Fitzgerald Toussaint
Encyclopedia
Fitzgerald Toussaint is an American football
running back
. He is currently the starting running back for the 2011 Michigan Wolverines football team
. He was a 2011 All-Big Ten honorable mention.
, where he graduated from Liberty High School
. As a senior in 2008, he rushed for 2,229 yards (10.4 per carry) and 28 touchdowns and was named Ohio's co-offensive player of the year in Division III. Toussaint committed to the University of Michigan
after his senior year and was considered one of the five impact players in Michigan's recruiting class for 2009. After committing to Michigan, Toussaint donned the scarlet uniform of the Ohio high school all-star team for the annual Big 33 Football Classic
against the Pennsylvania high school all-star team.
on a football scholarship in 2009. He was redshirted during the 2009 season. Toussaint missed the first three games of the 2010 season with a knee injury. In his first appearance for the Wolverines, Toussaint rushed for 129 yard on six carries, including 61-yard gain in the fourth quarter, against Bowling Green
. He suffered a shoulder injury in October 2010.
After spending the 2010 season as a back-up to Michael Shaw
, Toussaint challenged Shaw for the No. 1 running back position during 2011 summer practice. In the end, head coach Brady Hoke
named Toussaint as the Wolverines No. 1 running back at the start of the 2011 season. After gaining 80 yards on 11 carries (7.3 yards per carry) and scoring two touchdowns in Michigan's 2011 season opener against Western Michigan
, Hoke confirmed that Toussaint remained the team's No. 1 running back.
After suffering a shoulder injury, he did not play in the Michigan's rivalry game in its second game of the season against Notre Dame
. Against San Diego State
, Toussaint rushed for 67 yards on 13 carries. He achieved his second 100-yard rushing game in the Battle for the Little Brown Jug against Minnesota
in the fifth game of the 2011 season. He totaled 108 yards on 11 carries for an average of 9.8 yards per carry.
On October 29, 2011, Toussaint ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries in a 36-14 victory over Purdue
. He had career highs in both yards gained and carries. On November 12, 2011, Toussaint set new career highs with 27 carries, a 65-yard run, and 192 rushing yards against Illinois
. In the subsequent two weeks, he followed up with 138 rushing yards against Nebraska
on November 19, 2011, and 120 yards rushing against Ohio State
on November 26, 2011 in The Game.
During the 2011 regular season, Toussaint rushed for 1,011 yards. With quarterback Denard Robinson
also rushing for over 1,000 yards, the Wolverines had a tandem of 1,000-yard rushers for the first time since the 1975 team. Toussaint averaged 5.7 yards per carry during the 2011 regular season. He ranked second in the Big Ten Conference
in yards per carry behind Wisconsin running back Montee Ball
. Following the 2011 Big Ten Conference football season
, he earned All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention recognition from both the coaches and the media.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. He is currently the starting running back for the 2011 Michigan Wolverines football team
2011 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2011 Michigan Wolverines football team represents the University of Michigan during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wolverines play in the Legends Division of the Big Ten Conference and play their home games at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which hosted its first...
. He was a 2011 All-Big Ten honorable mention.
Early years
Toussaint grew up in Youngstown, OhioYoungstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, where he graduated from Liberty High School
Liberty High School (Ohio)
Liberty High School is a public high school in Liberty Township, just north of Youngstown, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Liberty Local School District.-Athletics:Ohio High School Athletic Association Championships* Boys Cross Country – 1975...
. As a senior in 2008, he rushed for 2,229 yards (10.4 per carry) and 28 touchdowns and was named Ohio's co-offensive player of the year in Division III. Toussaint committed to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
after his senior year and was considered one of the five impact players in Michigan's recruiting class for 2009. After committing to Michigan, Toussaint donned the scarlet uniform of the Ohio high school all-star team for the annual Big 33 Football Classic
Big 33 Football Classic
The Big 33 Football Classic is an all-star American football game featuring the top high-school football players in Pennsylvania. Played since 1957, the game is often described as the "Super Bowl of High School Football." The last 14 contests have pitted players from Pennsylvania against players...
against the Pennsylvania high school all-star team.
University of Michigan
Toussaint enrolled at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
on a football scholarship in 2009. He was redshirted during the 2009 season. Toussaint missed the first three games of the 2010 season with a knee injury. In his first appearance for the Wolverines, Toussaint rushed for 129 yard on six carries, including 61-yard gain in the fourth quarter, against Bowling Green
2010 Bowling Green Falcons football team
The 2010 Bowling Green Falcons football team was the 92nd varsity football team to represent Bowling Green State University and the program's 58th season in the Mid-American Conference. The Falcons play in the MAC's east division and are led by second year head coach Dave Clawson. They played their...
