Healthy Smith returns at tailback for YSU

By Pete Mollica

The junior college transfer from California missed all of last season with a hamstring injury.

YOUNGSTOWN — The 2008 football season was just a blur for Youngstown State senior tailback Kevin Smith.

Smith, a San Diego, native, came to YSU out of Grossmont Community College in 2007 and quickly moved into the Penguins’ starting backfield at tailback.

He had an outstanding season for the Penguins in 2007, rushing for 610 yards on 123 carries and 10 touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 80 yards and another score. His 66 points were the second most on the team.

His efforts earned him a spot on the 2007 All-Gateway Newcomer team and he was also the Gateway Offensive Player of the week for his play against Missouri State when he rushed for 102 yards on 15 carries and scored three touchdowns.

The Penguins could hardly wait for 2008 to see what Smith would do.

But 2008 never happened. The 5-foot-10, 195 pounder pulled a hamstring in spring practice. Then sometime between spring and fall camp, he tore the muscle.

“I really don’t know how or when it happened,” Smith said. “But I know that it was a year that I never want to go through again.

“There were times when I thought that it might come around, but it never really happened,” he said. “It was difficult because I wanted to be out there helping the team and with every loss I just felt worse and worse.”

Smith is back this year after taking the 2008 season as a redshirt year and he’s healthy and ready to pick up where he left off in 2007.

The only problem is that it is pretty crowded right now at the tailback position.

Going in the spring drills there are five players working out at tailback. Three of them are seniors and four of them have all played significant roles in the offense over the past two seasons.

In addition to Smith, there are senior Jabari Scott and senior Dana Brown and sophomore Kamryn Keys along with the newest addition redshirt freshman Paris Wicks Jr., whose father was a two-time All-American tailback with the Penguins in 1981 and 1982.

“A lot of people ask me about having so many tailbacks and whether I have enough footballs to go around,” YSU head coach Jon Heacock said. “Last year, we started out with a lot of people back there and ended the season with one who wasn’t even a tailback to start the year.

“You can never have enough good tailbacks especially in the rugged Missouri Valley Conference,” Heacock said. “And who said that we only had to play one of them at a time? Why not use two or even three back there if we want to?”

Smith is all excited about just being back and having the opportunity to play again.

“There are a lot of good backs here and I feel that the coaches are giving everyone an equal opportunity to win a starting position,” Smith said.

“We all work pretty [well] together and everyone is there to help out the other if its needed,” Smith said. “Football is a rough game and you never know when somebody is going to go down, so you always have to be ready.

“I’m probably in the best shape that I’ve ever been in,” Smith said. “All I’ve been doing is lifting and working out because I couldn’t play. Now I’m ready to go.”

Last year, Keys led the team in rushing with 804 yards on 136 carries while starting just six games. He began the season as a wide receiver.

Keys and Scott, who started five games and rushed for 405 yards on 55 carries, each scored five touchdowns. Brown finished with 272 yards on 73 tries and scored once.

The Penguins’ next spring practice session will be Tuesday at 7 a.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.

mollica@vindy.com