FOOTBALL It's early, but YSU displays new look

Quarterback Tom Zetts has switched to his high school number at Boardman.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown State football team already has taken on a new look this season -- which is only three practice sessions old.
The first thing noticeable is that red-shirt freshman quarterback Tom Zetts of Boardman, who won the starting job in the spring, is wearing a new number.
Zetts, who wore No. 6 last year, has switched to No. 24, the same number he wore at Boardman High.
The Penguins have still not put on full pads as they must meet the NCAA requirements of four days without pads. Their first pads and contact will be Wednesday at 8:20 a.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
Jon Heacock, who begins his fourth season as the Penguins' coach, has been pleased with the workouts so far.
"We've had three good days," he said. "The kids seem to be in pretty good shape and they are working hard. We had a good summer in the weight room, but we've only been in shorts and helmets and it's been mostly teaching these sessions, not a lot of real football."
Transfers adjusting
Heacock said that the team's new transfer students are making the adjustments these early practices.
"They are really just like the new young kids here, they appear to have some ability, but everything is new to them right now, it's going to take some time for them to adjust to our system," he added.
Heacock indicated that just about everyone came out of summer school with good marks.
"We are still waiting on Ricky Valenzuela, who still hasn't completed his summer school class," Heacock said. "He won't be able to practice until that course is completed."
There was one other player missing from the opening drills. Durell Preston, the sophomore defensive back from St. Augustine, Fla., has decided not to return to school this year.
Position changes
There have been a couple of position changes already as junior wide receiver Chris Goffer of Chicago, is now a cornerback, and fullback Joe Juby, a junior from Garfield Heights, has been switched to linebacker.
One reason for Juby's switch has been an injury to senior linebacker Yancey Marcum, the team's top tackler a year ago. Marcum hurt the pectoral muscle in his chest during summer workouts and is being kept out of drills.
Junior tight end Shawn Carlson, another Boardman High product who missed almost all of spring practice with injuries, is nursing a hamstring pull and is sidelined temporarily.
Two-a-day sessions
The Penguins will only have four two-a-day practice sessions this fall, mainly because school begins on Aug. 23.
"This is the first time that I can ever remember where we'll be in school for two weeks before we play a game," Heacock said. "I can remember times when we played three games before school started."
The Penguins will workout again this afternoon in helmets and shoulder pads, before putting on full gear Wednesday morning.
Thursday will be the first two-a-day session at 8:20 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The team's jersey scrimmage is slated for Aug. 17 at 3 p.m.
Wednesday afternoon will be the team's media day at 4 p.m. which is open to the public.
mollica@vindy.com