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Youth being served for YSU football team
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Youngstown State quarterback Kurt Hess (12) throws a pass during Saturday’s loss to Western Illinois in Macomb, Ill.
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
Before the season started, Youngstown State football coach Eric Wolford said he didn’t plan on redshirting many players.
He’s been true to his word.
The Penguins have played 13 true freshman this fall, to go with 19 first-time players and 16 first-time starters.
Two of those true freshmen — free safety Donald D’Alesio and wide receiver Kevin Watts — are regular starters, as are redshirt freshmen Kurt Hess (QB) and Carson Sharbaugh (TE).
“As Coach said yesterday, we’re not freshmen anymore,” said Hess. “We’ve played all season and we can’t be counted as freshmen. This experience will help us.”
Even with four losses, the Penguins aren’t ready to write off this season. But at some point, the staff may have to weigh the benefits of rewarding seniors against developing younger players.
The Penguins have just eight senior starters but you could argue that four of them are among the team’s five best players: WR Dominique Barnes, OG Eric Rodemoyer, DT Torrance Nicholson and CB Brandian Ross.
The other senior starters — guard Bobby Coates, center Justin Rechichar and defensive end Luke Matelan — are also huge contributors, so it’s a safe bet they won’t be leaving the field.
But the other positions could be open.
“I think about what we can do, two or three years from now, as we continue to grow as a team,” said YSU coach Eric Wolford. “And we’re an all new staff, that’s the encouraging part of it.
“If we finish second or third [in the league], that’d be a good start for us with a pretty young ball club.”