The Youngstown State Football program has announced the members of its 2022 Signing cla$$ on Wednesday, Dec. 15.
List of the newest Penguins:
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
Hometown |
High School |
| Joe Blahovec |
DB |
6-2 |
190 |
Fr. |
Greensburg, Pa. |
Greensburg CC |
| Ezekiel Blake |
DB |
6-3 |
185 |
So. |
West Palm Beach, Fla. |
Wellington |
| Max Blanc |
QB |
6-5 |
205 |
Fr. |
Bethel Park, Pa. |
Bethel Park |
| Michael Boyd Jr. |
DL |
6-3 |
280 |
Fr. |
Sylvania, Ga. |
Screven County |
| Beau Brungard |
QB |
6-0 |
200 |
Fr. |
New Middletown, Ohio |
Springfield Local |
| Nate Damron |
TE |
6-4 |
240 |
Jr. |
Elyria, Ohio |
Elyria Catholic |
| Dylan Dominguez |
DB |
5-11 |
190 |
Fr. |
North Lima, Ohio |
South Range |
| Nehemiah Dukes |
DL |
6-2 |
270 |
Fr. |
Douglasville, Ga. |
Alexander |
| Keon Freeman |
DL |
6-0 |
230 |
Jr. |
Whitehall, Ohio |
Whitehall-Yearling |
| Andrew Hardin |
DB |
6-2 |
200 |
Jr. |
Woodbridge, Va. |
Woodbridge |
| Cephus Harris III |
RB |
5-9 |
195 |
Fr. |
Clinton Township, Pa. |
Chippewa Valley |
| Tico Jones Jr. |
DL |
6-3 |
255 |
Fr. |
Lakewood, Ohio |
Lakewood |
| Van Keen |
OL |
6-3 |
305 |
Fr. |
Stow, Ohio |
Stow |
| Shane Keenan |
OL |
6-5 |
275 |
Fr. |
Toronto, Ohio |
Toronto |
| Jack Kenneally |
WR |
6-6 |
210 |
Fr. |
Elyria, Ohio |
Elyria Catholic |
| Easton Korody |
OL |
6-4 |
280 |
Fr. |
Carey, Ohio |
Carey |
| Desmeal Leigh |
OL |
6-7 |
260 |
Fr. |
Kent, Ohio |
Roosevelt |
| Alex McDonald |
TE |
6-4 |
245 |
Fr. |
Chardon, Ohio |
Chardon |
| Jasiah Medley |
DB |
5-11 |
180 |
Fr. |
Piqua, Ohio |
Piqua |
| Jordan Rudolph |
DB |
5-11 |
160 |
Fr. |
Lewis Center, Ohio |
Olentangy Orange |
| Colt Sechrest |
TE |
6-4 |
220 |
Fr. |
Bellarie, Ohio |
Bellaire |
| Nathanael Sulka |
LB |
6-4 |
195 |
Fr. |
Chardon, Ohio |
Chardon |
| Michael Wells |
LB |
6-3 |
220 |
Fr. |
New Castle, Pa. |
New Castle |
| Bryce Wood |
LB |
6-3 |
210 |
Fr. |
Erie, Pa. |
McDowell |
Signed With Youngstown State During NLI Signing Day
Joe Blahovec
6-2 | 190 | Defensive Back
Greensburg, Pa.
Greensburg Central Catholic High School
High School: Played wide receiver, defensive back, linebacker and was a kick returner...as a junior, had 21 catches for 222 yards and three touchdowns...also intercepted three pa$$es and was a kick returner...coach was Marko Thomas.
Ezekiel Blake
6-3 | 185 | Defensive Back
West Palm Beach, Fla.
Wellington High School/Independence CC
INDY CC: Was a member of the program in 2021.
High School: Was a standout defensive back at Wellington.
Max Blanc
6-5 | 205 | Quarterback
Bethel Park, Pa.
Bethel Park High School
High School: As a senior threw for 1,348 yards on 97 completions and had 11 touchdowns...was a second-team Cla$$ 5A Allegheny Six All-Conference selection...as a junior, completed 49-of-92 pa$$es for 436 yards and two touchdowns...coach was Brian DeLallo... plays basketball and throws the javelin.
Michael Boyd Jr.
6-3 | 280 | Defensive Lineman
Sylvania, Ga.
Screven County High School
High School: Was a standout on the defensive line at Screven County...played defensive tackle and defensive end...Cla$$ 1A Public All Region 3 selection...had more than 100 tackles in high school career.
