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Wolford confident after 2nd spring
When: Saturday, 12:05 p.m.
Where: Stambaugh Stadium.
Radio: WKBN-AM 570.
Setup: Starters versus starters, backups versus backups. Red offense and white defense have first-teamers.
Tickets: $5.
RED
OFFENSE
Linemen: Andrew Radakovich, Lamar Mady, Mark Pratt, Chris Elkins, D.J. Main.
QBs: Kurt Hess, Marc Kanetsky.
RBs: Jamaine Cook, Adaris Bellamy.
WRs: Andre Barboza, Kevin Watts, Juilian Harrell, Jelani Berassa.
TEs: David Rogers, Carson Sharbaugh, Andy Colegrove.
YSU coaches: Shane Montgomery, Louie Matsakis, Andre Coleman.
Honorary coaches: Sam Covelli, Joe Schiavoni.
DEFENSE
Linemen: Josh Fenderson, Kyle Sirl, Brandon Green, Chuck Lengyel, Tim Taumoepeau, Kevin Johnson.
LBs: Dom Rich, John Sasson, Will Shaw, Ethan Slark, Deonta Tate, Dan Fernback, Mark Brandenstein, Thomas Kipp.
DBs: Gannon Hulea, Josh Lee, Justin Austin, Grant Mayes, Matt Romeo, Alex Antonucci.
YSU coaches: Tom Sims, Frank Buffano, Rollen Smith.
Honorary coaches: Harry Meshel, Judge Peter C. Economus.
SPECIALISTS
P Nick Liste, K David Brown, LS Nate Schkurko.
WHITE
OFFENSE
Linemen: Andrew Sinko, Zach Larson, Marc Stevens, Stephen Page, J.P. May, Fred Herdman.
QBs: Patrick Angle, Najee Tyler.
RBs: Allen Jones, Torrian Pace.
WRs: Pat White, Jake Dragovich, Jordan Thompson, Ely Ducatel, Dionte Snow.
TE: Nate Adams.
YSU coaches: Carmen Bricillo, Mauro Monz, George Clark.
Honorary coaches: Eric Ryan, Buzz Pishkur.
DEFENSE
Linemen: Daniel Stewart, Andrew Johnson, Nick DeKraker, Obinna Ekweremuba, D.J. Moss.
LBs: Thomas Sprague, Ali Cheaib, Taylor Hill.
DBs: Donald D’Alesio, Deionte Williams, Scott Sentner, Josh Garner, Jamarious Boatwright, Randy Louis.
YSU coaches: Rick Kravitz, Ron Stoops, Sal Guagliardo.
Honorary coaches: Kelly Pavlik, Jim Gasior.
Wolford confident after 2nd spring
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
If you were to pick a snapshot of Eric Wolford at last year’s Youngstown State spring practice, it would probably show the first-year coach in full fury, getting in the face of one of his players, most likely saying something like, “DO YOUR JOB!”
(There might even be a colorful adjective included between “your” and “job.”)
This spring has been a different story. Wolford has mostly watched in silence, which is either a sign that he’s mellowed since turning 40 last week or that he’s pleased with his team’s performance.
“It’s night and day, for me,” he said at Tuesday’s Bob Dove spring luncheon. “It’s a different team. These kids are doing things right and understand what’s expected.
“I haven’t had to yell and scream nowhere near as much. I have a voice and I don’t have as many headaches.”
Some of the progression has come on the field. Most of the players are entering their second year in Wolford’s system and, naturally, look better.
But Wolford said the progress can be seen in other areas, from putting their towels away (“They know if they don’t put their towels back, they’re going to drip-dry or dry off with paper towels”) to their attitudes (“It’s yes sir, no sir”) to their conditioning (“We’re a more physical football team”).
The Penguins will get a chance to display their progress in Saturday’s annual Red-White spring game, which will feature a starters versus starters format. (Last year’s game was starters versus backups.)
It will be the last chance for the current players to impress the coaches in a competitive atmosphere before 30 freshmen arrive this summer, most on defense.
“In certain positions, we’re in pretty good shape,” Wolford said. “I say all the time, ‘You’ve got 15 practices to show what you can do. Then we go into the fall and we got some new guys coming in. And we kind of already know what you can do. It’s your job to hold on to your spot.’”
Wolford feels confident in every offensive position except receiver, where he is trying out sophomore running back Jordan Thompson in an effort to upgrade the talent and create more competition. Defensively, the Penguins have looked solid on the defensive line but injuries have ravaged his linebackers and defensive backs this spring, so the depth chart at those positions could change over the next few months.
Regardless of what happens Saturday, Wolford and his staff will pay careful attention to how his players perform in the “voluntary” conditioning sessions that run from May through July.