YSU football signs four players

Staff report

YOUngstown

The Youngstown State football program announced the addition of four defensive players, who will enroll in the university for the spring semester.

Two of the players are juniors who were at junior colleges in the fall: Safeties Chris Charles of Pompano Beach, Fla., who played at Ellsworth (Iowa) Community College, and Twin Fernandes of Buena Park, Calif., who played at Compton (Calif.) College.

Also joining YSU will be sophomore cornerback Julis Childs of Los Angeles, a teammate of Fernandes’ at Compton, and freshman linebacker Terry Johnson of Countryside High School in Pinellas Park, Fla.

Charles (6-foot, 195 pounds) played at Coral Springs Charter High School in Florida. At Ellsworth College, he was a first-team Midwest Football Conference selection as a defensive back. In 2010 Ellsworth won eight games and Charles was credited with 65 total tackles, including 36 solo stops.

Julius Childs (5-11, 175) had 29 tackles in nine games for Compton and tied for the team lead with seven pass breakups. He also returned 25 kickoffs for an average of 24.5 yards. His longest return was 83 yards for a touchdown.

Fernandes (6-0, 185), was a unanimous selection as the Mountain Conference American Division Defensive Player of the Year. He led Compton with 85 total tackles, including 45 solo stops. He was also credited with 11 tackles for loss and had three pass breakups.

Johnson (6-4, 200) was the St. Petersburg Times Pinellas County defensive player of the year as a linebacker in 2010. He had 95 tackles (75 solos) and a sack, returned an interception for a touchdown and had two fumble recoveries. Johnson originally signed with YSU in February of 2011, but did not attend college in the fall semester.

The Penguins finished the 2011 season with a 6-5 record, including a 4-4 mark in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Youngstown State allowed 25.7 points per game.

The Penguins open the 2012 campaign on Sept. 1 with a road game against Pittsburgh.