Wolford looking for starters

By Joe Scalzo | March 23, 2011 at 12:08a.m.

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Penguins coach Eric Wolford talks with the media on the eve of his second season of spring football season

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State football coach Eric Wolford begins spring practice today with one new coach, several new players and the same expectations.

He might also get some rain and sleet, which is fine with him.

“Hopefully if you’re in playoff games around here, you’re getting a little bit of cold and snow,” said Wolford. “As you know, that’s [the postseason] where we’re expected to be.

“We embrace that opportunity.”

The Penguins are trying to replace 21 seniors, including seven starters, from last year’s team, which went 3-8, including 1-7 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. They also had seven non-seniors leave the team, including former starters Stephen Meadows (DE), David Rach (LB) and Jake Smith (K).

Five junior college recruits have already enrolled — all of which are expected to compete for starting positions — and a few new players have walked on as the Penguins try to solidify starting spots before 30 incoming freshmen/transfers join the team this summer.

“We’ve got 15 practices to prove who the best guys are,” Wolford said.

The new junior college players include right tackle Lamar Mady (penciled in as the starter while D.J. Main rehabs a foot injury) and center Mark Pratt (also penciled in as a starter), kicker David Brown (who will replace Smith) and defensive linemen Nick DeKraker and Josh Fenderson.

Also, former Ursuline defensive back Justin Austin, who originally signed with Mercyhurst two years ago, has joined the team.

Tight ends coach Mauro Monz is the lone new addition to the coaching staff. He was added after receivers coach Phil Longo left the team and last year’s tight end coach, Andre Coelman, moved over to coach wideouts.

YSU has question marks on both sides of the ball, but Wolford’s clear focus is on repairing the team’s suspect defense: specifically third-downs and end-of-game situations.

“Defensively, we’ve got to do things better,” he said. “We want to see that defense come together and have some leadership develop.”

Senior linebacker John Sasson, the team’s leading tackler last fall, has drawn raves from the YSU coaching staff this winter for his performance in conditioning drills, his work ethic and his leadership. Sasson’s work ethic has been compared favorably to junior running back Jamaine Cook, who Wolford considers the team’s best player and best worker.

“You could try to bring [Ravens linebacker] Ray Lewis in and John’s not going to give anything up; he’s going to go down swinging,” Wolford said. “John’s an overachiever guy. He gets basically everything out of what he’s been given.”

The Penguins start hitting on Saturday and will hold scrimmages on April 2 and April 9. The spring game is at noon on April 16. Wolford said he would like to see 8,000 fans at the spring game, a lofty goal considering the game drew just over 2,000 last year.

In the meantime, Wolford will emphasize fundamentals and will grade players on four things: alignment, assignment, technique and effort.

With one year in the system, he expects better performance from the players and expects more from himself.

“Last year was a lot of firsts,” he said. “There’s not a lot of things I would change that we’ve done.

“I feel confident about the progress and the direction of the program.”