Spring practice begins on a perfect day

Coach Jon Heacock put some 90 players through opening drills.

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State football coach Jon Heacock couldn’t have more happy with his team’s opening practice session of spring drills Wednesday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium.

“I thought it was just a great day,” Heacock said. “The sun was shining. It was a good fall afternoon is what it was.

“The kids were excited and they put forth a good effort with a good attitude. There was a lot of learning and we’re still working through that process, but I thought effort and attitude were excellent.”

More than 90 players took part in the opening drills and Heacock and his staff spent time early just getting everyone lined up properly.

The quarterbacks threw a lot and well, while the wide receivers also looked impressive. The Penguins worked out for just over 21‚Ñ2 hours with the final 30 minutes spent on special teams.

Asked if he thought the quarterback competition would carry all the way through summer, Heacock responded. “I think all the positions you hope carry all the way through summer. You hope everybody competes and realizes that they are never too comfortable. I thought those guys, all three of them, had a pretty good day today.”

The Penguins have three quarterback candidates, led by junior Todd Rowan of LaBrae High, redshirt freshman Paul Corsaro of Indianapolis and junior transfer Brandon Summers of Toledo.

“I think Todd’s got a little more experience and Paul’s got some handle at least of formations and some quarterback meanings,” Heacock said. “Brandon’s obviously the one who hasn’t been through some of that stuff. We’ll just keep feeding them as much as we can and still understand that they are going to make mistakes and some of those kinds of things, but we just have to keep going.”

Heacock said the experience on the offensive line will help this year.

“Sure it does, there’s no doubt,” he said. “It’s going to be important. Tyler Booth being back and Brad Samsa at center helps, but with those guys there is a bit of a learning curve. Brad’s only been at center one day.”

Overall Heacock was pleased with the competition.

“Spring is competitive,” he said. “It’s exciting, it’s fun. You just come out here and practice and put the ball down and scrimmage a little big and teach and learn. There’s a lot of young folks who want a chance to play. You see enthusiasm of guys who were on some scout teams a year ago and are now hungry football players.”

The Penguins return to practice Friday at 3:30 p.m.