Penguins' expectations boosted by team's depth

The season begins Thursday when Youngstown State welcomes Edinboro.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- If there's one word to describe the outlook for the 2003 Youngstown State football team, it would be depth.
The Penguins seem to have plenty of it.
Now, coach Jon Heacock will be the first to admit that a team can never have enough depth, especially as the Penguins are about to play a 12-game season with no bye weeks.
Heacock begins his third season as coach Thursday night when YSU plays host to Division II Edinboro University at 7:30 at Stambaugh Stadium.
Absent from playoffs
In his first two seasons Heacock posted marks of 8-3 and 7-4, both respectable records, but the Penguins failed to make the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in either season.
Since 1986, Jim Tressel's first season, the Penguins have never gone three straight years without a playoff appearance.
And if there is one thing that might get the Penguins back to the playoffs this year, it could be their depth.
YSU is particularly deep at tailback, offensive line, wide receiver, linebacker, defensive backfield and quarterback.
Where the Penguins are light is at fullback, tight end and the defensive line.
"This group has worked very hard all summer and all during camp and they have made great strides," said Heacock. "However, we are still a long way from where we need to be.
"We're pretty banged up right now," he added. "Although nothing is very serious, it has kept many players out of workouts."
Roberts out
The Penguins had seven returning starters on offense, but lost one -- senior center Nick Roberts was both ruled physically and academically ineligible for this season.
That leaves seniors Josh Davis (6-foot-5, 300 pounds) and Will Sanders (6-1, 291) and junior Norris Kennedy (6-2, 301) as the returnees on the line. Davis and Kennedy are tackles and Sanders is a guard.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Jewell (6-4, 252), sophomore John Bartos (6-3, 279) and sophomore Matt Brouse (6-4, 276) will round out the line.
Sophomore quarterback Aaron Marshall (6-3, 220) returns at quarterback after starting the final seven games last year. Senior tailbacks Mike Burns (6-1, 240) and Josiah Doby (5-9, 222) are both back.
Junior Phil Larmon and sophomore T.J. Peterson both return at wide receiver, but both are hurt and probably won't play in the opener.
But the depth at that position will help as sophomores Kyle Smith (6-0, 150) and Damien Wright (5-11, 151) have both practiced well. Junior Jim Smith (6-2, 214) should also see action.
Burns and Doby are being pushed hard at tailback by senior Darius Peterson (5-8, 182) and sophomores Josh Cayson (5-10, 163) and Justin Reams (5-11, 181).
Senior Chris DiMauro (5-11, 215) will probably start at fullback, while sophomore Shawn Carlson (6-7, 227) and junior Mike Roberts (6-0, 222) are the only healthy tight ends available.
Marshall heads a list of five quarterbacks on the roster, with freshman Tom Zetts (6-1, 205) of Boardman the top back-up. Junior Matt Rycraft (6-0, 185) and senior Luis Gonzalez (6-2, 204) are also pushing for action.
Gaining experience
The defense has only four returning starters, but there are a lot of players who saw action in back-up roles a year ago.
Senior linebacker Justin Dellarose returns for a fifth season after meeting his academic requirements and graduating with his freshman class this spring. The 6-2, 227-pounder is a two-year starter.
He's joined at linebacker by junior Yancey Marcum (6-1, 244) and sophomore Mike Andrews (6-1, 204), while seniors Sherod Holmes (5-8, 155) and Waymann Peters (6-0, 189) return along with junior Mike Bracken (6-0, 211). Senior Scott Thiessen (6-2, 196) rounds out the secondary.
The defensive line had just one starter returning, 6-1, 241-pound sophomore Brandon Brown of Ursuline. Senior Steve Durbin (6-5, 273) was moved over from offense in the spring, while junior Justin Martin (6-3, 225) will also start on the front.
Juniors Nate Baston (6-1, 263) and Matt Briggs (6-4, 243) both saw a lot of action a year ago, but are currently on the injured list.
The YSU kicking game has two new faces in junior transfer Nick Terracina (5-9, 165) at placekicker and redshirt freshman Joe Bishop (5-10, 184) at punter.
mollica@vindy.com