Rowan choice to lead Red squad

By Pete Mollica

Seven players will not take part in the scrimmage because of injuries.

YOUNGSTOWN — There is something about spring football and Todd Rowan that goes hand-in-hand and that was probably one of the reasons the 6-foot-3, 223-pound junior quarterback from LaBrae High School was the first player chosen Tuesday in Youngstown State’s Red and White spring game draft held at the DeBartolo Stadium Club.

Rowan, who has had two strong spring game performances, will quarterback the Red Team Friday night in the annual contest set for 7:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.

Rowan’s selection gave the Red Team, which appeared on paper to have the weaker team going into the draft, instant credibility.

As a redshirt freshman in 2006 Rowan completed 12-of-12 passes for 215 yards and four touchdowns, while last year he connected on 14-of-20 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown.

Junior transfer Brandon Summers, who came to the Penguins this spring from Toledo, will quarterback the White Team, which also has senior wide receiver-quarterback Ferlando Williams. Redshirt freshman Paul Corsaro will be Rowan’s backup with the Red Team.

The White Team’s seniors, besides Williams, include fullback Ben Lane, tailback Brandon Nicholson, tight end Derek Bush, tackle Tyler Booth and wide receiver Nick Canterino on offense. Defensively they are led by tackle Mychal Savage, linebacker Mike Barlak, cornerbacks De’Angelo Wilson and Tyler Griffin and strong safety Tony Kavouras.

The Red Team’s seniors led by center Brad Samsa, guard Nhemie Theodore, wide receiver Da’Michael Horne, fullback Charles Gresham and tailback Kevin Smith on offense. Defensively they will have tackle Bobby Lykes-Knight, linebacker Nate Ward and cornerbacks Jarvis Richards and Tom Krupko along with placekicker Brian Palmer.

Palmer and Horne are the acting captains for the Red Team, while Lane and Barlak will head the White.

The White Team also added junior tailback Dana Brown, the transfer from Iowa, during the draft along with linemen Justin Rechichar, Stiles O’Brien, Tyler Figueroa, Corbin Williamson and Rob Fernback.

Sophomore kicker Stephen Blose will handle the placekicking for the White, while sophomore Jarrod Satmare will do the punting.

The Red Team added linemen Bobby Coates, Chris Gammon and Kyle Brown along with wide receiver Josh Lee on offense. They picked up linebackers Jordan Edwards and Mike Kreatsoulas along with linemen Luke Matelan, Deon’te Williams and Brad Miller and cornerback Lenny Wicks on defense.

Palmer will be aided by junior kicker Bob Gratz and punter Erik Johnson, both Boardman graduates.

Seven players will not take part in the scrimmage because of injuries. For the White team is will included punter Ben Nowicki, guard Brian Mellott, cornerback Everett Barney and defensive end Jaimie Frasure. The Red’s injury players are defensive lineman Jon Penick, tight end Brian McLaughlin and wide receiver Ely Ducatel.

Offensive line coach Chis Bache will serve as head coach of the White team. His staff includes defensive coordinator Jeff Mills, wide receivers coach David Elliott, linebackers coach Jerry Olsavsky and offensive assistant Tim Frost.

Defensive line coach Antoine Smith is the head coach of the Red Team and his staff includes offensive coordinator Brian Wright, running backs coach Sam Eddy, defensive secondary assistants Sherod Holmes and Vince Antonuicci and Brian Jones.

The Penguins will hold their final regular practice session at 3:15 p.m., then break up into their respective teams Thursday to prepare for Friday’s contest.

mollica@vindy.com