YSU has high hopes entering first drill on Friday

Twenty-seven seniors return including 16 starters.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State University ruled the ranks of Division I-AA football during the 1990s.
During that 10-year span, the Penguins won four national championships, were runners-up twice and made the playoffs seven times.
The Penguins were last in the playoffs in 2000, Jim Tressel's final season as head coach.
In the five seasons that followed, the Penguins under head coach Jon Heacock have yet to return to the I-AA post season. They were playoff eligible in both 2001 and last year but were overlooked by the selection committee.
Thursday, the 2006 edition of the Penguins will report for the opening of fall practice.
The first session is slated for Friday morning.
The Penguins will carry some high hopes going into the 2006 campaign.
Those hopes are based on how the Penguins shared the 2005 Gateway Conference championship with Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois, by posting an 8-3 overall mark and a 5-2 log in the conference.
Heacock is also optimistic going into the season because he has 27 seniors returning. Fifteen are fifth-year seniors.
"Senior experience is priceless," Heacock said.
16 starters are back
The Penguins also return 16 starters, eight on both sides of the football. And they have several others who started at one time or another.
YSU will be strong at almost every skilled position starting at quarterback where 6-1, 210-pound junior Tom Zetts returns for his third season as the starter.
Zetts is joined in the backfield by 5-9, 210-pound senior tailback Marcus Mason, who will share the duties with 6-0, 203-pound senior Monquantae Gibson. The 6-1, 230-pound senior Regis Edgerson and 6-0, 230-pound senior Demetrius Ison both return at fullback.
Mason, who was also named to the Gateway preseason team, and Gibson accounted for more than 1,400 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns, while Zetts passed for 1,949 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago.
The Penguins lost their two top receivers in Kyle Smith and Jameson Evans, who combined for 64 catches last year.
The 6-1, 185-pound senior, T.J. Peterson, leads the returning receivers. He had 21 receptions last year.
The offensive line is a veteran crew despite losing standouts John Bartos and Tony Limongi.
Jewell anchors line
This year's group is headed by 6-4, 290-pound senior center Ryan Jewell, an All-Gateway preseason pick as well as being named to two preseason All-American teams. The Warren Harding graduate is in his third season as a starter.
Joining Jewell on the line will be senior tackle Pat Walker (6-5, 305), sophomore guard Brad Samsa (6-3, 273), senior guard Jamal Lee (6-3, 280) and junior tackle Tyler Booth (6-6, 310).
The Penguins also have junior guard Josh Tanner (6-2, 305), junior guard Leon Edwards (6-0, 330), senior center John Foster (6-1, 300) and senior guard Joe DeBee (6-4, 302) all with starting experience.
The Penguins return sophomore tight end Derrick Bush (6-4, 259) and senior Max King (6-2, 240), but most eyes will be searching out junior transfer Louis Irizarry, a 6-5, 252-pound performer, who sat out last season working with the practice squad.
Irizarry, who hasn't played a game in two seasons after leaving Ohio State University after his freshman year, is expected to make an immediate impact on the Penguins.
Defensive front inexperienced
The big questions this season will be on the defense, which has a lot of returning players, except on the front line.
The Penguins are sound at linebacker and defensive secondary. Four starters return at linebacker led by junior All-Gateway preseason pick James Terry (6-2, 220) who will be joined by senior Marty Hutchison (6-4, 210) and senior Jeff Koval (6-1, 221) and senior Jeremiah Wright (5-10, 210).
All-Gateway cornerbacks seniors Jason Perry (5-8, 165) and Codera Jackson (5-10, 182) lead the secondary along with junior safeties Dorian Chenault (6-1, 195) and Bobby Perez (6-0, 210).
Up front the Penguins have talent, just not a lot of experience, although sophomore tackle Mychal Savage (6-2, 307) earned All-Gateway preseason honors.
The Penguins also return both of their kickers for this season, led by All-Gateway preseason senior punter Joe Bishop (5-10, 194).
Sophomore placekicker Brian Palmer, coming off a great spring, will handle the field goal and extra point duties.
The Penguins will open the season on Aug. 31 against Division II Slippery Rock University in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium.