July 31, 2008

Football: Position-By-Position Breakdown Entering Fall Camp

    The 2008 edition of the Youngstown State football team reports for fall camp on Sunday with the first practice set for Monday evening at Stambaugh Stadium. The Penguins open the season on August 30 at Ohio State and until then will be working hard to set their lineup for opening day. Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2008 squad.

Quarterback

    Four-year starter Tom Zetts took over the position in the spring of 2004 and never missed a start over the next four years. That spring, Zetts replaced Aaron Marshall, who had a wealth of experience after starting 17 of the previous 20 games.

    After years of experience, YSU now has plenty of inexperience at the quarterback position. Also, the spread offense was introduced in the spring so the three quarterbacks will be counted on to learn a lot quickly.

    Junior Todd Rowan has been with the program the previous three years. Junior Brandon Summers transferred from Toledo in January. Freshman Paul Corsaro redshirted last year behind Zetts, Rowan and early on Ferlando Williams.

    In his backup role, Rowan has completed just one career pass. He played the quarterback spot against UNI, Lock Haven and Indiana State during the 2007 campaign. He is yet to have a career rushing attempt.

    Summers did not see action last year for the Rockets, but did see time in 2006. He played in five games, starting two where he completed 14-of-23 passes.

    Corsaro has a tremendous amount of talent after showing his versatility as both a passers and a runner in high school at Indianapolis’ Roncalli High School. Freshman Marc Kanetsky had an outstanding career at Hubbard High School.

Tailback

    Good depth at the position will help take some of the heat off the quarterbacks.

    Kevin Smith and Jabari Scott return after stepping in last year to replace All-American Marcus Mason.

    The trio combined for 1,302 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2007. Scott and Smith combined to start all 11 games.

    Smith led the way with 610 yards on 123 carries and 10 touchdowns. He was named to the Gateway’s All-Newcomer team for his performances. In Gateway games he found his stride rushing for 461 yards and eight touchdowns. He had nine overall touchdowns in league play, second among players in the league. Sixty-eight of his 123 rushes came in the final four games.

    Scott had 524 yards on 93 attempts and scored five touchdowns after using 2006 as a redshirt year. His season ended on his best carry of the year as he twisted an ankle at the end of a 60-yard scamper against Indiana State. Scott was a workhorse early with 19 carries against South Dakota State and 16 in the win over Stony Brook.
    Iowa transfer Dana Brown, who had a tremendous high school career in Pennsylvania, joins the fray.

    Brown played in two games - Montana and Purdue - with the Hawkeyes in 2006 after redshirting as a freshman. He did not see action last year.

Fullback

    The fullbacks will see a different role with most snaps coming from the shotgun.

    Senior Ben Lane anchors the unit as one of the best blocking backs in the conference. Lane has seven rushing attempts in his career for 37 yards.

    Sophomore Kyle Banna saw increased playing time last year while senior Charles Gresham stepped in as well. Redshirt freshman Joel Younkins will join the mix this fall.

Tight End

    Senior Derrick Bush has all the experience while Patrick Bellish, Donny Olson and David Rogers are all redshirt freshmen.

    Bush, a second-team All-Gateway performer the past two years, has caught 39 passes in his career following a breakout campaign in 2007 in which he had 30 grabs for 310 yards. Overall he has 417 receiving yards and two touchdowns - both came at the UNI Dome.

    Bellish and Olson both had successful high-school careers at tight end while Rogers is a converted quarterback. Rogers had a solid spring making the transition. All four offer good size targets standing 6-foot-2 or taller.

Wide Receiver

    The wide receivers have seen a boom in numbers because of the change in offensive philosophy.

    The Penguins now list three spots for the position on the two-deep depth chart with the X, Y and J now standard parts of the offense.

    Headlining the group is senior Ferlando Williams. Williams had an impressive first campaign with the program last year hauling in a team-high 42 passes for 499 yards. He was just one of two receivers to catch a touchdown pass - junior Aaron Pitts was the other.

    Williams was the Gateway Newcomer of the Year and a first-team All-Gateway pick becoming the first wide receiver in school history to earn first-team all-conference accolades as a wide out.

    He showed his versatility rushing for 464 yards on 74 carries and scoring nine times. Most of his attempts came on a direct snap from center.

