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YSU coach: Freshman Christian Bryan has chance to be special
YSU VS. VALPARAISO
When: Saturday, 4 p.m.
Where: YSU’s Stambaugh Stadium
Radio: WKBN-AM 570
Photo
Wide receiver Christian Bryan (2) became the first Penguin freshman of the FCS era to have six catches in one game on Friday against Michigan State.
YSU | Players of the Week
Offense: Christian Bryan (5-10, 180, Fr.), WR from Irwin, Pa.
Defense: Daniel Stewart (6-0, 255, Sr.), DE from Long Beach, Calif.
Special teams: Dom Rich (6-1, 230, Soph.), LB from Canfield
Offensive lineman: Mark Pratt (6-3, 320, Jr.), C from Tooele, Utah
Defensive lineman: Stewart
Scout offense: Andrew Williams (6-2, 170, Fr.), WR from Bowman, S.C.
Scout defense: Emmanuel Kromah (6-1, 245, Fr.), DT from Trenton, N.J.
Scout special teams: Cy Edison (5-11, 230, Soph.), LB from East Liverpool
Hit of the week: Jeremey Edwards (6-1, 210, Jr.), SS from Los Angeles
Player of the game (radio): Edwards
Leadership award: Stewart
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
In the days leading up to last Friday’s opener against Michigan State, Youngstown State receiver Christian Bryan kept reminding himself that the 11 guys on MSU’s defense, the 75,000 fans in the stands and the thousands watching on the Big Ten Network were going to look at Bryan and see a 5-foot-10 true freshman and think, “Eh.”
“All week I was preparing myself for the underdog role, that it was me against the world and everyone thinks I can’t do it and this and that,” Bryan said Tuesday. “But on the way there, I just hit this confidence that nothing was gonna stop me.
“I fully expected to step on the field and for my heart to be pounding and start shaking a little bit on that first play. It didn’t happen.”
That’s not to say things went smoothly. Take warm-ups, for example.
“I was dropping everything in pregame,” he said, smiling. “A couple coaches had to tell me to calm down.”
Bryan caught his first pass on the game’s fifth play and added five more for 45 yards, becoming YSU’s first freshman wide receiver of the FCS era to catch six passes in a game.
The Penguins played eight receivers on Friday. None played more than Bryan’s 63 snaps.
“He’s got a chance to be special,” YSU coach Eric Wolford said. “He’s come in here and done a really good job. I think he’s kind of a leader of that [freshman] class.
“He does it by example, though. He doesn’t necessarily talk about it all the time.”
That’s been Bryan’s M.O. for most of his career. He was a four-year starter at Norwin (Pa.) High and a team captain his senior year. He learned YSU’s offensive playbook in a few days. The Penguins had a seven-on-seven practice session on the second day of summer and one of the seniors, Ely Ducatel, pulled Bryan aside and taught him the signals.
“I caught on right there,” said Bryan, who turned 19 on Monday. “I knew it right after that. Once I see it, I can just remember it.
“I sort of consider myself a football junkie. Everything I do is football, football, football, which can be a bad thing when it comes to school.
“But once I got that playbook, boom, I was in that playbook, studying it.”
Bryan’s favorite receiver is Eagles burner DeSean Jackson, but in size and style, Bryan most resembles a slot receiver.
But Bryan can already play any of YSU’s wide receiver positions and offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery has been playing him outside more recently.
“I don’t know who I compare myself to,” he said. “I sort of possess a possession receiver-type quality. I do have a little bit of quickness but I’m not the fastest.
“I don’t know who to emulate my game off of. I just try to go out and play the best I can.”
When asked if Bryan has exceeded his expectations, Wolford said, “Well, that’s the kind of guys we want. If you have a team of Christian Bryans, you’ve got a chance to be pretty good.
“He never complains. His legs are never tired. They might be, but you’d never know it. Right now, the whole receiver group is better because they have to work up to his standards.”
YSU, which did not start a senior on offense against the Spartans, will play its home opener against Valparaiso on Saturday hoping to snap an eight-game losing streak.
“I’ve been thinking about this ever since I committed here,” Bryan said. “I knew all about the tradition at Youngstown State, all about the stadium, about how passionate the fans are and how much they care about football here. It’s going to be awesome. I can’t wait.”
YSU opponents | How they fared
Michigan State (1-0) defeated Youngstown State 28-6; (next vs. Florida Atlantic)
Valparaiso (0-1) lost to Franklin 49-35; (next at YSU)
Illinois State (0-1) lost to Eastern Illinois 33-26; (next vs. Morehead State)
Indiana State (0-1) lost to Penn State 41-7; (next vs. Butler)
South Dakota State (1-0) defeated Southern Utah 29-28; (next at Illinois)
Southern Illinois (1-0) defeated SE Missouri State 38-10; (next at Ole Miss)
Saint Francis (0-1) lost to Wagner 38-28; (next at North Dakota State)
Western Illinois (0-1) lost to Sam Houston State 20-6; (next vs. Jacksonville)
Northern Iowa (0-1) lost to Iowa State 20-19; (next at Stephen F. Austin)
North Dakota State (1-0) defeated Lafayette 42-6; (next vs. St. Francis)
Missouri State (0-1) lost to Arkansas 51-7; (next at Eastern Kentucky)
Overall record: 4-7