Penguins wide open at wide receiver

August 25, 2010 at 12:10a.m.

By JOE SCALZO

YOUNGSTOWN

Last fall, as future NFL receiver Donald Jones was giving Missouri Valley Football Conference cornerbacks fits, YSU’s Dominique Barnes took advantage of being the team’s second option, catching a league-best eight TD passes.

With Jones now playing for the Bills and Barnes the Penguins’ clear No. 1 option, there are several YSU receivers hoping to punish teams planning to double-team Barnes.

“I want to be the guy they go to in that situation,” said sophomore Juilian Harrell.

Added junior Ely Ducatel, “As a receiver, you love it when you get a corner pressed up against you one-on-one, because you become the guy coaches look to get the ball. That gives you the opportunity to make the big play when you know it’s coming your way.”

Thing is, with YSU’s up-tempo spread, there may not necessarily be a No. 2 guy. YSU’s base offense features three or four wideouts on every play, so there’s plenty of opportunity.

“We’re going to play six or seven guys a game,” said receivers coach Phil Longo. “We’re very well-rounded.”

Several receivers joined starting QB Kurt Hess this summer, working out at 6 p.m. every night to run routes, work on timing and get more comfortable.

Ducatel stayed close to Barnes and learned a lot from him.

“Barnes made me step up my game,” said Ducatel (6-foot-1, 195). “And I feel like I made Dom a lot better this year just by pushing him and competing against him.

“I think all that work is starting to pay off and show up a little bit.”

After redshirting in 2007, Ducatel missed the 2008 season with a knee injury and appeared in just one game last fall, playing on special teams against Pittsburgh. But he’s starting to get reps with the first team this summer.

“He’s probably the most improved guy we have from the beginning of spring ball until now,” Longo said.

Harrell (6-2, 210), a transfer from Miami (Ohio), was originally recruited by Penguins offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery. He redshirted two years ago and didn’t play last fall, prompting him to look elsewhere. It took him a few days to pick up the team’s hand signals but has looked comfortable in recent weeks.

“I think my best attribute is running after the catch,” he said. “I haven’t had the chance to do that much in scrimmages but I’m hoping once the season starts, I’ll be able to do that more.”

Junior Andre Barboza (6-2, 210), a transfer from Erie Community College, has also looked good and gives Hess yet another big target. And there’s a couple shorter receivers such as junior Josh Lee (5-9, 190) and freshman Kevin Watts (6-0, 220) who have shown good athleticism. They’ve seen a lot of action in the slot, where they can serve as running threats.

YSU lost sophomore Jelani Berassa to an ACL injury early in camp, but with talented juniors Pat White (6-6, 220), Lynell Payne (6-3, 200) and Dionte Snow (6-2, 190), there’s plenty of talent left on the roster.

“As you identify your talent, you cater what you can and what you do to those talents,” said Longo, who as the offensive coordinator for Southern Illinois the last two years helped the Salukis go 15-1 in the conference. “We’ve identified guys who are good one-on-one, guys who have running back ability, guys who are good with the deep ball, the possession receivers, the good blockers.

“We can do a number of things with a number of them.”