From today's Vindcator:
YSU football Weak finish looms over Ice Castle
Published: Sun, March 13, 2016 @ 12:10 a.m.
Questions abound as spring practice nears
By STEVE WILAJ
The last time we saw Bo Pelini and the Youngstown State football team, the Penguins were capping a frustrating 2015 season with two particularly-frustrating losses.
With a chance to end an eight-year playoff drought, YSU (5-6, 3-5 Missouri Valley Football Conference) fell to eventual FCS National Champion North Dakota State on Nov. 14 at Stambaugh Stadium. That loss came after the Penguins took a 14-point lead into the final quarter.
The Penguins lost the next week at Indiana State when the Sycamores connected on a game-winning field goal as time expired.
Flash forward to the present and YSU begins its month-long spring schedule on Monday.
With Pelini entering his second season as head coach, he’ll lead the Penguins through 15 practices, the final session being the annual Red/White Spring Game on April 15 at 7:30 p.m. inside the Ice Castle.
Before YSU officially hits the field for the first time in 2016, here are some storylines to keep an eye on throughout the spring.
Second season the charm?
For the entire 2015 season, Pelini talked about his efforts — and the importance of — establishing his desired culture for the program to turn consistently successful.
The Penguins got off to a 3-1 start, before losing three in a row and five of their final seven. Over that losing stretch, the topic was analyzed quite extensively, as the players apparently didn’t buy into the change until after the three-game October skid.
However, Pelini and YSU seemed to finally turn a corner in the final four games — and this spring will certainly be important for the players to continue to embrace the change from the Eric Wolford era (2010-14).
QB battle
YSU has a two-year starter returning in junior quarterback Hunter Wells. So the Penguins are set at the position, right? Not exactly.
After a promising 2014 freshman season (14 TDs, seven interceptions), the 6-foot-5 pocket passer didn’t progress much last year (13 TDs, seven interceptions). In turn, Ricky Davis (also a sophomore last season) saw action in nine games, although mainly as a runner (just 17 pass attempts compared to 42 rushes for 195 yards and four TDs).
Oh, and Pelini brought in Trent Hosick, a redshirt-junior transfer from junior college Arizona Western. A dual-threat quarterback, Hosick was a highly-touted prospect out of high school in 2012. He committed to Missouri, transferred to AZ Western for two years and ended up at YSU after suffering two serious injuries a year ago that scared off bigger schools.
So, YSU has three serious contenders for the QB position heading into 2016. No doubt, this spring is important for all of them.
Will Mahone
This certainly wasn’t how the former Austintown Fitch standout’s collegiate career was supposed to go.
First, he got kicked out of Notre Dame in 2014 after being charged with four misdemeanors for his role in a fight in Austintown. Then he joined the Penguins under Wolford prior to the 2014 season, before leaving the program shortly thereafter.
Now in a better place, Mahone is getting a final chance under Pelini.
A linebacker, the 2012 Fitch grad should receive a good opportunity to grab a significant role for YSU’s defense, which ranked near the top of the FCS in 2015.
noteworthy newcomers
Pelini’s 2016 recruiting class, announced in early February, consists of 11 newcomers (eight out of high school and three from junior colleges). In addition to the ones mentioned above, here are a few other interesting names to keep an eye on:
Stefan Derrick II — a junior wide receiver from Orange Coast College in California, Derrick II caught 65 passes for 1,161 yards and 16 touchdowns last season for the Pirates. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, he can certainly impact YSU’s lacking wide receiver group.
Vitas Hrynkiewicz — a 6-foot-4, 305-pound center from Independence Community College, Hrynkiewicz jumps right into a large group of YSU offensive lineman that will vie for starting spots. The Penguins O-line shuffled all last season and still wasn’t settled by seasons end.
Malachi Newell — the Farrell High grad was a Pennsylvania Class A First-Team All-State honoree at linebacker (16.5 tackles for loss, 13 forced fumbles, four interceptions and 3.5 sacks). With good size at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Newell is another intriguing talent in what’s suddenly a deep YSU linebacker corp.
Other stories of interest
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