GROVE: YSU’s defenders score highest on report card

The final exam in Frisco, Texas, has been taken and grades are in for this year’s Youngstown State football team.

offense

Grade: B

Overall: As much slack as the offense rightly took when YSU was unable to find the end zone with any consistency throughout the middle of the season, this unit had tons of achievements to hang their hats on, including a new school record 394 rushing yards in their first game. At the end of the regular season, the quarterback play of once fourth-stringer Hunter Wells was on full display in a 65-20 win at Missouri State and it was mainly the offense winning huge playoff games at Jacksonville State and Eastern Washington.

Despite four different quarterbacks and suspensions to running back Martin Ruiz and wide receiver Darien Townsend in the playoffs, this unit came together nicely by season’s end.

Quarterback

Who’s gone: Possibly Trent Hosick as he attempts to recover from a broken collarbone.

Who’s returning: Hunter Wells, Ricky Davis, Nathan Mays.

Grade: B-

Overall: Injuries and turnover at the position hurts this grade more than anything. Davis was mostly effective at the beginning of the season as he battled through concussions while it was Wells who grew up quickly midway through the season to lead the team through the playoffs. When the offense was struggling to move the ball, it was mainly because of the quarterback play. But when the offense was dangerous late in the year, it was because Wells was hitting his stride.

Running Back

Who’s gone: Jody Webb, Ruiz.

Who’s returning: Tevin McCaster, Joe Alessi, Devon McNutt, London Person.

Grade: A.

Overall: By far the best offensive unit this year. The two-headed monster of Webb and Ruiz was unstoppable for most defenses and the occasional great game from McCaster made the transition to lean on Webb more a smooth transition once Ruiz was suspended. The experience McCaster gained will be invaluable to the YSU offense next year as he’ll be the only returner with significant experience.

Tight Ends

Who’s gone: Jacob Wood.

Who’s returning: Kevin Rader, Shane Kuhn, Anthony Parente.

Grade: A

Overall: Whether it was helping out in the run game, or being the easy, open target when wide receivers were having trouble getting open, the tight ends were dependable and steady all year long for an offense that was constantly changing in every other area. The catch by Rader to win the FCS semifinal didn’t hurt this grade.

wide receivers

Who’s gone: Nobody.

Who’s returning: Damoun Paterson, Alvin Bailey, Robert Byrd, I’Tavious Harvin, Isiah Scott, Stefan Derrick, Jermiah Braswell, Townsend, Donovan McWilson, Zack Torbert, Lasander Washington, Ryan Emans, Samuel St. Surin, Brad Good, Tre’von Williams, Darius Shackleford

Grade: C+

Overall: The grade might be a little harsh considering this is the unit that was most affected by all the turnover at quarterback. But there were flashes of what players like Bailey and Patterson could become at games like West Virginia, Jacksonville State and Missouri State. A full offseason and fall camp with consistency at quarterback will do wonders for a talented group.

offensive line

Who’s gone: Brock Eisenhuth, Dylan Colucci.

Who’s returning: Jarred Jones, Gavin Wiggins, Justin Spencer, Norman Fox, Connor Sharp, Cameron Fraser, James Wilson, Jacob Zinni, Jason Simx, Jeff Rotherham, Cole Newsome, Vitas Hrynkiewicz, Cole McHenry.

Grade: A-

Overall: This group not only opened up gaping holes for the running backs all year, but had to learn how to play together during a fall camp when the team was trying to pick between four quarterbacks. The injuries at quarterback kept the level of difficulty high. But this group was consistent despite all the inconsistency on the scoreboard.

Defense

Grade: A

Overall: The YSU defense performed and then some this year. From holding Robert Morris to negative rushing yards to holding opposing offenses to well below season averages on a weekly basis, this unit picked up three-and-outs like the Browns picked up losses. When the offense couldn’t find the end zone, it was the defense that you could credit for wins over Indiana State and Northern Iowa.

Defensive Line

Who’s gone: Joshmere Dawson, Avery Moss, Derek Rivers, Rickey Hagood.

Who’s returning: Jamal Smith, Johnson Louigene, Shereif Bynum, Savon Smith, Justin Metzel, Giacamo Cappabianca, Simon Smith, Cody Squiric, Lamont Ragland, Wesley Thompson, Donald Mesier, Fazson Chapman.

Grade: A+

Overall: Rivers and Moss were monsters all year to opposing offenses while defensive tackles Mesier, Savon Smith and Squiric were black holes to opposing run games. This unit was able to consistently make life easier for the rest of the defense by shutting down running attacks and then going after the quarterback once teams abandoned the run.

Linebackers

Who’s gone: Jamar Pinnock, Jaylin Kelly, Cole Kochman.

Who’s returning: Jonathan Pollock, Lee Wright, Nathan Pittman, Malachi Newell, Christian Randall-Posey, Curtis Parks, Armand Dellovade.

Grade: A-

Overall: Dellovade, only a sophomore, led the Penguins in tackles and the unit executed at a high level despite losing Wright for the regular season before seamlessly fitting him back into the lineup for the playoffs. This unit was able to blitz effectively thanks to the double teams the defensive line forced and was able to play pass defense when blitzing wasn’t necessary.

Secondary

Who’s gone: Eric Thompson, LeRoy Alexander, Kenny Bishop, Nate Dortch, Jameel Smith, David Rivers III.

Who’s returning: Kyle Hegedus, Solomon Warfield, Avery Larkin, Jalyn Powell, Billy Nicoe Hurst, D.J. Thomas, Chrispin Lee, Darius Hall, Kieran Winn, Mike Nash, Logan Rhea.

Grade: B

Overall: This unit probably gave up more passing yards due to teams abandoning the run so often. The secondary was susceptible to the deep ball against West Virginia, South Dakota State and Eastern Washington, and gave away momentum in critical moments. Having to go up against EWU’s passing game without Alexander or Smith due to suspensions didn’t help matters. But overall, this unit performed adequately.

Special Teams

Who’s gone: Nobody.

Who’s returning: Nate Needham, Connor McFadden, Steven Wethli, Mark Schuler, Zak Kennedy.

Grade: C

Overall: Schuler was excellent throughout the season, averaging 42.5 yards per punt as a freshman and Townsend’s punt return won the Indiana State game. But Kennedy was consistently inconsistent making 16-19 field goals from 39 or fewer yards and was 3-10 from 40 yards away or more and nearly cost the team the Wofford win in the FCS quarterfinals. Two field goals were blocked and a blocked punt in the National Championship game came at the worst possible moment.

Coaching

Grade: A

Overall: You’d be hard pressed to find a coaching staff who had to deal with more throughout a season. From four different quarterbacks, suspensions to five significant starters and an inconsistent offense, the coaching staff was able to keep this team focused and ready to play each week. Lesser coaching staffs would have gotten a lot less out of this team.

Charles Grove reports on YSU athletics for The Vindicator. Email him at cgrove@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter @CGroveVindy.