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WHITE MAKES RIGHT
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Youngstown State wide receiver Pat White (84) pulls down a pass during Saturday’s scrimmage at YSU’s Stambaugh Stadium. White, a senior, had the best scrimmage of his career, with a drop-free, five-catch, 92-yard performance.
Warren Harding grad makes a move for playing time
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
After watching his senior wide receiver have the best scrimmage of his brief career, YSU coach Eric Wolford put his arm around Pat White and introduced him as “Project Pat.”
If Indians slugger Travis Hafner got his “Pronk” nickname from being half-project, half-donkey, White is a “Proff” — half-project, half-giraffe. The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder can make you pull your hair out on one play, then make it stand on end on the next.
But with a drop-free, five-catch, 92-yard performance Saturday afternoon, White made an emphatic plea to be part of YSU’s receiver rotation.
“Pat White made some nice plays,” Wolford said. “He’s coming around.”
White, a Warren Harding graduate, has as much raw ability as any receiver on the roster — he looked like NFL receiver Braylon Edwards on the day’s first touchdown, a 35-yarder he snagged at the ball’s highest point out of a full sprint — but is still learning the position, and the game.
White was a standout basketball player in high school and went to Alfred State junior college on a basketball scholarship before playing one year of football. After transferring to YSU in 2010, he missed part of last fall due to academic issues and did not catch a pass in a game.
Like Edwards, White still drops too many catchable passes. But, like Edwards, he’s making progress in that area.
“Compared to last year, I’m definitely a lot stronger and I’ve got my head in the game more,” White said. “I feel like it was necessary for me to step up [Saturday]. I feel like it was necessary for everyone to step up.”
Receiver remains the offense’s biggest question mark but that unit looked much improved in Saturday’s situational scrimmage. After getting dominated last week, the offense scored seven touchdowns, including a 5-of-7 performance in the red zone.
Quarterback Kurt Hess was 8 of 14 for 129 yards and two TDs and running back Jordan Thompson secured the backup spot behind Jamaine Cook after rushing eight times for 49 yards and a TD.
“I thought the offense had a pretty good day,” Wolford said. “Up to this point, it’s been hit or miss a little bit and not as consistent as I would like to see.
“It was good to see our backs run well; obviously, that means we’re blocking some people. And I saw a couple receivers make some plays.”
The defense played without starting corners Donald D’Alesio and Devont’a Davis — both were held out with minor injuries — and also was missing some key defensive linemen but Wolford wouldn’t accept that as an excuse.
“Defensively, I thought we were just kind of flat,” he said. “We didn’t have the energy I expect us to play with.
“Whether we’re tired or because it’s the end of camp, whatever the case may be, we have to play with more emotion and passion than that.”
Defense dominated the early part of camp but the offense may have taken the lead in the last few days, which is the way it usually works, Wolford said.
The coaches now will solidify their 60-man traveling team, which will include six or seven receivers, Wolford said. White worked hard not to single out his performance on Saturday — “I think we all did pretty good,” he said — but when you see his highlight-reel catches, it’s hard not to wonder what he could add to the offense.
“When you’re 6-5, that’s what you’re expected to do,” he said of the big catches. “When I do it, I feel like I’m supposed to do it, just like Jelani [Berassa] and the other 6-foot receivers.
“We’re just trying to get better and better every day. Today was just a highlight of what we’re working up so hard to do.”