Cook, Tate hope to make impression on YSU coaches

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

Youngstown

YSU football coach Eric Wolford is a former guard, which explains why he’s been putting plenty of heat on the offensive linemen this spring.

After Wednesday’s practice, Wolford went out of his way to praise sophomore running back Jamaine Cook, saying if the line would just open some holes for him, the Penguins would be OK.

Cook, on the other hand, has no such complaints.

“It’s easy to run but it’s hard to block,” said Cook, a Cleveland native. “That’s my thing, blocking.

“I didn’t play too much last year so I’m just learning to block.”

What’s the hardest part?

“A linebacker running full speed at you,” he said. “I’m 5-9, 195 pounds and a linebacker is 240, so I’ve got to learn how to overpower them and get good leverage and have good technique because good technique beats the physical aspect any day.”

Cook had 110 yards on 20 carries last season as a true freshman, where he also played on kickoff return. He and redshirt freshman Torrian Pace, a 5-10, 230-pound bruiser, give the Penguins a formidable backfield duo.

“Cook’s a guy that’ll make you miss,” Wolford said. “He’s a great kid, he works hard. He comes in and watches film every day. He busts his tail and he’s got a bright future.

“Pace, he’s a big body and he’ll slam it up in there. He’ll wear you out. Eventually you get tired of tackling those kind of guys.”

Cook said he spent the offseason working on his strength and speed.

“You’ve got to be fast at the college level,” he said. “And you’ve got to be able to take the pounding for 20 carries.”

But when asked about being praised by Wolford, he just shrugged.

“It makes me feel good, but I want to get better as a team,” he said. “This isn’t about Jamaine. This is about a team trying to win a championship, go to the playoffs, make things happen.”

Junior linebacker Deonta Tate, another spring standout, echoed those thoughts, saying he’ll do whatever the new coaches ask as long as it ends in wins.

“I’m willing to submit to my authority,” he said. “I’ll take my authority and whatever they tell me to do, I’m willing to go out there and do it. As long as it ends in winning games.”

Tate (6-1, 225) played in eight games last year, starting the first four at middle linebacker. He finished with 35 tackles — eight fewer than his freshman year, when he appeared in 10 games and started the final five.

He seemed to fall out of favor with the previous coaching staff last fall, when he didn’t play in three of the final four games.

That’s why this spring is so important.

“The coaches are giving us freedom to go out there and show them what we got, show my abilities and play,” he said. “They’re coaching us up on every play.”