Sunday, August 19, 2012
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
Earlier this week, Youngs-town State football coach Eric Wolford lost one of his starting receivers, his top returning defensive starter lost his job and one of last year’s most highly-touted recruits lost his place in the program.
Saturday’s scrimmage wasn’t quite as eventful.
Like last week, YSU’s defense was dominant early but the offense looked better over the second hour as the Penguins left their final scrimmage of the summer healthy and hopeful.
“I thought we played well on both sides of the ball at different times,” Wolford said. “We didn’t rep a lot of guys we knew could play. We wanted to see some other guys get in there and play and move some guys around at some different positions to see who would respond.
“Overall, we feel good about it.”
YSU’s offense was without junior receiver Jelani Berassa, who will miss the season after tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee during a non-contact 7-on-7 drill Wednesday. Berassa redshirted the 2010 season with a torn ACL in his right knee. He also tore his right ACL as a junior in high school.
“He’s got some issues with his knee and it’s something he’s born with,” said Wolford, who believes Berassa will get another redshirt year. “Just like the other knee, once we get it fixed, it’ll be like everyone else’s knee, sturdy and good to go.”
Berassa (6-4, 210) led YSU’s receivers with eight TDs last season and was second in catches (37) and yards (552). Wolford has several receivers who can match Berassa’s size and ability but no has been able to match his consistency, something that didn’t change Saturday as the Penguins dropped several catchable passes.
“Somebody needs to step up and take the reins,” Wolford said. “Obviously we’re disappointed that we dropped a couple balls. I don’t know if it’s being anxious, but we talked about being able to come out here and being able to play in a live environment.”
Defensively, sophomore Dubem “Bam” Nwadiogbu started over weakside linebacker Travis Williams, who started every game last season as a freshman and finished second on the team in tackles. Williams was the defensive standout at the spring game but has not impressed the coaches this summer and played with the second team on Saturday.
“Travis Williams lost his job last week,” Wolford said. “Bam beat him out.
“Hey, that’s the way it is around here. You better have fear for your job.”
Williams was one of two University of Miami (Fla.) transfers from last summer; the other, cornerback Devont’a Davis, left the team on Thursday. Davis originally left the team earlier this summer, only to return in time for camp.
Still, the Penguins are in good shape at corner thanks to the return of sophomores Donald D’Alesio (shoulder) and Jamarious Boatwright (ankle, knee).
D’Alesio started seven games at safety in 2010 and started the first three games at cornerback last season before injuring his shoulder against Illinois State. He played mostly at nickel cornerback on Saturday, his first live action since his injury.
“Donald’s a good football player,” Wolford said. “He’s a guy we need to have on the football field.”
D’Alesio had his shoulder surgically repaired last fall and has battled scar tissue this summer. He said he still feels some pain, “but there’s always going to be a little bit of pain,” he said. “That’s anybody, healthy or not healthy. I trust it [the shoulder], though. The doctor did a good job.”
And, unlike the past two years, YSU has the depth and talent to deal with some adversity, not to mention the Penguin offense.
“We’re definitely flying around and you can tell we’re a lot faster,” D’Alesio said. “[Defensive coordinator Joe] Tresey does a good job. He’s on us hard.
“We hate it, but you can see it works out.”