YSU safety D’Alesio makes early impact

By JOE SCALZO

scalzo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Playing a new position at a new level for a new team, Donald D’Alesio takes comfort with the familiar things. Like the home crowd, the Stambaugh Stadium turf and the sound of Ron Stoops’ voice in his ear, yelling at him when he does something wrong.

“Coach Stoops, he’s still the same guy,” said D’Alesio, a Mooney High graduate now playing as a true freshman safety at YSU. “He’s hard on me. He’s hard on everybody, though.”

D’Alesio spent the last three years playing cornerback for Stoops, who was defensive coordinator for the Cardinals until leaving to work for Eric Wolford in December.

D’Alesio set a career-high with 11 tackles and also forced a fumble in last week’s 35-25 loss to Missouri State.

Read the story in Wednesday’s Vindicator.