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Savage FORCE for YSU
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STAMBAUGH STRETCHING: Youngstown State University football head coach JOn Heacock patrols as his players prepare for Monday's practice.
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FIRST-TEAM HONOREE: Defensive lineman Mychal Savage was first team all-Gateway Conference during the 2007 season.
The All-American and two-time
Gateway Conference first-team pick is eyeing an even greater senior season.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN — For the past three seasons, Mychal Savage has been a dominant force on the Youngstown State football team’s defensive line.
The 6-2, 305-pound tackle from Hartsdale, N.Y., is beginning his senior season and feels that he has a lot more to accomplish before he ends his career with the Penguins.
As a freshman in 2005, Savage played in 10 games and started seven of them while being named to the Gateway Conference All-Newcomer Team.
As a sophomore in 2006, Savage played in all 14 games, starting 13 of them. He totaled 54 tackles and three sacks, and earned first-team All-Gateway Conference honors.
Last season, he again started all 11 games, registering 43 tackles including 4.5 sacks.
He repeated as a first-team All-Conference selection while being named to the SportsNetwork All-American squad as a third-team selection.
Just what does this outstanding performer do to follow up those honors?
“Well, first of all I have to try and survive [defensive line] Coach [Antoine] Smith’s two-day sessions,” Savage joked.
“Then I just have to keep working hard every day and try to get better each day, and then continue to do the things that I need to do to help this football team in any way I can,” Savage said.
Savage heads up a veteran defensive front line, but one that needs to be sound since the Penguins lost all three starting linebackers from a year ago.
“It’s going to be our job to keep some of the pressure off our linebackers, especially early in the season until they get acclimated to the system,” Savage said.
“We have some depth and experience on the line coming back and we’re going to have to come off the ball quicker and put the pressure on the offense,” he said.
“Overall I feel that this defense, once it comes together this fall, is going to be a very good one, there is a whole lot of talent there,” Savage said.
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LINEBACKER PREPARATION: Linebacker Mike Barlak works his legs during Youngstown State's football practice on Monday.
One of those new starting linebackers is senior Mike Barlak, a 6-2, 235 pounder from Monroeville, Pa.
While Barlak hasn’t started any games since he’s been with the Penguins, he has seen considerable playing time, not only at linebacker, but also as the team’s primary long snapper for punts and placement kicks.
He also saw action on several special teams units.
Last year, he was named the HBK Special Teams Player of the Game against Lock Haven.
“Losing three starters like the three we lost last year always puts a hole in the defense, but its now a challenge and an honor for us to make our mark and fill in those holes,” Barlak said.
“I’m just looking forward to do what I can do to help this football team this year.”
Barlak said that it all started to come together during spring practice.
“We really started working together there and it’s just progressed from there,” Barlak said. “We were here all summer together and we just keep working as hard as we can to get ready for the season.
“Overall this is a pretty young defense, but I’m excited about it and excited to be a part of it and we can’t wait for the season to get started,” Barlak said.
The Penguins held their first two-a-day practice session on Monday. They scrimmaged in the morning and afternoon.
The Penguins suffered a key injury during the morning session when fifth-year senior Tyler Booth went down with a knee injury during the scrimmage.
Booth, who missed all of last season because of knee surgery, will have his knee evaluated today. It didn’t appear to be as serious an injury as the one a year ago as he was up walking around on it during the afternoon session.
The Penguins will workout once today at 2:40 p.m. and then hold their second two-a-day session on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
The team’s annual photo day will be Thursday at 3 p.m., which is open to the public at Stambaugh Stadium.
mollica@vindy.com