Heacock pleased with new recruits

YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State football coach Jon Heacock is one of those guys who would love to take everybody onto his football team, especially when it comes to players from the Valley.
On Wednesday, the Penguins signed four from the immediate area and a fifth from Canton as part of an 11-player recruiting class for 2004.
Heacock is quite satisfied with the group, but he knows there are a lot of players around this area he would have liked to have added if scholarships were only available.
"We knew that we are going to be hit hard by graduation after next season on both the offensive and defensive lines," Heacock said. "That's why we concentrated heavily on those areas this year.
"We would have loved to have taken a kid like Jason Kokrak of Warren JFK, but we know that we'll lose just one linebacker each of the next two seasons," Heacock said.
More could come
The same goes for the defensive secondary, although Heacock did indicate that there still might be some additions to this class before next season rolls around.
"We are still waiting to find out about several players currently on the team who are having medical problems," Heacock said.
"We know that Jake Godec won't be back," he said. "Doctors have told him not to play any more. We're still waiting to hear about Bret Steiner, who has been having all sorts of problems after breaking his leg last year.
"We could have two or more scholarships opening up by spring and a lot of time there are a lot of kids looking to transfer after going through spring practice at other schools," Heacock said.
Gliatta on board
Heacock and his staff brought in freshman redshirt quarterback Vince Gliatta, a transfer from Penn State, who will have four years of eligibility at YSU.
"We recruited Vince out of high school as a quarterback at Canton Central High School," Heacock said. "Most schools, especially the bigger schools, were recruiting him as a defensive back, as was Penn State.
"Vince wanted to play quarterback and we brought him in here to give him that opportunity," he said.
Does Heacock think that Gliatta can help the Penguins at quarterback?
"You don't know -- he hasn't played that position for over a year and a half," he said. "We've talked about it and I know that he's a talented athlete and a competitor and I know that he's going to help this football team somewhere, whether that be quarterback or somewhere else."
Highly-touted running back
Heacock also is high on transfer running back Monquantae Gibson from Louisville, Ky., and the University of Kentucky.
"He's an impressive person to meet and on paper his credentials are so very impressive," Heacock said. "We're excited to have him with the Penguins."
In high school, Gibson rushed for 524 yards and scored nine touchdowns in a single game and scored 43 touchdowns his senior season.
"People who have seen him play in high school say that he's as good as those statistics indicate," Heacock said.
YSU also signed a kicker from Mineral Ridge, Brian Palmer, who many thought would go to a Division I-A school.
The Penguins have two of the best kickers they've had in some time in senior-to-be Nick Terracina and sophomore Joe Bishop.
"Brian was destined to be a Penguin, that's what he wanted since he watched Paul McFadden and Jeff Wilkins kick as a youngster," Heacock said. "He's also worked out with Nick and Joe and they've developed a good relationship. He's a welcome addition."
Coaching staff vacancies
Heacock also indicated that he will be filling the vacant positions on his coaching staff shortly.
"We've been interviewing candidates and we should have everything in place in the next couple of weeks," Heacock said.
XPete Mollica covers YSU athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at mollica@vindy.com.