. He suffered a shoulder injury in October 2010.
After spending the 2010 season as a back-up to Michael Shaw
Michael Shaw (American football)
Michael Shaw is an American football running back for the Michigan Wolverines football team.Shaw was raised and played high school football in Trotwood, Ohio. He played high school football with Roy Roundtree at Trotwood-Madison High School where his coach was longtime National Football League...
, Toussaint challenged Shaw for the No. 1 running back position during 2011 summer practice. In the end, head coach Brady Hoke
Brady Hoke
Brady Hoke is the head football coach at the University of Michigan. He is in his first season. He grew up in Ohio and attended Ball State University where he played linebacker from 1977 to 1980...
named Toussaint as the Wolverines No. 1 running back at the start of the 2011 season. After gaining 80 yards on 11 carries (7.3 yards per carry) and scoring two touchdowns in Michigan's 2011 season opener against Western Michigan
2011 Western Michigan Broncos football team
The 2011 Western Michigan Broncos football team represents Western Michigan University during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos, led by seventh-year head coach Bill Cubit, compete in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference and play their home games at Waldo...
, Hoke confirmed that Toussaint remained the team's No. 1 running back.
After suffering a shoulder injury, he did not play in the Michigan's rivalry game in its second game of the season against Notre Dame
2011 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 2011 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represents the University of Notre Dame in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Fighting Irish are led by second year head coach Brian Kelly and play their home games at Notre Dame Stadium...
. Against San Diego State
2011 San Diego State Aztecs football team
The 2011 San Diego State Aztecs football team represents San Diego State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Aztecs are led by first-year head coach Rocky Long and play their home games at Qualcomm Stadium. They are members of the Mountain West Conference.-Schedule:...
, Toussaint rushed for 67 yards on 13 carries. He achieved his second 100-yard rushing game in the Battle for the Little Brown Jug against Minnesota
2011 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
The 2011 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represent the University of Minnesota for the 2011 college football season. The Golden Gophers are members of the Big Ten Conference and play their home games at TCF Bank Stadium...
in the fifth game of the 2011 season. He totaled 108 yards on 11 carries for an average of 9.8 yards per carry.
On October 29, 2011, Toussaint ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries in a 36-14 victory over Purdue
2011 Purdue Boilermakers football team
The 2011 Purdue Boilermakers football team represents Purdue University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They play their home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana and are members of the Big Ten Conference. It is Danny Hope's third season as head coach...
. He had career highs in both yards gained and carries. On November 12, 2011, Toussaint set new career highs with 27 carries, a 65-yard run, and 192 rushing yards against Illinois
2011 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
The 2011 Illinois Fighting Illini football team is representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in the 2011 college football season. The Fighting Illini, who were led by seventh-year head coach Ron Zook, are members of the Big Ten Conference and are playing their home games at...
. In the subsequent two weeks, he followed up with 138 rushing yards against Nebraska
2011 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 2011 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team will represent the University of Nebraska in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team will be coached by Bo Pelini and will play their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska...
on November 19, 2011, and 120 yards rushing against Ohio State
2011 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2011 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represents The Ohio State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes are coached by Luke Fickell on an interim basis following the resignation of Jim Tressel as head coach...
on November 26, 2011 in The Game.
During the 2011 regular season, Toussaint rushed for 1,011 yards. With quarterback Denard Robinson
Denard Robinson
Denard Xavier Robinson , nicknamed Shoelace, is an American football player who is playing his junior season for the 2011 Michigan Wolverines football team. He started at quarterback in all 13 games for the Michigan Wolverines football team in 2010...
also rushing for over 1,000 yards, the Wolverines had a tandem of 1,000-yard rushers for the first time since the 1975 team. Toussaint averaged 5.7 yards per carry during the 2011 regular season. He ranked second in the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
in yards per carry behind Wisconsin running back Montee Ball
Montee Ball
Montee Ball is an American football running back for the Wisconsin Badgers.-College career:Ball began the 2010 season as the backup running back to John Clay, the 2009 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year...
. Following the 2011 Big Ten Conference football season
2011 Big Ten Conference football season
The 2011 Big Ten Conference football season is the 116th and current season for the Big Ten. The conference started its season on Saturday, September 3, as each of the conference’s teams began their respective 2011 season of NCAA Division I FBS competition...
, he earned All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention recognition from both the coaches and the media.
External links
- Official bio at Michigan
- Toussaint at CBS SportsCBS SportsCBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
- Toussaint at ESPN.comESPN.comESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
- Toussaint at NCAA