Berry leads talented receivers

The YSU senior has been slowed thus far by a
hamstring injury.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Rory Berry can’t wait for the Youngstown State football season to begin.

That’s coming from a senior wide receiver who hasn’t taken a snap this fall camp and is still listed on the team’s injury report.

But the 6-foot-1, 185-pound standout is the team’s most experienced wide receiver returning this season after ranking second on the team a year ago in passes caught (31), receiving yards (366) and touchdowns (3).

Berry pulled a hamstring the week before fall camp began during his final summer workout and has been limited to what he can do during the first two weeks of practice.

“There’s really not much you can do to help the healing process, but wait it out and I’m hoping that it won’t be much longer,” Berry said.

“I’d love to be ready in time for Saturday’s jersey scrimmage,” he added.

Although Berry hasn’t been able to take part in most of the drills, especially contact drills, he has been a big help to the rest of the wide receivers, who are talented but don’t have a lot of experience.

Berry and junior Da’Michael Horne are the only two wideouts with experience. Horne caught six passes for 61 yards and a touchdown last season.

“I really haven’t been concerned with myself this camp, but more so just being around to help out any of the younger players who need it,” Berry said.

“This is a very talented group of receivers we have this year and I’m just counting the days until I can get in there and be a part of all this,” he added.

Excited about offense

Berry is excited about the YSU offense this season because he says it includes a lot of new plays and different formations and more passing.

“I’m never going to be one to argue about more passing,” he said. “But it just seems that since we don’t have a Marcus Mason or a [Monquantae] Gibson back there that we just might be putting the ball up a little more.”

“I had no problems with Mason and Gibson getting their 30 carries a game, because they were outstanding runners and made our offense go,” he said.

Berry said once he’s cleared to practice he’ll need about four or five days to get back to playing speed.

“But I’ll be ready to go out there as soon as they say it’s OK,” he said.

Looking toward opener

Like his teammates, Berry is excited about opening the season at Ohio State.

“We usually open with Slippery Rock, this is going to be a big change, but I just can’t wait to get out there and do my best against the best,” he said.

The Penguins finished up their second day of two-a-day workouts Wednesday.

Senior defensive lineman Greg Jacobs, who missed the first seven practices while being at home taking care of family problems, returned to practice Tuesday.

“He’ll still have to take his five days of no pads and no contact that’s required by the NCAA,” said YSU coach Jon Heacock.

Redshirt freshman fullback Kyle Banna of Canfield has been added to the injury list with a pulled hamstring and will probably be out a couple of weeks.

The Penguins practice once today at 2:30 p.m. and twice Friday before holding a jersey scrimmage Saturday at noon at Stambaugh Stadium.

mollica@vindy.com