-high seven tackles against Central Michigan in his first career start as a sophomore. In each of the past two seasons, Bolden has been among the top 10 UT defensive players in tackles.
Last season, he recorded 20 tackles, including one tackle for loss, and one quarterback hurry. Bolden was the recipient of the Wayne Lumber "Bringing the Lumber" trophy for the best tackle of the 2020 season.
"We mourn for Dan because he's worked really hard to be a starter," Toledo coach Jason Candle said. "He's worked really hard this offseason, changed his body, lost weight, and was primed to have a really great year. You're disappointed for the kid. But as a football team, you're always cognizant of injuries and the impact they could have, and you try to have a plan if someone goes down. The team perspective has to be a next-man-up mentality."
There's a dropoff in experience behind Bolden, as redshirt freshman Jackson Barrow, who has one career tackle, and freshman Sawiaha Ellis are next in line. Ellis was on the team last season, never appearing in a game.
The Rockets use multiple personnel at almost every position on defense, softening the loss of Bolden ever so slightly thanks to a by-committee system.
"The second- and third-team guys have been here for a while," Candle said. "They're a year more mature. They're guys who deserve the opportunity to get a shot and go see what they can do. In this preseason camp, the defensive coaches have done a good job of putting those guys in tough situations to see how they respond, and they've responded fine."
In the weeks since the injury, Bolden has moved on. He's quick to smile and look to the future, whether it's the 2021 season, rehabbing his knee, or offering guidance to fellow linebackers. But the agony of missing full stadiums and a normal year after stopping, starting, and playing in front of a few hundred family members in frigid December is real.
The injury occurred on a non-contact play during 7-on-7 drills, with Bolden turning upfield before a pop stopped him. He managed to reach the sideline and instantly knew something was not right. An MRI confirmed his and the coaching staff's worst fears.
"My dad always told me, 'Don't feel sorry for yourself because no one really cares,'" Bolden said, allowing a laugh to escape. "It's on to the next thing, making sure these guys have everything they need to be successful, and cheering them on, and helping them out in any way that I can.
"It hurts a lot, but I'm just excited to see what these guys can do with the opportunities that they're given. I'm going to be right there with them."
A one-year sabbatical isn't going to lessen his appreciation of the sport or present a stopgap on his learning. Bolden can watch film with a new outlook and react differently when he returns to the field. Perhaps it will help Toledo at a critical juncture during the 2022 season.
Until then, Bolden is ready to contribute however he can.
"We're very talented and deep at linebacker," Bolden said. "Everyone in that room loves to play football. I'm so excited to see these young guys fly around and hit people. I can't wait to see what these guys can do this year."