Heacock's youngest team reports today

The Penguins' 12-game slate, with seven contests at home, favors their youth.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- The youngest football team in coach Jon Heacock's tenure at Youngstown State will face many challenges this season.
And it all begins today as players report to camp at Stambaugh Stadium.
Heacock will protect and mold that youth by giving it every opportunity to succeed.
"They're going to have to grow up and mature quickly," Heacock said. "That was the idea of playing 12 games -- to get as many reps as we can and as much experience before we get into the Gateway Conference."
On schedule
The Penguins' schedule favors youth. Seven of the 12 games are at home, with the first two against Division II opponents Edinboro and Slippery Rock.
Youngstown State doesn't even begin its Gateway schedule until Oct. 4, the sixth week, when it plays host to Southwest Missouri State.
"Once you get into the Gateway, there's no mistakes allowed," said linebacker Justin Dellarose, one of 15 seniors on the roster. "If there's any leeway at all on our schedule, it's because the Gateway [schedule] begins so late."
If history is any indication, the Penguins' playoff hopes rest on their performance in the Gateway. Winning the conference guarantees a postseason berth, which YSU hasn't gained since 2000. Any other position puts a team's fate in the selection committee's hands.
"You have to find yourself in the top spot or in the top two spots with the right record," Heacock said. "That's why we try to put an asterisk beside every Gateway team. That's our meal ticket."
The Penguins are coming off a 7-4 season and third-place finish in the Gateway, behind Western Illinois and Western Kentucky, which won the Div. I-AA national championship.
That order of finish is exactly how the preseason poll predicts the 2003 season to unfold as Youngstown State seeks its first Gateway title.
"Just lost opportunities," Dellarose reasoned for the team's failure to win the title since the program began Gateway play in 1997.
Breakdown
Before Youngstown State can make playoff plans, however, it must fill a number of holes this season.
The biggest question mark is at quarterback. Four players saw time there last season, with Aaron Marshall going 6-2 to close the year.
Now a sophomore, Marshall is recovered from a broken ankle he suffered this spring and has been named the starter entering camp.
"I think that's fair," Heacock said. "He started at the end of last year and did a good job."
While Marshall was hurt in the spring, coaches gained a better read on the Penguins' other quarterbacks, senior Luis Gonzalez and junior Matt Rycraft. Freshman Tom Zetts of Boardman is also expected to be in the mix.
"We got a chance to look at Matt Rycraft and Luis Gonzalez, and I think we have a pretty decent handle on where those guys are," Heacock said. "And then you have the addition of a young guy, Tommy Zetts.
"You never know what's going to happen."
No Mays this year
The Penguins also must adjust to the departure of All-American running back P.J. Mays, who is now with the San Diego Chargers. Mays averaged 117 yards rushing per game last season and scored 11 touchdowns.
"We're blessed because we've got two guys in Mike Burns and Josiah Doby who are both seniors and have played a lot," Heacock said. "They've had a great off-season, a great spring, and we're excited about that position."
The offensive line returns three starters (All-Gateway pick Josh Davis of Lisbon, Will Sanders and Norris Kennedy), yet it will miss senior center Nick Roberts of Champion, who is nursing two herniated discs.
"He probably is, at best, six weeks [away]," Heacock said. "He's going through a series of shots in the next few weeks.
"If all things go the way they seem to think they're going to go, he'll be back with us at mid-season."
Senior leaders
The Penguins are young at special teams and on defense, where Dellarose is the only returning starter to the front seven.
Heacock hopes to rely on Dellarose, his veteran linebacker, and senior defensive backs Sherod Holmes and Scott Thiessen.
Dellarose and Holmes were named honorable mention on the Gateway team.
"I'm pleased with that group taking a young group under their wing," Heacock said of his seniors. "For any team to be good, your seniors have to have their best season.
"Our guys have prepared to do that, and now we have to just go do it."
richesson@vindy.com