Beau Brungard
6-0 | 200 | Quarterback
New Middletown, Ohio
Springfield Local High School
High School: Division VI All-Ohio Offensive Player of the Year...first-team Division VI All-Ohio selection...Division All-Northeast Inland District Offensive Player of the Year...as a senior, completed 112-of-159 pa$$ing attempts for 1,779 with 22 touchdowns...rushed 147 times for 1,754 yards and had 32 touchdowns...had six 100-yard rushing games...had three rushes of 80 yards or more, with a long of 88...also credited with 72 total tackles...Springfield was 13-2 losing to eventual state champion Carey in the semifinals...as a junior, completed 130-of-189 pa$$es for 1,948 yards and 19 touchdowns in 12 games...had 1,035 yards rushing on 105 carries and scored 23 touchdowns...also had 41 tackles...guided Springfield to the state championship game where it lost a tough 38-35 decision to Coldwater...as a sophomore, completed 139-of-210 pa$$es for 2,245 yards and 27 touchdowns in 14 games...rushed for 1,024 yards on 122 carries and had 18 touchdowns...as a starting quarterback posted an 38-4 record...coach was Sean Guerriero....father Mark was a quarterback at YSU from 1992-95 and helped lead the Penguins to two National Championships.
Nate Damron
6-4 | 240 | Tight End
Elyria, Ohio
Elyria Cathloic High School/Independence CC
INDY CC: In lone season with the program, had seven receptions for 69 yards and three touchdowns...Pirates finished the year with an 8-2 record...coach was Jason Martin.
HIGH SCHOOL: Was a standout two-way player at Elyria Catholic...as a senior, had 109 tackles, including 64 solo stops, and 10.5 sacks...had seven rushing touchdowns and 497 yards on 62 carries...caught 14 pa$$es for 207 yards and a score...as a junior, had 86 tackles and 8.5 sacks.
Dylan Dominguez
5-11 | 190 | Defensive Back
North Lima, Ohio
South Range High School
High School: First-Team Division V All-Ohio selection...NE8 Conference Player of the Year...Raiders finished the season 13-1...in 2020 was a second-team All-Ohio Division V honoree...in 2019 was a Special Mention All-Ohio Division V pick.
Nehemiah Dukes
6-2 | 270 | Defensive Lineman
Douglasville, Ga.
Alexander High School
High School: Standout defensive lineman at Alexander...coach was Olten Downs.
Keon Freeman
6-0 | 230 | Defensive Lineman
Whitehall, Ohio
Whitehall-Yearling High School/Monroe College
Charleston: In 2021, led the team with 85 total tackles, including 48 solo stops...credited with 13 TFLs and four sacks...had 16 tackles against Glenville State... Mountain East Conference first-team selection...in 2019, finished the season with 26 tackles (16 solo), 6.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks and two pa$$ breakups... posted eight tackles in each game against Concord and West Liberty.
High School: First-team Division II All-Ohio selection in 2018 as a defensive lineman...as a junior, was a second-team All-Ohio pick.
Andrew Hardin
6-2 | 200 | Defensive Back
Woodbridge, Va.
Woodbridge H.S./Monroe College
Monroe: Had 36 total tackles, including 16 solo stops...intercepted three pa$$es and had four pa$$ breakups in 2021.
High School: Helped Woodbridge tie the school record for wins with 12 in 2017...played wide receiver and defensive back.
Chephus Harris III
5-9 | 195 | Running Back
Clinton Township, Mich.
Chippewa Valley High School
High School: Three-star prospect by 247sports...first-team all-state...was a finalist for Mr. Football in Michigan...first-team All-Macomb County selection...named to the Detroit News Dream Team in 2021...rushed for 1,985 on 212 carries and scored 27 touchdowns...caught 26 pa$$es for 548 yards and eight scores...also had 383 yards on kickoff returns...tied the school record for rushing yards in a game with 300 in a 28-21 victory over Eisenhower...coach was Scott Merchant.
Tico Jones Jr.
6-3 | 255 | Defensive Lineman
Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood High School
High School: Two-star prospect by 247sports...first-team All-Ohio Division II selection as a defensive lineman...Division II Northeast Lakes District Defensive Player of the Year...named the Great Lakes Conference Lineman of the Year...was a first-team all-conference and all-district selection...team captain.
Van Keen
6-3 | 305 | Offensive Lineman
Stow, Ohio
Stow High School
High School: Third-team Division I All-Ohio honoree...first-team All Northeast Inland Division I selection...first-team All-Suburban League National Division selection...helped Stow win the Conference title in 2021...Bulldogs finished the year 9-3...Coach was Tom Phillips.
