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Junior college lineman commits to Penguins
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
Lamar Mady will move from one of the best college football programs in the country to one hoping to get back to that level.
Mady, a 6-foot-4, 332-pound guard from Butler Community College, committed to Youngstown State on Friday, bolstering a Penguin unit that will lose three starters to graduation.
The Topeka, Kan., native started all 12 games at right guard for the Grizzlies this year, helping Butler finish 11-1 and advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association championship game.
He will compete for playing time at either guard or center.
“I felt good about Youngstown since the day I stepped on campus,” said Mady, who also considered Arkansas State and Western Michigan. “I met a lot of good people there and I liked the players.”
He was also impressed by the facilities, he said.
“The facilities surprised me a lot,” he said. “They were better than expected and they look a lot better than a lot of other colleges.”
Mady said he got good reviews about YSU’s coaching staff from his coaches at Butler. He also talked to Penguin guard DuShawn Brooks, who played basketball at Butler the past two years and gave YSU a good review.
Mady plans to enroll for the spring semester and participate in spring practice. He could be the first of several junior college players to sign with YSU; the school is hosting about 10 this weekend.
After starting the final six games of his freshman year at right tackle, Mady moved inside this fall and earned first team all-conference honors for the Grizzlies, who were No. 1 in the country before falling in the championship game, 13-12.
“When I was playing football at Topeka, I wanted to go Division I out of high school but I didn’t do good on qualifying and as far as being disciplined,” he said. “I went to Butler because they have a great program with good coaches.”
Mady plans to major in physical education at YSU, giving him the opportunity to teach and coach when his playing career is over.
Although YSU is far away, he said his mother and grandfather played a big part in the decision and gave the thumbs up.
“I’m excited to get to Youngstown and get everything rolling,” he said.