YSU Penguin Football News

Head Coach Eric Wolford Lands Talented First Recruiting Class

Thursday, February 4 2010

Courtesy of: YSU

Youngstown -- Youngstown State Head Football Coach Eric Wolford unveiled a solid 2010 signing class on National Letter of Intent signing day on Feb. 3. In just six weeks, Wolford and his new staff added 19 players, including 13 from the state of Ohio. The most signees by position were offensive linemen with seven. Of the group, three were named a Player of the Year, while 10 earned all-state honors in 2009.

* Nate Adams, TE, 6-5, 225, Newark Catholic, Newark, OH
* Patrick Angle , QB, 6-2, 215, Logan, OH
* Jamarious Boatwright, CB, 5-11, 180, Largo, FL
* Ali Cheaib, LB, 6-2, 220, Dunedin, FL
* Donald D'Alesio, DB, 5-11, 180, Cardinal Mooney HS, Youngstown, OH
* Chris Elkins, OL, 6-5, 270, Beaver Falls, PA
* Eric Franklin, OL, 6-7, 310, Cardinal Mooney HS, Youngstown, OH
* Allen Jones, RB, 5-10, 180, Ursuline HS, Youngstown, OH
* Zach Larson, RB, 6-3, 285, Cardinal Mooney HS, Youngstown, OH
* Meiko Locksley, ATH, 6-1, 180, Centennial HS (N.M.), Champaign, IL
* J.P. May, OL, 6-6, 280, Worthington HS, Columbus, OH
* Grant Mayes, DB, 5-10, 195, Seton Hall Prep (Syracuse, N.Y.), Roselle, NJ
* Stephen Page, DE, 6-4, 235, Newton Falls, OH
* Michael Shope, OL, 6-6, 270, Kettering-Fairmont HS, Kettering, OH
* Andrew Sinko, OL, 6-5, 280, Strongsville, OH
* Thomas Sprague, LB, 6-1, 220, Gainesville, GA
* Marc Stevens, C, 6-5, 300, Lexington HS, Mansfield, OH
* Jordan Thompson, RB, 6-1, 215, Lakota West, Cincinnati, OH
* Kevin Watts, WR, 6-0, 215, Middletown, OH

Three Former Penguins to Appear in OhioCollegeFootball.com Senior Bowl

Tuesday, February 2 2010

Courtesy of: OhioCollegeFootball.com/YSU

Youngstown -- Former Youngstown State football players Kevin Smith (San Diego, Calif.), Aaron Pitts (Marion, Ohio) and Crispin Fernandez (Porterville, Calif.) were named to the OhioCollegeFootball.com Senior Bowl roster, the website announced on Wednesday.

The former Penguins will take the field for the North squad at Marv Moorehead Stadium in Upper Arlington on April 20, at 1 p.m. The game is set to be televised on Sports Time Ohio.

During the 2009 season Smith, a tailback, started in nine out of 10 contests rushing for a team-high 780 yards on 182 rushes. Smith scored four touchdowns, caught 15 passes for 92 yards, had four 100-yard rushing games and had a season-high in carries 28 for 113 yards versus Western Illinois. He had a season best in yards (121) on 27 rushes versus Illinois State and finished the year with 872 all-purpose yards. Smith earned his second letter and was named team’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

Fernandez, a defensive tackle, during the 2009 season started in nine out of 10 contests. Fernandez finished the season with 23 total tackles, was credited with nine solo stops and 14 assisted collars, had a season-high five tackles at UNI and had a season-high two solos versus Missouri State. Fernandez was named the YSU Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Lineman of the Year for the second consecutive season and earned his second letter.

During the 2009 season Ohio native and wide receiver Pitts played in all 11 games, starting against Pitt and South Dakota State. Pitts caught a career-best 33 passes for 397 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught a high of seven passes for a best of 102 yards at SIU and caught passes in 10 of 11 games, and completed a 19-yard pass to quarterback Brandon Summers on a trick play at Northeastern. Pitts earned his third letter and was recipient of team’s Dr. Spurgeon Torchbearer Award.

Youngstown State gets 2 more from Mooney

Tuesday, February 2 2010

Courtesy of: JOE SCALZO Vindicator sports staff

YOUNGSTOWN — At 6:45 p.m. on Monday, Mooney senior Zach Larson called the YSU football coaches to give them his verbal commitment.

Minutes later, he got a text from his teammate, senior lineman Eric Franklin.

“He said, ‘You’ve got to call me. I just verballed,’ ” said Larson. “We weren’t going to commit at the same time. That’s just how it happened.”

The two Cardinals joined WR/DB Donald D’Alesio to give the Penguins three Mooney recruits.

The Cardinals, who went 15-0 last fall and won the Division III state title, have six Div. I recruits overall. Running back Braylon Heard (Nebraska), safety Ray Vinopal (Michigan) and quarterback Alex Zordich (Buffalo) are the others.

Larson (6-foot-3, 285 pounds) was a first team All-Ohio guard this fall after earning first team all-district in 2008. He also received the Mack Truck Bulldog Award, given to the area’s top lineman.

