YSU FOOTBALL Tailback Doby prepares for fifth season

The Penguins are counting on the running back this season.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Josiah Doby celebrated his first wedding anniversary last month. This month, he's preparing for his fifth season with the Youngstown State football team.
Doby, the 5-9, 215-pound senior tailback from Long Beach, Calif., is expected to be one of the main weapons in the Penguins' backfield this year.
Doby came to the Penguins in 1999 from Los Alamitos High School and saw action as a freshman, playing in eight games, starting three while gaining 197 yards on 49 carries.
His sophomore year he played in all 12 games, rushed for 459 yards and scored four touchdowns.
Plagued by injury
In 2001, Doby was bothered by injuries all year and ended up taking a redshirt. Last year, he played in nine games with 355 yards and five touchdowns.
Twice he has rushed for more than 100 yards in a game. Last year, he picked up 129 yards on just five carries against Clarion. In 2000, he rushed for 110 yards on 10 carries against Indiana State.
Last summer, Doby married his high school sweetheart, Tonya Lewis of Long Beach, and they celebrated their first anniversary on July 20.
"I'm really so happy and I miss her so much now that we're at camp," Doby said.
Doby feels the offense has really improved.
"We've been working so hard and there's a chemistry on this team that we haven't had for a couple of years," Doby said. "The love and camaraderie is very evident on this group.
"We have players, but what stands out more is our enthusiasm and our effort," Doby said. "We've really been giving a lot of effort and Coach [Jon] Heacock has really been stressing that in practice.
"He always says that if you can't give anything else, throw your heart in and see what happens," Doby said.
Senior leadership
Doby said his role as a senior leader has put more pressure on him and the rest of the seniors.
"A lot of times we don't feel like practicing either, but we can't let the rest of the team see that," Doby said. "We have to just go out there and work hard every day."
Doby said this year's practice schedule has been easier on the team.
"The coaches are definitely not trying to kill us this year and we know that if we work hard when we're out there, they'll be happy," Doby said. "They even gave us a day off in mid-camp and that really fired us up when we came back."
This season, the Penguins have a lot of depth at tailback, but Doby said that's good.
"We're going to need them all with our new offense that will really open things up. Plus, we've got a 12-game schedule," Doby said. "With a long season, we should still be able to stay fresh."
Doby isn't concerned about the 12-game slate.
"I'll be ready," Doby said. "Really, even when you had a bye week you still practiced, but got an extra Saturday off."
Offensive production
Doby is very confident in this year's offense.
"Everybody is another year older, especially our quarterbacks, and our offense is different," Doby said. "Now that everybody is more familiar with things, we can do a lot more and we'll mix up the run and pass and teams won't be able to stack up eight men on defense against us."
Today will be the Penguins' final two-a-day practice session, with a rehearsal scrimmage at 5 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. They will take Thursday off and then practice late on Friday following the high school game at the stadium.
mollica@vindy.com