Bledsoe fits in well in YSU’s secondary

By Pete Mollica | September 11, 2009 at 12:05a.m.

He’s finally eligible for the Penguins after transferring from TCU following the 2008 season.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — You can just call him “Sir”.

Sir Demarco Bledsoe, sophomore strong safety for the Youngstown State football game has the unusual first name, but it is one that he respects and likes to be used.

Bledsoe, a native of Piedmont, Okla., came to the Penguins this past summer after transferring from Texas Christian, where he play regularly in 2008 after redshirting his first season.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound defender said that he got his unusual first name from his father.

“My dad was in the service and served in Vietnam and always had to call his lieutenant Sir, so he just thought that he’d give me that name also,” Bledsoe said.

“It was kind of tough when I was growing up and the kids all made jokes about it and I didn’t like that very much, but now that I’ve gotten older I really like it,” he added.

Bledsoe said that his YSU teammates refer to him as Sir “and I really appreciate that.”

But just how does an Oklahoma native, who played his first season in Texas, wind up at Youngstown State?

“Well, when I first decided to transfer I was thinking about going to Northern Illinois and the coach there, Coach [Jerry] Kill talked to me and said there was some problems with my transcripts, but that I should talk to YSU and Coach Heacock, who was good friends with him.”

“I came here for a visit and just fell in love with this place,” Bledsoe said.

He’s also fit right into the Penguins defensive secondary and in YSU’s season-opening loss to Pittsburgh last Saturday he led the team in tackles with nine including one for a loss.

“He’s definitely a player,” said YSU coach Jon Heacock. “He’s come in here and worked very hard and he had some big tackles last Saturday. He also missed a few, but he’s really still learning our defense, he’s only going to get better.

Playing a season at TCU helped Bledsoe in the opener against the Panthers in front of big crowd.

“A lot of the guys were a little nervous before the game, but I was used to it and it didn’t bother me at all,” he said.

Bledsoe played in eight games with the Horned Frogs his redshirt freshman season in 2008 as TCU posted an 11-2 record and beat Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl, 17-16.

In high school he was an all-state wide receiver at Piedmont High and was the District 1-4A player of the year his senior season. He also ran track and played basketball.

Bledsoe and the Penguins will play host to Austin Peay University on Saturday in the home opener at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.

mollica@vindy.com