Experienced YSU returns to fall practice

July 27, 2019 at 12:00a.m.

Penguins return numerous starters across the roster

There’s enough experience coming back to create some optimism for Youngstown State’s 2019 football season.

Whether it’s players returning from injuries like Nathan Mays, Justus Reed and Kyle Hegedus or transfers plugging key holes like Matt Jones, Penguins head coach Bo Pelini has a lot to work with while trying to bounce back from a 4-7 season.

There’s also experience coming back in the coaching ranks with Carl Pelini’s return to the coaching staff after spending a year with Bowling Green.

Here’s where the Penguins stand as fall camp starts today:

OFFENSE

If he’s healthy, redshirt-senior Nathan Mays will be given every chance to retain the starting quarterback job. It’s a big if though. Last year, nerve issues in his leg forced him to cede to the job to Montgomery VanGorder at the start of last season after the pair split first-team reps throughout fall camp and limited his action in 2018. He wasn’t working at full speed during spring practice.

Behind him is a battle between redshirt-sophomore Joe Craycraft, who has yet to throw a collegiate pass and freshman Mark Waid.

At running back, junior Christian Turner figures to step in for the graduated Tevin McCaster as the top back after having shown the ability to make plays in both the running and passing games in his past two seasons. Running back remains one of the deepest positions on the team with Joe Alessi vying for more regular season carries after turning 11 carries into 103 yards and a touchdown last year. Braxton Chapman, London Pearson, Randy Smith and Dra Rushton could all be in the mix.

The offensive line may not have a starting five nailed down as camp opens, but there are plenty of pieces to work with. Left tackle Dan Becker is the lone returning full-time starter on the o-line as a redshirt-sophomore.

Senior Devon Robinson also brings starting Historically, Pelini has only started a true freshman twice in his head-coaching career, starting Cody Green in two games at Nebraska in 2009, but Waid did share first-team action with Craycraft in the spring after graduating from Girard last winter and there will be a lot of competition for who lines up between those two.

West Virginia transfer Matt Jones seems like a safe bet to take the starting center following the graduation of Vitas Hrynkiewicz. The Penguins brought in a pair of transfers at the guard position in Tennessee Tech’s Myles Douglas and Jordan Velez comes from the junior college ranks. The in-house options include redshirt Jimmy Wilson and Jacob Zinni, the latter of which can fill in at center.

For the tight ends and receivers, tight end Kierre Hawkins announced on Friday via Twitter that he is cleared to practice after a knee injury limited the Ohio State transfer to two games in 2018. He’ll find himself fighting for playing time with Miles Joiner, who led the team in touchdown grabs with four last year.

In addition to Zach Farrar transferring to Auburn, the Penguins return all of their wideouts. Senior Jeremiah Braswell is one of the few players left that got on the field in the 2016 National Championship game.

Senior Kendric Mallory returns along with last year’s emerging start, sophomore Natavious Payne. Samuel St. Surin and Darius Shackleford fill out the first-team spots.

DEFENSE

Justus Reed will provide a boost a defensive end after missing all of 2018 with a torn achilles tendon. In 2017, he had five sacks in seven games. Shereif Bynum had four sacks last year and returns along with rotational ends Antoine Cook and Ma’lik Richmond.

On the interior, Boardman graduate Wesley Thompson is expected to replace the graduated Savon Smith not only as the primary defensive tackle, but also as a leader on defense. Redshirt-freshman DeMarko Craig could take the other tackle spot along with Dontae Cilenti, Derek Hite and Vinny Gentile.

The Penguins have four linebackers with starting experience coming back in Cash Mitchell, Ray Anderson, Christiaan Randall-Posey and Terray Bryant, who can also fit in at safety.

Like the offensive line, YSU brought in a few transfers to bolster the secondary in Vanderbilt’s Zaire Jones at safety and Western Kentucky cornerback Jayden Patterson. D.J. Thomas and Bryce Gibson return as the starting cornerbacks. Kyle Hegedus returns at safety after missing last year with a torn ACL as well as senior Devanere Crenshaw.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Both the punter and kicker positions are wide open competitions. Sophomore Grant Gonya will compete with Kent State transfer Colten McFadden for the kicking duties. At punter, it’s a battle between three area athletes: Austintown Fitch’s Nick DeSalvo, South Range’s Brandon Youngs and Canfield’s Ryan Teminsky.

Freshman Dean Palumbo is the lone longsnapper listed on the roster.