    Da’Michael Horne had good productivity with 16 grabs for 214 yards last year making seven starts. He caught six passes, including one for a score in 2006.

    Others to reel in receptions were Dominique Barnes, Pitts and Nick Canterino.

    Barnes played in six games as a true freshman and caught three passes for 21 yards. Pitts had two receptions for 24 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown grab against Lock Haven. Canterino had a catch at Indiana State.

    Kamryn Keys, Ely Ducatel, Josh Lee and Dionte Snow all redshirted as a freshman in 2007. Junior college transfer Donald Jones and freshman Marquel Thomas join the team this fall. Ty Campana has been part of the program for the past two years on the scout team.

Offensive Line

    If the Penguins can stay healthy up front, this group may be one of the more talented units in the country.

    Last year, YSU’s patchwork offensive line allowed just nine sacks. After the group started 13 of 14 games together in 2006, four different starting lineups were utilized because of injuries in 2007.

    Brad Samsa, Brian Mellott, Nhemie Theodore and Bobby Coates all started at some point last year. Joining that group is senior tackle Tyler Booth who missed the final 10 games last year with a knee injury.

    Samsa, a first-team All-Gateway selection, is the only player in school history to start on the line at guard, tackle and center. He started one game as a redshirt freshman in 2005, started at guard for the entire 2006 campaign and was moved to tackle because of injuries last year. He is back at center entering his senior year.

    Theodore started all 11 games at right tackle, but with the return of Booth will move to the guard spot.

    Coates played in nine games starting the final four at center. Mellott played in 11 games, starting nine. He started his first seven contests at center before moving to right guard.

       Booth started all 14 games in 2006 at tackle, but a knee injury against Ohio State ended his season early.

    Eric Rodemoyer transfers to YSU after starting at guard for West Virginia last year. Rodemoyer started six of the first seven games at right guard for the Mountaineers in 2007.
    Also returning from last year’s squad are Kyle Brown, Rob Fernback, Tyler Figueroa, Chris Gammon, Justin Rechichar and redshirts Andy Colegrove and Greg Sazdanoff. Corbin Williamson joined the program in the spring and Bill Dugan and D.J. Main join the Guins this fall.

Defensive Line

   The group up front features seven returning letterwinners and will be a major strength in the defense.

   Leading the way is first-team All-Gateway selection Mychal Savage. Savage was also an honorable-mention All-America selection for his efforts.

   In 2007 he had 43 total tackles, 26 solo stops, 4.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. He came on strong at the end of the season recording 21 tackles in the last two games, including a 12-tackle performance against Western Illinois.

   His linemate Torrance Nicholson had an impressive debut season with 42 tackles, including 28 solo stops. Of his 42 tackles, 30 came in the last six games, including a high of eight against Southern Utah. Nicholson was an honorable-mention All-Gateway selection and was named to the league’s all-newcomer squad.

   Jon Penick saw action in a reserve role playing in all 11 games while Bruce Palmer moved over from the offensive side in the spring to play on the interior.

   Roger Gillum saw playing time as well and Bobby Lykes-Knight returns to the program after sitting out in 2007. He played in 13 games as lineman in 2006. Brad Miller redshirted last season.

   On the ends Luke Matelan brings the most experience to the line after playing in all 11 games last year. Matelan had seven tackles, but three were for losses. Na’eem Outler was a reserve in the first nine games finishing with 15 tackles.

   Also contributing at the end positions are Nick Mernedakis and Deon’te Williams who both saw action on special teams and as late-game reserves last year. Jaimie Frasure switched from offense to defense in the spring.

   Joining the defensive line this season will be freshman Warren Felton, Joe Marshall, Noah Taylor and Mike Williams along with junior Crispin Fernandez.

   Led by a strong line, the Penguins led the conference in sacks averaging 2.45 per game and were second in tackles for losses.

   As a unit, YSU was second in the Gateway and ranked 18th nationally in total defense. The Guins were third against the run among league schools. Also, YSU was third in the country and ranked 14th in the nation in scoring defense.

Linebacker

   After years of familiar faces, the linebackers will see a major shakeup in 2008.

   Junior Roshon Simons has the most experience in the group playing in 23 games during his career. He started nine contests as a sophomore recording 55 total tackles. He had five-or-more stops in seven games.

