Youngstown State is plagued by a rash of nagging injuries

Three players were hurt
Monday as the Penguins
prepare for Ohio State.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — For the most part, the Youngstown State football team has stayed pretty healthy through the first two weeks of camp.

But the Penguins have had their share of nagging minor injuries, including three that popped up over the weekend.

YSU had begun fall camp with two of its top players already on the injury list, senior tackle Tyler Booth and wide receiver Rory Berry.

Booth was the most serious, suffering a knee injury on the opening day of spring practice and undergoing surgery.

Booth has been cleared to begin practicing, but the Penguins are still being cautious because of all the strength he’s lost while recuperating.

“Tyler’s knee is pretty good, but he’s lost so much lower body strength,” said YSU strength and conditioning coach Todd Burkey. “He couldn’t even touch a weight until July and then [it was] only limited, so he’s still got a lot of work to do to get back to where he was before the injury.”

Likely won’t play

Booth likely won’t play in the season opener against Ohio State Sept. 1.

Berry, on the other hand, should be ready for the Buckeyes.

The standout wide receiver pulled a hamstring on the final day of summer workouts and just this week returned to full drills. He’s probably not 100 percent, but getting close to it.

Then on Monday night, the Penguins had three players go down with injuries, nothing serious, but a couple could miss the opener.

Senior defensive end Miles Banford suffered a “turf toe” injury, not a serious injury, but a painful one that might keep him out of the opener.

Junior quarterback-wide receiver Ferlando Williams suffered a slightly sprained knee Monday, but is expected to be sidelined for only a couple of days.

Williams has recently been moved into the backup quarterback position when sophomore Todd Rowan suffered his second stress fracture in his shin.

Williams, who was being counted on to see plenty of action at wide receiver this year, should be back in action before the end of the week.

Gammon is injured

Redshirt freshman defensive end Chris Gammon was the other player injured Monday. He had his ankle rolled over by a teammate, but should be ready to go for the opener.

Two other Penguins are also on the injured list with nagging muscle pulls. Redshirt freshman fullback Kyle Banna of Canfield and senior linebacker Joe Nicholson are both questionable for the opener.

The Penguins are slated for a light workout today at 1:45 p.m. and then will hold their annual kicking scrimmage at 7:30 p.m.

The team’s rehearsal scrimmage is slated for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The team will hold its final two sessions of camp Friday at 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

They’ll take Saturday off and then begin preparations for Ohio State Sunday night.

mollica@vindy.com