YSUsports.com - Football: Defense Set to Rebound in 2009; Heacock Takes Over D.C. Duties

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Aug. 21, 2009

Football: Defense Set to Rebound in 2009; Heacock Takes Over D.C. Duties

Youngstown – The defensive unit changed at the very top with Head Coach Jon Heacock taking over the coordinator duties. The last time Heacock called the plays on defense was in 2000, the year prior to taking over as the Guins head coach.
That season, YSU won nine games, allowing just 15.8 points per contest while forcing 30 turnovers in 12 games, including 20 interceptions.

The defense brings back a wealth of talent and experience. Overall, 21 letterwinners return from last year’s unit while only nine depart. YSU started just one senior in the season finale at Western Illinois and on two other occasions during the year. The most seniors YSU started in any single game was three.

Defensive Line

The front four was hampered by injuries, but that was one spot that benefited from a youthful group. True freshmen Stephen Meadows and Joe Marshall started during the year and the position lost just one player, Bobby Lykes-Knight.

Senior preseason All-American Mychal Savage suffered a shoulder injury in the opener and missed the rest of the season. In week two, defensive end Luke Matelan was lost for the year with a knee injury and tackle Torrance Nicholson broke his foot knocking him out of the lineup for six games.

The player who made the biggest impact was junior college transfer defensive lineman Crispin Fernandez. Fernandez was the only player on defense to start all 12 games, playing tackle and end. He earned second-team all-league honors finishing with 45 tackles a team-best 6.5 tackles for losses and four sacks.

With the veterans sidelined and Fernandez entrenched as a starter, players like Joel Younkins, Meadows, Marshall, Jaimie Frasure, Josh Myers, Chris Gammon and Roger Gillum were forced to step up.

Of the 12 players who started on the line, 10 return for 2009. Nicholson returned to play the final four games and help stabilize the unit. With his return, Fernandez moved to the defensive end spot showing his versatility. For the year, Nicholson had 32 tackles in just six games played.

Savage, who has 116 career tackles and eight sacks, returns this year after tearing his rotator cuff while trying to chase down OSU's Tyrelle Pryor in the campaign's opener.

With the injuries, freshman Mike Williams, a linebacker, was thrust into action on the line, but rush end Noah Taylor was able to redshirt and will see his chance this fall. Also sitting out last year were Chase Lemke a as redshirt. Joining the team this fall are freshmen Theo Barnes and Ferd Herdman.

Linebackers

Linebacker was another area hit hard by injuries and overall lack of experience and in 2009 has only one senior.

Five first-time starters appeared at the position and of the 36 possible starts among the three positions, 30 were by underclassmen.

Five backers finished with 43 tackles each while redshirt freshman John Sasson had 40.

Two of the three players who started the last three games Na’eem Outler and Deonta Tate return. Tate was a true freshman while Outler was in his second year with the program. Each had 43 tackles for the season.

Converted tailback Jordan Edwards also had 43 stops and was in the starting lineup in six of the first seven games. Sasson made three starts in his first season.

Senior Draye Ersery was forced to play defensive end late last year but could have a breakout campaign in 2009 if he can crack a talented lineup. David Rach and Michael Kreatsoulas along with redshirt Bryan Whitaker return. Rach suffered a season-ending injury at Southern Utah, but has worked diligently to get a chance in '09.

Newcomer Taylor Hill played with the top unit throughout spring drills while local standout Sylvestry Gibbs joins the program this fall. Hill was a standout at Cardinal Mooney in 2007 and did not play football in 2008.

Secondary

Last year’s secondary had experience and depth to start the season, but that took a severe hit when Jarvis Richards suffered a career-ending knee injury versus North Dakota State.

Senior Lenny Wicks started the first 10 contests before redshirt freshman Randy Louis stared the final two. De’Angelo Wilson replaced Richards in the lineup and led the team with five interceptions. Wicks had 54 tackles to lead the corners in that category.

YSU added Averick Walker, who impressed in the spring before getting hurt, while redshirt freshman Bryan Gaiters will join the mix.

At the safety spots, three starters in Brandian Ross, Andre Elliott and Nick Gooden all return.
Ross started 11 games, Elliott made 10 starts and Gooden had five appearances in the starting lineup last year. On two occasions all three players started the same game. Making the future bright at the position is that all three are juniors. Ross will also play cornerback in the fall after getting reps in the spring and late last season.

Ross finished as the team’s leading tackler with 98 stops while Elliott had the second most with 89. Gooden chipped in 30 as well. Redshirts David Fleming and Vinnie Patella will also be in the hunt for playing time this fall. Other players from within the program who could contribute include Adam House, Gary Pezzuolo, Scott Sentner and Branden Sibley.

Speedster Jerome Swinton, who previouly signed with West Virginia, TCU transfer Sir Demarco Bledsoe and freshman Dom Rich are newcomers to the secondary.