COLLEGE FOOTBALL Marshall emerges from QB shuffle

Freshman Aaron Marshall became Youngstown State's third starting quarterback in as many games this season -- a precedent.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- When Jeff Ryan played his final down for Youngstown State at quarterback last November, everyone figured he would be tough to replace, but not this difficult.
Ryan was a four-year starter for the Penguins and left a big hole to fill, but going into the 2002 season the Penguins had five replacements from whom to choose.
Slowly, those five are dwindling away.
Colby Street, Ryan's backup for two seasons, was the heir apparent, but academic difficulties forced the 6-foot-3, 238-pound senior to miss most of last spring's practice.
Going into fall camp, the leading candidate was freshman red-shirt Aaron Marshall, but one week into the camp Marshall was moved to wide receiver along with candidate No. 5, sophomore Matt Rycraft.
Street emerges No. 1
Street came out of camp as the No. 1 quarterback, with junior transfer Luis Gonzalez as his backup and senior transfer Justin Green as the No. 3.
In the season opener against Clarion, Street and Gonzalez both struggled, but the Penguins still prevailed 27-14 against the Division II Eagles.
The following week against nationally-ranked McNeese State, things did not get much better. Street started again and struggled; Gonzalez came on in relief and didn't get the job done, while Green, seeing his first action, drove the team 80 yards for its final touchdown in the 28-13 loss.
Green gets his shot
The Penguins then had a week off, and YSU coach Jon Heacock said that quarterback was his primary concern. He moved Marshall back to quarterback, but said Green would get the start against Western Kentucky.
Green didn't lose the game against the Hilltoppers -- a 13-7 loss -- but while he improved the offense some there was still something lacking. Street came on in the fourth quarter and showed some spurts of leadership, but then was intercepted in the end zone ending a drive.
Marshall never got off the bench.
Marshall gets call
Last week, Marshall took all the snaps with the No. 1 unit in practice during the week preparing for Southwest Missouri State.
The Detroit, Mich., native got the call against the Bears, and although his statistics weren't overwhelming he did what was needed to bring home a victory.
Marshall only completed two of five passes, but one was for a 10-yard touchdown to sophomore Phillip Larmon. Marshall looked good when he rolled out and ran the option for the first time this season. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was the best performance by a starting quarterback this year.
Three different starters
The three different starting quarterbacks in three consecutive games marked the first time since 1983 that this has happened with YSU.
Quarterback has not been a problem for the Penguins since they became a national power in the 1990s. The success started with Ray Isaac and continued with Nick Cochran, Mark Brumgard, Demond Tidwell and Ryan, and YSU fans hope it will continue with Aaron Marshall.
mollica@vindy.com