YOUNGSTOWN STATE FOOTBALL: Missing in Action

Five of the six Penguin starters haven’t taken a snap this spring, but hopefully will be ready in the fall.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

Youngstown State footbal coach Jon Heacock is anxiously awaiting this morning’s annual spring jersey scrimmage, but he also has mixed emotions about the players who will be missing the action.

The Penguins have six potential starters, five who have not taken a snap all spring, that won’t be in action today or next Friday in the annual Red and White Spring game.

Obviously Heacock would much rather have those six players out on the field right now, but he’s also using their absence to get more playing time for some of his younger players this spring.

“Of course you want them to be out there, but on the same token with their injuries you are never sure exactly if or when they will be getting back into the action,” Heacock said.

“We’re planning on those guys being back, but you never know,” he added. “Just like last season we had a starter go down in the opener and never returned, so you can never be sure and it always helps to have people ready to step in if the need arises.”

Of the six starters who have missed all or most of the spring this year, four had off season surgery and are still rehabilitating their injuries.

A year ago the Penguins lost senior All-American defensive tackle Mychal Savage in the season opener against Ohio State and the 6-2, 305 pound standout never returned to action. He received a medical redshirt giving him another season this coming year.

Savage had surgery, as did senior cornerback Jarvis Richards, junior defensive end Luke Matelan and junior fullback Kyle Banna. They are all still on rehab this spring and have not taken part in any of the drills. But hopefully they all will be ready for fall camp in August.

Senior wide receiver, one of the most talented receivers on the Penguins roster, has also been out all spring with a hamstring injury and will not take part in any drills, while senior linebacker Rashon Simons went down with a knee injury during the first contact day the Penguins had this spring and will not be seeing any more action this spring.

The 6-1, 250 pound Simons is still awaiting a decision on whether he’ll need surgery, although he would be eligible for a redshirt year if he needs surgery and has to sit out the upcoming season.

But even without the presence of those standouts Heacock still feels that his Penguins have made a lot of progress already this spring.

“We’re going to know a lot more about this team after Saturday’s scrimmage,” he said. We’ve been relatively healthy and I think that we definitely have gotten better.”

Heacock says that he looks forward to an outstanding scrimmage session this morning.

“We had just an outstanding spirited practice on Wednesday,” said Heacock. “The hitting was as good as I’ve ever seen it here, there were 30 minutes of chaos out there and they were competing on both sides of the football for the entire time.”

“It wasn’t as spirited Thursday, but then there wasn’t all the hitting that went on Wednesday,” he added. “I’m really looking forward to Saturday’s scrimmage.”

Heacock said that the scrimmage will get underway at 9:45 a.m. at the Stadium.

The Penguins will have Sunday off and then return Monday at 7 a.m. They’ll also practice Tuesday morning and then be on hand for the Bob Dove Spring Luncheon at the DeBartolo Stadium Club. They will be off Wednesday and use Thursday morning for prepare for the annual spring game next Friday at 7:30 p.m.

mollica@vindy.com