He chose YSU over Kent State after visiting the Golden Flashes’ campus this weekend.

“I just think I felt more comfortable with the coaching staff at YSU,” Larson said. “YSU’s going to go places. They’ve got nowhere to go but up.

“I think Coach [Eric] Wolford is going to get them back up there with all the local guys he’s bringing in. People in Youngstown know how to play football.”

Mooney’s defensive coordinator, Ron Stoops, joined Wolford’s staff in December, but Larson said it didn’t affect his decision either way. Stoops is the Penguins’ director of high school relations and will also coach the secondary, so their paths aren’t likely to cross that often.

“If they want me to play there [in the secondary], sure, I’ll try it out,” joked Larson, who was known as the most quotable member of Mooney’s championship team. “If they need a tailback, I’ll try that too.

“Anything they need.”

Larson plans to major in a business field, either finance, international business or marketing/medical sales. But he hasn’t ruled out coaching, either, he said.

Franklin (6-7, 310) was a first team all-district and special mention All-Ohio tackle who has the size and ability to play almost anywhere. He had offers from a host of Big Ten and Mid-American Conference schools but is still trying to achieve a qualifying test score.

Two other area players, Ursuline running back Allen Jones and Newton Falls lineman Stephen Page, have also committed to the Penguins. Wolford has aggressively recruited the area since taking over for Jon Heacock in December.

“I think YSU means a lot more to us than, say, a guy who’s from out of town who doesn’t know what the program was and how much Youngstown means to all of us growing up here,” Larson said.

scalzo@vindy.com

West's Thompson commits to Youngstown

Friday, January 29 2010

Courtesy of: The Cincinnati Enquirer

Lakota West senior running back Jordan Thompson, a 6-foot, 210-pounder, has committed to play football at Youngstown State.

Thompson, an Enquirer Division I all-area selection this past season, had 275 carries for 1,741 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns.

He was first-team all-district.

Jamarious Boatwright Offers Include YSU

Wednesday, January 27 2010

Courtesy of: tampabay.com

Largo DB Jamarious Boatwright has offers from Presbyterian, Stony Brook and Youngstown State. He has visited two of the three and will trip to Youngstown State this week.

Meantime, another program has entered the mix – Iowa.

“Their coaches came down, talked to him and saw film,” Largo coach Rick Rodriguez said. “They’re showing a lot of interest. They spent about two hours with him.”

A 5-foot-9, 167-pound senior, Boatwright projects to be a cornerback.

He has a nice link to the Hawkeyes. Former Largo star Marcus Paschal, a one-time Iowa player now in the NFL, has put in a good word with his old college coaches.

“He let the coaches know about (Boatwright),” Rodriguez said.

Youngstown State offers Nahat

Wednesday, January 27 2010

Courtesy of: tampabay.com

Sickles receiver Chris Nahat, a second-team pick on the Times' all-Hillsborough County squad last season, has been offered a scholarship by Division I-AA Youngstown (Ohio) State, Gryphons coach Pat O'Brien said Sunday evening.

Nahat visited the Youngstown campus this weekend, O'Brien indicated in a text message. The Penguins, 6-5 last season, won four I-AA national titles in the 1990s. Nahat (6-foot-2, 174 pounds) helped provide an aerial dimension to the Gryphons' triple-option offense last season, catching 36 passes for 762 yards and eight touchdowns.

Donald Jones Added to Under Armour Senior Bowl Roster

Tuesday, January 26 2010

Courtesy of: YSU

Youngstown -- Former Youngstown State wide receiver Donald Jones has been selected to participate in the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl, his agent announced on Tuesday morning. The game is this Saturday at 4 p.m. in Mobile, Ala., and will be televised on the NFL Network.

Workouts for the Senior Bowl began on Monday, however Jones did not receive notification that he was added to the game until late last night. He

He is the first Penguin to be selected to the game since quarterback Ron Jaworski in 1972.

According to the rosters on the Senior Bowl website, Jones is just one of five non-FBS player who will participate in this year's contest. The North squad will be coached by the Detroit Lions' staff while the Miami Dolphins' staff will be in charge of the South squad.

Jones has already received notice that he will participate in the NFL Combine on Feb 24-March 2 in Indianapolis. Additionally, he has been selected to play in the Texas vs. The Nation All-Start Game on Feb. 6 in El Paso, Texas. As of now, Jones plans on playing in both games.

A first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection, Jones had an impressive senior year for the Penguins setting the school-mark for single-season grabs with 77. He had 77 receptions for a team-best 790 yards and caught six touchdown passes. He twice tied the school record with 11 receptions in a contest (Missouri State and Southern Illinois).

Mooney’s D’Alesio chooses YSU

Saturday, January 23 2010

Courtesy of: JOE SCALZO Vindicator sports staff

YOUNGS-TOWN — Mooney senior Donald D’Alesio will spend the next four years in a familiar place, playing for a familiar face.

