Photo

Jimmy May

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State football team picked up another verbal commitment from an area player this week, while the Mahoning Valley’s top prospect has made his choice.

Warren Harding senior wide receiver Jimmy May became the second Raider to commit to the Penguins, joining running back Demond Hymes.

Also, Poland senior wide receiver Darius Patton has verbally committed to Pitt.

Patton (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) had 49 catches for 800 yards and 12 TDs for the Bulldogs.

Patton is ranked as the No. 23 senior in the Class of 2011 by the recruiting website ScoutingOhio.com.

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Patton, who attended Penn Hills High School outside of Pittsburgh before transferring to Poland before his junior year.

Patton’s father Shawn was a running back on YSU’s 1994 national championship team.

Patton also had Division I offers from West Virginia, Michigan, Syracuse, Michigan State, Cincinnati, Boston College, Wisconsin, Kansas, Indiana, Buffalo, Akron, Bowling Green, Toledo, Miami (Ohio) and Kent State. YSU also offered him a scholarship.

May (6-2, 170) was a second-team all-Trumbull County selection. He played both wide receiver and defensive back for the Raiders. May did not have another Division I offer.

Including Hymes and May, the Penguins have secured five local commitments, with the others coming from West Branch offensive lineman Brandon Ferguson, East cornerback Mike Thomas and Fitch defensive lineman Steve Zaborsky.

Girard WR Landon Smith originally committed to YSU but switched his commitment to Ohio University last week.

Four other Ohio seniors gave verbal commitments to the Penguins this week, based on reports from ScoutingOhio.com and LetsGoGuins.com:

Clyde senior DE Trevor Strickland

Maple Heights senior WR/DB/KR Andre Stubbs.

Calhoun County (S.C.) WR Brandon Thomas

Alfred State Community College safety Sir Aaron Taylor.

YSU hosted about 20 potential recruits last weekend, with another 15 expected this weekend. National Signing Day is Feb. 2.

YSU has 16 verbal commitments so far. Penguins coach Eric Wolford has said he would like to bring in close to 30, although many of those could be on partial scholarships.

The Penguins lose 21 seniors to graduation. They also will need to replace DE Stephen Meadows, who started four games and played five others as a junior last season. He lost his starting spot late in the year and will not return.