Youngstown State ranks tied at No. 23 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Penguins finished 7-4 overall last year, 7-3 vs. the FCS, and 5-3 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. They improved from a 3-7 record in 2021.
Here’s a look at this year’s YSU football squad.
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Returning 2022 FCS All-Conference Players (4)
1st Team
WR Bryce Oliver
2nd Team
DE Dylan Wudke
Honorable Mention
DT Chris Fitzgerald
OL Jaison Williams
Players In 2023 FCS Positional Rankings (3)
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Lost To The FCS (2)
Demeatric Crenshaw (QB) to Tennessee State
Andrew Hardin (DB) to Lamar
Offensive Outlook
YSU returns nine offensive starters. The Penguins scored 28.5 points per game last fall, ranking No. 46 in the FCS.
The star was running back Jaleel McLaughlin, who exhausted his eligibility and signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Denver Broncos in April. McLaughlin is an all-time great, breaking the NCAA All-Division career rushing yards record with 8,166 yards, doing so in two seasons at Division II Notre Dame (Ohio) and three seasons at YSU, where he was a 2021 and 2022 All-American.
But YSU remained balanced and wasn’t as run-heavy statistically as one may assume with McLaughlin in the backfield. The offense ran for 202.6 yards per game (No. 17 in the FCS) and passed for 196.4 YPG (No. 78).
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Mitch Davidson returns as a senior quarterback. He started the final seven games in 2022, going 5-2. He finished 119/201 passing for 1,613 yards, 12 touchdowns, and one interception while adding four rushing scores.
Davidson has one of the best FCS wide receivers in Bryce Oliver, a 2022 First Team All-MVFC selection who caught 59 passes for 821 yards and 10 TDs. The No. 2 and 3 WRs from last year are also back. Max Tomczak had 26 catches for 430 yards and two TDs. Latrell Fordham tallied 18 receptions for 165 yards and a score.
Four starters return on the offensive line: Jaison Williams (6’4″ 298 lbs), Ryan Johnson (6’4″ 315 lbs), David Metzler (6’5″ 310 lbs), and Aidan Parker (6’2″ 300 lbs). Williams was named All-MVFC Honorable Mention in 2022. Plus, Jake Benio is a good blocking tight end who started eight games.
Replacing McLaughlin’s production (1,588 rushing yards, 13 TDs) will have to be a team effort.
He had 227 carries in 2022. Dra Rushton, who returns this fall, had the second-most rushes with 71 carries for 329 yards and two touchdowns.
Tyshon King is a 5-foot-11, 210-pound RB addition from D2 Northern Michigan. Last season, he was First Team All-Conference with 984 yards rushing. Cephus Harris III (5’9″ 210 lbs) is another candidate to take on a big role after redshirting his freshman year last season. He was rated a three-star recruit out of high school.
Defensive Outlook
YSU has eight defensive returners who started six games or more in 2022.
The defense allowed 25.4 points per game, ranking No. 42 in the FCS. YSU’s run defense ranked No. 22 (120.2 yards allowed per game), and its pass defense ranked No. 81 (233.9 yards allowed per game).
Cornerback Jordan Trowers and safety Quincy Lenton return after leading YSU with 51 tackles each. Trowers added five pass breakups, and Lenton also had 3.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. D’Marco Augustin returns as well, starting 10 games and tallying 41 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and three pass breakups. Safety Marcus Hooker (five starts in seven games played, 23 tackles, two interceptions) and CB Troy Jakubec (six starts, 23 tackles, two interceptions, six passes defended) add experience in the secondary.
Greg Benton Jr. is the most experienced linebacker, starting 11 games in 2022 and totaling 36 tackles. Alex Howard eyes a strong senior season at LB after a good finish to last year. He started three games down the stretch and finished 2022 with 34 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks.
The defensive line will be a strength, led by All-Conference Second Team DE Dylan Wudke and All-MVFC Honorable Mention DT Chris Fitzgerald. Wudke (6’4″ 265 lbs) racked up 43 tackles, 12 TFLs, and five sacks in 2022. Chris Fitzgerald (6’0″ 274 lbs) totaled 29 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, and two sacks.
YSU also returns Anthony Johnson (6’3″ 295 lbs) and Devin Lee (6’3″ 315 lbs) on the interior of the d-line, who combined for 11 starts last season.
Schedule
8/31 vs Valparaiso
9/9 at Ohio State
9/16 vs Robert Morris
9/30 at RV Northern Iowa
10/7 vs RV Southern Illinois
10/14 at South Dakota
10/21 vs Illinois State
10/28 vs Missouri State
11/4 at Indiana State
11/11 vs No. 1 South Dakota State
11/18 at Murray State
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received Votes
Bold indicates MVFC games