D’Alesio, a second team all-district defensive back, verbally committed to Youngstown State this week, becoming the third area player to join the Penguins since Eric Wolford was hired last month.

“I just felt at home,” said D’Alesio. “It is home. I felt like this is where I wanted to go.”

D’Alesio will be reunited with his high school defensive coordinator, Ron Stoops, who joined Wolford’s staff last month as a secondary coach and director of high school relations.

“I’m really excited about getting the chance to play for him for another four or five years,” said D’Alesio.

Ursuline running back Allen Jones became Wolford’s first commitment earlier this month, while Newton Falls offensive lineman Stephen Page became the second local recruit earlier this week.

Liberty offensive lineman Charlie Dann and Mooney offensive lineman Zach Larson have also been offered scholarships to YSU and a few more local players are scheduled to visit in the coming days, including Fitch quarterback Jon Ballard.

National signing day is Feb. 3.

D’Alesio was a three-year starter at defensive back and was a standout basketball and track athlete before this season. An MCL strain in his knee sidelined him for a handful of games during football season, but D’Alesio returned in time to help the Cardinals finish a 15-0 season with a Division III state title.

He twice broke a bone in his wrist during football season and is now wearing a cast, which forced him to give up basketball this winter. He’s also unlikely to run track this spring, preferring to focus on getting ready for football season, he said.

D’Alesio also had offers from Air Force —which he visited last weekend — and Navy, but neither was a serious consideration.

“I didn’t think I wanted to do the military thing,” said D’Alesio. “I give the guys in the military all the credit in the world.”

Besides, his ties with YSU were too strong. In addition to playing home games at Stambaugh Stadium, D’Alesio already knew Wolford from last summer when he was coaching at South Carolina.

The day after he was hired, Wolford was at Cardinal Mooney talking to prospects. In a matter of days, Wolford offered D’Alesio a scholarship.

“Even when the previous staff was [at YSU], I wanted to go there,” said D’Alesio, who plans to major in physical therapy/athletic training. “I want to renew the tradition that used to be there.

“I’m excited and ready to start everything.”

scalzo@vindy.com

Coach Wolford Gets Crowd Excited For Football With Halftime Speech

Saturday, January 23 2010

Courtesy of: YSU

Youngstown -- Youngstown State Head Football Coach Eric Wolford spoke to a packed house during halftime of the Youngstown State-Milwaukee men's basketball game at the Beeghly Center on Saturday night. The large crowd gave the coach a loud ovation when he took the court and he gave the run down on what to expect from the Penguins.

Experienced Coordinator Rick Kravitz Set to Take Over Defense

Friday, January 22 2010

Courtesy of:

Youngstown -- Head Football Coach Eric Wolford announced on Friday that Rick Kravitz, who has 20 years experience as a defensive coordinator, will fill that role for the Penguins. A highly-respected defensive mind, Kravitz has spent the past 10 years at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. He will also serve as the Penguins' linebackers coach.

Wolford and Kravitz coached together when the University of South Florida program was in its formation stages.

"Rick has always coached an aggressive style of defense that constantly makes the offense feel pressure," Wolford said. "His style of defense will be one our players enjoy and will suit our program perfectly. He brings over 20 years of recruiting experience in the state of Florida. Rick has coached at all levels and we are very excited to have someone of his caliber be part of our coaching family."

A native of St. Petersburg, Fla., he will be the program's key recruiter in the Sunshine State. He has recruited the area for the past 20 years for various schools and has many contacts in Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties. He has also recruited the Tampa-St. Pete area during his career.

Kravitz spent the past two seasons at Western Michigan coaching the Broncos' safeties for coach Bill Cubit. During the 2008 season, free safety Louis Delmas earned first-team All-MAC honors and was selected 33rd overall in the NFL Draft. Delmas had 111 tackles and four interceptions as the Broncos finished the season 9-4 advancing to the Texas Bowl. WMU was 5-7 in 2009.

Prior to his two-year stint at Western Michigan, Kravitz served as the defensive coordinator for Tommy West. The Tigers won seven games during the 2007 campaign and played in the New Orleans Bowl.

In 2006, Kravitz joined Chuck Amato's staff at N.C. State. He served as the safeties coach and special teams coordinator for the Wolfpack. During the year NCSU ranked 13th nationally in passing defense and 36th in total defense.

Kravitz had an impressive 10-year run as an assistant coach at the University of South Florida. While with the program, Kravitz served in capacities as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. The Bulls were an FCS Independent from 1997 through 2000 before making the jump to the FBS level in 2001.

The defensive coordinator from the inception of USF football, Kravitz added assistant head coach to his title in 2001, the same season he switched his emphasis to the secondary after coaching the linebackers in his first four seasons.

Prior to joining the staff at South Florida he spent the 1994 and 1995 seasons as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for West Alabama.

He was the defensive coordinator at Florida A&M for Coach Ken Riley from 1986-93 on the FCS level. He coached six All-Americans and had 10 players drafted into the NFL. The Rattlers had six winning seasons and shared the MEAC title in 1988.