YSU FOOTBALL Receiver Wright having better season as senior

The passing game, under new offensive coordinator Brian Wright, has improved.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Senior wide receiver Damian Wright has had an up-and-down career with the Youngstown State football team.
The 5-foot-11-inch, 157-pound player from Plantation, Fla., had his best season with the Penguins as a sophomore. In 2003, he played in all 12 games and started seven times while catching 14 passes for 172 yards and one touchdown.
Last season, Wright was hampered by injuries and played in only seven games.
In the mix
This season, Wright has been a mainstay in the Penguins' four wide receiver rotation. Going into this week's Gateway Conference game at Indiana State, he ranks third on the team in receptions with seven for 84 yards and two touchdowns.
Wright is excited about the Penguins offense this season, especially the passing game.
"We're going more downfield this year than in the past," Wright said.
The difference, he said, is the improvement of quarterback Tom Zetts and the addition of new offensive coordinator Brian Wright.
"Tom [Zetts] is just a smart quarterback who works so hard to get better every day," Wright said. "We spends so much time studying the game and films of our opposition every week. Every time I go to the film room to watch films, Tom is there already.
"The big difference this year is that he's able to make decisions at the line of scrimmage that keeps the offense going," Wright said.
"Coach Wright has also made a big difference because he makes our offense fit the players that we have on the field every game," Wright said.
First TD in opener
Wright's first touchdown pass this season came in the opener against Slippery Rock on a 15-yard pass from backup quarterback Vince Gliatta.
He also caught a 43-yard scoring pass from Zetts against Liberty. He had three catches against Northeastern.
"We have so many options for our quarterbacks at wide receiver this year with Kyle [Smith], T.J. [Peterson] and Jameson [Evans] and myself," Wright said.
"Our entire offense is improved, with the running game and our great offensive line," Wright said. "We just have to keep it going the rest of the season."
This week, the Penguins take on an Indiana State team that is winless in five games, but Wright said nobody is taking the Sycamores lightly.
"This is another Gateway Conference game and every game in the Gateway is a big one," Wright said.
Wright says that it is nice that the Penguins moved back into the I-AA Top 25 rankings this week, but it's still not that big a deal right now.
Nice for fans
"It's great for the fans and it's nice to see our name up there, but we still need to keep winning if we want to have any chance of making the postseason playoffs this year," Wright said. "That and winning the Gateway are our chief goals."
This being his senior season has brought on a new role for Wright, that as a team leader.
"It's different now because other players are looking to you to lead them on and off the field," Wright said. "I try to be as vocal as I can whether I'm in the game or on the sidelines."
mollica@vindy.com