   After Simons, Nate Ward and Mike Barlak have the most game experience. However, both of those players’ most action has come on special teams throughout the past three years.

   Barlak has been primarily the snapper on placekicks while Ward has been used in a reserve role. Last year, Ward finished with 17 tackles. In his three-year career, Barlak has been credited with 19.

   Jordan Edwards, who was a reserve fullback last year, moves over to help out at linebacker. Edwards showed good instincts on special teams last year to instigate the move.

   Plenty of young talent will have chances to play. Junior college transfer Draye Ersery made an impact in the spring. Redshirts Adam House, Michael Kreatsoulas, Matt Phipps and David Rach all return. Newcomers Stephen Meadows, Gary Thornton and Deonta Tate could play as true freshmen.

Safeties

   A young group is being expected to step in at the safety spots. Sophomores Brandian Ross, Nick Gooden and Andre Elliott will be battling for playing time at the free and strong spots. Last year, three seniors had the bulk of the playing time.

   Ross was an active member of special teams finishing with 18 tackles. He saw some action in the secondary as a reserve. Against Indiana State he intercepted his first career pass.

   Gooden was another active member of special teams as a true freshman recording 13 tackles. He also saw some time in the secondary and had a fumble recovery.

   Elliott sat out last year after transferring from Gardner-Webb. In 2006, he played in 10 games for the Runnin’ Bulldogs recording 21 tackles.

   Tony Kavouras is the lone senior of the group while transfer Gary Pezzuolo is the lone junior. Redshirt freshmen Jay Wiezbiski and Scott Sentner are joined by freshman David Fleming.

Cornerbacks

   YSU returns its main three cornerbacks from last year in De’Angelo Wilson, Jarvis Richards and Lenny Wicks.

   All three started during the year and combined for five interceptions. The three played in all 11 games as well.

   Wilson started nine games, including the final eight, after transferring last fall from Nevada. He had 39 total tackles, including 21 solo stops and had two interceptions - Stony Brook and Lock Haven.

   Richards started eight games and led the cornerbacks with 53 total tackles, including 39 solo stops. He was a threat to blitz on occasion picking up two sacks - Lock Haven and Western Illinois. His lone interception was at UNI.

   Wicks came up with two interceptions and came up with 41 tackles, including 31 solos. He had interceptions against Southern Illinois and Western Illinois. He started five of the first seven contests on the year.

   Tyler Griffin returns to the secondary after sitting out last year. In 2006, Griffin played in all 14 games recording 16 tackles. Everett Barney played in the final two games last season and should be healthy in 2008. Joining the mix are senior Tom Krupko, redshirt Randy Louis and newcomer Bryan Gaiters.

   YSU was second in the Gateway in passing defense last year.

Special Teams

    Special teams is one area where the Penguins should excel this year.

   YSU’s placekicker, holder, snapper, punter, kickoff specialist, primary punt returner and kick returners from last year return.

    Kicker Brian Palmer was a second-team All-Gateway pick and made his final 11 field-goal attempts of the season. Palmer enters his senior season having made 33-of-42 career field-goal attempts and 123-of-131 extra-point tries. Last year he was 14-of-15 field goals and 34-of-36 PAT kicks for 76 points.

   Punter Ben Nowicki was an honorable-mention all-league pick after punting 47 times last year. Nowicki averaged 37.1 yards per kick and placed a league-high 18 punts inside the opposition’s 20-yard line. Erik Johnson returns after attempting three punts last year.

   Sophomore Stephen Blose was solid handling the kickoff duties. Blose, who made a 41-yard field goal at Ohio State, had 47 kickoffs last season.

   Palmer will have the comfort of relying on three-year holder Rowan and four-year snapper Barlak. The trio has worked together the past two seasons. Barlak also will be in his fourth year snapping on punts and second with Nowicki.

   Wilson returned 27 punts for 284 yards and 11 kickoffs for 24.2 yards last season. He averaged 10.5 per punt return and 24.2 per kickoff return.

   Horne returned 10 kickoffs for an average of 17.1 yards while Williams had five returns for an 18.5 yard average. Speedsters Lee and Keys will be in the mix to return kicks in 2008.