YSU safety Hegedus lost for season

Junior DB sidelined by torn ACL

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State’s football team has taken another hit on defense.

Starting strong safety Kyle Hegedus is out for the season with with a torn ACL, the team confirmed on Friday. The injury was initially reported by The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, WFMJ.

The redshirt-junior previously tore an ACL five games into the 2016 season. Last year, he started 10 of 11 games and was the team’s third highest tackler with 74. He also was a second-team Academic All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection.

He joins senior defensive end Justus Reed as defensive starters who will miss the 2018 season. Reed — who tied for the team lead in sacks last year — tore his Achilles in July.

Hegedus’ potential replacements include seniors Crispin Lee and Avery Larkin. Senior Deshon Taylor also figures into the safety mix.

Hegedus served as the team’s holder for place kicks. Junior punter Mark Schuler, a Springfield graduate, is expected to assume the holder duties. Quarterback Montgomery VanGorder also has experience in that area as he had the holder duties at Notre Dame.