By John Bassetti

sports@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

East will have a new starting quarterback this season following the transfer of Bobby Jefferson, who is now at Warren JFK.

Jefferson completed 27 of 82 passes for 406 yards as a junior in 2014, when senior Brandon Jackson was 27 of 93 for 501 yards. Jackson is gone, too, along with 23 other seniors for third-year coach P.J. Mays.

“Bobby transferred from Youngstown Early College to Warren JFK,” Mays said. “He was told that JFK was a better school than Early College and the opportunity to play at a lower level [Division VII] was appealing to him and his family.”

Mays left no doubt that Jefferson would have been the Panthers’ starting quarterback.

“He was the guy we’ve been grooming for two years,” he said.

Offense

However, the offense will also suit James Boatwright III and his abilities as QB.

“We are used to losing guys to other schools and we just move on,” Mays said. “The cupboard’s never bare, but, sometimes, it’s a little thinner than we’d like it to be.”

Although Boatwright is the front-runner and one of 11 seniors, this is his first year of high school football.

“We’re trying to get them ready to play high school games against teams with kids who have grown up playing together,” Mays said. “It’s difficult, but we make the best with what we have.”

Joining Boatwright under center are junior Mike Ramey and freshmen Thomas Steele and Marcus Finkley.

Tyron Jefferson, a junior, opened a lot of eyes during 7-on-7 drills as a receiver, but is nursing a knee problem.

“We’re going to make sure that he gets a chance to catch the ball because he’s really aggressive, and coordinated for a 6-5, 205 guy and he’s fast enough to stretch a defense.”

Tyron — no relation to Bobby — didn’t play last year because he wasn’t sure he wanted to stay at East.

“He ended up staying and we’re lucky to have him,” the coach said.

Another bright spot is Imoni Donadelle, one of four returning starters. Donadelle is a WR and DB and was on East’s 4-x-4 relay that placed third at state.

“I think he’s one of the premier perimeter players in our area,” Mays said.

Along with Donadelle, Jonathan Gregory and Jawan Showers are key offensive players and Larry Reed has logged plenty of time.

Because some bigger guys are available, senior OL Mike Stevens is moving to tight end.

Returning at center where he started some games in 2014 as a freshman is Marcus Caudill. Shoring up the interior are Keyshon Childs and Victor Cruz. Freshman Chris Fitzgerald will play left tackle, while Melvin Williams will be right tackle.

Also in the backfield with Reed and Showers will be Leon Bell, Mike Lawrence, Ilijah Donley, Tremain Ivy and Greg Lincoln.

Defense

In its scrimmage with Akron Firestone earlier this month, East’s defense was a highlight.

Linebacker TaBrian Donlow returns after leading the Panthers in tackles (86) and sacks (six) last season. Along with Donlow, Gregory is another linebacker.

“There’s no two better guys you build a defense around than those,” the coach said of Donlow and Gregory. Reed and Donley are also in the LB corps. Stevens and Andrae Foster will also be a defensive end, while Lawrence will play safety.

Donlow will also be called upon when the Panthers’ offense gets closer to the end zone.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Come time for the coin toss on opening night, East may also want to toss a coin to determine its kicker.

“I have no clue,” Mays said. “We’re trying to get the right fit, but, as of now, we have no kicker.”

Mays penciled in Gregory as punter.

Outlook

Mays welcomes a return to a league (All-American Conference Red Tier) since the City Series’ extinction.

“It’s difficult to play at Westlake up in Cleveland or in New Philadelphia,” he said of East’s independent status until now. “It’s disappointing. Then you may schedule teams when you don’t know how good they are — like Division V state runner-up Canton Central Catholic in 2014.”

East was 1-9 in Mays’ first season and 2-8 last year.

“We’ve got to get better because where we’ve been is not good. We’ve got to win games we’re supposed to win and being perfect [5-0] at home is our goal. You’ve got to start defending the place you call home. If you want to be legitimate in this conference, you’ve got to beat Niles, Canfield, Poland, Howland.”

East’s recent drop from Division I to II is academic for the Panthers.

“We’re so far out of that picture, but it’s something we aspire to be,” Mays said. “Hopefully, we can get to the point when we worry about what division we’re in. We have Week 1 against Ursuline, then we’ll try to get better and be 1-0 each week.”