YSU players select Savage, Jones captains

By Pete Mollica

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State football team will put its leadership into the hands of a couple of All-Americans this season.

The Penguins, by a vote of the players, selected senior defensive tackle Mychal Savage and senior wide receiver Donald Jones to be their leaders for the 2009 season.

Savage was selected captain last year but his season ended in the team’s opening game at Ohio State and he was given a medical redshirt by the NCAA. He was an All-American selection after the 2007 season and was a preseason pick both last year and this year.

Jones, who transferred to the Penguins from junior college a year ago, is also receiving preseason All-American accolades and is one of the team’s top professional prospects.

“I thought the team made two outstanding selections,” said head coach Jon Heacock. “Both of those guys have been leaders on and off the field this year.”

Savage, (6-2, 310) who hails from Hartsdale, N.Y., said he was honored by the selection.

“It is a great honor, one that I really look forward to, but I truly feel that we have 12 captains on this team, because everyone of the seniors are really the leaders of this team,” Savage said.

When asked about what he’s seen of Savage thus far this year, Heacock never hesitated.

“I expected Mychal to come into camp rusty because he hadn’t played football in a year and he did,” Heacock said. “I also expected him to improve quickly and make an impact on the defense, which he also has done. He’s always been a leader. That comes naturally.”

Jones (6-2, 210) from Plainfield, N.J., came on last season and led the team in receiving yardage as well as touchdown receptions. He and senior quarterback Brandon Summers are expected to be one of the top passing duos in the Football Championship Subdivision this season.

“I really is a great honor to be selected captain and I’m looking forward to the challenges that go along with this honor,” Jones said.

“This football team has a lot of great leaders and Mychal and I will only just head up that group.”