Five YSU football players cited for underage drinking

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Five members of the Youngstown State University football team were arraigned Monday in municipal court on charges of underage drinking.

The five who were arraigned, all incoming freshman, were Shereif Bynum, 18, a defensive lineman from Belleview, Mich.; Christiaan Randall-Posey, 18, a linebacker from Pittsburgh; Joseph Alessi Jr., 18, a running back from North Lima; Avery Larkin, 18, a defensive back from Cincinnati; and Samuel Maglicic, 18, a walk-on quarterback who is not listed yet on the university’s roster.

Trevor Parks, sports-information director for the university, said the football program declined to comment for now. Penguins football coach Bo Pelini also declined to comment Monday night.

All five were issued citations Saturday at the Cafaro House, an on-campus dormitory.

A university police report did not offer many specifics, simply stating that an officer was called to a room at the building, 205 Madison Ave., about 9:30 p.m. Saturday for an alcohol-related offense.

University spokesman Ron Cole said alcohol is banned in all university residences.

Court records show Randall-Posey has a pretrial date of July 27, while the other four are set for pretrials July 31.

Alessi, a South Range High School graduate, earned first team All-Ohio honors in Division V last fall after rushing for 2,500 yards and 38 touchdowns.

Bynum was a first-team All-Michigan selection in Division I at Belleville High, making 64 tackles last fall with 14 sacks.

Larkin earned second team all-conference honors last fall as a cornerback at Cincinnati La Salle High, helping the Lancers win the Division II state championship.

Maglicic threw for 450 yards and three TDs and ran for 300 yards and three TDs last fall at Columbus Bishop Watterson.

Randall-Posey was a first team AAAA All-Southeastern Conference selection last fall at Penn Hills High, compiling 88 tackles, including 12.5 sacks.