Shane Keenan
6-5 | 275 | Offensive Lineman
Toronto, Ohio
Toronto High School
High School: Division VII first-team All-East District...had 44 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three pa$$ deflections and a 65-yard fumble return for a touchdown during the regular season...on offense, hauled in 22 pa$$es for 395 yards and three touchdowns, rushing for another 244 yards and four scores...also handled kickoffs and placement kicks and punts...averaged 44.7 yards per punt and made 15 PATs...was a second-team All-Ohio selection as a junior in 2020... coach was Josh Franke.
Jack Kenneally
6-6 | 210 | Wide Receiver
Elyria, Ohio
Elyria Catholic High School
High School: Two-star prospect by 247sports...Second-team Division V All-Ohio selection...first-team Northeast Lakes District and Great Lakes Conference selection...caught 50 pa$$es for 904 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior... as a junior, had 13 catches for 258 yards - 19.8 yards per catch - and a pair of touchdowns in five games... also had 11 tackles and four pa$$ breakups as a defensive back..spent his freshman and sophomore seasons at Holy Name before transferring to Elyria Catholic...first-team Great Lakes Conference and first-team Lorain County pick as a basketball player.
Easton Korody
6-4 | 280 | Offensive Lineman
Carey, Ohio
Carey High School
High School: First-Team Division VI All-Ohio selection...Division VI All-Northwest District Lineman of the Year...first-team all-district and two-time first-team All-Northern 10 Athletic Conference pick...Blue Devils won the Ohio Division State Championship in 2021 beating Coldwater 26-14...Carey won 15 straight games, all by double figures...was the school's first state title since 1975...coach was Jon Mershman.
Desmeal Leigh
6-7 | 260 | Offensive Lineman
Kent, Ohio
Roosevelt High School
High School: Honorable-Mention Division II All-Northeast Inland District pick...is also a standout basketball player.
Alex McDonald
6-4 | 245 | Tight End
Chardon, Ohio
Chardon High School
High School: Second-team Division III All-Ohio selection...two-way starter as a tight end and defensive end...earned second-team All-Ohio honors twice...Chardon beat Hamilton Badin in the Division III state championship game, 21-14, to earn its second straight title...the Hilltoppers were the first team in OHSAA football history to go 16-0 in a season...won final 28 games as a member of the team...had 33 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks for the Chardon defense...was a team captain...coach was Mitch Hewitt...state-caliber wrestler.
Jasiah Medley
5-11 | 190 | Defensive Back
Piqua, Ohio
Piqua High School
High School: First-team All-Ohio Division II selection...named the Division II Offensive Player of the Year in the Southwest District...named the Miami Valley League Offensive Player of the Year...first-team all-district pick..rushed for 1,769 yards on 12.9 yards per carry and scored 33 touchdowns in the regular season...finished with 1,992 yards and 35 touchdowns...also had 42 tackles, three forced fumbles and an interception...Indians won consecutive conference championships...coach was Bill Nees.
Jordan Rudolph
5-11 | 160 | Defensive Back
Lewis Center, Ohio
Oletangy Orange High School
High School: Second-team All-OCC selection as a senior...two-way player as a defensive back and wide receiver...credited with eight pa$$ breakups and had three touchdown receptions...as a junior, had 22 catches for 384 yards and three touchdowns as a wide receiver...at defensive back, the second-team all-league performer had 24 tackles and eight pa$$ break-ups...coach was Zebb Schroeder...also competes in track and field in jumps and sprints.
Colt Sechrest
6-4 | 220 | Tight End
Bellaire, Ohio
Bellaire High School
High School: First-team Division V All-Ohio selection as a linebacker...had 345 yards rushing and scored seven touchdowns...had19 receptions for 360 Yards and five TDs...on defense, had 96 tackles, 88 solo stops, 11 TFLs with five Interception returns for 137 yards,including two TDs...competes in track and field throwing the discus...was the Division II runner-up last year in the event.
Nathanael Sulka
6-4 | 195 | Linebacker
Chardon, Ohio
Chardon High School
High School: Three-star prospect by 247sports...two-star prospect by Rivals.com...first-team Division III All-Ohio selection...Chardon beat Hamilton Badin in the Division III state championship game, 21-14, to earn its second straight title...the Hilltoppers were the first team in OHSAA football history to go 16-0 in a season...first-team All-Ohio defensive back as a junior...won final 28 games as a member of the team inclduing two state championships...coach was Mitch Hewitt.
Michael Wells
6-3 | 220 | Linebacker
New Castle, Pa.
New Castle High School
High School: Helped lead New Castle to its first playoff win since 2016...played linebacker and wide receiver as a senior...saw time at quarterback during career...coach was Joe Cowart...also a standout basketball player...was a third-team all-state selection last year.
Bryce Wood
6-3 | 210 | Linebacker
Erie, Pa.
McDowell High School
High School: District 10 Region 6 first-team All-Star as a tight end and linebacker...also a standout wrestler.
