Mellott is center of YSU's attack
The Fitch grad and Ohio University transfer is glad to be back home.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- No one is more excited about Saturday's spring game than YSU sophomore center Brian Mellott, a native of Austintown and a former Fitch High standout.
The 35th Red-White spring football game is set for Friday night at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Mellott came to the Penguins a year ago as a transfer from Ohio University and spent the season as a backup defensive lineman.
This spring, the 6-foot-3, 265-pound Mellott was moved over to offense and to center, a position he has never played before.
"I played some tackle in high school, but we very rarely ever passed in high school and pass blocking has been the most difficult thing for me to grasp this spring," Mellott said.
Being back in Youngstown has really meant a lot to Mellott.
"It means more to me than I can possibly put into words," Mellott said. "These last two years have been so great being back with my friends from the area and playing with the Penguins.
"I live at home and just that drive every day is just so enjoyable and I go home at night to my family," he added. "I've just have so much support here."
QBs make transition easier
Mellott said working with quarterbacks Tom Zetts and Todd Rowan has helped make his transition a lot easier this spring.
"It was kind of like Coach [Jon Heacock] telling me, 'OK, we're going to make the switch, now go do it' and I've been working with Tom ever since," he said.
"We started out in the 6 a.m. workouts in the winter and things went pretty smooth, then spring started and we put on the pads and guys were coming at me and a few snaps kind of got away.
"But Tom and Todd have been great, they've done nothing but encouraging me," he said. "But it is still something that I have to work on hard this summer and it's up to me to fix it."
Mellott also said the two players on either side of him on the offensive line have been a big help to him this spring.
"I've got two guards, Josh Tanner and Brad Samsa, who are two of the best around and they are talking to me constantly out there," he said.
Mellott said he feels his team in the spring game, the Red team, seems to have the edge Friday.
"But it's a football game and anything can happen in a game," he said.
Heacock lauds Mellott
Heacock has praised the work of Mellott this spring.
"He's only been a center for what, 10 or 11 days, and he's done a remarkable job, we feel very comfortable with him there," Heacock said.
Heacock had thoughts about turning Friday's Red and White Game into another jersey scrimmage because of injuries and some thin positions on the roster.
"We're playing the game, if we didn't I think we would probably have a player uprising led by our quarterback," he laughed.
"This is the final Red and White Game for these seniors and they are all looking forward to it," he added. "We could possibly make some adjustments if we have to, but we'll just play it by ear."
Friday's contest will consist of two 30-minute halves with a continuous clock and a 5-minute halftime. The final two minutes of the game will follow normal game clock procedures.
Admission for the game is 5 and all tickets will be sold Friday. The contest will be broadcast by WKBN-AM (570).
mollica@vindy.com